Collectibles Books

Thomas Graham's Aurora Model Kits is an informative tome fill with models of cars, planes, tanks, and the like; but it was the monster/ sci-fi kits that brought back many nostalgic remembrances of my childhood days- most of which was spent reading monster comic books like Dick Briefer's The Monster of Frankenstein and Zombie Factory, while waiting for the paint to dry on my glow in the dark monster models. If you were a kid in the 60's and want to see some of the kits you begged your mother to buy you at Woolworth department store, this 160 page "time machine" is for you!

Wonderful value for the price. SRP is $29.95 and got it for $19.77 through Amazon. Tons of great historical information and lots of fabulous color photos of build-ups and original boxes. Price guide is "okay" as many prices are pretty far off compared to what they sell for on ebay, for example. All things considered, it's a great book!

Highly recommended to any afficiando of Aurora kits, particularly those who wish to recall the deeply statisfying pleasure of finding those great Aurora art work boxes under their Christmas tree in the 1950's!

Apart from its enormous appeal to nostalgia,the serious student will find the work very well organized and a most reliable reference guide well worth the outlay.
Dave Owen,
Stevensville, Ontario, Canada

I was so happy that Schiffer brought Dr. Graham's Aurora book back out. In fact, I sent in a card requesting they do so a few years back after I bought his Revell Model's book. I just loved the memories, especially seeing that just horrible "Yak-25/Mig-19" kit Aurora put out. Of course it was totally fanciful, but I remember 51 years later the day I bought it. There are kits in here that have disappered from existence for so long, like the model knights and the USS Halford, which I had thought was a Revell model until Dr. Graham was kind enough to answer an e-mail a few years ago. For any of us who grew up in the 50's making models, this book is a must. It is amazing, it brought back friends, times, feelings, the whole 9 yards. Dr. Graham is an excellent writer and obviously historian, you won't be sorry. Get this and his Revell book and just be 8,9 or 10 again.

I should mention that if one is not interested in model aircraft, particularly the models built in the fifties, you should skip along to something else, but for someone who actually built many, if not most, of the kits in this book, this was a marvelous gift, memories of days when fun was the order of the day.

The historical information was most welcome, and Graham gives the reader a look inside the business of a model company in the fifties, a company that made some great strides in some areas but whose products were never considered the meat of "true modelers." The kits may not have been accurate -- the Me-109 was simply awful, and cast in a metallic burgundy besides, and the "Mig 19" resembled no aircraft ever flown by the Soviets -- but they were invariably fun. They were actually better in terms of fit and casting quality than some products presently on the market. And as a special treat, they were the only source for armored knights, gladiators, and movie monsters. Even the movie monsters issued by other companies were actually molds from the defunct Aurora line.

The only question is whether the book was more fun to read or to look at for the pictures.

This book is about the most fun you can have with 1960s comic books without actually sitting down and reading them. Mr. Silver Age has a sly-but-respectful style of relating the silliness and fun of some of our favorite superheroes from that time. It's a style that works even if you aren't familiar with the origial stories themselves.

The book is lavishly produced with color reproductions of funnybook covers and appropriate comics panels on every page so you know exactly what the commentary is referring to. My only complaint with the book is that some of the reproductions are too tiny for this silver ager's eyes to see, but that just leaves more room for the copy!

Lots of trivia spread throughout, fun quizzes, and wry observations from Mr. Silver Age Craig Shutt make this the most funnest book about the beloved comics of my youth I've read.

Thanks to Krause and the Comics Buyers Guide for publishing this. When's Vol. 2 coming out?

--your pal, Hoy

I liked this book mainly due to the twists and turns of plots many years ago, that often puzzled me. I even sought out collector's copies of the comics he mentions in his book. Craig is easy to talk to, too, so go ahead and email him.>>>

Being a member of that tiny subset of us who were nurtured on the "funny books" of the sixties, this book was simply a delight. It's not really a scholarly treatise on this time in the development of this mass media, but it is a fond celebration with not a little influx of sardonic wit. I looked forward to each new smile chapter after chapter forced upon my visage.

