Recommended Library for Lighting Enthusiasts
The following books offer a good start for your lighting research. The list includes books for many interests. Some of the books are out of print but may be available. Click the Out-of-Print links to check for used books.
A good source for out-of-print books is bookfinder.com. Rushlight Club members may place an ad in Flickerings to find out-of-print books. For information about placing a Flickerings ad, please contact the Flickerings Editor:flickeringseditor@rushlight.org
Please email webmaster@rushlight.org if you find any errors or can suggest other sources for out-of-print books.
General Reference
- BARLOW, RAYMOND and KAISER, JOAN, The Glass Industry in Sandwich, Vol. 2, Schiffer Publ, 1989 Hardcover or Paperback
- CASPALL, JOHN, Making Fire & Light in the Home pre-1820 (Woodbridge, Sussex, Eng., Antique Collectors' Club, 1987) Out-of-Print
- COOKE, LAWRENCE S., ed., Lighting in America: From Colonial Rushlights to Victorian Chandeliers. (New York, Main Street/Universe Books, 1975) (Antiques Magazine Library) Out-of-Print
- DARBEE, HERBERT C., A Glossary of Old Lamps History News, American Assoc. for State and Local History, Tech. Leaflet 30, Nashville, Tenn. 1965 (Currently Unavailable)
- DIETZ, ULYSSES G., The Dietz Catalog of 1860 The American Life Foundation, 1982, Illustrated Available from the Rushlight Club
- GOWITT, GERALD, 19th Century Elegant Lighting, Schiffer Publishing, 2007 Available
- HAWKINS, JAY W., Glasshouses and Glass Manufacturers of the Pittsburgh Region: 1795 - 1910. iUniverse publishing, Bloomington, IN 2009 Available
- HAYWARD, ARTHUR H., Colonial and Early American Lighting. 3rd enlarged ed. with Intro. and Supplement "Colonial Chandeliers" by James. R. Marsh. New York: Dover Publications Inc., 1962 Available
- HEBARD, HELEN BRIGHAM, Early Lighting in New England 1620-1861, Rutland, VT: Charles E. Tuttle Co., 1964 Out-of-Print
- HOUGH, WALTER, Collection of Heating and Lighting Utensils in the U.S. Natl. Museum, Smithsonian Inst., U.S. Natl. Mus. Bull. 141,1928 (Reprinted 1951 by The RushIight Club.) Available
- KAISER, JOAN E., The Glass Industry in South Boston. University Press of New England, 2009 Available
- 0'DEA, WILLIAM T., The Social History of Lighting. London: Routledge and Kegan Paul, 1958 Out-of-Print
- ROBINS, F. W., The Story 0f The Lamp. (Reprinted). Bath, England: Pitman Press, 1970 Out-of-Print
- RUSHLIGHT CLUB, Early Lighting: A Pictorial Guide. Published by The Rushlight Club. Second Ed., Rev., 1979 Buy directly from The Rushlight Club
- RUSSELL, LORIS S. and JANET HOLMES, A Heritage of Light: Lamps and Lighting in the Early Canadian Home. Toronto, Canada: University of Toronto Press, 2003 Available
- THWING, LEROY L., Flickering Flames. Rutland, Vt.: Charles E. Tuttle Co., 1958 Out-of-Print
- WATKINS, C. MALCOLM, "Artificial Lighting in America 1830-1860". U.S. Natl. Museum, (From Smithsonian Report for 1951), Smithsonian Inst. Publ. 4080, 1952 (Currently unavailable)
- WILSON, WENDELL E., Frog Lamps: A Survey of Examples from 1529 to 1979. (n.p., Rushlight Club, 1981) Out-of-Print
Candle
- BACOT, H. PARROTT, Nineteenth Century Lighting, "Candle-powered Devices 1783-1883." Exton, PA: Schiffer Publishing Ltd., 1987 Out-of-Print
- BUTLER, JOSEPH T., Candleholders in America 1650-1900, New York: Crown Publishers, Inc., 1967 Out-of-Print
- MICHAELS, RONALD F., Old Domestic Base Metal Candlesticks. Woodbridge, Suffolk, England: Antique Collectors' Club, 1978. Out-of-Print
- WILLS, GEOFFREY, Candlesticks. New York: Clarkson N. Potter Inc., 1974 Out-of-Print
Electric
- COX, JAMES A., A Century of Light The Benjamin Co., Pub., NY (basically electric lighting and Edison) Out-of-Print
- COURTER, J.W., Aladdin Electric Lamps, and Alacite by Aladdin. Simpson, Ill., J.W. Courter, paperback, 1987 Available
- COURTER, J.W., Aladdin Electric Lamps Collectors Manual and Price Guide #3 Available
- LEWIS, FLOYD A., The Incandescent Light Shorewood Pub., NY 1961 Out-of-Print
Gas
- MYERS, DENYS PETER, Gaslighting in America Washington, D.C.: Department of the Interior, Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation, 1978 Available
- REES, TERENCE, Theatre Lighting in the Age of Gas London: The Society for Theatre Research, 1978 Out-of-Print
Whale Oil/Kerosene/Burning Fluid
