Collectibles Books

The young Hal and his instructor in the art of living the good life , Falstaff cavort through the first half of Henry IV as if life were going to be one long , irresponsible entertainment. The dramatic transformation of all of this , and Hal's casting off of Falstaff, and moving to kingly responsibility will come in the Henry IV Part II.
What is present here throughout is the tremendous richness of Shakespeare's imagination in his creation of character, and inventiveness in language , in his ability to create so many different moods and feelings.
'Falstaff' is one of Shakespeare's most beloved characters, and one of the great figures in the Comedy of world literature.
Enjoy.

This is the play where the Percy rebellion begins and centers around the Achilles-like Hotspur. Eventually, Hotspur (Henry Percy) and Prince Hal (Henry Monmouth - later Henry V) battle in single combat.

We also get to see the contrast between these young men in temperament and character. King Henry wishes his son were more like Hotspur. Prince Hal realizes his own weaknesses and seems to try to assure himself (and us) that when the time comes he will change and all his youthful foolishness will be forgotten. Wouldn't that be a luxury we wish we could all have afforded when we were young?

Of course, Prince Hal's guide through the world of the cutpurse and highwayman is the Lord of Misrule, the incomparable Falstaff. His wit and gut are featured in full. When Prince Hal and Poins double-cross Falstaff & company, the follow on scenes are funny, but full of consequence even into the next play.

But, you certainly don't need me to tell you anything about Shakespeare. Like millions of other folks, I am in love with the writing. However, as all of us who read Shakespeare know, it isn't a simple issue. Most of us need help in understanding the text. There are many plays on words, many words no longer current in English and, besides, Shakespeare's vocabulary is richer than almost everyone else's who ever lived. There is also the issue of historical context, and the variations of text since the plays were never published in their author's lifetime.

For those of us who need that help and want to dig a bit deeper, the Arden editions of Shakespeare are just wonderful.

-Before the text of the play we get very readable and helpful essays discussing the sources and themes and other important issues about the play.

-In the text of the play we get as authoritative a text as exists with helpful notes about textual variations in other sources. We also get many many footnotes explaining unusual words or word plays or thematic points that would likely not be known by us reading in the 21st century.

-After the text we get excerpts from likely source materials used by Shakespeare and more background material to help us enrich our understanding and enjoyment of the play.

However, these extras are only available in the individual editions. If you buy the "Complete Plays" you get text and notes, but not the before and after material which add so much! Plus, the individual editions are easier to read from and handier to carry around.

I am actually reviewing both Parts One and Two with this since they should be read together.The reason why I enjoyed these plays so much is because we see Falstaff in both of them. He is my favourite Shakespearean character - big, bawdy, rough, a liar and a cheat, but again we know what he is right from the beginning, and Shakespeare keeps him so true to character. These plays are a bit different from some of the other histories. There are more comedic parts in them for one thing. The plays are certainly used as a medium for introducing young Hal (who will become King Henry V). We see him as a young man, and watch him grow and see the influences that his society and the people in it have on his development. He doesn't appear to be growing up well according to his father because he is so irresponsible. King Henry IV was not England's strongest ruler. He was haunted by his guilt over the death of his predecessor, King Richard II. In Part Two, comedy still plays a big role, and we still see Falstaff's influence on young Hal until the shocking moment of Falstaff's death. The best part about Part Two though is the deathbed scene between old King Henry IV and his son Prince Henry. The play leads us to "King Henry V". Prince Hal does finally grow up and he becomes a very strong leader. Actually King Henry Iv, Parts one and two should be read before King Henry V. It is the correct sequence and we see Prince Hal grow and mature.

Henry IV remains one of my favorite Shakespeare plays, even though the tragedies and comedies get far more attention and seeming appreciation than do the histories. As an English major, I examined Henry's (Hal's) character, and I focused on his development from a somewhat foolhardy young man into a self-assured, even manipulative prince. It is hard to say which of these Hal truly is, or if he is a little bit of both.

At the beginning of the play, Hal spends his free time cavorting around with his friend Falstaff (who provides all of the laughs in the play and is cited as one of the best comic characters in all literature). In the first act we already see hints in Hal's sololiquy that he may not be as carefree as we are led to believe, and that he might betray friends like Falstaff to be the prince that he is expected to be. Read on in "Henry V" to see just how much of a polished politician Hal becomes--his battle cries and his "once more unto the breech, dear friends" is masterful in its persuasiveness and ability to induce his countrymen to fight.

Hotspur serves as a nice counterpoint to Hal in "Henry IV." Hotspur is the hothead and Hal makes his decisions calmly and rationally. This almost inhuman rationality comes into play again in "Henry V" and makes you long for the seemingly carefree Hal.

