Collecting Books

I have a substantial collection of reference books about Barbie doll and her world, but I simply COULD NOT do without this book! It is the most complete, chronological breakdown of Barbie & family dolls and that I have found. This book, in combination with Marcie Melillo's "The Barbie Book", will help the beginner and even the advanced collector to identify just about any Barbie family doll from any early (60's & 70's, primarily) era. It even goes into detail about dolls offered in successive years, and the differences in their manufacture, so that, for one example, you can tell to WHICH year your specific Growin' Pretty Hair Francie, a doll offered over a few years in the early 70's, belongs. The text accompanying the many, many photos is succinct and easy to understand, and while many photos are in black-and-white, there are quite a few pages of color photos as well, which detail much of Barbie's clothing across those early years. Well-executed, altogether. One might expect just such an excellent guide from Sibyl DeWein, who was a major player in the Barbie collectibles world until her death just a few years ago. I bought the book because she was a name of such renown & had written it (with a co-author/collector), and I was and am pleased to have it.

This is a must for anyone who collects vintage Barbies and related items. It contains information and prices from the first Barbie starting with 1957 to 1976. It has all marks from those times. Also, pictures with information each year, which dolls were released and what clothes they were wearing. They have a year by year section, with information on other Mattel dolls, Ken, Midge and other rare ones. This is the most informative Barbie book I've read.

I purchased this book to clear up my conception of some of the Metlox patterns but it opened my eyes to some very collectible pieces that I had been over looking. Nice pictures with several styles in each catagory that eliminates the guess work. As a beginner collector of Metlox I am truly please with this book.

This book is the definitive work on Metlox Pottery. It's a "must have" for the collector and enjoyable reading for the person wishing to learn more about California pottery. Full of hundreds of pictures and values, this book is an invaluable guide and resource.

This second edition, 288 page, 8 1/2 x 11" softbound book has more than 2,000 beautiful, full color photos. There is a very complete index for easy reference. Year 2000 values. An informative introduction and history of the topic is included. Major topics range from functional ashtrays, advertising, novelty to ashtrays from the past and ashtrays without a country. There's plenty of information on pottery and porcelain, glass, metal, plastic, marble, soapstone and wood. Every kind of ashtray from alcoholic beverages to educational to world's fair. Add this book to your collectibles collection. You'll enjoy it and find it very useful.

A valuable price guide for anyone collecting ashtrays or for an antique dealer like myself wanting to learn more about what I offer for sale. Arranged by sections shown in the front of the book. Sections include Funtional Ashtrays, Advertising Ashtrays, Novelty Ashtrays, Ashtrays from the Past and Ashtrays without a Country. Plus an index by company names in the back. The book has 287 pages. Beautiful color pages throughout. Prices for 1999 shown on same page as pictures. No having to turn to a back page for each item to see a price. Some real surprises of what qualifies as being called an ashtray. What I had sold at one time and thought was a handled vase, this clever author noticed what I had overlooked; an indentation on each side for a cigarette! Besides pictures, basic identification and prices are all easy to figure out which one is describing which picture. There is a basic description for each sub-section. In section one under Glass Ashtrays there is a page of terms like a dictionary with a short definition. For example: Amberina: clear and translucent, shading from light amber to ruby red. Section one alone is divided into Pottery & Porcelain, Glass, Metal and one sub section that includes Plastics, Marble, Soapstone and Wood. Under the Pottery & Porcelain section are 9 sub-sections. If you have never owned a price guide before when you see this one you will want all future guides to be as well done and as easy to use as this one. If I were going to write a price guide I would hope I could write one as useful as this one! A real value for the price. Far better than I expected when I ordered it sight unseen.

Jerry and Elaine Heuring's E.C. Simmons Keen Kutter provides an excellent guide to identification and values of this brand's cutlery and tools, with color photos aiding in the process. This manufacturer produced a range of pocket knives, hand tools, catalogs and squares: all are surveyed and given current values here.

