http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photographic_lens_design
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Large_format_lens
http://www.opticalres.com/gentle_introduction.html
http://web.riverdeep.net/portal/page?_pageid=818,1382970,818_1382995&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL
http://www.canon.com/camera-museum/tech/l_plant/main.html

hi DD

there is some nice info in those links..but you really have to dig quite a bit.not just lenses..collector items, some ancient japanese manuals..german/english/italian..

http://www.taunusreiter.de/Cameras/index.html
http://www.taunusreiter.de/Cameras/Nikkor_NonAI_Objektive.html
http://www.taunusreiter.de/Cameras/Biotar.html

http://whitemetal.com/pentax/index.htm
http://whitemetal.com/pentax/index_pentax_lenses_short_telephoto.htm
http://whitemetal.com/pentax/st_85_19/index.htm

http://www.cameraquest.com/classics.htm
http://imaging.nikon.com/history/nikkor/index.htm
http://www.marcocavina.com/omaggio_a_kubrick.htm
http://www.skipwilliams.com/olympus/pen-lit.htm

cheers&good luck :),
marco

Wow I wasn't excepting so much answers, thanks for all the links !