All in all, "Henry IV" is a great read and quite an interesting character study--I highly recommend it!

In Part One of Shakespeare's "Henry IV," the titular king tries to defend his throne from a rebel army led by the hotheaded Hotspur, who has a long list of grievances about the king's treatment of his family, the Percys. Hotspur has allied himself with several principal figures including his uncle the Earl of Worcester, his brother-in-law Mortimer the Earl of March, Lord Douglas the Scot, and Owen Glendower, a Welsh chieftain with a vivid mystical imagination -- he is so egotistical that he insists an earthquake that occurred the day of his birth was a divine proclamation of his importance -- and a desire to usurp all of Wales from the king.

While he is preparing for war against the rebels, Henry IV laments that his own son Henry (Hal), the Prince of Wales, is a shameful libertine living the high life in London and consorting with a gang of scurrilous miscreants. Indeed, Prince Hal's idea of fun is robbing people, and his best friend and accomplice in this activity is Sir John Falstaff, who turns out to be not Hal's peer but a middle-aged man. In a character transformation of an abruptness that can only be described as magical, Hal becomes a serious young man determined loyally to defend his father's kingship from Hotspur's assault after he receives an earnest lecture from his father about the dangers of acting irresponsibly as a public figure.

Not enough can be said about Falstaff, who is undoubtedly one of the most richly realized characters in literature. He is fat, lazy, cowardly, yet boastful, but not in the same way Owen Glendower is -- Owen really believes what he says; Falstaff is just trying to make himself look better than he actually is, but fools nobody because he prevaricates and embellishes without bothering to remember his previous lies for the sake of consistency. You probably know somebody like this in real life -- especially if you're ten years old. Falstaff's piquancy, in fact, so outweighs the stature of the other characters that his absence is sorely felt in the scenes in which he does not appear.

Most of all, Part One of "Henry IV" is a play of contrasts personified by Prince Hal and Hotspur, who incidentally is also named Henry. In their confrontation on the battlefield, it seems unlikely that Hal, who wasted many of his best days living as a rake, could conquer a seasoned warrior like Hotspur in a swordfight. But there wouldn't be much of a tale to tell if not to show Hal triumphing after his resolution to change his weak habits, and the play ends with the conviction that, despite his past mistakes, he would make a noble king himself.

This was one of the most exciting books that I have read in a long time. It's worth getting a used copy, as it is no longer in print. The story was so suspenseful (and romantic too). I kept telling myself, "Just one more chapter."

Lucy Waring is taken from China where she's lived her entire life to live with an English family, but she doesn't know the reason why. She also doesn't tell them that she married a man after he saved her life.

This is one of my favorite books by my favorite romance writer.

It is so nice to read a book that is about a girl that is given so many trials and she gets through them without whining about it. This is a great love story that proves that you don't need all the sex crap to enjoy it. I would recommend this book to teenage girls, to teach them to use their strength and wisdom to get through anything. This is such a great book!!!

Excellent adventure with an English girl trapped in China. Loveable and brave heroine who makes it back to her strange homeland of England. This book is full of adventure and great writing and characters. You reorient your point of view to that of the heroine's, feeling like an ugly foreigner in China. Then confused by sudden culture shock in England and by being surrounded by lots of interesting characters with complex histories and agendas. Who is her friend and who is her enemy? This was the first Brent book I read and I LOVED it. Can't recommend it highly enough.

This has been one of my favorite books since I first read the condensed version in a magazine. It's one of those delightful easy-to-read books that you like to visit ever few years...like an old friend. I've read it many times and would recommend it.

I am a collector of Shirley Temple Dolls, and I found this book most informative. I know exactly how much each of my dolls are worth, and if I am selling, I have an idea how much to sell them for. Great book.

An accurately informative read from an author that embodies the love of a little girl within its' pages.

Awesome and amazing! Need I say more! This book is fabulous as was Volume One! The pictures are incredible and the information is extremely helpful. This author did a fantastic job creating this price guide for all the Shirley fans in the world who just can't get enough! It has been quite a while since an author has done a new Shirley price guide and it was much needed. But this Author's version was much different than the other price guides as it shows everything and anything that is out there...old and new! Shows us Shirley fans that there is still a high demand for our loved Shirley and her memorbilia. Highly recommend! A++++++

I just loved both books on Shirley Temple!

Volume 2 has even more than volume 1 as far as pictures and memorabilia goes. I loved the pictures with the people she starred with in her movies ( it brought back fond memories from my childhood.
More people should be interested in Shirley, it is a great subject for children-even today!
We buy the videos for our grandkids.

