The Complete Book of Crochet, by Elizabeth Mathieson

I have a vintage copy of this book that belonged to my mother that dates back to the early 1950's. The first chapter is an illustrated explanation of how to do various crochet stitches (it was how I learned to crochet) and the rest of the book contains a wide variety of patterns for crocheters of all levels, from simple small objects for beginners to tablecloths, bedspreads, and clothing for the more advanced people.  The designs in it are so much more elegant and classic-looking than a lot of the more recent patterns I've seen.