Description
The definitive reference used worldwide by blacksmiths and collectors to identify, date, and understand antique anvils and their makers.
Artisan Ideas is happy to announce that, with the collaboration of Richard Postman’s family, we have reprinted Anvils in America (AIA).
About the Book
Anvils in America is an extensive and impressive research work covering how anvils were made, who made them, and where they were produced. There are dozens of old anvil advertisements and hundreds of photographs of anvils with explanatory text.
Richard Postman identifies and defines 17 distinct parts of an anvil. He discusses anvil weights and weight markings, how to date an anvil, and the many reasons why so many anvil patterns and types exist. Material selection and manufacturing processes are well covered.
Recognized by blacksmithing guilds, tool collectors, museum researchers, and working smiths, Anvils in America has long served as the standard reference work for identifying, dating, and understanding historic anvils.
The book includes detailed coverage of major historic anvil makers such as Mousehole Forge, Peter Wright, Wilkinson, Hay-Budden, Trenton, Fisher & Norris, Söderfors, Columbian, and others, making it an essential resource for identifying specific anvils and their origins.
This is not a casual overview but a lifetime reference work—far more detailed and dependable than scattered online sources.
This is a must-have reference for blacksmiths, collectors, historians, reenactors, and anyone serious about identifying and understanding historic anvils.
Reviews and Endorsements
From Jock Dempsey of AnvilFire.com:
“This book is huge! (11¼ x 8½ x 1½ inches and almost 5 pounds!). When I ordered this book I thought it was a little pricey but after getting my hands on it I realized that it was worth as much as any of the $200 references I have bought from ASM. When this encyclopedic reference was published a decade ago the author thought he would be lucky to sell the first thousand copies. They all sold in less than a year and the book is now in its fifth printing and still selling!
Referring to Anvils in America is so common in blacksmithing and collecting circles that it is merely referred to as ‘AIA.’ Want to know when your anvil was made? Refer to AIA. Want to identify the maker of your anvil and learn their history? Refer to AIA.
Prior to AIA, there were a few collectors of anvils and very few had an idea of what they had, how old or how rare. Today there are hundreds of anvil collectors and tool collectors that covet certain anvils. Antique anvils have become a hot item at sales and on eBay. There are now numerous private anvil museums.
Anvils in America is the single authoritative reference on anvils, their manufacture, history and lore. The early history of anvils starts with European makers, many long gone and now unknown. They are known only by the quality of their work and distinctive styles that are illustrated with photos by the author. The history continues with the dominance of the English anvil makers that had the power of the British Empire behind their distribution of anvils worldwide. Later U.S. makers replace the dominance of the English and other countries start to export anvils to the U.S. Anvils in America documents much of this history through the makers of today! Anvils in America includes many anvil manufacturers’ logos as they changed over time and approximate dates of use. It also includes rare, difficult-to-find serial numbers of several makers with time of manufacture.
Many rare and unusual anvils are shown, such as the huge bridge anvils used in railroad shops and in oilfields, chainmakers’ anvils, sawyers’ anvils, and double-arch anvils. Anvil lore included in AIA covers true stories and fiction — anvil shoots gone wrong and what happens when you put too big an anvil in a compact car… Also included are the humorous anvil postcards by Gill Fahrenwald.
How anvils were made and many anvil manufacturing patents are found throughout the book.
The only complaint about this book is that once a blacksmith or tool collector picks it up, they cannot go to sleep until they finish it! A wonderful gift for a blacksmith, historian, tool collector, or reenactor.”
Other Comments and Reviews
“What do you say about a book that measures 8 1/2” by 11” by 1 1/8” thick and contains 550 pages of information about anvils? Probably not much, unless you are a blacksmith! This is a great reference and research book for people wishing to know more about Anvils in America and in the world. Richard has put together a vast amount of information on anvils, how they were made, who made them and where. There are hundreds of pictures of anvils and dozens of old anvil advertisements reproduced for your reference and a lot of explanatory text that is interestingly written. Can I recommend this book? Without question! If you are a blacksmith, someone interested in blacksmithing tools, or a collector of blacksmithing tools including anvils, this book is a must for your library, and that is especially true if you are a collector.” – Fred Holder (book author, and founder of the magazines: Black Powder Times, Blacksmith’s Gazette, and More Woodturning Magazine)
“If you are interested in buying second-hand anvils, old anvils, and if you need the ability to identify anvils, to know more about anvils, to know who the manufacturers were, this is the # 1 resource out there that you are going to want to use” – Philip Waters (YouTube channel:
What’s Covered in the Book
This comprehensive reference includes detailed chapters on major anvil makers and types, including:
Mousehole Forge • Peter Wright • William Foster • Wilkinson • Hay-Budden • Trenton • Fisher & Norris • Columbian • Söderfors • Kohlswa • Arm & Hammer • Vulcan • Samson • and many others.
It also covers key topics such as anvil identification, dating methods, serial numbers, maker’s marks, manufacturing processes, and historical development across American and European traditions.
Book Details
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564 pages
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Hardcover
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Over 700 illustrations
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Printed in 2025
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Large format (11¼ × 8½ × 1½ inches)
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Approx. 5 pounds
NOTE: Readers can contribute to keeping Anvils in America up-to-date. Visit the book’s Errata and Addenda page.
European customers: Artisan Ideas books are also warehoused in the UK for faster delivery and lower postage costs across Europe. Order directly from our European distributor at MNG Bookshop.
⭐ This is a complete and authoritative reference that no blacksmith, tool collector, or metalworking historian should be without.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What makes Anvils in America the definitive reference book on anvils?
A: Richard Postman spent more than fifteen years researching the history, makers, patents, logos, serial numbers, and manufacturing methods of American, English, and European anvils. The depth of documentation and the inclusion of rare catalogs, photographs, and charts make this the most authoritative resource available.
Q: Does the 2025 printing contain all the content of the original edition?
A: Yes. The 2025 printing includes the complete original text, illustrations, charts, ads, maker histories, and appendixes. No material has been removed.
Q: Will the book help me identify and date my anvil?
A: Absolutely. The book contains detailed diagrams, maker-mark examples, serial-number tables, weight-marking systems, and dozens of period advertisements that allow blacksmiths and collectors to identify an anvil’s origin and approximate age.
Q: Is this edition hardcover and full-sized?
A: Yes. This is a large-format hardcover measuring 11¼ × 8½ × 1½ inches and weighing nearly five pounds.
Q: Is this book available outside North America?
A: Yes. Artisan Ideas books are also warehoused in the UK for faster delivery and lower postage costs across Europe. You can order directly from our European distributor at MNG Bookshop.