This is a wonderful identification guide to collecting Shirley Temple items and dolls for the new or advanced collector.The large color photos and descriptions keep me coming back to the book for enjoyment and reference. Not only that, but the author has a refreshing way with words that give the book personality.A teacher one told me years ago " Books are our Friends".In this case its true. Again, I give the book Shirley Temple Identification And Price Guide by Suzanne Kraus-Mancuso 5 Stars!

I bought this book at the same time as Timeless Halloween Collectibles. They're definitely companions.

This book is larger. The colors are less vivid than "Timeless" but there are so many more of them. I couldn't be more delighted with the volume and the clarity of the images.

I like the detail of the old time decorations that I remember but find them unaffordable. This book easily satisfies the joy of reliving times gone bye. There's something for everyone.

This book tells you what to look for (and what to avoid) in the facinating world of vintage Halloween collecting. The photography is great, and the prose is informative and entertaining. Even if you're not an avid Halloween collector, the "haunting" images from these bygone days are truly works of art, full of whimsy & fun. For the serious collector, the price guide is an absolute must have.

So far this is the best book I've found on Vintage Halloween in the sense of information, layout and the broad spectrum of items covered. It is evident that Mark Ledenbach is truly passionate about his collection. The photos are high quality and well laid out. The information is thought provoking and facsinating to any Halloween enthusiast. I do wish there were more item information regarding usage or other interesting tidbits, however this book does give the reader what it promises.
A must have for the Halloween aficionado.

Another Halloween has come and gone but for some people like myself, the Halloween holiday lives on 365 days a year due to my love of the holiday and my passion for Halloween décor. When I was a kid, I used to be rather afraid of the old decorations in my grandmother's house. These were quite a bit scarier than those jointed cardboard skeletons and plastic light-up pumpkins that I was used to...Little did I know then just how valuable those pieces were. When she passed away about ten years ago my wife and I scoured her house for those trinkets but alas, they were nowhere to be found, most likely tossed in the trash years ago.

Vintage Halloween Collectibles from Krause Publications is yet another outstanding edition to their library of collectibles books. When I first received the book I literally sat down for a couple of hours and just browsed through the book from cover-to-cover, looking for the items my Grandmother used to have as well as finding the few items that I've been able to collect. Collecting vintage Halloween decorations is no easy task Halloween wasn't nearly as big and commercialized decades ago as it is today. Vintage Christmas items show up endlessly at flea markets and garage sales but vintage Halloween items are much harder to come by because there just wasn't as much made, not too mention that much of it was made out of paper and simply didn't last as long.

This 256 page trade paperback book covers some 1600 items and features over 1100 full-color photos. The book lists the item with country of origin, manufacturer, date of manufacture, dimensions, current value, and, perhaps most importantly, a scarcity index on a scale of 1 to 5 with 1 being the rarest and 5 being the most common. Naturally, the items my grandmother had fell into the common arena but still were fairly valuable, all things considered. The items are broken down into eight different category chapters including games, candy containers and figures, noisemakers, and decorations.

I found it interesting that there were so many games that involved fortune telling that were made in the 30's and 40's. This is certainly a sign of that era's infatuation with mysticism. One motif that seemed so common back in the first half of the 20the century that you don't see much today is devil and demon décor. The stereotypical red horned devil was a very common theme that has nearly disappeared from modern décor...I guess that's' a sign of OUR times. The other overwhelming common theme was the black cat. The book contains hundreds of black cat items from figurines to paper lanterns. The lanterns are things I remember distinctly from my youth and I am still amazed at the intricate detail of these rather delicate Halloween decorations. The book has dozens of examples of paper lanterns adorned by witches, black cats, pumpkins, and skeletons. These items are beautiful and Krause has done a great job with clear, beautiful photography of these rarities.

One of the most interesting chapters is simply called "A Nice Variety" because the items didn't fit into any of the other categories. These feature items such as paper aprons, candy boxes, candles and candleholders, books and magazines. The covers to the books published by Dennison's in the 20's and 30's are gorgeous. These books were geared towards the woman of the house with ideas for recipes, decorations, and Halloween games. I also loved the die-cut chapter because those are the decorations I remember my mother having as a young kid and still fondly remember. But again, those red devil die-cuts, circa the 1930's are just wonderful. These items may not be easy to find anymore, but if you do, there is simply no better resource than this book from Krause Publications.

REVIEWED BY TIM JANSON

When I started discovering vintage Halloween items, I came upon Mark Ledenbach's book. It became my leading guide while investigating on eBay. On his web site I could contact him an ask for advice. He was very friendly and helpful. The photos and lay out of his book are fantastic and it is better organized then other books I own. I could not have enjoyed the beautiful graphics and usual, rare items if it were not for this book. You must purchase this whether you are a serious collector or not. Have fun!

