The blue and white tradition is the oldest in porcelain and the most collectable; pieces are on the market in quantity and at every level of affordability. This text, intended for both the avid collector and armchair enthusiast, gives a piece-by-piece overview, supplying a breakdown of the different dates and areas of blue and white china, from Chinese export-ware of the mid-16th century to European transfer-printed pieces of the late-19th century. Some of the most exquisite porcelain of the great European factories was produced in blue and white patterns and the best is illustrated and discussed, including examples from the Meissen, Spode, Bow, Worcester and St. Cloud factories. Close-up photographs and artworks are used to pinpoint details and provide precise keys to dating.