Collecting Books

This book is simply fabulous in every respect and you will most certainly not be disappointed! The pictures are plentiful, crisp, clear, and full color showing very precise detail of each item featured along with thorough descriptions, references to Ad's, dates and what I consider realistic price guidelines.

There are also additional photos of the inside of some compacts, especially the carryalls, which is extremely helpful in identifying what items should be there in order to maintain value. I have collected compacts and carryall's for years, but often find even though the exteriors are in great shape the interiors lack essential pieces, which can devalue, therefore knowing what you should have inside and out is of paramount importance to your collecting.

Compacts shown in this book are very attainable too, although there are those depicted, which are more difficult to find, rare and more expensive the book gives a wonderful comprehensive overview of VERY accessible compacts the collector can actually find in the market today. Within the first 50 pages I had already easily found and identified 6 compacts I purchased over the last 3 months AND I was able to identify even more within online auctions.

Finally a book that shows compacts, carryall's, etc. in great detail, gives a thorough description, references to Ad's, gives accurate dates and what I consider very accurate price guidelines, plus offers pieces, which can actually be found. This book is a stunning masterpiece both in text and photos and I can't wait to purchase the Second Edition!

I bought this and Volume II. The history! The pictures! You know what you are seeing and reading about in a collectors book, AT LAST! I have been collecting for a number of years, just for the beauty and my own personal thoughts about the people that might have owned these compacts. Now I know so much that I have always wanted to know. Now that I have seen these books, even though some of mine are not listed, I know where to look! I would love to talk to Laura, the author, because she must feel the same.

This book is just as beautiful as Gersons' Vintage ladys compacts with just as many color photographs of compacts. How ever Mueller expands her information on compacts with every chapter and the different compacts are catagorized by type ie, military, novalty etc and she also includes face powder boxes and other related Items in her books. I would recommend getting both volumes of her Encyclopedias as one is meant to compliment the other. There was a wonderful wooden box that she includes in one of the books that was originally meant as a bridal gift that I would love to acquire. Mueller has put keepsakes from her own wedding in it to demonstrate what it could be used for. Plus on the top of many pages of her books are quotes from people who were in the cosmetic and compact business when compacts were originally made that I find fun and unique. I highly recommend these books by Mueller .

From start to finish, this book is loaded with very sharp images of hundreds of vintage compacts ranging from absolutely gorgeous pieces to whimsical and always with great descriptions and current values. All of the photos are in beautiful color and are very sharp & easily recognizable. I've been collecting vintage compacts for years and was still amazed at the variety of styles and manufacturers that are included in this book! It stays on my desk and is a constant source of reference and pleasure! The only thing I would really like to see (maybe in a future publication) is the approximate age of each piece. Whether you're a serious collector or just a lover of the older compact beauties, you just cannot miss with this book....the author knows her stuff!!

This volume, along with volume 2, is the best place to learn about compacts and how to collect them. Gorgeous photos, all in color, covering every possible category of compact imaginable. Mueller covers compact and makeup history, from Egyptian times to the turn of the 20th century to the demise of artistically designed compacts in the 1960s. Any reader will be educated in the world of compacts after going through these two volumes. A quality guide/encyclopedia.

I am a lover and collector of vintage dolls from the 60's and 70's. This book is an incredibly valuable resource!! It shows pictures from hundreds of dolls - from baby dolls, collector dolls and fashion dolls. It really does have everything!! It also shows an estimated market value. I would highly recommend this book - it is GREAT!!!

I really could not live without this book! Not only has it taught me more about what I do collect, but it has opened up a whole new world to dolls that I never new exisited. The vibrant color photos are amazing and the descriptions are fun to read. Thank you for the countless hours it must have took to compile such a thorough history of dolls from my era!

As if her first book didn't do enough damage to my bank account, Ms. Sabulis had to follow up with a sequel, providing me even more opportunities to indulge my doll-collecting habit (addiction).

Just like her Collector's Guide Vol I, Volume II is page after page of beautiful photographs and informative descriptions of dolls I had or wanted as a child, and also contains many dolls I never knew existed (but now of course must obtain). There's so much there, I find something new each time I peruse it afresh.

Warning: The cost of this book is very reasonable. But unless (unlike me) you have a lot of self-discipline, it will ultimately cost you far more than the initial purchase price!

As a vintage doll collector I would be lost without this authors books for dolls of the 1960 and 1970's. I have had such fun finding dolls that I had long forgotten about or never even knew existed. The photos and information in this book are very valuable to the vintage doll collector. I would highly recommend this book. Even if you are not a collector the book is very fun to have around. People come over and open the book and say I had this doll or I remember my friend had this one.

