Collectibles Books

A wonderful read...informative.Photographs are ready for framing. Definitely will inspire you to begin to collect Indian clubs. As stated by Gerard Wertkin, Director, Museum of American Folk Art, "(Alice Hoffman) has recovered an all but forgotten subchapter in the history of American sport and, at the same time, helped us appreciate another aspect of American artistic creativity. Hats off to her!" I agree with Mr. Wertkin and the following reviews: Antiques & Auction News, "A colorful exercise in collecting,"..."documents the "life" of this colorful and practical form of exercise...a charming addition to any antiques library." Antique & Collectibles News Service, "Inside Antiques, Good Reading,"..."we love (this) book...a folk art gem." Antiques Review, "The Bookshelf,"..."Superb color photographs...Fascinating archival material." Denver Post, "What's Up,"..."If you're searching for the most unusual art book of the year don't overlook Indian Clubs." Maine Antiques Digest, "Books, Calendars, CD-ROMS,"..."a case for Indian clubs as folk art." The Star Ledger, NJ, "A new life for Indian clubs,"..."new coffee table book...If TV infomercials had been around in their heyday, chances are the physical fitness mavens of the day would have been pitching Indian clubs in the same way abs machines and treadmills are endlessly hawked now."

Excellent resource for serious collectors and the curious. Photographs are inspirational. Can't wait to start my own collection. Historical information very comprehensive. Good read as well as informative.

Alice Hoffman has uncovered a forgotten piece of American history and inspired me to begin collecting Indian clubs. Hoffman has written an informative book complete with stunning photographs and personal reflections.

Indian clubs now prized for their sculptural, artistic merits were once a must for every man, women, and child who hoped to obtain physical and spiritual well-being in the late 19th, early 20th century.

It's amazing to learn that Indian clubs were once thought to be an exercise that would stand the test of time. Hoffman has shown they have, not as muscle builders but as a collectible.

If you're interested in learning something new and not afraid of becoming an Indian club collecting addict as I have since reading this book, I suggest you order Indian Clubs today.

There has never been a book quite like JACK TAR and it couldn't be more welcome. It's a real treasure chest of a book -- sumptuous to look at, a delight to read, and sound in scholarship. It's also a book to enjoy again and again. The authors and designer deserve highest praise.

This book gives an extremely interesting account of the lives of sailors of both the United States and Britain in the age of sailing and steam-powered ships. Through artifacts gathered by nautical antiques collector (and founder of the Independence Seaport Museum in Philadelphia) J. Welles Henderson, we discover what valued most to these men (and a few women) and get a taste of how they passsed their time. An extremely impressive array of images shows their handicrafts (scrimshaw, macramé, etc.), as well as pointing out the dangers and drudgery inherent in the sailors' lives. Topics cover everything from discipline at sea and sailor's misbehavior on shore to acts of piracy and available medical care. Both naval and merchant service experiences are explored. I only wish such a comprehensive volume had been available when I did the research for my novel A Star to Sail By, which features a sailor of the clipper ship era. I would recommend this book to anyone with a love of sea lore and a nostalgia for the age of the great sailing ships.

Welles Henderson started his maritime history collecting as a schoolboy when he invested 50 cents in the USS Constitution, aka Old Ironsides. His first piece was a small anchor, his reward for his contribution to the preservation of this revolutionary war masterpiece. After many years of collecting memorabilia of the sailor's life he started the Philadelphia Maritime Museum, now the Independence Seaport Museum. His intense interest in the shipboard life of Jack Tar comes out in the many illustrations, most in color, many drawn or painted by sailors. Most of these illustrations are of items that he has collected in his world travels. For those interested in the romantic adventures or the dull drudgery of shipboard life in the 19th century this book will be a welcome voyage.

Japanese Movie Posters: Yakuza, Monster, Pink And Horror is an eye-opening, full-color presentation of movie posters representational of the best and the worst of Japan's cinema. From lurid and graphic horror to yakuza movies to posters of Hayao Miyazaki's wondrous words of animation, Japanese Movie Posters offers an unforgettable slice of Japanese popular culture in the twentieth century. Brief yet erudite and scholarly commentaries by Chuck Stephens (contributing editor to "Film Comment", a columnist for "Kinema Junpo, and a freelance specialist in Asian cinema for publications worldwide), Tetsuya Masuda (vintage poster expert and head of the cinema section of wonder antiquarian books), and Kairakutei Black (a Japanese film critic and traditional "rakugo" comic storyteller) offer informed and informative insights into the psychology and media background of the individual posters round out this impressive collection. A unique compendium of cinematic poster art, Japanese Movie Posters is a welcome and highly recommended addition to any personal or academic Cinematic Studies reference collection.

