Collectibles Books

This book is a must have for African Americans who are collectors of fine African American art. Gives great information regarding the artists and on what to look for in fine art.

Although filled with very valuable information for anyone interested in collecting African American Art, I was looking for info on particular artist. I/E: James Denmark, Kadir Nelson, Alix Beaujour, Leroy Campbell,etc. These are just a few to give you an idea of what I was looking for. The book had great detailed info. I recommend this book to anyone...

If you have ever thought about purchasing a piece of art by an African American artist you should read this book. It is a rare gem. I met Ms. Taha at an opening some years ago at which time she told me she would be releasing this book, I had no idea it would be the treasure that it is. It is insightful, informative, beautifully illustrated, and gives you all the information needed to begin collecting art or to continue adding to your collection. Having a passion for art and the history of African American artist in this country, I want to thank Ms. Taha for encouring me to continue my pursuit for collecting and sharing much needed tools that will help me as I continue in this endeavor.

Ms Taha hit the nail on the head. Anyone with an interest in African American Art, this book is a must buy. The Author, takes the reader step by step through the African American art Market. Any work presented in the work is a fine example of the work that a collector and or an art lover should own. Too often, collecting african american art is thought of as buying $50.00 posters and placing a $500.00 frame around the work. Ms Taha describes how African American Art is here for all and how one can begin the road to sucessful lover affair with ART. Please support this Author.

This book is a wonderful addition to the library of African American Art History and a tremendous resource for both artist and collector. What an opportunity for the expansion of our work. Thanks, Halima. -Nadine LaFond, fine artist, Art Lives

If I could have just one book on map collecting this would be it. The book is an enjoyable read, and written in a crystal clear fashion. The book contains much essential information for collectors: map terminology, printing methods, translation of common phrases into English, how to judge condition, and blunt advice on the workings of the marketplace. All of this plus great reference material on map makers, styles, and periods. I've had this book for several years now and find myself reaching for it time and again. Thank you Dr. Manasek!

Got this book for Christmas and read the whole thing through. Unlike other map reference books in my collection, I actually read this one cover to cover! It is a remarkable book and the author shares what is a vast knowledge with us in a very unusual and direct way. The illustrations are really great and there are lots of them. Where else, for example, can you learn the names of the different parts of a folding map, with each part illustrated with real examples? Every page seems to have several. It is a big and very beautiful book. I will now go and re-read it.

A book of substance. "Collecting Old Maps" really deals with the subject and is not a watered-down survey of old maps someone thinks we should collect. This book breaks with the old way map books were written and is a refreshing "out of the box" way to look at old map collecting. There is no other book like it and I don't know where else one can get the information that is in here. Very well written, a delight to read and not dumbed-down. There is even some sly humor in here! I agree with the earlier reviews so there is no point in repeating everything they said.

Love the book! Well written and very informative. I agree with the previous reviewers. I thank the autor.

This is truly an outstanding book. It is exceptionally well-written and the number of illustrations is exceptional. Unlike most map books, this one uses illustrations to make specific points about maps, as well as to show what the map looks like. There is a huge amount of information in here - including such things as illustrated details about pocket map construciton, microscope pictures of paper, information about acids (for the non-chemist!) and a wonderful section of over a hundred maps, one per page, arranged chronologically. I found the CollectingOldMaps website a very valuable collateral since it shows up-to-date prices for all the maps in the book. The readability and info in this book make it a bargain - it is beautiful, also!

Authoritatively written by practicing bench jeweler, gemologist, and appraiser Joseph Mirsky, the Consumer Guide To Diamonds is an extraordinary buyer's guide to diamonds, explaining everything from cuts to light reflection, to symmetry grades, and more. An excellent layman's guide written especially for non-specialist general readers looking to enhance their knowledge so as to effectively buy diamonds without risk or mistake, Mirsky's consumer Guide To Diamonds is a highly affordable "must-read" for anyone considering a hefty monetary investment in these precious stones.

The author takes the mystery out of diamonds.
This book gives the average diamond buyer the power of being
an educated consumer. As a diamond wholesaler, I think this
guide should be required reading for all consumers and diamond
retailers.