Very helpful for the antiquing "debutante" in the overwhelming world of antiques, including tips for negotiating with dealers, what to look for on certain items, even ideas of what one might want to collect. Definitely worthwhile purchase.

Antique lover I am HOWEVER, knowledge is minus, MINUS! ANTIQUING FOR DUMMIES was given to me as a gift and MAGIC has been created. My brain is now functioning in the antique mode. How proud and delighted I am. I will be forever indebted to having the opportunity to own such as informative treasure. In fact this book will be on my future "gift purchasing" list for my "hard to please" friends. Again, THANK YOU, from Dallas, Texas.

Antiquing for Dummies is a cheerful primer for those of us who were antiques-challenged. Learn what to search for and what to avoid when confronted with the possible pitfalls of flea markets and antique malls. Find out how to differentiate trash from treasure. The text is very readable, filled with puns and mnemonics. A must-read for budding antiques enthusiasts!

I have collected, sold and even appraised antiques and artwork for 25 years. This book is well written, and has valuable insights and tips for the beginning or the intermediate collector. It has very good illustrations, good anecdotes and hints, and is all in all a delight to have and read! I learned a couple of things myself, and have bought copies for my antique collecting friends and colleagues as gifts. I would highly recommend this to anyone who wants to gather practical and easy to understand tips and facts from authors and experts who obviously have many years of study and work in the field of antiques, collectibles and fine art. For this price, it is worth more than many of my big fancy books on single topics within the field of antiques or antique collecting. This is easy to read, humerous and fun to read, and offers good basic information on many kinds of antiques and fine art which are being collected, inherited and sold. Bravo to the writers and to Dummies!

Whether you are someone who breaks for garage sales or the serious collector of rare antiques, Antiquing for Dummies offers information, tips, insight and inspiration. Zoglin and Shouse help de-mystify the world of antiques and collecting and leave you feeling like you, too, can confidently and successfully find treasures that fit your lifestyle and needs. The tips on negotiating are especially helpful and I have never seen them appear anywhere else. Zoglin has spent three decades in the antique business and knows what he is talking about. Whether you are interested in antiquing or not, this book provides an entertaining read, and you will likely not look at a teacup or Granny's old desk again without a deeper appreciation of its history.

Beautiful! It's hard to believe these are all fabric, truly. Very inspirational! I doubt I'd ever be able to make one of my own but it's wonderful to have on my coffee table and druel over from time to time. Wonderful book!

How does she do it??? It is hard to believe the dolls won't get up from the page and talk to you. They are alive. Kudos to Lisa. This book does not disappoint.

Figures in Fabric is inspirational! The creations of Lisa Litchtenfels are truely exceptional works of art which are beautifully presented in this book, a definite "onshow" publication that will never go on a bookishelf or in a closet. A book to drool over again and again for inspiration and creativity, though I doubt anyone can measure up to her realism and vision. A must for any dollmaker to have in their library.

I bought this book to learn how these amazing figures were constructed but was even more surprised when my husband "borrowed" it from me as inspiration for figures and the human form for his drawings. I haven't seen the book since!

What an amazing author therefore an amazing book. The talent of this woman and the passion she has is very inspiring and to think they are done in fabric. I am in total amazement.

The book was just what I had hoped it would be. Now I can make gun belts and holsters like they would have been made in the time of the old west for my cowboy events.

I saw this book several years ago in a book catalogue, I put off buying it because there really didn't seem to be enough subject matter to justify such a book. I could not have been more wrong. When I finally had one in hand I realized there really was a rich wealth of interesting material especially historically. This book shows the colorful evolution of holsters in the American West tradition. This is a fascinating collection of color and detail that leaves the reader in awe concerning this little known facet of traditional Western Americana. Well worth the price. Hours will be spent studing the beautiful illustrations and carefully researched text. You don't have to own a Colt sixshooter to apprecicate this beautiful book that faithfully follows and matches the tradition of the R.L. Wilson publications on the art of firearms.

This has rapidly become a favorite book of mine and, judging from the constant references to it from holster makers, has become a widely-used reference source. The quality of the book itself is excellent, with lots of crisp, large pictures and good accompanying text. The "frontier" period covered is pretty wide, really the colonial period into the pre-WW2 era. The emphasis, however, is on the 1800s. The first section of the book mostly covers military gunleather and its transition into civilian forms and usage. The bulk of part two is on California and Mexican Loop pattern holsters of the 1800's and early 20th century, although there is good material on a number of other subjects (all gun-related). The holster photo captions in part two tend to be very repetitious as there are numerous style variations presented, but ultimately don't detract from the pictures themselves or the text. This is not a book to buy if you are interested in costume or accoutrements other than gunleather, and you should pass it by if your primary interest is Western film and TV versions of gunleather - the buscadero, or drop-loop style is barely mentioned.