Volume 2 of Cindy Sabulis' great doll directory of the Sixties and Seventies has more obscure dolls than anyone has ever seen. There are the popular favorites like Tressy, but did you ever see the bizarre Peteena,a glamorous woman with the head of a poodle? Betsy Wetsy rubs elbows with the John Travolta doll, but then there's the strange Ginny Bones, all head with a stick body.
But don't worry: you'll still see Twiggy, Flatsies, Liddle Kiddles, Heidi and the Rock Flowers. But then there's the obscure guys like Mr. & Mrs. Mouse House, Herby Hippy, and Lil' Souls. Just when you think you've seen it all Cindy will surprise you.

A MUST-HAVE book for any serious doll collector or dealer. Great and varied photos and description guidelines.

This is a very good refence guide to use to find out information and value of all Ideal dolls. Lots of nice pictures!!

I am a Shirley Temple Collector. I use this book all of the time to identifiy valuable dolls and outfits. I have learned so much from this book. A must have for anyone who collects dolls.

Judith Izen has hit another homerun with this excellent book for collectors of Ideal dolls. There are literally hundreds of wonderful color photos throughout the book. It is a pleasure just to leaf through the high quality, glossy pages. Even if you are not a collector, it would still be interesting to have the book as a conversation piece. Anyone who ever had a doll when they were young would love to look through to see if their favorite dolly is here. The book is also very well written with plenty of information about individual dolls and the different types of dolls. The 5 stars are well deserved.

I have several of Izen's books and I'm never disappointed with them. I especially like the section on the PlayPal family group; I found a couple of variations that I don't remember seeing before. There are a few I'd like to have seen more pictures and info on, but I guess something has to be saved for the next book.

The book is very helpful, especiallly formatted for the comic book fan. It is also great because of how it is organized. I think it is as good as Overstreet.

I picked up this book simply because I was interested in pricing my comicbook collection. Imagine my surprise when I read the wonderful editorial on heroes (both real-world, and the four-color kind) as well as the moving tribute to those heroes of the 9/11 tragedy. I highly recomend this book to everyone!

If you are looking for a great price guide to price out your comicbook collection, then this is the book for you! Fair, realistic pricing, and fine editorial content as well

As always, the Team of Malloy, Wells, and Sodaro bring sanity and clarity to the multi-tiered world of comicbook prices. This guide has consistently ranked as one of the best price guides on the market. Malloy truly has a handle on what stuff is truly worth. This edition is especially relevant in the post 9/11 world, as it contains a pair of stirring tributes to "Heroes" (both the four-color and the real-world kind). I heartily recommend this book

The 2007 edition of Comics Values Annual from Krause Publications is out and it continues to get better and better each and every year. This book gains momentum every year as an alternative to the more well-known Overstreet price guide. The main problem with Overstreet is the endless pages of dealer ads that grow longer each year. Who needs 150 pages of dealer ads anyway? Do people really order that many comics from dealers, especially with eBay? I also don't need the dozens of pages of dealer market reports that are basically already stale by the time the book comes out.I just want prices and information, which is what Comics Values Annual 2007 delivers in a no-frills package.

This edition gives a brief introduction on the industry, a grading guide, and features an interview with artist Joe Jusko. The CV Annual is very different from the Overstreet in its layout, Rather than simply list each title alphabetically, this guide lists titles alphabetically by MAJOR publisher beginning with DC and then continuing with Marvel, Image, Dark Horse, Classics Illustrated, and then tossing in miscellaneous Golden Age titles, Misc. B & W, titles, and misc. color titles from modern publishers like Valiant, Gold Key, Gladstone, Malibu, etc...Now this may not be to every collector's liking as we've been conditioned to one type of delivery, but I personally like it. I mean it's still a Marvel and DC world to most collectors, especially in regards to Silver and Golden Age books so why have to thumb through all the junk no one's interested in when Marvel and DC have their own sections.

Another big difference between the CV Annual 2007 and Overstreet is that this book only lists the NM price per issue while the Overstreet gives three prices. I can go either way on this one. On one hand, it's nice to have all three major grades listed. On the other hand, it's not all that hard to calculate the price yourself based on the grade. Plus, Overstreet has to end up using a miniscule typeface to fit all those prices in the book.

I think the biggest advantage of the CV Annual is that instead of listing a range of issue numbers, it lists each title number by number. This allows for more information to be supplied such as story arc name, character appearance, artist credits, etc. This is a BIG plus!

