Description
Artisan Ideas is happy and proud to announce that, with the kind collaboration of Richard Postman’s family, we have reprinted Anvils in America (AIA).
Readers can contibute to keeping Anvils in America up-to-date. Visit the book’s Errata and Addenda page.
European customers: Artisan Ideas books are now warehoused in the UK for faster delivery and lower postage costs across Europe. Order directly from our European distributor at MNG Bookshop.
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. This book is a must-have for both blacksmiths and collectors.
Recognized by blacksmithing guilds, tool collectors, and museum researchers, Anvils in America has long served as the standard reference work for identifying, dating, and understanding historic anvils. Its depth of documentation and maker-specific research continues to make it the most trusted resource in the field.
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.”
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
Readers can contibute to keeping Anvils in America up-to-date. Visit the book’s Errata and Addenda page.
⭐ 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: When will my pre-order ship?
A: Pre-orders will ship the week of January 5, 2026. We do not expect to have stock before Christmas, and priority shipping does not accelerate the release date.
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: Will this book be available outside North America?
A: Yes. Beginning in January 2026, Artisan Ideas titles—including Anvils in America—will be warehoused in the UK for European distribution.
