The British Colour Council Dictionary of Colour Standards

Foreward by C. M Whittaker.

London. British Colour Council. 1951. Second, expanded edition. First published in 1934. 2 volumes, in Caledon Jade Green cloth, with silver titles, housed in matching cloth case; one swatch volume containing a concertina-folding card presenting 240 colour ribbon swatches on 12 boards; one text volume, 57 pages. 235 x 135mm (9¼ x 5¼"). 0.75kg. . English. Very good; slight shelf wear, swatches remain bright and fresh; darkening to cloth of case, light wear and marks to case; the case has preserved the swatch and text volumes well.

A scarce colour sample book, with all samples present. The British Colour Council was established in 1930 with the colonial aim of placing 'colour determination for the British Empire in British hands'. The present two volumes were produced with an intention to standardise colours across all colour-using industries. There are 240 colour swatches in the form of coloured ribbons, each with a combined matte and gloss weave. Each swatch is given a name, a B.C.C. number and a code word. The text volume lists each colour with additional notes and references to other standards, including cross-referencing to the BCC Dictionary of Colours for Interior Decoration published in 1949. It also charts the composition of each colour. This second edition contains 20 additional samples including Eggshell Blue, Mayflower Lilac and Medici Crimson. The book remains an invaluable aid for colour inspiration and matching, however few copies survive because they were used so extensively as working tools.