Swatch or Sample Book of Printed Textiles

Date1783

Artist/Maker Thomas Smith

OriginEngland, Manchester

MediumPaperboard, leather, cotton, linen

Dimensions6 X 9 7/8" closed Open: 93 inches long

Credit LineBequest of Grace Hartshorn Westerfield

Object number1974-569

DescriptionThis is a manufacturer's swatch book bound in golden brown leather, roll-folded from the ends to center, containing 430 swatches of small-scale geometric printed textiles, each measuring 1 X 1 5/8 inches. (Two swatches are missing out of the original 432.) The swatches are mounted three across and nine down onto heavy paper with a printed blue undulating floral border. The textiles are printed in multicolors consisting of pinks, yellows, browns, dark reds, rusts, and off white, with no blues. They consist of twill-woven cottons and cotton-linens, plain-woven cottons and cotton-linens, corded weaves, and heavy napped textiles possibly called "velverets" in the period. Each swatch is identified by a serrated circular paper tag with an inked number from 5497 up to 5928. The interior of the book is inscribed in ink, "Thomas Smith, Manchester, 23 August 1783".
Label TextThis folding swatch book, which can be unrolled to a full length of almost eight feet wide, contains 430 small cuttings of cotton and cotton-linen goods printed and sold by manufacturer Thomas Smith of Manchester, England. Customers could select specific colors and patterns for their tailors or seamstresses to fashion into clothing. The lightweight textiles were used for women's gowns; the heavier napped velvets and corduroys were for men's suits and breeches. Smith's firm went bankrupt in 1788.

Inscribed"Thomas Smith, Manchester, 23 August 1783"
Provenanceex. collection Grace Hartshorn Westerfield

Thomas smith was a calico printer from Manchester. He went bankrupt in 1788. (See London Gazette, 1 April, 1788.) Research done on the firm by Mrs. Jason Westerfield.