The Harvard Classics Vintage Books (1909-1910)

The Metropolitan Seminars in Art series was written by John Canaday, a renowned art critic and historian, and published by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in the 1950s. It was designed to make art appreciation accessible to a general audience, focusing on the study of painting, artistic techniques, movements, and history.

Each volume explores a specific theme, such as “Realism,” “Abstraction,” or “Expressionism,” providing insights into artistic styles, techniques, and the cultural context of art. The books include tipped-in color plates, which are fine-quality reproductions of notable artworks. These plates could be detached for display, making them highly collectible.

John Canaday’s clear and engaging prose simplifies complex art concepts, making the series appealing to both beginners and seasoned art enthusiasts. Spanning a wide range of artistic movements, the volumes provide an in-depth yet approachable art education experience.

The series remains a sought-after collectible for its timeless educational value, elegant design, and inclusion of high-quality artwork reproductions. It is especially prized when complete and in good condition with the original prints intact.

We source our Bygone Goods from all over! Through our travels, we’ve built strong relationships with exceptional antique and vintage vendors across the country.

Sometimes, we simply stumble upon rare finds in hidden gem stores.

Every piece we list is carefully curated—if it doesn’t meet our high standards of quality and uniqueness, it doesn’t make the cut.

We ship using USPS and UPS, depending on the destination and the products ordered. All shipments include tracking and up to $200 of insurance.

Complimentary Shipping (Domestic Only):

• USPS Ground Advantage: Complimentary on orders over $100.00.
• USPS Priority Mail: Complimentary on orders over $200.00.

Shipping Times:

• Most items ship within two business days (Monday to Friday, excluding holidays).
• Orders placed by 12 PM Pacific Time often ship the same day.
• We aim to ship on Saturdays whenever possible, but this service is not guaranteed.

Additional Notes: 

• Posters and artwork may ship separately from other items but will be dispatched simultaneously.
• Photographs will ship within two weeks.
• While we offer insurance on your shipments, once a package is marked “delivered,” insurance no longer covers theft or loss.
• Shipping costs are non-refundable. 

International Orders:

• For international orders, customs duties, taxes, and fees may apply. These are determined by your country and are the responsibility of the recipient.
• We do not ship knives internationally.
• International orders that include lighters must be shipped UPS. (There will be no other options at checkout). 
• If you ship via USPS, please expect lengthy delivery times and limited tracking availability. 

For our full shipping policy, please see shipping policies.

Photographs, posters, vintage artwork, vintage items, and "Bygone Goods" products are FINAL SALE and are not returnable.

In cases where items are damaged in transit, exceptions may be made. Gladfellow reserves the right to address these issues on a case by case basis. 

For our full return policy, please see return policies.