Sure, there are more expensive hardcover books on comics out there that treat the medium (and themselves) very seriously. But this book is a welcome relief from that pseudo-intellectualism. It's fun to read and enjoy the author's encyclopedic knowledge of the comics of our youth. Excellently illustrated. This one's a keeper - buy it.

Comic book publishers are happily discovering a renewed interest in just about every title from the 1960s, and are repackaging those yellowing old comics in just about every format you can think of -- from expensive glossy hardcovers to inexpensive b&w omnibus editions.

The publication of this book is not only evidence of that trend, but in fact evidence that BABY BOOMERS COMICS' author, Craig Shutt, had a lot to do with sparking the renaissance of the glorious old Silver Age comic books. Consider: When Shutt began writing his column for COMICS BUYERS GUIDE, back in the early 1990s, the comic book field was obsessed with "grim 'n' gritty" heroes-turned-villains, ridiculously overendowed "bad girls" and an almost complete lack of humor. Through his regular "Ask Mr. Silver Age" columns, Shutt was able to remind readers -- many of whom were born well after the 1960s -- that there used to be a lot of plain old goofy FUN in the comic books, whether it was the backward-thinking and -talking Bizarros, the cross-dressing Jimmy Olsen, Spider-Man's frequent costume catastrophes, and of course the trend for which the Silver Age is best known: talking gorillas. Shutt made it cool to love those old comic books all over again. Is it any coincidence that nowadays you can buy complete collections of those Pop Art and Go-Go Checked classics off Amazon or in any bookstore? I think not.

With this book, Shutt proves once and for all (as if there was any doubt) that Silver Age comics were not only good, but good for you.

I had no idea what to anticipate when I ordered this book, having heard only of the Billy Boy-designed 80's "Feelin' Groovy" Barbie (a lovely doll, by the way). I was quite pleasantly surprised to see the glorious photos in this book, which included, as others have said, clips from Barbie comic books and stories, which you rarely hear about, in addition to fantastic photos of Barbie in her 59-60's, 70's and 80's fashions. The text is interesting and informative (tho I found a couple small errors - the American Girl Barbie of the mid-60's didn't have a "flip" Marlo Thomas hairdo as Billy Boy conjectures, but a "page boy" style, which wasn't nearly as popular at her release as the doll later became, hence her rarity & desirability on today's reseller market), and I absolutely adored the many photos of fashion icons/real-life models from the 50's and 60's and their stylish clothing, from which Barbie's earliest outfits were clearly derivative. As a minor collector, I am always intrigued that Mattel went to such lengths to design and create these early doll outfits, out of luxe fabrics like silk, brocade & real fur that you wouldn't expect today's (or yesterday's) small child to play with carefully. But Mattel did go to these lengths, most wonderfully, and Billy Bob is able to capture that exact sense of amazement. He does an excellent job of featuring and providing history for some of Barbie's family, friends and later incarnations, and does a particularly great job defining Midge (and later Barbie BFFs as well). This is a book for Barbie-lovers and collectors, or for those nostalgic for that simpler, yet elegant era of haute couture. I wouldn't use it as a reference guide to clothing or dolls for the collector, however. It isn't complete in that sense - not all outfits are featured, nor are all accessories used perfectly accurate. But as an addendum to your collection of "everything there is to know about Barbie", it's suberb, riveting, and the photos are remarkable.

Having met the author in Paris in the early nineties I can sincerely say that Billy Boy knows his subject well.He is an expert not only on Barbie but on Bleuette and various other fashion dolls.This book gives a fascinating account of Barbie's itineraries as fashion icon and pop phenomenon.It contains some very interesting photos of Barbie's best outfits from the late 50ies to the late 80ies as well as a great gallery of Barbie portraits dressed by every well known designer.Also,lots of information on Barbie family members.A must.

