ADELINE CORDET
Here are the booklets I know of from Adeline Cordet's self-published series. Reviews are of the books of the series that I own. "She" published during the 1910's and -20's, and was multi-disciplined. I collect her for her tatting patterns, of course, but am interested in putting together a full run of all her books. She published during a time period where there was a lot of competition from other great designers like Anna Wuerfel Brown, Emma Farnes, Mary E. Fitch, Sophie LaCroix, and Virginia Snow - all self-published and master designers of several needlearts.
Above was my original write-up. Below are the facts that the spectacular Becky Clark was able to find out. This perios was far more interesting than even I expected!
Becky Clark has done some sleuthing and come up with these biographic details:
Adeline Cordet was a pseudonym for Paul Helmut Giessow (b. 1877), the manager of Valley Supply Co., St. Louis, Missouri. In 1910 he was listed as the bookkeeper in a mail order business, in 1920 he was manager, and in 1930 he was listed as manager, art needle work. He died in 1950 at the age of 73. His gravestone appears to have been designed by an artist, and his wife predeceased him.
There is so far no indication whether his wife Ella was involved in the needlework publication business, but in 1930 their daughter Ilsa (b. 1907) was a studio commercial artist and their daughter Adelheid (b. 1909) a jewelry designer. Books were published under the name Adeline Cordet 1915-1921. The first book in the series was published in 1915 under another pseudonym, Jane Ford.
[Giessow (Paul H.)] Book of yokes and 100 designs for all kinds of work in cross stitch or filet crochet—the easy way. Book no. 1, by Jane Ford [pseud.] [St. Louis, Mo., Printed by Buschart bros. printing co., 1915] cover-title [12] p. illus. 4to. $0.10 [23907
© Oct. 13, 1915; 2 c. and aff. Oct. 16, 1915; A 414066; Valley supply co., St. Louis.
[Giessow (Paul H.)] Crocheted edgings and insertions, with complete instructions. Book no. 2, by Adeline Cordet [pseud.] [St. Louis, Mo., Printed by Buschart bros. printing co., 1915] cover-title, 15 p. illus. 4to. [26558
© Nov. 5, 1915; 2 c. and aff. Dec. 29, 1915; A 418251; Valley supply co., St. Louis.
-CATALOG of Copyright entries, 1915
Cordet (Adeline) [25783-25786
Books 3, 4, 5, and 6, © 1916
-CATALOG of Copyright entries, 1916
[Giessow (Paul H.)] [413, 414
Book of monograms and initials for embroidery, by Adeline Cordet [pseud.] cover-title, 17 l. (1 carbon) obl. 12mo. (Book no. 8) $0.10 © Sept. 3, 1917; 2 c. Jan. 5, 1918; aff. Jan. 3, 1918; A 480930.
Classy yokes, illustrated, with instructions, by Adeline Cordet [pseud.] 15 p. ills. obl. 12mo. (Book no. 7) $0.10 © July 31, 1917; 2 c. Jan. 5, 1918; aff. Jan. 3, 1918; A 480931.
© Valley supply co., St. Louis.
-CATALOG of Copyright entries, 1919
Pix
Bibliography Entries
Filet Crochet the Easy Way with Instructions, Book No. 1,
by Jane Ford (TPB:1915)
Notes: 15 pages; Country: USA; Publisher: Valley Supply Co., St. Louis, MO; ISBN: None;
I don't know why this book is considered the first of the Cordet series, but it is...
Crocheted Edgings and Insertions with Complete Instructions, Book No. 2,
by Adeline Cordet (TPB:1915)
Notes: 15 pages; Country: USA; Publisher: Valley Supply Co., St. Louis, MO; ISBN: None;
Dainty Crocheted Boudoir Negligees and Tatting with Complete Instructions, Book No. 3,
by Adeline Cordet (TPB:1916)
Notes: 15 pages; Country: USA; Publisher: Valley Supply Co., St. Louis, MO; ISBN: None;
Edgings in Crochet with Complete Instructions, Book No. 4,
by Adeline Cordet (TPB:1916)
Notes: 15 pages; Country: USA; Publisher: Valley Supply Co., St. Louis, MO; ISBN: None;
Tatting: Designs and Instructions, Book No. 5,
by Adeline Cordet (TPB:1916)
Notes: 15 pages; Country: USA; Publisher: Valley Supply Co., St. Louis, MO; ISBN: None;
Crocheted Gift Novelties with Complete Instructions, Book No. 6,
by Adeline Cordet (TPB:1916)
Notes: 15 pages; Country: USA; Publisher: Valley Supply Co., St. Louis, MO; ISBN: None;
Classy Yokes Illustrated with Instructions, Book No. 7,
by Adeline Cordet (TPB:1916)
Notes: 15 pages; Country: USA; Publisher: Valley Supply Co., St. Louis, MO; ISBN: None;
A Book of Monograms and Initials for Embroidery, Book No. 8,
by Adeline Cordet (TPB:1917)
Notes: ?? pages; Country: USA; Publisher: Valley Supply Co., St. Louis, MO; ISBN: None;
How and What to Knit and Crochet with Yarns, Book No. 9,
by Adeline Cordet (TPB:1917)
Notes: 24 pages; Country: USA; Publisher: Valley Supply Co., St. Louis, MO; ISBN: None;
Yokes and Edgings in Crochet, Illustrated with Instructions, Book No. 10,
by Adeline Cordet (TPB:1918)
Notes: 15 pages; Country: USA; Publisher: Valley Supply Co., St. Louis, MO; ISBN: None;
No token tatting patterns in this one...
Knitting Kraft Illustrated with Instructions, Book No. 11,
by Adeline Cordet (TPB:1918)
Notes: 15 pages; Country: USA; Publisher: Valley Supply Co., St. Louis, MO; ISBN: None;
No token tatting patterns in this one...
Filet Sweaters and Collars, Book No. 12,
by Adeline Cordet (TPB:1918)
Notes: 15 pages; Country: USA; Publisher: Valley Supply Co., St. Louis, MO; ISBN: None;
Ripple Sweaters(knit), Book No. 13,
by Adeline Cordet (TPB:1918)
Notes: 15 pages; Country: USA; Publisher: Valley Supply Co., St. Louis, MO; ISBN: None;
Filet Creations in Yokes and Gifts, Illustrated and Instructions, Book No. 14,
by Adeline Cordet (TPB:1921)
Notes: 15 pages; Country: USA; Publisher: Valley Supply Co., St. Louis, MO; ISBN: None;