If you want a price guide that gets right down to it without all the fluff and waste, I cannot recommend the Comics Values Annual 2007 any more highly!

Reviewed by Tim Janson

Because I am only an occasional buyer of Franklin Halve Dollars, I want the best advise possible. That comes from Rick Tomaska's book "The complete Guide To FRANKLIN HALVE DOLLARS.

Excellent book for collectors of Franklin Half Dollars. Lots of GOOD information. A MUST HAVE for collectors.

Info virtually unavailable elsewhere

This is the best Franklin half dollar book I have seen. It starts out with a history of the series. Then it shows 5 tables showing which dates are the rarest. Next it gives detail on every date and mintmark, proof and mint. It gives the value for toned and untoned coins. It also gives historical price comparism and a census of how many have been graded by PCGS and NGC. The only bad thing about the book is it isn't that updated. The prices are from a couple years ago and then censuses are from late 1997. All together this will help you make a great profit off the half dollars you buy. DON"T WAIT, BUY IT!!!

I found this book to be informative on the series of Franklin Half Dollars. A must for anyone seriously considering collecting this series of coins. Although prices specified is outdated, this does not deter from its content.

Schneidly Whiplash has done it again! He and his wife have such a wonderful talent for showcasing the values of collectibles!!!!

Probably the best reference book to date on collecting shakers. Chock full of pictures and information cover to cover.

This book is what I would term user friendly. It is set up in such a way that you can easily access the information you need. In the back of the book is a listing of many importing companies and information on them. This is my favorite of all of the shaker books.

If you are going to own just one book on salt & peppers, this is the one in which to invest. It is quite comprehensive and very well organized.

Mike Schneider keeps raising the bar a little higher--so high that Sergei Bubka couldn't vault over it. When I got the book I showed it to friends and that was the acid test. Over and over I heard, 'My grandma had that pair,' or ' We have those in the basement...they're worth that much?!?' These people were enthralled with the book. Mike Schneider's book runs from routine shakers to really obscure ones to ones that are absolutely unbelievable. The prices are true and the colors are crisp. Mr. Schneider's previous work caused me to be sure I got this volume--and as always I am very pleased with his efforts. Schiffer Publishing has a rising star.

This book is great. Provides a lot of information on crissy and her family. Includes info and pictures of clothing also great helpful hints on restoration. Restoration tips can be used on other dolls as well.

This book is a must-have for any Crissy collector! Beth Gunther has done an incredible job of detailing each Crissy family doll as well as the outfits, accessories, and related toys. The book is organized well, with a comprehensive price guide and collector's checklist at the end. Included are many rarities and catalog outfits. Even if you are not a die-hard collector, Gunther's photos of groovy 70's outfits take the reader on a fun-filled trip down memory lane! Yeah, baby!!

Beth Gunther knows her Crissy family! She has filled her book with well-researched facts and beautiful photos. Her guide to this family of dolls is very complete and makes a good companion when doll shopping. Additionally, she includes a section on styling Crissy's hair. I didn't realize it was possible to work with synthetic hair and make it look good again. I think her techniques would also work on other "modern" dolls. I wrote to Ms. Gunther shortly before the book was released, and she was kind enough to reply. I'm sure she is a doll "reporter" who will be around for a long time. If you love Crissy, you can't go wrong with this book by Beth Gunther. It's a keeper. I look forward to seeing more of Ms. Gunther's work in publication; perhaps a book of sewing patterns for the Crissy family.

This book is well written, thorough, and a must-have guide for collectors. It is better than the other book currently available ! I have learned a lot from Ms. Gunther and have been able to build my collection while also identifying dolls I already owned. I have found her research into the clothing made for the dolls the most helpful. Now I know what to look for on eBay ! Thank you, thank you for writing this book. I recommend it to all collectors

this book brings back many happy memories of playing with my crissy dolls, and finding out how many outfits and accessories i didn't know about!! she also gives you in depth help on helping the dolls look brand new again. that area alone is good for any doll collector!!! don't miss out!!

I have solved many mysteries of Depression Era Glass patterns on unmarked pieces through the use of this wonderful, well documented guide. Although this guide presents a small insert of colored pictures the bulk of the pages provide "drawings" in black and white which are actually quite helpful in determining the pattern you are matching. In addition, pattern names, manufacturers and years of manufacturing are provided.

As a dealer I find the value guides helpful and they are separated by item category, color and value range. The author is honest enough in the introduction to advise you to depend on other references for value accuracy in the ever changing market, particularly with the advent of internet auctions. This book has been extremely helpful as a reference guide and is a welcome addition to my glassware book library.