Although more than a decade old, this book continues to fascinate me. Mattel owes a debt of gratitute to Billy Boy*, whose landmark coffee-table book inspired many, including myself, to start their own Barbie collections. I own three copies of this book, whose narrative is as fascinating as its photos (Twiggy and Malibu Christie are two of my favorite Barbie friends, and are given prominence in this book). The photography also captures the "fun" of Barbie, and are not merely dolls posed in a wire stand. "Great" says it all ...

This book about one of the world's greatest doll really emphisises the fasion of Barbie. The photos are absolutly stunning; with shots of the original doll to the French, Italian, Brittish, and American designers to Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein, Chanel, etc! He covers all the fasions of the time periods, which starts from when she was first debuted to middle 80s, and especially mentions the Haute Couture. The history of Barbie is very good; I think out of all the books I read about her history, this one has the most, and also the most facts about things that you never really knew. It shows alot of things that weren't coresponded to Barbie and her fasions mainly; It has the Bild Lilli and Twiggy dolls (a brief page or two), old comics or books on her, and on a lot of pages, you will see someone who was famous back then, who he thinks the doll had some connection to (i.e., Brigette Bardot, Elizabeth Taylor, Kim Novak, Marilyn Monroe, Bettina, etc.). It covers the Barbies and accsessories, like Flirting Miss Barbie, the twist and turn era, Color Magic Barbie, Talking Barbie, and many of Barbie's pets. A very good book if you are intrested in knowing what actually made barbie famous and knowing her history and fasions.

Most fans know Billy Boy as one of the "original" fashion designers who lent their skills to Barbie couture. Billy Boy was perhaps the most ardent admirer of the 11-1/2" fashion doll, and while his association with Mattel lasted for only two doll releases (1985's Le Nouveau Theatre de la Mode and her followup Feelin' Groovy), his tribute to the Fashion Queen Extraordinaire lives on in this book. If you are looking for a guide to identifying dolls or viewing a complete history of the most popular toy in the world, you'll be disappointed, but if you want a true tribute from one of her biggest fans loaded with pictures of one-of-a-kind dolls from the world's most well-known designers, then this is the book for you.

This is the best and most comprehensive book on barbie fashions of the mod era. It shows you what the fashions look like nrfb as well as loose. It is a must have for any barbie collector.

Everything you could want to know about this period of Barbie and the photographs are beautiful.

This book is as close to being perfect as any can get in the Barbie world. Not only is it informative and well-written, it's fun too!

Each outfit is explained in detail, with each part listed, along with what parts may be more difficult to find, any variations in the outfit, etc. All of these items, where possible, are photographed flat and clearly so you can see each item separately and know what each thing is. Then, another photograph is taken on the doll, in a fun setting that usually goes with the name of the outfit somehow, so you can actually see how the outfit looks on a doll, something which I think is really important.

The photographs are great pretty much right across the board. The book is well-written, with a great sense of humour. All in all, you can't go wrong if you're into Mod-era Barbie and buy this book!

This is a fabulous book! Wonderful and informative descriptions. The photographs are some of the cutest and most creative I have ever seen. Lovely. I highly reccomend this book!

It tells you so very much about the mod world of Barbie. It gives you so much to sink your teeth into that I couldn't put it down for about an hour or longer.

This is a very good reference for vintage structures, but be aware that it mainly covers the vintage era (pre-1973) with only a few select items up to 1975 or so. Still looking for that perfect reference book for those collecting Barbies from 1973 on...

This is a great book for reliving long lost toys, and in the case of us people in Australia where many of these items didn't make it to our shores, what we missed out on as kids. For the collector, it is a good guide to what is still out there, probably waiting to be rediscovered in long lost closets or or ebay when they are given the opportunity for a new lease of life.

I am delighted to own this book, not only because it does a quite perfect job of listing every little piece which came with some of Barbie's early and Mod Era houses/cases/rooms, especially the rarer items, but because the photos are fantastic and fun - posing Barbie and her family/friends in these structures, in many of her wonderful period outfits, is simply genius! Demonstrating how to use some of these structures for displays of your collected Barbies, Marl creates a complete world in miniature. I was surprised to learn that the very old, cardboard furniture & structures designed for Barbie have withheld the ravages of time much better than many of the molded plastic furniture sets/houses from the late 60's/early 70's. An excellent book, and a must-have for the scene-designing Barbie collector!

