Impressively bright color cards – Not to be confused with another publication by Paul Baumann 

BAUMANN, PAUL.

Neue Farbentonkarte. System Prase D.R.G.M.

Aue, Baumann, (1912).

Text accompanying booklet (8 x 13 cm) Misch-Tabelle zu Baumanns Neuer Farbenton-Karte. System Prase. (32) pages and 1291 (instead of 1359) color tone cards. The colour cards in the format 7.3 x 11.8 cm and 6.8 x 12.7 cm.

Size of the storage boxes 13 x 29 x 8 cm and 13.5 x 7.5 x 8.4 cm. Loose in 2 original boxes.

EUR 3000

In the bibliographical record and descriptive evaluation of this publication, we have tried to be accurate and not to repeat erroneous information in catalogs and offers in antiquarian and auction catalogs – I hope that we have been successful. Different spellings also lead to confusion; Paul Baumann usually calls his publications Farbentonkarte and not Farbtonkarte. Not to be confused with another publication by Paul Baumann with an almost identical title. I was able to offer a completely different edition in 2023: https://antiquariat-rohlmann.de/book/baumanns-neue-farbentonkarte/

At least two slightly different editions and presentations have been published. This set is a combination of slightly different copies. The first difference consists in the different original storage boxes, there are editions with four boxes for all 1359 colour cards in the format of 13.6 x 7.5 x 8.5 cm each, covered with green or blue linen, there are also boxes in the format 13 x 29 x 8.5 cm, which contain all 1359 colour cards. One variant contains the colour numbers with bluish stamping ink on the reverse, the composition of the colour can then be found in the text booklet, in the other variant the colour numbers and the colour composition are given in detail in letterpress. The sizes of the cards also differ slightly: the cards with a stamp on the back measure 12.7 x 6.7 cm, the cards with letterpress printing on the back measure 11.7 x 7.3 cm.

It was not only in science and research or in industry that binding colour standards were considered in the early 20th century; the craft also provided the impetus to harmonise the diversity of colours and the equally diverse demand for colourants and colour applications. Otto Prase (1874-1956) and Paul Baumann (1869-1961), master painters and colour theorists, contemporaries of the Nobel Prize-winning chemist and colour researcher Wilhelm Ostwald (1853-1932), did this for the painting trade.

The colour sample cards with original colour markings are numbered on the reverse with consecutive numbers from 1 to 1325 (+ 34 colour sample cards numbered a to c or d), making a total of 1359 cards published. The enclosed small text booklet lists the colour tones contained in all 1359 colour cards.  In the present copy 64 cards are missing and 31 cards with very small cut-off strips. I will be happy to send you a list of the missing cards on request, as well as numerous other photos of the set.

The lettering on the large box somewhat faded, all colour cards in absolutely fresh condition.

Bassenge, Berlin, Auktion 116, 2020, lot 3554, 3.800 EUR + buyer’s premium. In contrast to the catalogue description, this copy was not complete, 16 cards were missing. The lot also contained other writings by Paul Baumann.

No copies found in OCLC.