I discovered this new book put out by Tokyo-based DH Publishing by accident. And am glad I did. Chock full of full-page full-color posters of the most wonderfully wackiest of Japan's classic movie posters. There's everything from Horror and Monster to Samurai and Ninja, Pink (what they call soft porn) to Anime, and even some new posters thrown in. My best is easily the Sci-Fi genre, which includes the ultimate Ultraman. Also, you gotta check out some of the Monster posters, like Godzilla and some huge Ice Man creature. I bought two of these, as I knew it would make that perfect present when you've run out of ideas what to buy someone. DH Publishing arigato! I'm going to check out their other books. I hope they're as good!

If you buy one book on Japanese cinema this year, this is it. They have done a terrific job of laying out the history of Japanese film in poster format, in correct color no less, with
a lot of useful information for the Japanese film buff, and collector since many of the posters are available to order right from this publication. My only comment is when will their next
book be issued? Enjoy!

Being a collector of the Jewel Tea Autumn Leaf Collection I found this book to be most awesome. The history of the company as well as the great photographs were well documented. I highly recommend this high quality book to collectors!

Loved the book. Very helpful in cateloging my collection and finding new pieces to search for. Anyone who has Jewel Tea would benefit from owning this book.

A must read book for any Jewel Tea Collector. A very easy AND informative book. The author is extremly knowledgeable about Jewel Tea. I highly recommend this book!

This is a beautiful little book which features photographs of precious jewels fashioned by some of the great jeweler/artists of the past three centuries. The Lalique and Cartier pieces shown here are not the same ones you'll find in every other jewelry book. The quality of the photography and printing is first class. If you love fine art jewelry, or insects, or both, you'll enjoy this book.

Beautiful pictures of rare and unusual pieces. I bought this for my sister and almost kept it for myself.

If you collect insect jewelry, or if you just love to look at jewelry as an art form, you are going to love this book. The author takes a topic rarely covered, and creates a photo essay that is beautiful from start to finish. The only problem I had with this book is that it made me want to hit the antique shops (...)to find some of the rare and lusterous beauties shown in the beautiful color pictures. I hope we will see more on this fascinating subject in the future. This book has made me hungry for more, and I guarantee if you have a "bug pin" collector on your gift list, you simply won't find a better book to surprise them with. It definately will not disappoint!

Whether you are a Professional Jeweler or a student this book has all the technical info you need...

Alloys, Flux and Solders
How long do you cut the band for a size 7 ring?

Just loads of stuff!!! THE Jewelery Reference Book!

This is a must have for anyone at all interested in jewellery and its sidelines. The amount of information at hand is absolutely wonderful and does save a lot of precious time by having all the info so readily to hand.

Excellent content, a must have for the serious jeweler, student or craft person. Covers a multitude of areas not found in other books. This book should be at the top of anyones list that has an interest in making or designing jewelry.

Excellent and interesting book, that combines my interest in stamps and the history of jewish people. There are many biographies of important men and women, that recognize their contributions to Humanity.

As I recently started collecting postage stmps from Israel, I was thrilled to find this book. (I do not read Hebrew) Well made with beautiful full color illustrations this book covers 4000 years of Jewish history. It is a must have book for any serious collector. Dr. Ronald Eisenberg helped bring the people, places and celebrations of Israel to life. Well written and insightful, I highly recommend the book.

The Jewish World In Stamps: 4000 Years Of Jewish Civilization On Postage Stamps by Ronald L. Eisenberg is an amazing, full-color, 288 page volume that meticulously reproduces postage stamps portraying events and people throughout the whole of Jewish history. The Jewish World In Stamps ranges from biblical stories such as the tale of Esther, to the Diaspora, to rise of Zionism and establishment of the state of Israel, to Jewish traditions and values, to World Jewish Communities, to modern-day Jewish entertainers such as Groucho Marx. Succinct entries flesh out the background detail on the individual or story represented by each stamp, and the color illustrations are the next best thing to having an international stamp collection of one's own. The Jewish World In Stamps is an exciting and seminal work that makes both the world of stamp collecting and Jewish history itself come alive.

I really enjoyed reading the book. It is fun and has a lot of ideas for "junk" a holics.

The book was really a lot of fun! I enjoyed it.

Davis, in a stroke of genius, has written a book about, well, junk. We all have it, we are all loathe to part with it, we're forever buying more of it and no one ever seems to know what to do with it. Davis knows, though, and she graciously invites us into her home via Townsend's photographs to see exactly how lining our walls with junk can make our homes exquisite.