This book is a storehouse of information and contains more
gem information in its 108 pages than any consumer guide
I've ever read. For anyone who intends to buy a diamond this
is a very modest investment which can help buyers avoid the
pitfalls of gemstone purchasing. I am a professional colored
gem cutter and I've found much of the information in this
book to be relevant to buying rough gemstones. This book is
honest, informational and entertaining.

As a graduate gemologist and gemology teacher whose main area of interest is colored stones, I read relatively few books on diamonds. Joe Mirsky's book is one that caught and held my attention.

He cuts to the chase, and through the mystique which so often accompanies the industry hype on diamonds. His practical and senisble approach to diamond selection, terminology and ownership should be read by anyone with an interest in owning or learning more about this most precious form of the element carbon.

Joe Mirsky's book is terrific. It contains great details on how to buy a diamond in a no-nonsense style. While clarity and color are important, many of the jewelers I visited were hesitant to discuss cut, the most important of the 4 C's. This book provides all of the information on ideal cuts, with sample AGS and GIA grading reports. The black-and-white photos and diagrams are great, and diamond terminology is explained in an easy-to-read and entertaining format. I found the book to be much more informative than Fred Cuellar's book. I would highly recommend this book to anyone searching for the perfect diamond.

This book in itself is a work of art. As busy mom, I find it so relaxing to sit with this book after the kids are in bed and just let the beautiful photographs and interesting interviews take me away to another place!

Both the introduction and the poetry selections of this inspired book are the perfect platform from which the selected artworks will leap straight into your heart. A wonderful book.

This work by Carolyn Bardos provides a beautiful presentation (writing, illustrations and layout)describing Hungarian ceramics. I found the interviews with contemporary ceramic artists extremely interesting and helpful in gaining appreciation of the subject.

Earthen Wonders by Carolyn M. Bardos is an extraordinary book. The author put out a call for entries and before she received a single response, decided to publish every slide that turned up in her mailbox. The result is not only a non-elitist look at art and book publishing--but the collection of work is astounding. Some of the art represented is by people who have never exhibited. Not only is this book refreshing, as so many ceramic publications feature the same artists repeatedly, but it also shows how people--not famous people--make art. Most of the book is devoted to large color reproductions and the text toward the back, delves into salient issues effecting the artists' work and life. Finally, this book is a is wonderful respite from the common American crafts-fair aesthetic. Earthen Wonders is a rare treasure and a real bargain for the price!

Refreshing to find an author who is comfortable in being different;she lets the artists speak about their passion. No formula here, just an ecclectic collection of beautiful ceramics.

This is another useful research book, like all the ones that I've seen in this series, it's a valuble source for pictures of middle class, everyday clothes. It has pictures of women's accessories and shows some men's and children's clothes, which many period fashion books tend to ignore. Highly practical book for theatrical costumers.

I have to agree with the other reviewers. Modern fashion tends to look "dumbed down". I've owned this book for some time and refer to it often. Not to copy, necessarily; but to find inspiration. There are clothes available that still look "classic". Many of the original Sears pictures were in color but are reproduced here in b&w. Many of the reproductions have an overly fuzzy look. I suppose that's why the book is only $15 instead of 2 or 3 times as much. The Schiffer Sears series has sharp color images but you pay twice as much. You could buy the original Sears catalogs on eBay (I have a few) for even more. Your choice. This book will give you a good overview of the fashion changes during the decade and you can take it from there. Also of note are the accessories. A New Deal/FDR watch! A Buck Rogers watch! This isn't camp, either, but back in the days when this was serious stuff. Highly recommended!

I own four books in this 'Searies' (Twenties, Thirties, Forties, Fifties) and I cannot recommend them highly enough. They are jam-packed with a great mix of pictures in good proportion which show the morphing of fashions over the decade(s). Dominant are women's clothing (formal, casual, dresses, hats, coats, shoes, with some undergarments, sportswear, nightwear, swimwear). Then there are smatterings of accessories (handbags, watches, gloves, powder compacts, belts, jewelry). Also some menswear and a small amount of childrenswear. All clothing is being worn.