This volume (copyright, 2000) contains 192 pages and more than 750 full color, large, sharp photos. You'll find information about thousands of Keen Kutter items here. The book discusses Keen Kutter history, tradmarks and motto, reproductions, fakes and clubs. Price ranges are provided for each item. Major topics cover Advertising, Calendars, Catalogs, and Kitchen, Paper Goods, Saws, to Tool Boxes, Wrenches and Yard and Garden. A must have volume for collectors of this popular collectible.

Neva's daughter -- I saw a lovely set of Harker dishes at a shop, but I don't know the pattern. Would you help me identify it? Contact me at kdavis@cir2.com

OK, I'm biased. My mother wrote this one. Many of the pieces featured in the book are part of my collection. But it's still the ONLY book on Harker Pottery, America's Oldest Pottery. This book not only includes beautiful pictures of Harkerware, but also includes a price guide and some history of the pottery industry of the Ohio Valley. Harker is a contemporary of many currently collectible potteries such as Hall and Homer Laughlin. While not as valuable currently as Autumn Leaf or Fiestaware, Harker's Cameoware is becoming increasingly popular. Harker is also the only manufacturer of ceramic serving forks and spoons as well as beautiful ceramic rolling pins

It's about time someone did a comprehensive study of the Horsman company and the wonderful dolls they made. This is a book that will prove valuable to all serious researchers and collectors. Let's hope Jensen will write more books of this caliber.

Don Jensen certainly has "put meat on the bones" for the Horsman Company. A newspaper writer and editor by training, he comanded the considerable research skills necessary to ferret out extensive information on the Horsman company and their early chief designer, Helen Trowbridge. It also made it possible for him to present for the first time ever a picture and markings of the earliest composition doll made by Solomon Hoffman. Horsman's product line is delt with comprehensively, from the early imported dolls to cloth, bisque during WWI, composition and finally plastic. Not only is this an indispensible reference book for doll collectors, but also makes for fascinating reading.

This 1998, 232 page book features more than 500 full color, large photos of a great variety of collectible souvenir china. 1998 values are shown. There is a nice introduction to the topic and plenty of descriptive text throughout. It's well indexed for easy item location. Major topics include, Collecting Souvenir China in the U.S., Golden Era of Souvenir China, The Pioneers, Identifying Producers, Shapes, Forms and Styles, and related items. A nice bibliography is provided. Collectors will love looking at the great photos provided. A useful reference.

This handy paperback volume is a true gem on collecting late 19th/early 20th century souvenir china. The numerous color photos and informative text make this an excellent addition to any collector's bookshelf. Highlights include wholesaler marks and information on manufacturers.

This edition promises to be the corner stone for the souvenir china collector!

i think this book is brilliant because every time you pick it up you learn something new if anyone likes the look of this book i would urge them to get it NOW i think it is great

If you are interested in collecting trolls, this is the book for you. From Dam trolls to Animal trolls, to Hobnobbins and Clowns, this guide offers information on identifying trolls, a history of troll makers, and full-color pictures of over 1,000 trolls. Obviously written by someone who truly enjoys collecting them, this guide is a pleasure to read. Highly recommended!

The book was delivered very quickly. The seller took great care to protect the book during shipping as the book arrived in perfect condition.

Like Mr. Doyles other new Lionel train guide for post war trains, the Collector's Guide to Prewar Lionel Trains, 1900-1942 is prove to be an important resource for both the buyer and seller of antique Lionel train sets. Containing information on virtually every toy train made by Lionel between 1900 and 1942, the book will prove to be a gold mine of information. However I found two of the appendices at the end of the book to be of particular value. Appendix I, Awakening Sleeping Toys and Appendix II, Setting Up Your Train each contain information important to the collector. There is also a small chapter on Lionel Catalogs and Paper Products and another chapter devoted to Accessories, Toys and Novelties.

All in all this is one you'll want to keep close.

I would like to buy this book as it would help my artwork and creative research a great deal. Please contact me if you have a copy for sale. Thanks. cnash@azstarnet.com

I bought this book some years ago and gave it to a friend of mine. I'm looking for another exemplar. Does someone have this book and want to sell it to me? Send information to hvieira@dialdata.com.br Many thanks