Davis has written a readable, highlightable little book in her unique and playful style and has consequently introduced us to the treasures that lie dusty in our own garages. Everyone who lives within 200 miles of a flea market must own this book!

Judith Miller has set the standard for antique education/appreciation, and this book is a seminal work. This is the best introductory book for the antique neophyte, and no area is given short shrift; my antique vocabulary has improved a hundred fold. I was an antique dilettante, languishing in ignorance, and Miller's book has introduced me to the incredible world of porcelain, silver, and glass antiquities; an area that I gave scant attention to in the past. For those making their first tentative steps into this field, I heartily recommend arming yourself with a copy of Judith Miller's fantastic book.

This book won't sit unused on the shelf of my bookcase as all the other antique books I have purchased in the past. This one will definitely be used - in the field and at my desk. Very informative, great illustrations and a lot of valuable information I will be able to use during my antique hunting travels. I would highly recommend this book to all antique collectors.

For a quick and beautiful study session on antiques, this is the book. Gorgeous photos, clear and concise explanations! There is a 4-page easy chart showing the pertinent features of famous furniture styles that's excellent. She tackles every category such as ceramics, glass and silver with skill. I don't see how this book can be improved upon other than by really going into detail which would take extra books. I did see one error but I am not docking the Englishwoman for it. On page 30, there is a photo of a Pennsylvania Dutch chest which she lists as, "...often made in pine and poplar by German and Dutch settlers in Pennsylvania." I think she may be confused about the Pennsylvania Dutch people who definitely made the chest. Since I am of Pa. Dutch descent born and raised with grandparents who spoke the old, local Germanic dialect, I would like to clarify that the Pa. Dutch people are Germanic and the word Dutch is a bastardization of the Germanic work for German which is Deutsch. We are not at all Dutch, have no relation to Dutch and all the Pennsylvania Dutch groups such as the Amish, Mennonites, Dunkards and Lutherans plus Reformed have no Dutch connections. You only have to visit Switzerland and Germany to see the direct influence of those cultures on the furniture styles, art designs and foods of the Pennsylvania Dutch people. I did not perceive any direct similarity when I went to the Netherlands except for a general Northern European feel. Neither are there any large historical settlements of Dutch people in Pennsylvania, at least not anywhere near the Pa. Dutch region in Southeastern Pa.

This is absolutely one of the finest books about the early pioneering in our country. Giles writes in a low-key manner, but brings vivid pictures to the mind as the reader follows the travels and travails of one of those pioneers as he makes his way through the wilderness of the Appalachian Mountains into the "wilds" of Kentucky and a new life. As a new-comer to Kentucky in my middle twenties, back in 1957, "The Kentuckians" was a great introduction to the strength and character of those earliest developers of this State.

My first meeting with Ms. Giles' novels actually came through her third novel in this particular series: "The Believers", wherein the granddaughter of those first settlers becomes involved with the Shaker Community in Kentucky. THAT was so beautifully written, that I HAD to go back to read about the protagonist's parents ("Hannah Fowler") and then on back to "The Kentuckians". Each book was better than the first!

And each book drew me in so closely to the people and places involved that I felt as though I was right there and each left me hating to leave their presence! If the Kentuckians ever is reprinted in hardback, I'll be the first in line!

Giles should be better known; her multi-volume set of historical fiction is genuinely excellent. This is the first of the series and one of the best; the second, Hannah Fowler, I think is the best. That is followed by The Believers, also a very good read. Anyone who likes to read will love these books.

I am a great fan of Janice Holt Giles. I personally think that the story of meeting Henry, falling in love and marrying him, moving to Spout Springs, hunting for the logs and building their home is a beautiful romance. I regret that I never got to meet her, although my husband did actually meet her and also talked at length with Henry when once he was called to their home to repair a refridgerator. My favorite books by Janice, are therefore, the autobiographical ones. "Hanna Fowler" takes the number one spot in my heart for her fiction, however, coming in a close second is now "The Kentuckians" I think some of JHG's books are very well written, and others are not, but "The Kentuckians", written in the first person, rings so true to me that I wish I could drop her a line and tell her how very much I enjoyed it. I am a Kentucky native, almost 60 years old and I remember when I heard people talk the same way that she had the main character revealing his story to us in this book. I felt as if my grandfather were sitting in a rocker on the front porch telling me his life story. I think she did an exceptional job in getting the dialect down just right, especially considering she was not a native. It's also nice to know, when reading her books, that they are historically correct. She made a great effort to learn our quirks and way of speaking and in "The Kentuckians" she got it down pat. Thanks, Janice, wherever you are.