Collecting Books

This is one of the greatest books for collectors--especially if you're into trains from pre-war through the 60's. Too bad it's out of print!!

This is a great reference, as well as a fun book to read. There is a large range of eras, the pictures are beautiful, each item described well. I know prices are always relative, but it really does have a wide variety of items shown in each section, which can really "train your eye" if you are just starting out collecting. I will be able to use it to find some good descriptive terms, and I saw several items that we have in our collections pictured! For someone who is fairly new to seeing vintage clothing as collectible and fascinating, I can't wait to pick it up again! As a note, if you are looking for a verbose account of the history of fashion, or the impact of society, etc. this is not the book you are looking for. I love it for good examples of descriptions, and for the beautiful pictures and reference points.

The Best of the West, Antique Western Bitters Bottles - The art of collecting Antique Western Bitters Bottles by Jeff Wichmann. Pacific Glass Auctions. 1999. 132 pp. $29.95 trade paper; 8-1/2" x 11". color photographs; color illustrations; bibliography; index.

In the late 1800s-early 1900s, bitters were popular remedies for various kinds of minor ailments; these days, many persons collect bottles for these bitters for their decorativeness or value as antiques. The appeal of the hobby of collecting the bitters bottles is evident from the many color photographs of bottles showing their varied curved or squared shapes and golden, green, and brown tints. Wichmann is an expert in this area of antiques whose Introduction and other background material presents interesting historical and social information and hones in on details of bottles. One section, for instance, discusses the number of different kinds of tops and necks of bitters bottles, with a related page of close-up photographs showing 15 different types of these. Besides the interesting and knowledgeable general material on this popular avocation, Wichmann also provides historical background and identification markings for about 100 different makes of bitters bottles--e. g., Boggs Cottman German Tonic; Lash's Kidney and Liver Bitters; Dr. Hostetter's Stomach Bitters. The colorful names alone are enough to attract one to this hobby. As with the high-quality colorful photographs of the bottles, color photographs of labels and ads for many of the bottles for specific makes of bitters vividly capture their details and color. An excellent introduction for the beginner, and catalog and price guide for the advanced collector.

Henry Berry Book Reviewer Editor/Publisher, The Small Press Book Review

This book is a history of antiques and architecture used in gardens since early times. Lots of great pics and very, very interesting to read and learn.

The author gets right to the point here, and offers good advice for folks who buy and sell antiques on the Internet. Her business savvy permeates every page. This is definitely one of several handbooks Internet antique buyers, sellers, and dealers will want close by. Very well written, smooth style.

This book has a collection of excellent colour photographs of original dolls for the reproduction artist, as well as those with an eye for the beautiful. One has to keep referring to the index to identify the dolls, however, a minor blemish on the quality of the book.

Argomania now stands as THE premier source of information about Argus cameras and the circumstances, companies, and personalities behind them. The author is obviously afflicted with a chronic case of "Argomania", and this book, the result of countless hours of research and interviews, clearly demonstrates this. The book takes an in-depth look at the many Argus cameras that have been produced since the thirties and traces the company's history up until the date of publication.
The author carefully documents a surprisingly thorough list of camera models, including several unproduced prototypes and unseen models mentioned only in press releases. More historically significant cameras are explored in depth; these include the Argus A (first 35mm camera made in the US) and the Argus C/C2/C3 (which stayed in production almost unchanged for an amazing 28 years!).
One should not expect a dry dissertation on shutter and lens technology, however. The book is full of other nuggets of information that frame the company and the cameras within the context of the times and make the book very readable. The repercussions of the Depression and the 1950s/60s invasion of German and Japanese cameras are integrated into the story, producing a complete picture of not only Argus cameras, but American camera development in general.
Any person interested in Argus cameras, the company behind them, or American cameras would do well to buy this book.

This is a very useful book for people interested in the history of film. It covers the early years of film, from pre-WWI up to about 1950. It consists of contemporary (1974) reviews of all the films (more than 450) that were or are available in 8mm format, with a list of distributors in the UK (author is from UK). Reviews are arranged in sections, such as Westerns, Science Fiction, Comedy, etc.

I have many doll reference books and this one is great. Although it is not really a price guide. It does have great color pictures and has a great history of the Arranbee dolls. A beaufiful book. It is worth having in your collection.

This book may have been written decades ago, but the issues are still the same. What does it mean for someone to be an artist? Do you just do what you're told or follow some inner vision? If you follow your vision and you don't make money, does that make you wrong? If suddenly you start making money, does that mean that you weren't wrong after all? If you stop making money, were you wrong after all?

Business is business. Many are called, but few are chosen. This book covers the nitty gritty of the daily functions of the artworld and covers the ethics and lack thereof regarding making it or not as an artist. It provides a concise commentary of the structure of the artworld and offers some interesting criticisms as to how it could be different, more fair. It also covers attempts by artist unions to implement changes in the way the market works to no avail.

Is it survival of the fittest or just a bunch of baloney? Do the best artists always win out or is what we experience in museums just a history of capricious decision-making? It is up to the reader to decide. The book is not preachy, although it does lean towards attention to the artworld underdogs who, working as hard as everyone else, don't necessarily make it. In the end, you can't help but have a great deal of respect for those who stick it through. It isn't just a matter of being good. And this book explains why and how.