Automata Hardcover – 23 May 2017

Ordered this book because I'm studying automata through the ages. The promise was there of a detailed study, but when it arrived I'm afraid it didn't satisfy on those grounds. There is an authoritative and well presented history, but it's mainly stuff you can find elsewhere for a much keener price. Where it leads to is Cleef & Arpels Fée Ondine, a modern (2017) stunning beautiful jewelry automata. Worth googling for if you are unaware of it - it's stunning, and like this book, very, very expensive.That's not to say that the production of the book isn't worth it. In my day job as a graphic designer I can say authoritatively that I have rarely seen books with the production values that this had. As an example of the printer's craft it is outstanding. Some of the pictures are a bit dark, but I assume that they are supposed to be that way; many of the colour plates are protected by semitransparent paper - something not often seen now. Overall this is a superb productTrouble is, in the end you feel the book is really a brochure about this one object; and in that case I couldn't justify the nearly £60 purchase price, so I returned it. But I shall look out for a second hand one!