All pictures are black and white and have a certain (pleasant) level of graininess. What you get are the original pictures, prices and descriptions from the catalogs. There is only a very small amount of introductory material (just a one page 'Publisher's Note' for the Thirties).

Changes over the series:
The transition from drawings (all very good and realistic) to photos occurs in the Thirties.
The variety of accessories appearing in the Twenties is largely reduced by the later decades (Fifties almost exclusively clothing and hats with some shoes).

There's only one problem with these catalogs...you can't order the contents!

Purchased this book soon after it was published in a Baltimore art museum.

Modern Fashions and hairstyles today reveal absolute mediocrity. No style. No class. More to offend the eye than to please. Trousered females with short cropped hair and men whose hair is unkept wearing garments ill made. Swimsuits that leave nothing to the imagination worn by people who one just wishes were not visable because they keep themselvs as they do their awful cloths.

This book is a treat to the eye. Wonderful cloths that show modern apparel was not alawys the norm.

For the student of History this book is a valuable source of information on the cloths of the period, for which I purchased my copy. No scoloarly work but merely taken from the Sears catalogs of the time. Undergarments and accessories, shoes to hats, everything is shown here.

If you want a comprehensive book that immerses you in the world of fashion from the thirties, this is the one. It is authentic and beautifully laid out and depicts numerous costume items from the thirties, though mostly focusing on women. The pictures depict everything from dresses to shoes, hats to gloves; the women's hairstyles, makeup, undergarments, and overall looks give the reader the most authentic possible view of fashion and the aesthetic ideals of the time. The catalogue also shows the prices and features descriptions that include fabric and color. There are some pictures of men's and children's fashions. This book is thorough and unbelievably beautiful. The whole series of Sears catalogue fashions by decade is amazing. I recommend them all!

I am very happy with this book. It tells me about all the fishing lures made back when adam was a boy....

We are generally disappointed in sequels but this 2nd edition IS AN EXCEPTION. The hobby's rarest and unusual Lures are pictured in vivid color with a short history. Set this one on your coffee table and your guests are instantly "hooked". If you are a collector or simply enjoy angling history, this one is definitly a "MUST HAVE"...

This book is really gorgeous on the outside and even more so on the inside. It has in depth descriptions of the different types of lures and their parts and gives great incite on how to date such lures and parts. The print is is large and bold and the color pictures are stunningly printed on heavy bond glossy paper. There are pictures throughout the book of just about every lure imaginable. I promise you will not be disappointed.

This reference has been a great tool for us. We collect antique lures and have learned what to look for and what it's worth. We have found just about every lure in our collection in this book. Would reccomend to anyone with the hobby!

Well done! I use this book constantly. Well illustrated and good discriptions.

For all of us that enjoy the "hunt", this is a fun and interesting book. The pictures are enjoyable and the information is helpful. There is good information on yearly sales, along with how to locate, etc.

Littlefield hit the nail on the head for me. He gets the same joy, excitement and invigoration out of saling that I do. It's about the people, the atmosphere, the search for treasure, the negotiating, the win (or loss). These adventures are all wrapped up in wonderful little 5 to 20 minute nibbles of life. Almost 100% of my experiences are positive and I can recall many of them years later when I look at a vase, a painting or some other treasure I have acquired..

Bottom line, for Christmas I made a list of those who share my passion, those who wonder about my passion and those few who think I am off my rocker. I went on line and bought a bunch. Christmas shopping over.

Buying retail in this case was done with joy.

All who have received the book from me have given it a great review too.

If you feel you've exhausted every garage sale in your area and you realize you've visited the same sales four years in a row, then you might want to expand your usual boundaries and consider branching out to other states. If so, you can't do much better than this book, which includes a calendar of some of the more noteworthy sales across the country, as well as other major garage sales. You might consider bringing a U-haul along with you if you have a tendency to go overboard and buy everything in sight.
If you like this one, you might also consider:

Garage Sale & Flea Market Annual (Garage Sale and Flea Market Annual)

In Hawaii, HANA HOU is an expression you will hear often....it means, once more, do it again, encore, repeat, one more time...... and so it is with items found in garage sales, yard sales, church bazaars, tag sales, estate sales.....any kind of hana hou sale..... Just because someone is finished with that rocker, it doesn't mean that its life has to end right then.... There can still be one more round left to that old rocking chair!

