Collectibles Books

What a wonderful trip down Memory Lane! I had a couple of uncles that worked for Marx when I was a little kid and had many of the toys featured in Michelle's book. I can only wonder what happened to my Mark toys. I guess they found their way to cousins or younger friends, but I sure would like to have them back now! Good job Michelle - I truly enjoyed paging through your book - it appears to have been a labor of love as opposed to a for profit project. Thanks for the memories!

This book would be a great companion book. Most Marx toys collectors would benefit from information on part numbers, years of production and viewing the wonderful selection of photographs featured in the book. The book covers about 30 years worth of knowledge on toys produced at the Glen Dale plant site. There is even a partial price listing on items that Ms. Smith and Mr. Whipkey were familiar with. All in all. A good book.

I enjoyed this book because of it's detailed accounts of Marx toys that I grew up with. The price guide is also handy when I'm out looking for Marx items for my sisters' collections. History of a manufacturer is always interesting and the photographs help define the pieces I'm searching for. I appreciate a good book that shows great effort extended in presenting the information. I would recommend this book to the serious toy buyer and to new seekers of antique Marx toys. Kudos to the author!

I found this to be an ideal route to fond memories of my childhood. Many of the toys in this book were basis of several Christmas dreams. As a baby boomer, I have been collecting the dollhouses and furniture with the hope that my granddaughter will appreciate them, too! This is a good reference guide to have!

This brand new (year 2000)192 page book gives you an inside look at one of America's favorite toy makers. It takes you behind the scenes at Marx to help you see and understand the company and its people. There is a beautiful 32 page full color section, in addition to more than 150 black and white photos. Many of the photos have not before been published. More than 1,200 individual items are listed, including many values. Major topics range from Play Sets, Doll Houses, Lithographed Items, to Johnny West, and Sandy Dolls. A Marx time line from 1896 to 1999 is provided along with a handy index. Toy collectors will be delighted with this new reference.

Every line in Brenda Ueland's autobiography follows the powerful advice that the author gave in her wonderful book IF YOU WANT TO WRITE. She tells her story with absolute honesty and she always makes it interesting. It is impossible to read this book without being influenced. The reader begins to see life Brenda Ueland's way -- as a great, soaring adventure. This woman believed in everyone's talents and this is charmingly revealed in her depiction of herself with three children. When she asked who knew inside that he or she was really a genius -- all hands shot into the air, including her own. She makes the reader feel like one of the group.

At first I was a little disappointed in this book because I wanted to read more of what Ueland wrote in her book "If You Want to Write." In "Me: A Memoir," Ueland said more than once she hated to write.

What a downer for someone looking for encouragement.

However, I read the book cover-to-cover and without skipping one page. I even read the introduction to the book, something I usually skip (if it's important, it's going to be in the body of the book, right?).

Ueland's writing in "Me" is refreshing. She says what she says and if you don't like it--tough. That's who she is. I like her spirit, her intelligence and her ability to make some sense out of life.

A good read. I'm sure you'll enjoy it.

Brenda Ueland follows her own profound advice, given in her book, IF YOU WANT TO WRITE, and tells her own story with such complete honesty and fervor, every sentence is a joy. Just as certain pieces of music lift you off your feet in spite of yourself, so, too, her courage and warmth take you over until you feel full of promise and power yourself. Brenda Ueland thrilled to her own talents and to the talents she believed to be in the make-up of every human being in this world. Brenda could not be with people without empowering them. When Ueland asked three children which of them felt inside he or she was really a genius, all three raised their hands -- and so did Brenda Ueland. Anything by this woman puts life on a whole new plane.

reading berenda made me a better person and probably saved my artistic life (or the life of the artist within me). in this book which is so different than any other memoir or autobiography, she geneously shares with us her inner life. according to her everyone's inner life is interesting. she writes about how she was on her way to germany when wwI broke out and she was stranded in egland as a result. rather than giving us one more of thousands of reports on the climate of that time she notes that everybody already knows about the war and if they want to read about it they can go to the libray. what people don't know about is her. the result is that brenda, the human being, is put on the same facinating plane as world wars and revolutions. and that is the way it should be. we are all that important and should share our selves with eachother the way brenda does. read this book for a wonderful example of how to live live like a prophet passionatly searching for truth and beauty. i am less dead by reading it. and you can be too!! also read if you want to write because it is even better!

