The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Woodworking Handtools, Devices & Instruments is the first volume in Graham Blackburn s paperback Illustrated Workshop series. It s a comprehensive pictorial index of the woodworking handtools common in the Western civilization from eighteenth century to the present. Not only a fascinating record of trades and skills from cabinetmakers to wheelwrights in an age before powertools became the norm, The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Woodworking Handtools is also a remarkable tribute to man s technological ingenuity. More than 600 tools are listed and described, both alphabetically and fully cross-referenced for easy access, from the adze, awl, bevel, and bit to the wrest, yardstick, and zig-zag rule, complete with explicit definitions, interesting etymologies, and fascinating historical information. This classic reference contains more then 570 of Blackburn s trademark detailed line-drawings, accompanied by an expert s authoritative text. Whether used a handy guide book to identify a tool and its use, or read simply for enjoyment, this book stands along in capturing the sophisticated beauty and inventiveness of woodworking handtools."