- BARLOW, RAYMOND and KAISER, JOAN, A Guide to Sandwich Glass, Kerosene Lamps and Accessories (The Glass Industry in Sandwich Series), Schiffer, 1997 Paperback
- BARLOW, RAYMOND and KAISER, JOAN, A Guide to Sandwich Glass, Whale Oil Lamps and Accessories (The Glass Industry in Sandwich Series), Schiffer, 1997 Paperback
- BARLOW, RAYMOND and KAISER, JOAN, Price Guide for Volumes 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the Glass Industry in Sandwich (The Glass Industry in Sandwich Series), Schiffer, 1993 Paperback
- BARLOW, RAYMOND and KAISER, JOAN, Sandwich Glass Price Guide : For Pieces in Perfect Condition Schiffer, 1999 Paperback
- BENESCH, LADISLAUS, EDLER VON, Old Lamps of Central Europe and Other Lighting Devices, trans. and ed. by Leroy Thwing. (Rutland, Vt., Tuttle, for the Rushlight Club, 1963) Out-of-Print
- BLACK, LINDA LEE YOUNG, Lantern Enlightenment: A Kerosene Lantern Reference Guide. Wharton, NJ, L.L. Black, 1982 (Currently Unavailable)
- COURTER, J.W., Aladdin Collectors Manual and Price Guide # 23 Kerosene Mantle Lamps. 2017 Available
- COURTER, J.W., Angle Lamp Collectors Manual & Price Guide, Identification and Value Guide, 1992 Available
- COURTER, J.W., Center-Draft Kerosene Lamps 1884-1940, Identification and Value Guide 2008 Available
- HOBSON, ANTHONY, Lanterns that Lit Our World:How to Identify, Date and Restore Old Railroad, Marine, Fire, Carriage, Farm and Other Lanterns . Spencertown, NY: Golden Hill Press, 1991 Available
- HOBSON, ANTHONY, Lanterns That Lit Our World:Old Railroad, Marine, Fire, Carriage, Farm & Other Lanterns, Vol. II. Spencertown, NY: Golden Hill Press, 1998 Available
- THURO, CATHERINE M. V., Oil Lamps, The Kerosene Era in North America. Paducah, KY: Collector Books, 1976 Available
- THURO, CATHERINE M. V., Oil Lamps II: Glass Kerosene Lamps. Paducah, KY: Collector Books, 1983 Available
- THURO, CATHERINE M. V., Oil Lamps III, Victorian Kerosene Lighting 1860-1900 Paducah, KY: Collector Books, 2001 Available
- WOLFE, JOHN J., Brandy, Balloons, & Lamps : Ami Argand, 1750-1803 1999 Available
Mantle Lamps
- COURTER, J.W., Aladdin: The Magic Name in Lamps: Aladdin Kerosene Mantle Lamps Simpson, Ill., J.W. Courter, 1997 (revised). Available
- KAIM, ANTON, The Evolution of the Kerosene Mantle Burner, Published by the Author Available - See Book Review for Ordering Information
- SMALL, T.W. & CHRISTNER, J.R. Aladdin to Ziu: The Early Kerosene Mantle Lamp Era in America Commercial Press, Cumberland, MD, 2017 Available
Matchsafes
- ALSFORD, DENNIS B., Match Holders, 100 Years of Ingenuity, Atglen, PA: Schiffer Publishing Ltd., 1994 Available
- SULLIVAN, AUDREY G., A History of Match Safes in the United States Riverside Press, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., 1978 Out-of-Print
Miners Lamps
- CLEMMER, GREGG S., American Miners' Carbide Lamps Westernlore Press, Tucson, AZ, 1987 Available
- POHS, HENRY A., Mine Lights: The Miner's Flame Light Book Denver, CO: Flame Publishing, 1995 Available
Miniatures
- HULSEBUS, MARJORIE, Miniature Victorian Lamps Schiffer Pub., Atglen, PA, 1997 Available
- HULSEBUS, MARJORIE, Price Guide for Miniature Lamps Schiffer Pub., Atglen, PA, 1998 Available
- RUF, BOB & PAT, Fairy Lamps: Elegance in Candle Lighting Schiffer Pub., LTD., Atglen, PA 1996 Available
- SMITH, FRANK R. & RUTH E., Miniature Lamps I. New York and Toronto: Thomas Nelson & Sons, 1968 Available
- SMITH, RUTH E., Miniature Lamps II. H. Exton, PA: Schiffer Publications Ltd., 1982 Available
- SMITH, RUTH E., The Accurate Price Guide for Miniature Lamps I and II Schiffer Pub., 1988 Out-of-Print
- TIBBETTS, DOROTHY, Clarke's Fairy Lamps. Huntington Park, Cal., Mission Press, 1951) Out-of-Print
Railroad Lighting
- BARRETT, RICHARD, The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Railroad Lighting, vol. 1 - The RR Lantern. Rochester, NY, Railroad Research Pub. 1994 Out-of-Print
Miscellaneous
- BARLOW, RAYMOND and KAISER, JOAN, The Glass Industry in Sandwich. Schiffer Publishing, 1997 Hardcover or Paperback
- MAGIC LANTERN SOCIETY of GREAT BRITAIN, The Ten Year Book. (London, 1986) Currently Unavailable
- McDONALD, ANN GILBERT, Evolution of the Night Lamp. DesMoines, IA: Wallace-Homestead Book Co., 1979 Out-of-Print
- MOSS, ROGER W., Lighting for Historic Buildings. Washington, D.C.: The Preservation Press, 1988 Available
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