The thing about this book that really captured my imagination was the view of Minneapolis at the turn of the century from the perspective of a female artist. You get a real taste of Minnesota's progressive roots and Norwegian heritage. Time spent at the lake and fighting for political and social justice-- both favorite Minnesota past times! ;)

Though Brenda is more unique than that - spending a portion of each day improving her handstands.

Beyond that, Brenda is the kind of woman I aspire to be, and she is truly inspiring in the way she lives her life, her honesty with us and herself, and her sharp intelligence and quick humor.
Highly recommended - especially for women.

"The Mint on Carson Street" is the ultimate reference guide for Carson City coins. It provides descriptions, pedigrees, populations, mintages and more on each of the 111 coins in the CC set (plus a few special varieties). It has become my personal reference tool and I find myself using it on almost a daily basis. On that subject alone, this book is unparalleled and while it is all that, it is oh so much more. Rusty Goe's crafty writing virtually takes you on a time machine ride as he recounts the glorious history of those lives and times (late 1860's through the mid 1890's) via both story and pictures. When you buy this book, it is like you're getting six great books in one. It is a fascinating read for everyone. The "Gilded Age"....The "Old West"...."CC Coins"....The Comstock Lode"....If you are a passionate fan on any one or all of those subjects, there is a pretty good chance you have already read this book. If you haven't read it, or you are not one of those persons, pick up a copy today, read it and by the time you are finished, you will be!

Rusty Goe's new book describing the history of The Carson City Mint and its coinage is a MUST read for collectors of these coins. Rusty tells how to build valuable sets of CC coins and gives a history of their price appreciation. Rarity and pedigree information are included. Great READ!

Weimar White

There are books on mint products from the Carson City Mint and there are books on the history of Nevada but there has never been a book that so expertly weaves together the stories of the people who made significant events come to pass, the political climate of the post-Civil War United States and territories that were not yet states, Congressional action and reaction to the economy and the contentious matter of money backed by either precious metals or paper, the trials and challenges of a start-up assaying and coining operation, all in the exciting context of the Comstock Lode phenomenon and the mining industry that changed the west.

This book is written with unmistakable passion for the benefit of Comstock and Carson City enthusiasts. But it will be highly regarded by historians, numismatists, coin and memorabilia collectors, scholars, and every investor who may want to become acquainted with the pleasurable pursuit of a truly scarce and sought after tangible collectible. The book also contains statistical information and insights into surviving populations of coins in relation to the quantities originally minted. It has taken a place of prominence among the books I own.

I received this book as a gift and was only expecting it to be a synopsis of Carson City coins. I was not expecting all of the wonderful history! It is a fascinating read as well as being so informative. I really enjoyed reading about so many of the people who influenced not only Carson City and Nevada history, but United States history, as well. In the back is a complete guide to all of the coins minted in Carson City.
The book itself is quite beautiful, inside and out. It contains many pictures of historical people and places. The cover is so nice, you will not want to stash it in your bookcase, but place it on the coffee table for others to enjoy (and envy!)
Thanks again, Mom and Dad, for the beautiful book!

The Carson City coinsthat intrigue us today serve to memorialize the prominent--and not so well known--deeds which occurred between the Civil War and the turn of the century. During this era of giant personalities, the growing pains of the nation created both hardship and jubilant excess in a brand new Nevada (Halloween, 1864).
This phenomenon of the old west is lovingly presented by Rusty Goe in THE MINT ON CARSON STREET. Though little-known outside numismatic circles Rusty has delved into every cranny of the period, all the while becoming one of the supremely knowledgeable and formidable operatives in U.S.coins. His colleagues and trading competitors will attest to his skill and high integrity.
The book (tome,really), Rusty's memorial to an incomparable time and place, is not merely to read, but to dive into and swim around. Some of its delights: recapturing an obscure but haunting part of our exuberant national adolescence, demystifying many of the intricacies in the rare coin market, and serving as a permanent and valuable resource reference. The manner of presentation is that of a veteran of many adventures and well-fought battles lovingly sharing his most prized experiences with those who are disposed to value and appreciate the accounts.
THE MINT ON CARSON STREET has pride of place in my book collection.

A very beautifully written book, with fine photography. A great resource

I thought that this book was beautifully written by Risa Palazzo. While giving much valuable historical perspective, the spirit of the periods covered was wonderfully captured with great feeling.

A terrific book on antique china, silver and glass that was well-written and beautifully photographed. I felt like I was part of the periods discussed.

Risa Palazzo has truly captured the feel of the periods covered and made me feel as if I was there! A very good book.

