Anybody seen this little book?

[MacLowlife]

Do any of our tartan scholars know the elementary TARTAN SPOTTER'S GUIDE? Any comments?

[MacEanruig]

I have a copy of The Tartan Spotter's Guide by James D. Scarlett. At 85 pages it's a brief guide. The author describes a technique for spotting and identifying tartans based on a simple set of principles such as, plain checks, checks with overchecks, counterchanges, stripes, and tartans based from popular tartans.

He also adds the background and history of tartans and how they developed in regards to weaving and the use of original dyes. It was published in 1973 BI (before internet), and only discusses around a 180 plus tartans. With the exception of the 32 color stripes in the back of the book, it's printed in green, black and white. He also includes a smattering of threadcounts.

I bought it more for the collector appeal, but I learned a few new things after reading the book.



Hope this helps.

[Dughlas mor]

James D Scarlett, a giant in the field of tartan research. I`ve heard him mentioned here before. A brief bio from STA:

http://www.tartansauthority.com/rese...d-scarlett-mbe

[figheadair]

The TGS is a good little book for what it was, an attempt to prove a basic guide to understanding tartan. In essence it was a layman's version of D.C. Stewart's Setts of the Scottish Tartans. Scarlett was a long term friend, student and collaborator of Stewart.

Both books are slightly dated and subsequent research (much of it unpublished) refined/contradicted some of the statements in both.

[OC Richard]

I became a pretty good tartanspotter after working for a few years at a Highland outfitter.

One of my jobs was to stock a huge rack of tartan neckties. A shipment of ties would come in from Lochcarron and I had to organise them on the rack. I got good at immediately recognising the 500 or so tartans we kept in stock.

That's been nearly 30 years ago and memory fades but even now when I see a tartan the name will often come to mind.

[MacLowlife]

I saw the book and picked up a copy for a few dollars. I have not read the whole thing yet, but I like the author's writing style. I expect many books get contradicted by further research, but I assume the system of tartan "sorting" can still be used and relied upon. Thanks, all, for the additional info.
m'll

[figheadair]

I saw the book and picked up a copy for a few dollars. I have not read the whole thing yet, but I like the author's writing style. I expect many books get contradicted by further research, but I assume the system of tartan "sorting" can still be used and relied upon. Thanks, all, for the additional info.
m'll

Absolutely. The only thing that's really changed since both authors wrote is the introduction of an increasing number of non-traditional colours and shades. The key is to reduce them to their base terminology; red, blue, green etc., qualified by light and dark and, where necessary, describe the actual shade.

[Jock Scot]

Absolutely. The only thing that's really changed since both authors wrote is the introduction of an increasing number of non-traditional colours and shades. The key is to reduce them to their base terminology; red, blue, green etc., qualified by light and dark and, where necessary, describe the actual shade.

I seem to remember reading somewhere that the introduction of these non-tradional colours to tartan was described as a "modern conceit".