If you're into Cowboy Action Shooting or even history of the Old West, this is a must have book. The pictures are fantastic and the way the book was put together gives the reader an extremely great view of what they wore in the old days. Plus, there are some great pictures from the cowboy movie and television era. Great Book!

I received the book quickly, in great condition. I would definitely use this vendor again.

You don't even have to be a collector to appreciate Vintage Wedding Cake Toppers. Well researched and written in a personal and engaging style, it's a fascinating book for hopeless romantics. The photographs, however, do make you consider beginning a collection!

I am an avid collector and seller of antique dolls. I purchased this book in order to learn more. I found it to be well organized, very interesting and informative. You can see the author's passion and love for her subject matter. A definite addition to any reference library.

I purchased this book as a gift for a wonderful collector of beautiful things including a single antique cake topper. I was planning on taking a quick look through the book before presenting it but that was several days ago and the book still hasn't made it to its destination as I've been so intrigued with the topic and fascinated with the history, photographs, and dating and pricing information. As an antique dealer, I'm always looking for informative books on specialized and/or obscure areas of collecting. I highly recommend "Vintage Wedding Cake Toppers" as a most readable, enjoyable, and informative guide. I think the author should be congratulated for her efforts, including her integrity and clarity in the cake topper descriptions and prices, and for avoiding the tendency of some price guides to inflate prices for the purpose of selling more books. This really is a super book that will entertain and inform anyone who collects cake toppers or who simply has an appreciation for social history, antiques, and collectibles.

My collection of wedding cake toppers consists mostly of the newer and less-expensive varieties. However, this book has given me the opportunity to acquaint myself with some enchanting antique and vintage toppers that I probably will never be in a position to own--or indeed even glimpse "up close." Alas, my taste seems to run to toppers that are either extremely rare or prohibitively expensive (or both).

Opening this book is comparable to stepping into another time. As I read I felt like I was taking a trip down memory lane, and back to gracious, long-past eras.

I gifted copies of "Vintage Wedding Cake Toppers" to two non-collecting friends, both of whom enthusiastically perused its pages. Among their comments to me: "text is easily understood, while at the same time extremely informative.... " ...wonderful photographs and charming line drawings beautifully supplement and complement the author's text."

Without hesitation or reservation, I recommend this book to collectors and non-collectors alike. Enjoy!

What a great book! This field of collecting has ceertainly been neglected, and thanks to Ms. Henderson, it has now been brought to my attention, I found the photos of the Victorian toppers captivating, as I had never seen any qute like that before, Now I will scour antique malls looking for cake toppers to go with my own wedding cake topper from the 70's. I hope this book hasn't started me on another collection, but that is a possibility!

This is one of my all time favorite purchashes. It was wonderful. Thank you.

Gorgeous applique patterns for the advanced needleturn applique expert. These are really stunning blocks. I hope someday I can make some of them!

This book of patterns is fascinating! There are patterns for all kinds of things you can add to the quilt block, different arm positions, girl doing different chores. You can personalize your quilt with whatever designs you choose and it will be unique. The possibilities are endless. Great book!

This book is a wonderful way to bring back the past. If gives you many ideas and teaches you how to bring the girls to life with combining quilting, embroidery and embellishments. I am very happy the I purchased this book and look forward to making quilts with these lovey girls.

Another fantastic publication. I have just recieved this and cant wait to get started on an applique. Ideas etc are brilliant. Highly recommend even for a beginner. This is definately rates more than 5 stars.

I found this book to be very helpfull in finding what I needed to know on the dolls and clothes

I have two other Shirley Temple Price guides and I think book is just the most comprehensive. It has lots of pictures and includes all different Shirley Collectibles. It has pictures of a lot of rare Shirley Dresses and compo. Shirley's that were made in Germany, Australia, Great Britain. It is a nice large book and is a great reference guide. Love it!

This is the best ever book about Shirley Temple dolls. It is amazing. Filled with information and tips. This book could easily sell for double the price.

Great pics of Shirley Temple Dolls & memorabilia organized by years-very thorough and helpful since I am a Shirley collector. Additionally, great tips on improving the looks of the dolls. Well done.

This book is one of the best books on the subject of the Shirley Temple dolls (& other S.Temple Collectibles).
Written on quality paper with excellent photos