I’m Curious: The Connoisseur
I’m curious to find out if any Two Teens readers know of ANY publication comparable to an old journal called The Connoisseur. This magazine ceased publication in 1992, but throughout much of the twentieth century it catered to an audience interested in art, portraiture, heraldry, genealogy, antiques, furniture, lace, books – and Notes & Queries from readers!
I have a copy (online) from 1915. It is absolutely FASCINATING!
- February 1915 features “Some Unpublished Lawrence Portraits”
- two unidentified portraits in a private collection, wanting to be ID’ed
- “Notes on Wincanton Delft”
- answers to earlier unidentified paintings
- and “notes” on Rowlandson drawings
I’d be interested to learn if ANYTHING even remotely similar is out there, in print or online. It must indeed have offered a unique “given-and-take” for collectors, as well as those (like me) who just have an interest — or a burning desire to uncover things currently shrouded in mystery. Like more letters, diaries, or portraits of my dear Smiths & Goslings!
Between it’s articles and its queries, The Connoisseur: a magazine for Collectors must indeed have been a “crowd-sourced” pleasure to see on the newsstand or in your mailbox.
Here’s what I’ve quickly found, and hope you derive as much pleasure perusing their pages as I have:
- volume 1: Sept-Dec 1901
- volume 10: Sept-Dec 1904
- volume 13: Sept-Dec 1905
- volume 20: Jan-June 1908
- volume 54: May-August 1919
- volume 57: May-August 1920
- a complete index 1901-1905
- more editions and my copy of 1915 and more 1915
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“Things of beauty“: a 2014 blogger discusses the lure of the Connoisseur.
Two Teens in the Time of Austen 
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