I thought Risa Palazzo's writing was beautiful in this book. I gained a real understanding of the eras covered, especially for the way that women lived and entertained during the 1920s and 1930s. A very worthwhile book for anyone interested in table accessories.

This book undertakes an interesting era in jewelry and brings information together in an interesting and easily understandable style. Lots of pictures which always makes a book more interesting for me. I recommend it for people who want to learn more about contemporary jewelry from the 1940's on.

I am a collector of American mid-century jewelry and this is the most informative book to date! Marbeth Schon is an authority on topic and has generously shared her knowledge with us. View of signatures of artist in back of book is also a great reference!

Finally, we have a compendium of history, facts, photos, and values. Marbeth Schon has done the research for us, and now we can put this wonderful information to work. For collectors and dealers, this is a must have work of beauty and scholarship. The organization makes it a valuable reference source, while the photographs make it an invaluable reflection on the 'Art Movement' of 'American Modernism'.

From the well known to the obscure 'Modernist Artists', their works and their place in history has now been beautifully documented by this wonderful research author.

My wife makes me read most of her dozens and dozens of jewelry books so I can help her out occasionally, but this one didn't need more than a quick browse to get me started.

Modernist Jewelry, it seems as though there has never been enough information. Christie Romero's Warman Jewelry and Messengers of Modernism were great aids. The Author's online Modern Silver Magazine has provided insightful information on dozens of Modernist artists, as as her webpage.

Now we have the most complete source of information available anywhere. Studying the art, the histories, the influences, and especially the artists has finally become possible from this scholarly work. The photography is top-notch, the values are reasonable, timely, and well researched, and the writing is clear and concise. All-in-all it is simply a Masterpiece!

Marbeth has the unique combination of an artistic eye, personal research knowledge and market experience that makes this book such a treasure. If you love Modernist Jewelry, this book will re-kindle your passion... and if you are not familiar with it, this book will light your fire! As a dealer and collector, I own hundreds of books on jewelry, and this is one of my top-10 favorites. Buy it now and enjoy it for years to come.

This book is magnificent! It's wonderful to read & the photos are fantastic! This is the perfect gift for both movie-loving adults & kids who will be transfixed by the almost full-page photos! Zach Zito, Michael Lederman & Mel Neuhaus have crafted a perfect homage to most of the greatest movie monsters...They immediately remind you of why you loved the films you've seen and entice you to watch the films that you haven't seen yet! I can only hope that the authors will publish more books like this, in the future!

It is obvious that Zach Zito has thoroughly researched this subject and he knows it well! The pictures are classics and evoke great memories of unforgettable monster movie moments! The behind the scenes facts and trivia will more than satisfy all you classic monster movie fans. Keep on writing Zach! We're looking forward to your next one!

It is obvious that Zach Zito has thoroughly researched this subject and he knows it well! The pictures are classics and evoke great memories of unforgettable monster movie moments! The behind the scenes facts and trivia will more than satisfy all you classic monster movie fans. Keep on writing Zach! We're looking forward to your next one!

Zito, Neuhaus and Lederman have written a book with beautiful photos and graphics and lots of fun facts for classic film fans. It is very entertaining and the film synopses are detailed enough to please hard-core film buffs, yet straightforward enough for novices. The authors obvious love for their subject is infectious.

It is obvious that Zach Zito has thoroughly researched this subject and he knows it well! The pictures are classics and evoke great memories of unforgettable monster movie moments! The behind the scenes facts and trivia will more than satisfy all you classic monster movie fans. Keep on writing Zach! We're looking forward to your next one!

How nice that someone has preserved both a piece of history and a part of the legendary and much-missed Montgomery Ward stores. If you study or write about history, you'll find this a fabulous reference of period styles, furnishings, and common items. Fun to read as a curiosity piece, too.

This wonderful book is a reprint of the 1895 Montgomery Ward & Co. catalogue. Everything is there, along with the pictures for each item, looking just the way they did more than one hundred years ago! My family and I had a high old time thumbing through this book, laughing at the funny styles of clothing, the strange items our forbearers needed (or thought they needed), and generally being amazed at the prices. This is quite a fascinating book to read, one I recommend to any history buff!

I've given away several of these reproduction catalogs as gifts and they're always a big hit. Instantly, the recipients open the book and start studying its pages, remarking at the prices and oohing and ahhing over the more curious items of the day.

This book gives a detailed and accurate picture of a typical "day in the life" 110+ years ago. Think about that for a moment. Can you really imagine someone looking at a 2005 newspaper in the year 2,110?!

