Standard Color Card of America. Ninth Edition

The Textile Color Card Association of the United States. New York. 1941. Revised, ninth edition. First published in 1915. Hardback; folding navy cloth-bound boards with gold titles and decoration, containing a concertina-folding card presenting 216 colour ribbon swatches on 18 boards; two pages of text to verso of boards. English. 260 x 155mm. 1kg. . Very good; wear to boards, cloth split along top outer hinge (but holding internally), fading to spine, some toning and marking to boards; some light browning to card, samples remain clean and bright; from the library of the American cinematographer Edward Cronjager, with his personal inscription - 'Property of Edward Cronjager - A.S.C.'.

The 1941 edition of the Standard Color Card of America. The card was first produced in 1915 by The Textile Color Card Association of the United States with the purpose 'to standardize colors for the Textile and allied industries so that the standard name or standard number will always signify the color so designated in this card.' This ninth edition contains 216 ribbon swatches, each with both a shiny satin and a matte crepe finish. Each colour is given a five digit "cable number". Before the First World War America had received many of their textiles and materials from Europe. The disruption in supply meant that the country now how to rely on their own internal manufacturing. The colour association was set up in order to create a national standardised system, with colours submitted and approved by an expert panel. The colour card was issued as a practical aid for businesses and creative industries (including textiles and fashion), first appearing in 1915 and then in numerous editions up to the tenth edition in 1981 (with the updated title Standard Color Reference of America). The Textile Color Card Association continues to operate today as the Color Association of the United States. Its influence remains wide-ranging, providing the standard for the armed forces of America and the official colours for the Stars and Stripes - 70001 White, 70075 Old Glory Blue and 70180 Old Glory Red. This copy was owned by Edward Cronjager (1904-1960), the Academy Award-nominated American cinematographer, evidencing the breath of industries in which the card was used.