This is a work of both scholarship and beauty. Ms. Allen has documented over 500 samplers, illustrating 150 of them in color in this book. There are a total of 240 illustrations, as she has included, where available, portraits of the embroiderers, as well as pictures of landscapes and monuments that inspired the designs. Ms. Allen has grouped them by the county in which they were produced. Since most samplers were presumably produced under the tutelage of professional teachers, they are then grouped by styles and subjects that seem to indicate a common source. In addition, Ms. Allen has groupings by minorities such as African-Americans and Jews.

It is remarkable to see the kind of work that even very young stitchers were capable of producing. The work includes not only samplers, per se, but other types of work done by young women. Where possible, Ms. Allen has given the reader information about individuals culled from a variety of sources. As a result, she adds to our understanding of life during this time period. The appendix includes a table of samplers, and there is also a detailed index.

This should become a classic in needlework. ( )