Buggy whips and patent medicines and cook stoves (fired by kerosene, wood or coal!) and portable bathtubs and cream separaters and more were featured in this catalog.

This is a wonderful resource and a fun read. You can lose yourself for hours reading about life "back in the day."

A little trivia: There's a story (as told on PBS's documentary, "Mr. Sears' Catalog") that the Sears Roebuck catalog was a tiny bit smaller than the mail order catalog offered by his competitor, Mr. Aaron Montgomery Ward.

Sears (a marketing genius) knew that the farm wife would probably have both the Sears and Ward's catalog in her home. Sears made his catalog a little narrower and shorter than the Ward's catalog, so that when the little lady was tidying up the house, the Sears catalog, being smaller, would end up stacked on TOP of the Ward's catalog!

Rose Thornton
author, The Houses That Sears Built

This "Montgomery Ward & Co. Catalogue and Buyer's Guide" from Spring/Summer 1895 is better than a time capsule. Most of my ancestors were still on the far side of the Atlantic that year, but for my maternal grandfather's ancestors here are 25,000 items (most of which are illustrated by woodcut) that they could have either had in their homes or dreamed about owning. From straight-edged razors and high buttoned shoes to tea gowns and the New Improved Singer Sewing Machine. Historically, Montgomery Ward prided itself on being the friend of farmers and the official supplier to the Grange. Ward was the first to offer a product guarantee that became the key to earning the respect of rural consumers and building the business. However, in 1887 Ward's main competetior Sears put out his first catalog and upped the ante by showing the customer what they would be buying before they bought it (okay, he also offered lower prices). By the time this 600-page catalogue came out in 1895 Ward was following suit. Flip through it and see what sort of amenities were making their way out to the farms at the end of the 19th-century. You could buy a buggy for $60 or spend $200 on a piano. Here you can get a bathtub, chairs, watches, hats, and even a Star Raisin Seeder. How about a solid-gold eighteen-karat wedding band for only $5? Looking through these pages will give you a sense what it was like in 1895, when the average worker had to put in 16 hours to earn enough money to buy a hair brush or 260 hours for a one-speed bicycle. Just looking through the pages of books you could order was enlightening. Actually, this is more like a time machine than a time capsule.

Like the Sears Roebuck catalogue, which sits beside it on my shelf, this unabridged reprint is an indispensable tool for anyone who wants to know the kinds of items that might have been found in a typical middle-class home a hundred-odd years ago. In some ways it's even superior: the illustrations have reproduced more clearly, with their details better visible, and the type, though you may still want a magnifier to read it, is also more easily made out. Prices are of course included, though you'll want to allow for the fact that MW was at that time not a conventional retail house, but confined to mail-order, which allowed it to undercut the "traditional" merchants just as Net sellers can today! There's a full index right at the front, where you can easily look up whatever you may be interested in at the moment; or you can simply open the volume at random and start browsing. And, unlike Sears, it even has a toy section! Like all Dover books, its paper and binding are superior in quality, and will doubtless last very well. Since the items listed don't duplicate exactly, I strongly suggest purchasing both catalogues. As a writer of historical fiction, I use both frequently. Highly recommended.

The book is beautifully presented with exceptional diagrams and step by step instructions. There are many different varieties of flowers not found in other books, exotic orchics and beautiful butterflies. I love it.

I received my book very quickly, Amazon kept me informed via email that the order was received and when the book was sent. Great service.

I've been working with beads for many years, and creating french beaded flowers for at least 20 years, and I STILL was very impressed with this book (which isn't easy to do!) The instructions are clear and the designs are wonderful! It's hard to say if a beginner would view it the same since I have been working with this art form for so long, but I believe it would be an excellent instructional guide, and a fantastic addition to every beading artist & hobbyist's library.

I bought Dalene's first French Beaded Flowers book and used it extensively. I was happy to add the second one to my collection. It is a very project-based book like the first one. I have made a number of the flowers already. The instructions are clear and concise. A good book for beginners.

Dalene's second book of French Beaded Flowers is a welcome addition to her first. I've already made several of the flowers! Her instructions are clear, and the flowers are just beautiful. Good work, Dalene!

I've had Kelly's first book (as a section of a larger beading book) for a while and have had great fun with it. The flowers in this second book are just as beautiful. The instructions are clear and relatively easy to follow. I've already done a couple of the projects and they've turned out well.