If you collect vintage barbie dolls, you will also need vintage houses and furnitures to display your collection.

WOW!
This book helped me turn a trunk full of parts and pieces (That I thought was junk) into a dozen Sets . The excellent photos and parts listings are very helpful when you need to know what exactly came with any given set. This book covers Cardboard and plastic structures and sets for barbie and all her friends and family, an excellent book for any collector.

Okay, you might ask what a guy like me is doing reviewing a book on Barbie Dolls. Well, for one thing, I happened to pass down the collectible aisle in the local bookstore, which had books on collecting coins, stamps, signatures, cars, antiques, art glass, dinner plates, you name it, and on the end, was the book on Barbie Dolls, with information on prices and rarity. So I picked it up and took a look. I was surprised to see some of these dolls go for nearly $1000, but most of the dolls in this book go for $10 to $50.

Also, the Barbie Doll is probably one of the most important pop culture icons of the last 40 years. Hundreds of millions of Barbie Dolls have been sold in just about every country.

The book also had some interesting historical info. The first doll came out in 1959, and from there until 1966, there was only one head mold used, altered slightly for the Fashion Queen and Miss Barbie Dolls. From 1967 through 1976, there were four different head molds used (the original 1959 was used for Montgomery Ward, Twist n' Turn Barbie, Stacey, and Steffie Dolls).

Since 1977, however, many other molds have been used, offering more variety and ethnic diversity, including the 1981 Oriental Barbie, the 1983 Spanish Barbie, the 1991 Shani Barbie, the 1992 Mackie Neptune Fantasy Barbie (which looks like it might have been Aquaman's girlfriend or significant other, from the comic strips), and the 1999 Fantasy Goddess of Africa Barbie.

The book also contains info on prices and rarity, and other general information on each model, including clothing, accessories, face make-up, Ken dolls, and other Barbie paraphernalia.

I found this book easy to use because it was well organized. I also found the prices to be on target. The pictures are great and they cover most of the collectors dolls. They also give you all the right basic information you would want to know about a doll.

Good resource. Would have been much better if each doll was listed by name under the category in table of contents. ie; Bob Mackie: Queen of Hearts,etc. and the page number where it can be found. Some Bob Mackies are in the porcelain section as well as designer section and would be missed if you don't know your dolls, which is why you buy the book in the first place.

I absolutely recommend this book! Very Detailed-from the beautiful Silkstones to the innovative Dolls Of The World-Princess Collection(I have almost EVERY one!)-stunning photos, close-ups and all-if you collect Barbie, you MUST have this book(and the other with the special store editions)-

I have been a fan of J.Michael Augustiniak since I read his first "Encyclopedia".As a Barbie Collector who lives in a foreign country and doesn't have the same access to the informa
tions that are necessary to buy a doll,this book gives you a full view of all the types that have been made, their market values,focusing into the designers' work,the changes a Barbie
doll has been passing through and the most amuzing part:The one
of a kind dolls,which we woudn't be able to know if it wasn't for this book. Excellent for rechearch and a very accurate source for a good purchase.
A must-have!

Barbie is looking good in all my favorite LA hot spots. Cant wait to see her in Paris!

A friend had the book and we all loved it. I can't wait to get my own copy. The book is fun, creative, well done and brings back many memories of hours of fun and the joys of youth.

This book is just TOOOO CUTE! It is so well done from the text to the photographs. I still have my #6 Barbie with many of the clothes featured in the book and the photographs of my favourite hot spots in L.A. The book makes this such a special souvenir (it was a birthday gift)uniting my childhood with the present. Barbie, I'm 2 years older than you and look just as great!!!

