Animation Art: The Early Years 1911-1953 (A Schiffer Book for Collectors) [Hardcover]

Jeff Lotman (Author), Jonathan Smith (Author)

Book Description

Series: A Schiffer Book for Collectors | Publication Date: August 1995

Animation art is among the most popular contemporary art forms. It captivates the imagination and awakens the child in us. With nearly 6800 pieces of animation art illustrated in this exciting book, most in color, Jeff Lotman covers the early period of animation, from the founding of the Winsor McKay Studio in 1911 to 1954 (a future volume will continue to the present). The art illustrated was offered at auction, which means that it is in the marketplace, an important fact for collectors. In addition to the 6,800 illustrated pieces, there is a listing of sales for several thousand additional pieces for which illustrations were unavailable. The book contains prices paid for the pieces at auction, making it a wonderful tool for assigning value. Mr. Lotman also shares his expansive knowledge of the art and the collecting. The animation process is explained in detail and important information for collectors is shared. This is easily the most comprehensive heavily illustrated view of animation art ever produced. It is a must have for every collector.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

The Early Years is the first in a planned two-volume set from Lotman, a veteran international collector who saw a need some years ago for this type of price guide. It features over 6000 photographs of original animation cels from 13 studios sold at major auction houses over the past ten years. Each entry reproduces the cel's original color and includes information on its size, condition, and price. Unfortunately, the lack of an index will leave animation novices baffled: the user must know what studio produced what short in order to locate any cel. Librarians desiring a less expensive guide should consider John Cawley's Animation Art Buyer's Guide and Price Guide (Malibu Graphics Pub. Group, 1993). Recommended only for comprehensive animation collections.?Anthony J. Adam, Prairie View A&M Univ. Lib., Tex.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

Jeff Lotman began collecting animation art more than 15 years ago with only the knowledge he gained from a high school course in animation. He purchased his first piece of animation art of Bugs Bunny in Greenwich Village, New York. Currently, Jeff writes "On the Drawing Board," a regular column for In-Toon animation magazine. Jeff lives in Philadelphia.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 427 pages
• Publisher: Schiffer Pub Ltd (August 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0887407633
• ISBN-13: 978-0887407635
• Product Dimensions: 11.2 x 8.9 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,264,288 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Resource for Collectors of Animation Art, October 10, 1999

By 

Debbie Weiss <BR>Wonderful World of A... (NY, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Animation Art: The Early Years 1911-1953 (A Schiffer Book for Collectors) (Hardcover)

I collect and sell vintage Disney animation art, and this book is a great resource for seeing what pieces have sold for what, and for helping to determine what pieces have been available.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Animaniac!, February 3, 1996

By A Customer

This review is from: Animation Art: The Early Years 1911-1953 (A Schiffer Book for Collectors) (Hardcover)

Mr. Lotmans book is an essential for anyone thinking of buying vintage animation art. Clearly this is one tool that you should have at your side when purchasing at auction or doing provenance work of any kind. Very informative with tonnes of great photographs, this book chronicles auction results from all the major houses over the last decade. Do not get caught without one!!!! P.S. Watch for the next ecition in the series to be published soon. Good Collecting

5.0 out of 5 stars Indispensable!, June 12, 2009

By 

Peter Elliott (Rochester, NY) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Animation Art: The Early Years 1911-1953 (A Schiffer Book for Collectors) (Hardcover)

Animation Art prices reflected in this book may not be accurate by today's standards, but this is one hell of a book to introduce anyone to the animators who made the Disney films a reality!