Vintage 1949 Dutch Leathercraft Book – Leerwerk by Geertruid de Graaff – Second Edition with Original Fold-Out Patterns
A beautifully preserved vintage Dutch leatherworking and design manual by renowned textile artist, leathercraftswoman, and art bookbinder Geertruid de Graaff. Published in Amsterdam by V. Holkema & Warendorf N.V., this second edition of Leerwerk (Leatherwork) belongs to the influential Boeken voor Vrouwenhandwerk (Books for Women's Handicrafts) series.
Originally published in 1937, this classic instructional volume documents traditional European leathercraft techniques, decorative design, and the construction of handcrafted leather accessories.
Book Details
Title: Leerwerk
Author: Geertruid de Graaff
Publisher: V. Holkema & Warendorf N.V., Amsterdam
Publication Year: 1949
Edition: Tweede Druk (Second Edition)
Language: Dutch
Binding: Hardcover with cloth spine
Illustrated with photographs, diagrams, and technical instructions
Includes original loose fold-out leatherworking pattern sheet
Contents & Illustrations
This comprehensive leathercraft manual explores traditional techniques for working with natural leather, including:
Selecting and preparing different types of leather
Cutting, shaping, and dyeing leather
Decorative stamping, embossing, and tooling
Leather stitching, braiding, and edge finishing
Constructing and lining leather accessories
Creating wallets, purses, eyeglass cases, belts, and handbags
Designing structured leather goods using traditional European craftsmanship
The book features detailed black-and-white photographs of finished leatherwork, including handbags, purses, decorative accessories, and intricate stitched designs.
Original Fold-Out Pattern Sheet Included
A particularly desirable feature of this copy is its original loose pattern sheet, titled Patronen van Enkele Leerwerken (Patterns for Various Leatherworks).
The sheet contains full-size cutting templates for several projects, including an eyeglass case, scissors case, wallet, purse, and handbag.
The original pattern sheet appears uncut and retains its original fold lines. Several additional loose template pieces are also included, as photographed.
The survival of these original patterns adds significant interest for collectors of vintage craft books and traditional leatherworking publications.
About Geertruid de Graaff
Geertruid de Graaff (1878–c. 1973) was a Dutch textile artist, leathercraftswoman, designer, and art bookbinder associated with the development of modern Dutch applied arts.
Trained in professional drawing in Rotterdam, she became known for her work in leathercraft and decorative bookbinding during the early twentieth century.
Her designs reflected the rationalist principles of the Dutch applied arts movement, emphasizing the relationship between an object's structure, practical function, materials, and decoration.
De Graaff was also an educator and author whose instructional publications helped preserve traditional craft techniques while introducing modern approaches to design.
Her work contributed to the growing recognition of women's professional participation in decorative arts and handicraft education in the Netherlands.
Design & Historical Significance
The book's distinctive geometric cover design, restrained typography, and modernist layout reflect the visual language of early twentieth-century Dutch decorative arts.
Its photographic plates document period leather accessories and handbag styles, offering an interesting historical record of European fashion, craftsmanship, and accessory construction.
The combination of practical instruction, original patterns, and modernist book design makes this publication appealing to both working leathercraft artisans and collectors of historical design literature.
Condition
Well-preserved vintage hardcover with attractive original cover design and cloth spine.
The binding appears intact, with clean, legible interior pages and well-preserved photographic illustrations.
Light age-related toning, minor surface wear, and handling marks are visible on the covers and pages. The original fold-out pattern sheet retains its fold lines and shows age-related wear consistent with its vintage character.
Original loose pattern sheet and additional template pieces included as photographed.
Why Collect This Book?
This publication brings together several desirable collecting categories: Dutch modernist design, historical leathercraft, vintage fashion accessories, traditional bookbinding, and women's contributions to twentieth-century applied arts.
The original fold-out patterns provide additional historical and practical interest, particularly for leatherworkers interested in recreating vintage European handbags and accessories.
An attractive addition to a collection of antique craft manuals, European decorative arts publications, or historical fashion and design books.
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