Collectibles Books

FROM THE BACK COVER-For the first time, the great social movement of the late 20th century (1960s to 1900s) come together in one book featuring more that 1200 political cause buttons a fast growing category in teh field of political collectibles.

"All for teh cause" presents a capsule history of each of teh major campaigns for social justice- peace in Vietnam, civil rights and black power, the farmworkers and Hispanic-Americans, the environment and anti-nuclear crusade, women rights gay and lesbian rights, solidarity with workers and support for freedom fighters in Central America.

From the LBJ years to the Reagan era, a generation of protest is revisted. A unique and up to guide to prices is included for collectors as well as those who may have stashed away buttons as momentoes of involvement in movements politics.

Whether you are a collector, a veteran of the battles for social changes , a student of political science or a fan of America popular culture."All for the cause" provides a colorful recounting of the era, as it brings to life many of teh most turbulent and exciting times in recent American history.

This is interesting reading and brings back a lot of memories from historical political events and causes. This book is a must have for collectors and political activist. As a collector of gay political buttons, all of the pictures and references were of interest to me. I appreciated most being able to look up the value of the buttons that I have been saving through the past several years. It is a fun book to read!

I have been collecting Alice in Wonderland items for nearly 30 years and I am happy to add this book to my collection. The information is presented in a format that is accessible to the general public and not just the Alice afficianado. The book production is also wery pleasing. The wonder of Alice is how she shows up all over the globe in so many ways 140 years after her conception. I think the title of the book understates to what extent Alice lives in our modern popular culture.

I love this book. I received it yesterday at my office and read what I could on my lunch hour. I couldn't wait to get home. I bought this because I wanted to eventually introduce my 1 year old granddaughter to "Alice In Wonderland." Imagine my surprise to find that I can start reading to her now. There are extended nursery rhymes, funny sayings and a fascinating dialogue through the whole book. The illustrations are superb! I can start my granddaughter on the "white rabbit, calico cat, the queen" as well as "Alice" just from these wonderful illustrations. I can highly recommend this book for children and also adults who enjoy Lewis Carroll's wit. I cannot write enough good things about it.

The Amazing Step-by-Step Art Card Studios are both simple and amazing. My children were able--quickly--to draw animals that looked as great as the examples provided by Ms. Ragsdale. This product really delivers!

We bought both books. My daughter was really excited when they came. She loves to draw, & it has step by step instructions in how to draw each pet or Zoo animal. Each set has colored pencils, a drawing pad, & sharpener in a handy box. It has lots of cards with all types of pets & animals to draw. It is the perfect thing to take on long car rides, & gives hours of enjoyment. It will encourage kids to persue their artistic talents. The price is very reasonable. K.Key

If you have any book on amber in your possession, this is the one to have. Amongst amber aficionados, this is considered to be the "Bible". The chapter on differentiating between real amber and the vast number of fakes is vital for those that collect this wonderful gem. If you have the opportunity to get a copy of this book, don't hesitate!

Patty C. Rice brings a passionate love for her subject to this wonderful book. She offers a very comprehensive study of this beloved gemstone, from a detailed account of its long history, to the folklore surrounding it, to a thorough study of its scientific properties.She explores the many sources of amber worldwide, and gives an exhaustive study of the amazing variety of amber. Most helpful to a collector, she explains in detail how genuine amber differs from its imitations, and how you can perform simple tests to determine if yours is authentic.The mechanics of working with amber as a lapidary or jewelry- maker are also discussed. I loved the wealth of gorgeous photos, many of them from Dr. Rice's own impressive personal collection from all over the world. Her book does full justice to the beauty and enduring fascination of amber, and if you love it as much as I do, her book is a must-have.

I am the publisher of this book, which is (of course) wonderful, but it has been replaced by a new book. I am also the publisher of the new book (2004) by Gregory Brunk,
"Merchant and Privately Countermarked Coins, Advertising on the World's Smallest Billboards".

This is available direct from World Exonumia Press, Rich Hartzog, or should be available on Amazon.

Features:
Over 13,500 listings of ALL KNOWN Merchant countermarked coins!
480 pages
2000+ photographs
Detailed Descriptions
MANY NEW ATTRIBUTIONS
More pieces have been attributed, many have REVISED attributions.
Historical Background and reference information.
Comprehensive Alphabetic INDEX of all known merchant countermarks:
Includes country, denomination and date of known stamp.
FREE INDEX on-line now: www.exonumia.com/art/cma.htm
Detailed Listing of all those with Two or more known countermarks:
Includes number seen on each denomination and date.
Often includes attributions.
Many with contemporary advertisements.
Historical information on the merchant, plus other reference details.
Comprehensive Introduction
History of countermarks and general introduction.
List of known Fantasy countermarks.
Cross-reference by city and state of all purposive marks.
Bibliography

and NEW Comprehensive PRICE GUIDE

Rich Hartzog World Exonumia Press
AAA Historical Americana
Rockford IL

This is the most useful reference on the subject of counterstamped/countermarked coins by far. Gregory Brunk being a self proclaimed authority on the subject can be contacted with new information on new discovers. His book is excellent and when you can find it, it's well worth buying.