What your neighbor down the street considers trash can definitely be your treasure....and that is the message that Bruce Littlefield conveys in his newly published book, "Garage Sale America".

From tips scattered throughout the book on how to plan your strategies for your hunt to how to use the treasures after you get them home, and ending with a useful (and amusing) Garage Sale Glossary, this little book can serve as a handy and entertaining manual on how to unashamedly romp through the detritus of other people's lives and score while you're at it!

The perfect gift for those who love to hunt for treasures, whether they are the type who grab the newspaper every single weekend and mark all the sales down, planning their trips by neighborhood....or the occasional shopper who stops on a whim every time they see a "Yard Sale" sign along the road....or the ones such as myself who mark the annual church bazaars down on my calendar....for all of us to whom the thrill is as much in the hunt as in finding that special deal!

There is no stigma attached to finding a bargain in someone else's discards....in fact, the feeling of satisfaction, the ... elation, if you will, when you find just the right item or that last piece of china that will complete the set you started years ago, is hard to describe.

After spending one evening reading this fun and enjoyable book, I started looking around my own home to see what around me could be considered 'found treasures'....and have to admit that a bit less than half was either bought at yard, garage, church bazaar sales or, the best yet, items found through our local Freecycle network or even at the "transfer station" - the PC name for our local dump, ......completely free!

If you love to go yard saling,....if you love to find a bargain,.... if you're looking for the thrill of the deal... you will definitely enjoy reading Bruce's book.

A couple of personal notes: I loved the idea of the seller who invites his best customers (read: bigger spenders), to breakfast before his sales every year for, as Bruce puts it "cranking up the adrenalin while you wait for the unveiling".....and don't miss meeting Wini. I won't tell you where to find her. You will have to hunt through the book yourself!

I have a chronic case of disposophobia, or at least that's how Bruce Littlefield would diagnose it. I can't bear to part with old photographs, worn-out running shoes, and a frog collection I've had since college. My favorite store is Finders Keepers, or was, that is, until the local antique shop closed and I bought out half the inventory.

So when my copy of Littlefield's Garage Sale America arrived in the mail, you can imagine where I put it--on top of a great big stack of books I have yet to read, some old, some new.

It wasn't long before its cover cried out to me with its retro colors, Bakelite radio, and funky leopard hat.

I scoured the photo-filled paperback for advice on everything from enamel-top tables to fishing lures and reeled in a lot more information than I bargained for, like tips on decorating, where to find some really hot wheels, and how to run a successful sale. I'm even learning to deal with my affliction, described in the book's glossary as "Disposophobia: the fear of getting rid of stuff, no matter how worthless or how valuable."

Some books may come and go, but Garage Sale America is definitely a keeper.

All other books about GI Joe take note: You have just been left in the dust. Michlig's authoritative and highly readable GI Joe: The Complete Story of America's Favorite Man of Action is the best single source of information about the origin of GI Joe that exists. Colorful anecdotes illuminate this exhaustively informative, definitive work about America's Movable Fighting Man. It belongs on the bookshelves of everyone interested in the history of playthings.

Richard C. Levy
Washington, D.C.

A great read for the hardcore collector or the novice.

Full of great insider info and eye watering photographs.

Excellent review of the life and times of America's Moveable Fighting Man. Especially interesting are the details of the conception and behind-the-scenes work in creating the prototype figure and marketing concept, an aspect of the story that may interest even non-Joe devotees. Collectors may wish to note that this is a much-expanded (and therefore more essential) version of the slender book included with the G. I. Joe Masterpiece Edition boxed figure.