Barbie loves L.A. is by far the cutest book I have ever seen. I postitvely love it! My favorite picture would have to be Barbie at the Walt Disney Concert Hall. Barbie's outfits are so rad and she goes to a bunch of my favorite places in L.A.! I wish some of those outfits were mine!

Fabulous! Fabulous! Fabulous! If you love Barbie or love L.A. you will love this book. If you hate L.A. and love Barbie you will love this book. If you hate Barbie and love L.A. you will love this book and if you hate both you will still love this book.

It's really great.

If you're a die-hard baseball fan, then you'll love this auction catalogue featuring Barry Halper's unique collection of baseball memorabilia. If you can't make it to Cooperstown, this book is full of some of the most incredible pieces of baseball history short of the Hall of Fame. From the first baseball ever used, to Babe Ruth's last will and testament, each page brings you closer to baseball heaven. The ultimate guide to baseball lore and a must for the "can't wait till spring training" baseball fan.

This is filled with great photos of some of the most amazing baseball memorabilia that you'll ever seen. The book can be really, really expensive, so try to find it used.

Andy.

This collection is a history of the great game of baseball. The Babe Ruth collectables alone are stunning, add in the Joe DiMaggio and all of the photos! Wow! To spend a few hours browsing this set of books is magic! I can't say enough (can you tell).

Very nice indeed. Photographs of sale items, which have distinct value. What I loved most was the inclusion of lot numbers and their final sale prices. Millions of dollars spent on what, at that time, were just some trinkets and a hobby.

Very well presented and I really like what I continue to see.

This book is great. The pictures are beautiful, the descriptions informative--an all around great piece of work for sports lovers. It's well worth the money.

This book provides so much of the information I was seeking.
Geographical,historical,pictorial,technical,ancient and contemporary.
The cloth itself comes with a rich history and part of the pleasure of collecting batik is identifying the motifs and colour usage from various areas.
This book can and does provide so much background content of interest that it is difficult to peruse methodically and the urge to flick backwards and forwards with each page promising curious temptations
to absorb.

A wonderfully rich book on batik, including valuable contributions by Indonesians. This will become a classic. Lively, sophisticated, and informative, as well as gorgeous in its imagery. This is the kind of writing we need on textile arts! A splendid addition to my library!

As a batik lover...this is a great book. Ever since I travelled to Jogjakarta in Java and saw my first batik mask hanging on the wall in a restaurant I was hooked. I'm traveling back to Yogya this month and plan to take a batik class. As a result of my travels to Indonesia, I decided to start my own business importing batik and other items. So 7 years later, I have manufactured and import tons of batik to the U.S. and love it all. Especially the traditional batiks. Warning...shameless promotion to follow: check out our site 1 World Sarongs for our beautiful collection from Java and Bali or you can even find us here on Amazon Market. Anyway, this is a great book with loads of beautiful pictures and articles. I'm still reading it but so far it's very good. I'm biased because I fell in love with batik.

This book is essential for anyone interested in batik and its history in the Indonesian island of Java. It also provides Java's religious background and how batik was affected by Buddhism, Hinduism, and Islam. The pictures are outstanding, showing to the reader the complexity of batik and the great talent of Indonesian batik artists. I would recommend this for anyone, especially those interested in art or Indonesian culture.

This book is eye candy. The fabrics shown in this book have amazing detail, sophisticated designs, and the colors are beautiful. The fabrics are lovingly photographed. I would recommend this book for anyone who is interested in design, patterns, or textiles. And the book itself is beautifully produced.

I found the place by accident; I always do. It isn't as though I set out looking for them but they call out to me. I don't even have to see them. Sometimes I can simply sense their presence. The closer I draw, the greater their insistence, the more persuasive their arguments, and the stronger the attraction. A good bookstore is irresistible.

Some time ago, I was with some friends and we stopped in a café briefly. My bookstore indicator went through the roof and after very little looking, I discovered the Acorn bookstore in Grandview. I'll save the complete story for another time. Inside, I found a book of particular interest: one that might describe how I am able to discover such bookstores so easily and why I am so enamored of books. The volume was Holbrook Jackson's The Anatomy of Bibliomania, this 1981 edition being supertitled, The Book About Books.