I found that the values were very helpful, but since mostly all that was shown pattern-wise was the plate, it was a bit difficult for me to identify some other pieces.

I have many other books that show depression glass and all of them are great. But this book shows the patterns in line drawings. Sometimes pictures of glass patterns are not as clear as they could be. This book shows a drawing of each pattern and lets you really study it. I found it very helpful in sorting out the initial confusion that new comers sometimes have. Now that I am an 'old pro', I still find myself using this book just to be on the 'safe' side.

Now in an expanded and fully updated fourth edition, Depression Era Glassware Identification And Value Guide, glassware specialist Carl F. Luckey is a straightforward guide enabling the reader to competently and confidently recognize and fairly price classic works of 1930s glassware artifacts. While most of the glassware illustrations are in simple black and white, Depression Era Glassware is impressively enhanced with an insert section of superb color photography, all combine to present a variety of patterns from the era in unmistakable relief. The price guide is extensive and lists price ranges for individual pieces of varying sizes. Depression Era Glassware is an excellent, indispensable, authoritative resource for dealers and collectors.

As a new collector of depression era glass, I found this book to be incredibly helpful with identification. The line drawings are clear - the reader has no doubt of the pattern (sometimes photos can be unclear due to the nature of glass). I also appreciate the value ranges given and, of special value to me, each pattern has info on what pieces have been reproduced or reissued.

I picked up Fifty-Seven Heaven at my Local Library, and I am I glad I did!! This is a fantastic start to a series that I await the sequels with a great deal of anticipation!

Meet Kitty & Jack Bloodworth, a recently retired couple enjoying their life on a farm outside of Metropolis...Yes, that Metropolis, home of Superman. They live a life of peace and quiet, devoted to their family and to their friends, not to mention "Sadie" their 57 Chevy. Alas, the peace and quiet is completely disrupted when at a Car Show, Cousin Will Ann Loyd is found strangled in the trunk of their beloved car. And with that discovery, we have the beginning of a wonderful series full of intrigue, suspense, much laughter and lots of Family Love.

Rarely do I get a book that I literally can't put down. This is one of them! Finished it in one night!! It was worth every moment of sleep lost.

Enjoy this book, which has all the entertainment you could want, and also keeps it very clean and G-Rated. Something that is getting somewhat hard to find in mystery series these days.

Kitty and Jack Bloodworth discover the body of Kitty's unpopular cousin Will Ann Lloyd in the truck of their restored '57 Chevy at a local car show. Right before she was stuffed into their trunk, Will Ann had confronted them at an antique car club meeting and called Jack and Kitty's daughter Sunny a tramp.

The police believe one of the family members killer her and don't look any further. They especially center on Craig, Will Ann's son. Kitty assists in sorting through Will Ann's possessions and soon discovers a letter written to a private detective. When Kitty goes to see the private detective, she is run off the road and left with amnesia. Can she discover who the killer is without putting herself in further danger?

I really enjoyed this book. Kitty is such a likeable character and I thought the author did an outstanding job in the description of Kitty's accident and recovery. I couldn't put the book down through those chapters. Matter of fact, I had a hard time putting the book down, period.

Metropolis, IL, is a great setting and the plot is well written with enough red herrings to keep the reader guessing. I highly recommend this wonderful new cozy!

Life couldn't be better for Kitty Bloodworth and her husband, Jack. Their children are grown and on their own, their grandchild are lights of joy taken in small doses, and they're retired with time to enjoy their lives, which includes a '57 Chevy.
When Jack opens the trunk of his beloved car for inspection, it isn't the car show judges who view the contents, but Detective Horace Parker. FIFTY-SEVEN HEAVEN become anything, but.
Lonnie Cruse with sharp wit, keen insight, and vivid details brings her new characters to life in a manner, which will make you wonder if she is describing the couple next door or used you as a model.
FIFTY-SEVEN HEAVEN is the opening of a new series that will leave you hounding her until the next one comes off the presses. Like the beloved car it is a sure winner with a huge collection of fans.
Nash Black, author of WRITING AS A SMALL BUSINESS and SINS OF THE FATHERS.

In Metropolis, Illinois, grandparents Kitty and Jack Bloodworth enjoy living in the city with the only negative being her odious cousin Will Ann Lloyd. As Jack points out when Kitty feels guilty about ill thoughts towards her blood everyone feels that way about the most loathed person in town. Will Ann went so far as telling the world that Kitty's daughter Sunny is a tramp.