Now for the caution flag. Kelly's first book is titled 'French-Beaded Flowers: New Millennium Collection'. This second book is titled 'More French Beaded Flowers: 38 Patterns for Blossoms, Leaves, Bugs & More'.

However, there is another Kelly book that you may see, titled 'French Beaded Flowers'. Be aware that this seemingly THIRD Kelly book is the UK's version of the second book. The only differences between the two books are the cover, the longer title and the publisher. The project content is exactly the same. Judging from the dates of the reviews written for the UK version, it seems to have been published first. Maybe the publishers of the U.S. version decided to add the word 'MORE' to the title just to be different. Or maybe it was some type of legal thing. The one thing it IS, is confusing to the consumer.

So, please don't be fooled by the cover, like I was and buy both of them. As far as I know, there are only two books by Dalene Kelly on French Beaded Flowers, not three.

Since I received this book a few days ago, I have not been able to put it down. As a collector of Dew bottles for over 30 years, I was like a "kid on Christmas" when the book arrived. Little did I know that it would be so detailed. It truely exceeded my expectations! I am going to buy more copies to give as gifts to family and friends.
You have got to appreciate the effort that Mr. Bridgforth put in to writing this book and preserving a piece of history.
It goes without saying that every collector, should have this book, but I would highly recommend it to anyone that is interested in history.
Thank You Mr. Bridgforth, for all your work on saving a piece of the past.

Mountain Dew has always been my favorite drink. Collecting Dew items came naturally. Dick's first 2 books were a great resource for us Dewaholics. Now this third book in the trilogy is finally available, and it's fantastic! How great to have in one place, all this info about our favorite obsession! It's definitely a great value, when you realize all the labor that went into this massive work. YA-HOOO!
Robb and Sherry Niebeling

I have collected Mt Dew bottles for over 40 years. This is the finest effort yet, to document all known variations. Unbelievable! Over 900 named bottles listed (with individual photos) plus many other non-name variations. The attempt to document the history (including personal photos) of each person listed on the bottles is amazing, and a great bonus to any reader or historian. Without Dick's efforts, the identity of these individuals would be lost forever. This book is a great follow-up to his two earlier books on Mt Dew and is required for any Mt Dew collector's library.

WOW ... this book is GREAT!!! I know I speak for all the Mountain Dew
collectors when I say we have been looking for a complete list of the
Hillbilly bottles for years and now I have it in my hot little hands.
Having this book to reference as I go on eBay or to a flea market is
invaluable.

I kept having questions about this bottle or that bottle. A fellow
collector told me that there was a FILLED BY DUDE AND ZAYDA but said
there was no BOTTLE BY DUDE AND ZAYDA. Now I can look it up and actually see a picture of the bottle - and yes there is a BOTTLE BY DUDE AND ZAYDA. I heard that there were two FULMER BOTTLING bottles but no one could really explain the difference to me. Now I know. I have a FILLED BY GUMPY AND DENSEL and one of the lists on the web says there is also a FILLED BY GUMPY & DENSEL. Not so, it is simply GUMPY & DENSEL. This book has it all.

If you collect Mountain Dew hillbilly bottles and don't have this book,
then you don't really collect Mountain Dew bottles.

I can't believe this book is finally out!!! I have been waiting for years for an accurate list of the old named hillbilly bottles and this is beyond my expectations. This book contains everything I every wanted and even things I didn't know I wanted but I did:

1) AN ALPHABETIC LIST of every single hillbilly bottle. The entire list is by name which makes it easy to tell that there are five different CLEM AND GERT bottles (four different FILLED BY and one PUT UP BY). The list has a place for me to check off if I have the bottle or don't.
2) A DETAILED PICTURE of every single bottle (a close-up picture of the name, a picture of the front, back and basemark).
3) A COMPLETE DESCRIPTION of every bottle.
4) THE REAL PEOPLE: When the author was able to find out who the real GERT or JOHN or PETE was, they tell us more about that bottle and what area of the country it comes from. I always wondered why there are seven different variations of the MAW AND PAW bottle - now I know.
5) A CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM so that with 3 characters "M-01" you can communicate every single detail about a bottle to another collector.
6) A UNIQUE NUMBER so that you can tell another collector that you have #807.5 and you know instantly that you have the 5th of the 6 different WEST JEFFERSON bottles. That other collector will know that #807.5 is the one with the small font, doesn't have "WATER" in the frame description, etc.
7) THE RARITY AND PRICE are listed for each bottle.
8) AN INDEX BY NAME will point you to every bottle that contains any name. By looking for DON we know that there are 11 different bottles that say DON and one that says DONALD. How many Maryland bottles are there? How many North Carolina bottles? Now I know.