"Bibliomania" sounded like a strong word to me-its meaning obviously being "book-madness." Nevertheless, consideration of the possibility seemed wise, and likely a pleasurable task, as it would include an addition to my library and some hours spent in reading and introspection. After looking over the extensive table of contents, I turned to the opening and read, "The Author to the Reader." Therein, it said:

"Gentle Reader, I presume thou wilt be very inquisitive to know what antic or personate actor it is that so insolently intrudes upon this common theatre to the world's view, arrogating as you will soon find, another man's style and method: whence he is, why he does it, and what he has to say. 'Tis a proper attitude, and the questions clear and reasonable themselves, but I owe thee no answer, for if the contents please thee, 'tis well; if they be useful, 'tis an added value; if neither, pass on, nor, in the observation of what wise Glanvill, hath any one need to complain, since no one is concerned about what another Prints, further than himself pleaseth; and since Men have liberty to read our Books, or not, they should give us leave to write what we like, or forbear, which for the most part they do.

"Yet in some sort to give thee satisfaction, which thou hast a right to demand, since I have caused my book to be printed and sold for money, I will show a reason both of this usurped title and style. And first for the name and form, which I hae so freely adapted from Robert Burton his Anatomy of Melancholy: lest any man by reason of it should be deceived, expecting a pasquil, a scherzo, a burlesque, a satire, some humorous or fantastic treatise (as I myself should have done, recalling that all parodies are jests), I may at once undeceive him, for my intent is serious; I have gleaned the crops of innumerable authorities scattered far and wide, winnowing the chaff from the grain, and setting out the various species in such an order that they may best contribute to our knowledge of books in general and of Bibliomania in particular."

I was hooked, and purchased the book. Its structure is thirty-two parts, covering such things as "Of Books in General," "The Pleasure of Books," "The Art of Reading," "Study and Book-Learning," "A Pageant of Bookmen," "The Influence of Books," "Borrowers, Biblioklepts and Bestowers," "Of Bibliomania or Book-Madness," and concludes with "Bibliophily Triumphant."

A passage I found particularly noteworthy was "Men Who Become Books: Biblianthropus."

"If, as I have shown, pro captu lectoris habent sua fata libelli, [`The reader's fancy makes the fate of books'] books, as I have also shown, make the fate of their readers; it is a quid pro quo, give and take."

As I read through the text, I found that the treatise became an increasingly plausible argument that I afflicted by bibliomania. I have long believed in this quid pro quo and indeed have proclaimed to the entire world time and again that lego, ergo sum. Even so, in the sections where Jackson discusses the hunters and collectors of books, he shows that bibliomanes often do not read their books. Their love of books is often superficial, appreciating much about them but ultimately being driven by such things as greed, or at the very least profit. I found myself disconnected from the subjects of the discussion.

The opening of the conclusion, entitled "Wedded to Books," I found myself once again connected with the subject. Jackson advises:

"Let us love books as we love, dum vires annique sinunt, while we are in the flower of years, fit for love, and while time serves,

Gather ye rose-buds while ye may,
Old Time is still a-flying:
And this same flower that smiles to-day
To-morrow will be dying."

Bibliophily is a natural and even healthful state, for books are the most timeless way for us to proclaim who we are and to find out who our ancestors were. I suggest that there is no better way to find one's place in the world than first to survey the world. I hold that there is no better way to survey the world and human experience than through books. With this knowledge of the world, one has a frame of reference for one's own experiences and can see one's own life in perspective. This understanding will not only enhance one's own experiences, but through discernment leads to wisdom: knowing what to do when confronted with decision, how to promote what is ultimately good. Or, as Johann Kaspar admonished:

"Act well at the moment, and you have performed a good action to all eternity."