Don't confuse this book with the "GI Joe collector's guides" that exist in various forms. This is a different animal - - gripping, well-written nonfiction, telling the story of a small family-owned business and its leap of faith on a brand new type of toy for boys, the now-ubiquitous "action figure."

The story of the GI Joe product illuminates the story of the toy industry itself. I found this look inside the process of bringing a product to market and maintaining its value over the course of decades fascinating.

I don't normally give a Five Star rating, but my god, this book is wonderful. The story is fun and indepth. The design is AMAZING and the images of the GI JOE figures are wonderfully shot.

If you have even a slight, passing interest in GI JOE, buy this book, you won't be dissappointed!

A beautifully written, engrossing story of Christmas in a small town where a heavy snowstorm changed the course of events and the lives of many. Theroux paints vivid endearing characters and a portrait of a town I wish was my own home town.

What a charming Christmas fable--it draws you in with its tales of various residents of Ryland Falls and leaves you filled with the wonder of this special season. The appreciation of communities, families and individuals lingers, along with more intangible appreciation of what binds all of us together. This is a treasure!

When I finished reading this absolute gem of a book, I was astonished to find myself sitting there, feeling my heart chakra open, and on the verge of shedding tears of joy. This is one of those small rare treasures of literature that quietly opens the readerÕs heart and lets in a gentle flood of light and warmth and love. A short story written with a deft touch and without a shred of pretense or saccarine embellishment, GiovianniÕs Light displays the effortless mastery of the craft, evoking Guy DeMaupassantÕs classic explorations of life and the human heart. Take time to savour every word. Phyllis Theroux has truly written one for the ages.

Leaving my cold weather roots with the outside temperature at 70, I never dreamed I'd be able to be deliciously snowed in for the holidays cozying up for a fresh winter storm so vividly brought back to life in "Giovanni's Light". Holed up with me, to my delight, were Ms. Theroux's richly endearing cast of characters who one by one are given the chance to revisit the essence of the holiday spirit. I was at home in Ryland Falls eagerly awaiting each turn of events. A great solo read but just as much a wonderful family read-a-loud. It allowed my sun-bathed clan to experience the magic and wonder of a Christmas where nature's snowy blanket sets the town residents on a new course. A warm glow of a book I have continued to buy more copies to pass on to frenzied, frazzled friends who are all begging to find a way to slow down and experience the true gifts of the holidays. "Giovanni's Light" is just the answer.

What does it take for some people to stop their harried pace and take a look at their lives and then, to put a better perspective on what is important and what can wait? In this case it takes a blizzard to force people's lives to a slow crawl and give them the precious gift of time, to clearly see what is taking place in their lives that needs to be re-examined and fine tuned. This is a beautiful, thoughtful tale that encourages you to adjust your priorities to those with real value before something "big" or even tragic has to happen to force you to do so. Phyllis Theroux wisely shows that time is a priceless gift and that to live a fuller, richer life, time should be spent wisely, not nickled and dimed away.

The Hallmark Keepsake value guide was vary informative and well laid out
it is a pleaser using it. I would not hesitate buying another value guide for the year 2010.

Thank you for providing such a product.

I think this book is a great way to keep track of my Hallmark Ornaments and give me a current value of each one. However, because values change from year to year, it could be a lot of work transferring them to a new book each year. I think every couple of years would be fine to keep track of what you have unless you purchase numerous ornaments every year. I would, however, like to know where the values come from. If the values listed are to sell, I don't think you could get the amount stated. However, if it's for insurance reasons, I think it would be a great book to have.

I just love this book. It gives you a picture for all ornaments, including miniature ornaments too. Plus, other specialty hallmark products. The book also gives you a market value of the ornament and is nicely organized. I would recommend this book for the novist collector and the serious collector!

This book lists all Hallmark ornaments in pictures and prices. It is
helpful to find some of my ornaments and know their value. I would
recommend it to any collector of Hallmark.

This guide is very useful for determining insurance values for a person's ornament collection. It is not as useful for determining sale prices as sale prices almost never equal value guide prices. It is easy to use and has good pictures of virtually every ornament and merry miniature Hallmark has produced. I highly recommend it to any serious collector.