This excellent reference guide originally published by the Marine Research Society in Salem, Mass. in 1926-27, actually consists of two Volumes:

Vol 1: Adelaide-Lotus: ISBN: 0486251152

Vol 2: Malay-Young Mechanic: ISBN: 0486251160

Volume 1 covers all American Clipper Ships built from 1833-1858 whose names begin with the letters A through L, and Volume 2 covers from M through Y. I don't know why they are offered separately, as Volume 1 also contains the introduction and Volume 2 the Index, so it makes no sense to purchase these separately. Also the pagination is consecutive. The brief introduction explains the criteria used to define a Clipper Ship, which is a ship "...of peculiar construction, designed for great speed rather than for capacity." (p.v) The authors Octavius T. Howe and Frederick C. Matthews consider the "Ann McKim" launched at Baltimore in 1833 to be the first Clipper, and the era of the Clipper to be over by 1858 with the launching of "The Star of Peace" at Newburyport. The books are basically listings of all 352 known Clipper Ships arranged alphabetically. Some entries are brief; others however are quite lengthy and include excerpts of contemporary descriptions in the Press and in Correspondence. It seems that the Sailing Records of Ships were of great interest to the authors, so the records of the fastest voyages on several routes can be found in these books. The Index includes not only the names of Ships, but also of Captains, Owners and Builders. Also included are reproductions of about 100 paintings and some drawings. These have not fared so well in the reprint edition, and their quality is sometimes not so good, but many are still helpful. This almost 800 page long book can be used as a reference book, or as a book just to page around. Original editions are quite hard to come by and expensive, so this reprint edition is very reasonably priced and a welcome addition to any Bookshelf of Maritime History.

Review by Walter O. Koenig

a definitive work. The two vol. could easily replace the other fifteen books on the subject of clippers that I have on my shelves.

This is one of the best books written on the subject in years! It is very detailed and full of color photos of these great old toy soldiers. If you have this book and Richard O'Briens...thats all you need as a resource on the subject!

This is one of the best books written on the subject in years! It is very detailed and full of color photos of these great old toy soldiers. If you have this book and Richard O'Briens...thats all you need as a resource on the subject!

A fascinating little book. Insightful to a time when much of a family's cloths were not purchased in the store but made by the lady of the house on her sewing machine or in some cases sewn by hand.

Very interesting, fun to look out book. I enjoyed finding out about the pricing and incentives used to entice buyers. The pictures are wonderful. The reprint of the magazine article is entertaining. It was interesting to see the evolution of comfort in women's clothing.

A wonderfully nostalgic look at pop culture of the 20th century, this is as much a social history book of the 1930's through the early 1970's as it is a history of Drive In restaurants. Jammed pack in this 187 page "psuedo tome" is the history of fast food and how it evolved into what it's become today, as well as teen culture of the era, and how the automobile turned America into a mobile society and society's response.
Car hops (sometimes on roller skates), neon signs, original menus, advertisements...the author gives the reader the sense of being there, back in the 1940's, 50's, or 60's, cruising along in your car to the local hang out, and there were plenty throughout our great country: Sal's Hotdog Heaven, Blackie's Drive In, Pig Stand, Steak and Shake, Igloo, Chicken In The Rough, The Varsity, and so many more.
Mr. Witzel also gives us the histories of the many well-known fast food restaurants still in existance today, all who had their beginnings as Drive Ins: A & W, McDonalds, Bob's Big Boy, White Castle, and even the infamous Mel's Drive in from American Grafitti.
The photographs alone are worth the money, and there are hundreds of pictures throughout.
I guess if I had one complaint it would be that every time I look at this book I end up dragging the family out to our local drive in (Eddy's Drive In located in Harrison Township, Michigan - girls on roller skates, classic cars, and all!).

This book blends words and photography to take readers back to more relaxed days of the early to late 20th Century. The pictures alone are worth the price. It is apparent how much time, research, and effort Michael Karl Witzel contributed into the making of this book. I highly recommend it- especially for baby boomers and older, or someone who just wishes to visit a regrettably lost era of American history.

If you are interested in flight jackets, their design, styles and art work, then this book is for you. There are literally hundreds of colour and black and white photographs of aviator leather jackets. World War Two jackets are covered in detail as are Korean and Vietnam period flight jackets. The book is well set out, has large high resolution photographs and is a well constructed hardcover. The only fault I could find with the book is that in many of the photographs it fails to identify the jacket type and specification. It also does not deal with jacket construction or design. As with many of Maguire's books it has excellent reference photographs and information on who used or wore the artical in question, but fails to provide detailed information on the item other than the basics. Still, it is worthwhile addition to a library, although the book is expensive.

Perhaps I enjoyed this book so much because of the fact that it's main focus is the WWII era of flight jackets and that is my favorite area as well. If you want historical jackets (KOREA AND WWII), get this book, but if you want just modern jackets then shop elsewhere.

If I had to be picky about the book, I would have to say that there were too many blood chits on jackets pictured and not enough pin-up work, but that's only if I had to be picky. The authors did their homework for this book as they don't just give you tons of photographs (BY THE WAY, THERE ARE TONS OF PHOTOGRAPHS) but also chronicle the jacket's history and when possible, the owner's history as well.

Fantastic layouts as the information is presented in a very professional and orderly way. They break down the jackets by theater as there's a section on the CBI theater, the European Theater, Korean theater, etc. Good paper and a nice sized book.

A bit on the pricey side but I still got it and I would still recommend it to the hardcore fan of the subject. May be too much cash for the casual fan.