However though she wanted the worst for her cuz, Kitty is stunned to learn that someone carried out her wishes and strangled Will Ann before stuffing the corpse in the trunk of Kitty's '57 Chevy. The police believe the animosity between the relatives was so strong that Kitty, Jack and Sunny as well as Will Ann's son Craig are the prime suspects; in fact they do not look at any possibility but a family homicide. Kitty begins the clean up of Will Ann's possessions and finds a promising clue, but is run off the road; the not-accident leaves her with amnesia.

This is a fun cozy that looks closely at family relationships especially as people grow old. Although the culprit is obvious, readers will enjoy cruising along with Kitty in her 57 Chevy as she refuses to allow amnesia, old age, a killer, or cops from stopping her amateur sleuth investigation. Fans will enjoy this spin and want to read Lonnie Cruse's sister series Metropolis mystery (not reviewed by me).

Harriet Klausner

Author, Lonnie Cruse, never ceases to amaze me. I have had the privilege to read and review several of her previous published works of mystery with the beloved character Sheriff Joe Dalton, and devoured every word of them. Exceptional in all ways. Needless to say, I was thrilled to be asked to review her new work, "Fifty-Seven Heaven," excited to see what I would find in the pages of this book, and the new characters I would meet. I was not disappointed.

Introduced to Kitty and Jack Bloodworth, a middle-aged couple living in the town of Metropolis, home of superman, we are taken into a murder investigation where Kitty and Jack, and members of their family, may be prime suspects. The victim, Kitty's annoying cousin, Will Ann Lloyd. Many have felt like killing this troublesome woman, but who actually did? Questions arise and are unanswered; such as, why did Will Ann verbally attack Kitty's daughter in front of many witnesses the night of her murder? Could Kitty's own daughter be involved in this? Ah! Talk about a drawing card to capture your reading attention.

Ms. Cruse, as always, does an exceptional job of character development, taking you into the very heart of her characters and bringing them alive in the read. She also gives us well-rounded descriptions of locals as the story moves from place to place. Our author takes you down some unexpected lanes and builds upon suspicisions, adding adventure and suspense. These little side roads add depth to the read and confusion as to just who did kill Will Ann. Good job.Top all of this off with a wrap-around mystery that digs into the very depths of family emotions of suspicisions and loyalty, and you have a winner. Now, the hard part; waiting for the next adventure to begin. Highly Recommended.

I use this book constantly for reference. I received it as a gift, and have given it to others as a gift. It's a lot of fun!

AS A PAST COLLECTOR OF FISHER PRICE TOYS (15+ YEARS)---
EXPERIENCE SAYS - THIS IS AN ACCURATE PRICE GUIDE ALONG WITH A VERY INTERESTING APPRAISAL OF FISHER PRICE (THE COMPANY).
THE INQUISITION OF TOY VALUE COMBINED WITH DAINTY PHOTOGRAPHY GIVE THIS PUBLICATION HIGH MARKS IN MY EYES.
THE AUTHORS BRING A DISTINGUISHING MARK OF AUTHORITY TO FISHER PRICE AND ITS PRODUCT LINE'S....I WISH THIS MATERIAL WAS AVAILABLE AT THE PEAK OF MY COLLECTING..
VERY NICE JOB.....................

I collect toys. A friend gave me this book as a gift. It is an excellent resource for anyone starting to collect toys or someone that has been doing it for a long time. I applaud the authors for making this available. The history of the company was also quite good.

If you are at all interested in collecting Fisher-Price toys or simply want some interesting background about the toys you grew up with -- then you'll like this book.

It is by far the most thorough book I've found related to Fisher-Price. It has a complete company history, product catalog and price guide for all the toys made by Fisher-Price (and even some never released).

I am a novice toy collector and bought this book because I've always loved my FP toys. I found every toy I've ever had (or at least can remember) in the book along with some amazing facts about them. Unfortunately, I learned that my Jalopy prized #724 Jolly Jalopy is probably not worth more than...

The authors were obsessive in their attention to detail, pointing out all the nuances that make certain products more valuable than others and providing a detailed history of the company and how some of their favorite toys were born.

My only disappointment was that the book is not available in hard cover.

Have fun!

I enjoyed this book because of the great photos and details. As a toy lover and collector, I can appreciate the authors' memories of collecting and the interesting facts about Fisher-Price. It's a great portable reference to take with you to garage sales or flea markets! The colorful pages and concise information make the world of Fisher-Price toys come alive. It's been a wonderful edition to my library.