The Book paperback, 136 pages, 180 x 240 mm, 8 pages in colour illustrated throughout in black and white over 250 photographs publication July 1998 Kangaroo Press ISBN 0 86417 946 4

THIMBLE COLLECTING is one of the fastest growing areas of collecting in the world. Some people collect thimbles because they are fascinated by sewing tools from an earlier era while some are attracted to a specific theme, only collecting, for example, floral patterned thimbles. Thimbles of Australia has something of interest for every collector. Every known type of thimble relating to Australia has been included - from the early highly-collectable gold and silver thimbles and handpainted porcelain thimbles to the cheap and cheerful range of souvenirs, the novelty and the gimmicky, to the handmade thimbles of today. This useful book provides plenty of trails for the collector-sleuth to follow up. A comprehensive index cross-references the thimbles by theme and by the place they were made, including details of special commisions. Over 250 photographs are included; 80 detailed illustrations of the maker's marks and backstamps help in identification, which is especially useful where the marks have worn poorly over the years. SUSAN GOWAN is the author of Thimbles and Other Needlework Tools: a selective bibliography (1995), an extensive research guide for collectors Australian and intenational. Her passion for thimbles began in 1984 when she was given a Wedgwood 250th anniversary thimble. BETTY MALONEY's delicately detailed botanical artwork appears in numerous Kangaroo Press publications. Although she was given her first thimble, a boxed silver Dorcas, for her 21st birthday, thimbles really entered her life in 1964, when St Vincent de Paul shops sold silver ones for 6d.

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The Cover Find out more about the thimbles featured on the cover

Top row (left to right) Gold NIFTY - the word NIFTY circled indicates 9ct gold silver lined Westminster China - Kangaroo Paw. one of a set of nine floral designs South Australian Digitabulists Society's (SADS) first thimble - painted by Pat Adam

Middle row (left to right) Blue Wren by Kyneton Fine China Bicentenary thimble in pewter by Mark Models with "Australia" depicted in red "Bushell's Blue Label Tea" aluminium advertising thimble

Bottom row (left to right) Koala on china painted by Irene Barnett Gold thimble by George Palfrey of Melbourne Vicky Winter's handpainted Aboriginal design

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Errata Since publication, a few errors have been picked up Make these changes to your own copy

p37 - left column Zygmunt Libucha p38 - right column Syd Oats p82 - left column Riccardo Pizzimento p91 - left column Swarovski crystal. There are five thimbles in this set by Swarovski Crystal of Austria

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Buy Buy the book directly from the author

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Last updated 20 October 2009

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