Ackermann’s Repository of Arts
In readying an article for publication, I was on the lookout for period images of the Chute estate, The Vyne. What joy when I found a ‘library’ of Ackermann’s The Repository of Arts, Literature, Commerce, Manufactures, Fashions and Politics! (Later renamed The Repository of Arts, Literature, Fashions, &c) These are the “famous” journals from which fashion plates have been extracted – and those fashion plates certainly have an important role to play in the lives of the Smiths and Goslings!
Just because Internet Archive has them rather jumbled (for there are two ‘bound’ issues per calendar year), I list here those that I’ve found – and will augment this list whenever I find new issues have been posted. (Or, is it not true that it published through 1829?)
1809 – 1st half (vol. 1); 2nd half (vol. 2)
1810 – 1st half (vol. 3); 2nd half (vol. 4)
1811 – 1st half (vol. 5); 2nd half (vol. 6)
1812 – 1st half (vol. 7); 2nd half (vol. 8 )
1813 – 1st half (vol. 9); 2nd half (vol. 10)
1814 – 1st half (vol. 11); 2nd half (vol. 12)
1815 – 1st half (vol. 13); 2nd half (vol. 14)
1816 – 1st half (series 2, vol. 1); 2nd half (series 2, vol. 2)
1817 – 1st half (vol. 3); 2nd half (vol. 4)
1818 – 1st half (vol. 5); 2nd half (vol. 6)
1819 – 1st half (vol. 7); 2nd half (vol. 8 )
1820 – 1st half (vol. 9); 2nd half (vol. 10)
1821 – 1st half (vol. 11); 2nd half (vol. 12)
1822 – 1st half (vol. 13); 2nd half (vol. 14)
1823 – 1st half (series 3, vol. 1); 2nd half (series 3, vol. 2)
1824 – 1st half (vol. 3); 2nd half (vol. 4) 
1825 – 1st half (vol. 5); 2nd half (vol. 6)
1826 – 1st half (vol. 7); 2nd half (vol. 8 )
1827 – 1st half (vol. 9); 2nd half (vol. 10)
1828 – 1st half (vol. 11); 2nd half (vol. 12)
I just *love* the color prints of estates – The Vyne is found in October 1825’s issue (opposite page 188). Of course the FASHION PLATES are very well known (this one is also from 1825), and have been reproduced quite frequently — but one bit I have never encountered before are their “muslin patterns”. I remember coming across a letter (at the Essex Record Office) in which Mary had traced out the pattern her sister Elizabeth had used for a sleeping cap made for Charles. And here are very similar — though much more extensive — patterns that could be exceptionally useful for embroiderers working today. An important find indeed.
Here is a useful article on Rudolph Ackermann himself.
Two Teens in the Time of Austen 
36. Fabrics and Fashion Plates: Patterns from Ackermann’s Repository | 100 Objects said,
November 2, 2011 at 5:42 am
[…] in libraries (e.g. via COPAC). Of course, there are various digitised versions online; this blog post from Two teens in the time of Austen is a useful guide to the archive.org versions and also recommends this fascinating article about […]
angelinajameson said,
August 4, 2015 at 3:31 pm
Very informative plates. Thank you for sharing.
Janeite Kelly said,
August 5, 2015 at 11:27 am
Hi, Angelina – Thanks!
BTW, there are other plates which may interest you – though I’ve (so far) only posted two. They are PDFs and found on the page entitled “Mirror of Fashion”: https://smithandgosling.wordpress.com/ackermanns-repository-of-arts/mirror-of-fashion/
One is from 1817: https://smithandgosling.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/mirror-of-fashion_1817_july-dec.pdf
The other from much later, 1831: https://smithandgosling.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/mirror-of-fashion_1831.pdf
Thanks for visiting — and especially for commenting!
k
angelinajameson said,
August 5, 2015 at 12:54 pm
Thank you for the links. I will check them out. :)
Elizabeth said,
August 5, 2015 at 1:44 pm
Wonderful information. Thank you for sharing.
Janeite Kelly said,
August 12, 2015 at 4:34 pm
Thank, Elizabeth – you and Angelina make me want to take another look (I do from time to time), so see if other issues (or titles!) are also available.
k
The Fashions of Childhood said,
March 24, 2016 at 12:00 am
[…] children are not usually thought of in the world of high fashion, with his debut of The Repository of Fashion… in 1809, Rudolph Ackerman provided modern readers with a record of what was worn by even the […]