This book is awesome .... the third in a series ..... THE TRILOGY IS COMPLETE. Long live the DEW !!!!

There are a lot of high quality photographies of very wonderful netsuke, interesting design, good advice how to do the photographies of small netsuke better! This book is very good for beginning carvers, galleries!

Symmes does a wonderful job of composing this text. He gives a nice history of netsuke, covering the span of time from feudal Japan to the present. He includes a small section on netsuke manufacture, and another on photographic techniques for macro photography and design, and then the text opens into a wonderful collection of full-page photographs of several varied and incredible pieces, some dating back to the seventeenth century. He includes brief descriptions of the netsuke, although he could have elaborated on the Japanese (and Chinese) fables that inspired many of these creations for Western audiences. Many of the pieces in this book are available today in reproduction form, and the netsuke are composed of several different materials, not just the "typical" ivory or wood. This text is a must have for any collector, beginning or advanced, as it will inspire readers to research their private collections as well as create the desire to build them! The reproduction of detail from the photographs is amazing!

Between the introductory text and the stories attached to each picture, this book serves to both educate and whet the appetite. I struggled with the desire to own each of the pieces that Symmes so lovingly photographed.

As author Symmes says, netsukes have the "power to influence people and pocketbooks." This statement is true in several aspects. First, the collector of netsukes will find that they are expensive. Second, the purpose of a netsuke is to fasten an "inro," or case holding valuables, to an obi or belt. "Ne" translates as "root" and "tsuke" translates as "to fasten." An inro's cords are held tightly by an "ojime," or bead, to keep it closed and the netsuke keeps the inro from falling off of the wearer.

The highly-detailed photographs of netsukes are in harmony with the scenery and objects surrounding them, so lusciously artistic that you may consider framing them.

HIH Prince Norihito of Takamado, who wrote this book's foreward, says he looks for "warmth, wit, and a certain twist" in his own netsuke collection. To fully appreciate a netsuke, "hold it, feel it, and examine it closely in one's hand."

Netsuke figures have stories associated with them. Many figures are puns in which the same word may have several meanings. For example, monkey is "saru" which is pronounced the same as "to leave," so it would be unlucky to marry in a monkey year.

If you are not familiar with Asian astrology, this book will teach you much about the associated legends. One tale that fascinated me was about Daruma, the 28th patriarch of Zen Buddhism. Daruma meditated for 9 years, sitting so long that his legs lost their strength. My sister, who lived in Japan for many years, sent me a wooden Daruma doll with two blank eyes. When you knock over the Daruma doll, it pops back upright, reflecting an undaunted spirit. Here's what you are supposed to do with a Daruma doll: you color one eye to make a prayer, then you color the other one when the prayer is answered.

You'll learn much about Japanese life and legend from studying these tiny netsukes -- and Symmes provides us with a fun way to learn.

This book is a lot like the netsuke themselves. At first, it looks like it might be something interesting, so you pick it up, look a little closer, and...you are inside a whole different world. Something deceptively simple shows itself to have hidden depths.

I had been interested in netsuke for awhile, ever since buying a little ivory sumo in an antique shop in Japan one day. There was something about the miniature wrestler that fascinated me, and I found myself going back to the shop over and over again, just to look at it. I finally knew that, even though it was expensive, it had to be mine.

This is much like the feeling that author Edwin Symmes describes, leading me to believe that it must be a universal experience amongst netsuke appreciators. He is someone who loves the stories behind the tiny figures, who tries to find their personality rather than figure out their rarity or value. In "Netsuke: Japanese Life and Legend in Miniature", he combines his fascination with his skills in photography, creating small vignettes incorporating the figures with appropriate settings, such as an ivory tiger emerging from real bamboo, or a wooden Daruma nestled inside a rock cave. Next to each image is a story, detailing the legends behind the figure, or maybe a little something about the carver, something that you wouldn't know just by looking but which deepens the understanding and appreciate of the figure.

What this book is not is a collector's guide to netsuke. Anyone new to the art form, and looking for a "How to.." guide to give them tips as what to look for, isn't going to find that here. Not that it is entirely lacking in practical information. There are sections describing the history of netsuke, their original use and their evolution, but that is not the focus. To those who's interest lies in photography, Symmes includes a fascinating section on photographing netsuke. But the real joy lies in looking at the pictures, reading the stories, and sharing the love of netsuke that radiates from this book.