So this is the crux of bibliophily for me, even if I do enjoy such simple pleasures as seeing, smelling, and touching books. Nevertheless, the world of books is large enough to allow for reading that is less purposeful in nature, even allowing for the pointless. Other bookmen, whether bibliomanes or bibliophiles, may well take liberty of disagreement with me; and I have no interest in preventing them in any case. Having taken Jackson's tour of bibliomania, I am well satisfied with both the content and presentation. And I'm delighted to have another volume to add to my library.

I adore this book! I have it on my nightstand and can just open it up anywhere and be entertained and delighted. One can find facts and qoutes that are truly beautiful. I few of the passages literally took my breath away.

If you love books and reading, this is a MUST have!

If you are an aficionado of "books about Books" ,you'll love this classic.
The author,Holbrook Jackson ,who died in 1948 at the age of 73 was one of England's foremost men of letters.He was primarily a "bookman" who loved books and everything about them,and what they were to him ,he wanted them to be for others.It has been said, that when it came to books he was a conductor,not a composer-and what a brilliant conductorhe was.
This book was first published in 1930 when Jackson was 55. It came out in 2 volunes comprising 435 pages and a small printing of only 1,000 copies. It has been reprinted in several editions and still available in a soft cover. It is one of those books that people hold onto and is readily available in various editions. I bought my copy in "The Sleepy Hollow Bookshop" in Midland ,Michigan,in 1997.It is the Hardcover edition ,published in 1950,consisting of 668 pages ,excellent condition,including the dj,and very reasonable priced at $20. As I have always been attracted to books about books,I was captivated by it immediately. Since that time,I have glanced at it many times,but finally got aroumnd to reading it through. Since the time I bought it,I've read several other books about books and written reviews on them. I 've enjoyed them all ,but this is without doubt a classic.
You must keep in mind that this book was written 60 years ago .It also concentrates mainly on British and European books,collectors,authors,classics,etc.However;what the author writes about applies to any books anywhere.He covers everything imaginable about readers,collectors ,booksellers,collections and not muchabout authors ,other than their love of books,versus writing them. Also,don't think that ,with so many pages,the book is too detailed and gets bogged down.There ree co many subjects covered that any subject covered is done in a couple of pages.It is broken down into 32 Parts or Chapters.with each Part again broken down into several sectionsFor instance ,Part XXXIV,

The Symptons of Bi"Tbliomania;there are 7 sub sections;
I.The Symptons Introduced
II. Wherein the Madness Lies
III. Its Main Character an Obsession
IV. Of Hording
V. Bibliotaphs and Book Misers
VI.Of Pluralists
VII. The Mania for Rarity.
All this is covered in 18 pages.
One thing that becomes very evident is the immense difference with readers and books from the time this book was written and today ;is the introduction of the Internet on the whole world of Bibliography. Those were the days that most books were found in small local bookstores.Book lovers spent endless hours searching bookstores in hopes of finding their books. Now virtually any book can be found and acquired via the Internet. Also,Bookfairs and Events like street sales are great ways to find books and even meet authors.In Totonto we have huge charitible used
book sales run by Univrersities.;who get donations of books from theri Alumni.
And then we have Amazon and the communitaion among readers with Customer Reviews. All these new advancements would be totally unimaginable,to Bibliophiles.But ,once again,all the things that Jackson talks about are stii as revalent today as they were then ;but even more so.

a tongue-in-cheek look at the "madness" of bibliomania, inspired by Robert Burton's 17th century classic "The Anatomy of Melancholy", this book is filled with fun facts and interesting anecdotes from the world of books. If you're a book-collector, booklover, bookseller, or just all-around bookaholic, you'll delight in this compendium of book trivia, and in the clinical classification of the numerous manifestations of bibliomania (book-madness), from the book-thief to the book-abuser to the book-hoarder, and everything inbetween - but be careful you don't find yourself described therein!

This is it. Huge, plenty of data, infinite in its approaches, full of ideas, rich in details, abundant in humor and written in a circunvoluted english as if written by a XVII wit. In fact, as if Robert Burton would have done it now, as in fact he did it then.