This listing is for the hardcover book Silversmiths of Birmingham and Their Marks, 1750-1980 by Kenneth Jones. This 416-page book measures 8 3/4" x 12". Published in 1981. This book weighs 3.9 pounds. The book itself is in excellent condition, but the dust jacket has some shelf wear.  Please see the photos for more detail.

From the dust jacket: This important new work on silversmithing in Birmingham is a maior contribution to the history of silver in England. It is the most comprehensive study of the Birmingham silver industry ever written providing a detailed account of its development from the mid-eighteenth century to the present day, incorporating much new information.

The book is divided into five sections - The History of Birmingham Silversmiths, The Organisation of Management and Labour, Major Birmingham Silversmiths, Bullion Dealers and Companies of the 20th century, The Makers' Marks, a Glossary including Decorative Terms and Techniques-and is lavishly illustrated with 43 specially commissioned colour photographs and 300 black and white photographs.

The fourth section contains a list of 2,400 makers' marks (a comprehensive list of silversmith's and their punch marks as registered at the Birmingham Assay Office, most of which have not been previously identified). These will be invaluable to collectors, dealers, auctioneers, art historians and museum staff. With the aid of this section it will now be possible to identify the maker of almost any piece hallmarked in Birmingham, and will enable many pieces of silver to be identified positively for the first time.

The book combines both an authoritative account of the growth of Birmingham and its silver trade and the invaluable means to identify the makers of Birmingham silverware.