Uniformology

Full Color Uniform Plates

Reviewed by Craig Martelle

It appears that the long lost Knotel plates have been recovered and are back in print! Professor Richard Knotel is the most famous and prolific military illustrator in history. During the last part of the 19th century and the first part of the 20th he illustrated numerous books and produced several series detailing German military uniforms. His most important work remains the Uniformenkunde, the most comprehensive and complete compendium of military uniform illustrations ever produced.

It includes 1072 plates detailing the uniforms of 90 countries form the mid 1600's to the beginning of WWI. The Seven Years War, the Napoleonic era, and the Victorian period are very well represented. Uniformology offers the fines high quality reproductions of the entire series in 3/4 scale printed on the most modern high-tech equipment on a custom order basis. Each plate is printed on the best quality heavy cover weight paper. The cost is $2.75 per plate or ten plates for $24.95. Plates are also available on gloss paper at $5.50 each or ten for $49.95. In Uniformology's master catalogue, there are over 15,000 plates! Send a check for $10 to get two samples and the catalogue: Uniformology, Box 81, Weatherford, TX, 76086 or call (817) 626-0586 to order. They also have a web page: http://www.uniformology.com/ and an e-mail address uniformolo@aol.com. Check out the web page (a little slow loading because of the large graphics) and you'll see some of their offerings as well as a good listing of their catalogue.

The two samples I received were of Russian Artillerymen 1812-1814 and the 2nd Regiment d'Eclaireurs de la Garde Imperiale. The colors were bright and the detail superb. These plates are suitable for framing and would greatly enhance the wall space of any den or office. The printed space on these plates will fit in a 6"x 9" frame and would fill in those empty spaces you have on your walls. Uniformology has specials going on other products they have in stock, such as a complete set of 1914 German Hussar line drawing and color prints. These are a limited set, available for $39.95 plus $3 shipping.

At this point in time, you can also get a copy of the original Knotel catalogue printed in the 1960's. 52 pages with 1052 plates detailed by country and type. As a historical source for uniform color information, they are invaluable. Buy the plate for your units, paint them, and compare. If they look the same, you're in! I plan to order about 20 plates with flag information for Regimental Colours and will pass on how long it took to process the order and the quality of the custom prints. This company has hit the market at full-speed and I don't see where they are going to slow down. I expect to see these prints start showing up everywhere. Highly recommended!

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© Copyright 1997 by Craig Martelle Publications
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