Memorabilia Books

I am pleased with the book with one major exception. The book's promotional material here on Amazon shows large color pictures. Copy these for your viewing pleasure because that is all you are going to see. The book in a smaller format and everything is printed in black & white. The diagrams of the pistols parts, text in the pictures, etc are too small to see and be useful. The textural information however is VERY good. This is the only book I have found on the subject but it's presentation could be improved upon.

Well-written, lots of information about caplocks during their brief but important period of use. I was not disappointed in the reason for purchase which was the honest reviews of modern replicas. The only reason for 4 instead of 5 stars are the pictures and awful Old English font used. A 19th century one would have been better. Maybe in the 2nd edition they will make some changes.

This is a fun little book, obviously a labor of love by the authors. The coverage of performance is not all-inclusive, but the historical information is interesting and you can infer the authors' preferences for certain brands of reproductions. They missed the Rogers & Spencer revolver, though there aren't many of them around. I like the R&S grip and it's a solid design, so too bad they didn't cover it. The book does cover the Colts and the Remington New Army pretty thoroughly, along with a few others that were of less interest to me. It steered me away from the Walker and Dragoon Colts and convinced me I had to have an 1851 Navy Colt, though I bought a .44-cal version that's compatible with my other cap-and-ball revolvers. The authors didn't test the .44-cal, only the more-common .36-cal.

What this book needs more than anything else is copy editing. There are many consistent misspellings, which detract from the pleasure of reading it. That's why I gave it only 4 stars. Perhaps the authors can find a friendly local English teacher to clean up the manuscript before the next edition.

I had purchased this book to help provide information about shooting cap and ball revolvers but had the additional pleasure of finding excellent information on care, cleaning, tuning and background as well. While it does not cover all available reproduced models it is very informative, helpful and humorous about the models it does cover. The only negative I have is that the captioned photos are in very small print and difficult to read. I intend to buy a second copy for my reference library and use my 1st copy as a range and bench reference. I hope that Bates and Cumpston continue with another book covering other cap and ball pistols not covered in this work. A very useful book for Remington and Colt cap and ball shooters.

Nice little book, full of information about various types of handguns. I liked the opinion bits about various gun makers, the load charts for each gun, nice amount of information (including history)- even for a novice to the sport. I like the range test details and comparisons to modern weapons too.
At least one reviewer mentioned the poor photographs, I don't remember the technical term but they're printed newspaper style (too hard to look at) and would be helped if they were larger. The old English script(why use that?)on these pictures is very hard to read at this scale, in one instance it's impossible. Fortunately the real information is in each chapter instead of the pictures.
My biggest complaint is that while various gunmakers/ dealers/ parts suppliers are mentioned you don't get an address or website for any of them. Many of the readers of this book will already have these bits but they should be provided for the novice as well.

Great book if you are into collecting and/or buying and selling fishing lures. Tons of info, pictures, and values of lures. Definately worth every penny.

This is a great reference book. All the colored photo's are a great update from the 6th edition. The book contais basic history on lures by manufacturer. This is a must have for lure collectors.

i have started to collect lures and this book has been very helpful good book great shiping fast service

We have a previous edition and wanted to update. This edition does not have anything but lures, no reels!

As a lure collector, I have several identification guides.
This book gets used more than the rest, simply because it is more an identification guide than a Value guide. (Sure, it has book value included(which means nothing compared to auction values), but, it also has way more information on the lures and companies themselves than most other ID books).
If you are looking for a complete library (if you want almost any lure identification at your fingertips--or in your head , as you learn about them all--), then you should definately include this one.
But (always a "but"), this book doesn't cover too many of the "small name" companies out there, or folk arts, nor many flies. But, if it's a top name company (Heddon, Creek Chub, South Bend, Shakespeare, etc.), you will find it in this book, up until 1975.
You cannot go wrong with this book...and if mine ever wears away with use, I'll keep purchasing new copies as needed.

Being an old dog, I was around for much of the late 70's, early 80's history that Victor alludes to. It was great to take this look down memory lane, as well as find a lot of new information. The disc trading guide has already proved itself helpful. I strongly recommend this book for any flying disc enthusiast.

I love this book! It's the only one I have as a reference as to the history of Frisbee/Frisbies. I admit, the prices in my edition (1998) are out of date--they continue to go up!
I refer to this book all the time and each time I pick up something new. It's loaded with tons of great photos. It's a MUST for any Frisbee/flying disc lover.
I'm disappointed in the direction Wham-o has taken lately and the quality of the product they are now producing, but the history of Frisbees and the people involved along the way make this book a must-have!
One will have a much greater appreciation for those little flying discs (no matter what they're called or whose name is on them) once they have read this book.

This book is a must for anyone associated with or interested in Frisbees, golf discs and Frisbie Pie Tins. Not only does it provide a guide for determining value of many highly collectible discs, it's entertaining, well-written, and well-designed. A collector's item in its own right and I highly recommend.

From a Frisbee professional, and the author of "I'm Living Your Dream Life," and "The Things I Wish I'd Said," McKenna Publishing Group

If you're buying this book as a priceguide to old or collectable frisbees, you should know this. Since the advent of online auctioning after 1998, many more frisbees have come out of the closet. Therefore, the priceguide part of the book is woefully out of date. Most collectable Frisbee prices as stated in the book are overvalued by 30-60%. I hope a revision of this book is printed soon.

Don't be fooled by the title, this is not the complete book of frisbee. Ultimate only rates a couple of pages, for starters. There is nothing to speak of on throwing technique. It is not particularly well edited, either - many assertions and heresay have slipped through the net. Lots of nice pictures of collectable discs, if that's what you're into. A bit of a disappointment given the dearth of books-in-print about throwing technique and ultimate.

Greetings, well, it is back, bigger and with lots more photos. What has become the identification and price guide for scouting collectibles has been doubled in listing size as well as photographs for ease of identification. While weekly auctions may be skewing the price system, it is a great starting point. The Merit Badge section, and the book sections have been completely revised.

This is the 2nd, updated edition of the popular volume. Its 400 pages feature more than 750 nice black and white photos and a 16 page full color section. There is adequate text to accompany the photos, and it is fully indexed to aid in item location. All major levels of scouting are featured, along with collectibles, council listings, glossary of terms, memorabilia dealers, collector organizations, museums and reference works. It's an essential guide for scout collectible enthusiasts.

What a great resourse book. A must have for the avid collector or the novice. Besides collecting, it is a great companion piece to learn about the Boy Scouts and 20th Century Americana in general. I commend Mr. Cuhaj for all the work and time he put into creating this. I'm so glad some one thought enough of me to make this a perfect gift for the Scouter who has everything.

This is an excellent book for anyone who collects Boy Scouts of America memorabilia such as insignia, pins, books, Order Of The Arrow, just about anything that has been involved in Scouting. It details many items extensively, and provides price ranges based on condition. The first edition did not have an index, and it was rather difficult to find certain items, but Cuhaj corrected that in this second edition. The magnitude of this book is tremendous, providing over 11,000 listings, most with values for buying, selling, or just trading. There are a few pages in color, while the rest is in black and white. I would have preferred all items in color, and would have been willing to pay more for the book. If Scouting memorabilia is your forte, I highly recommend this book with a 5-Star rating.

The first edition was the answer to a new collector's prayers and the release of the greatly expanded second edition was timed perfectly to take me to the next level in this increasingly popular field of collecting. This book brings together a broad range of information that earlier had only been available to collectors willing to seek out a daunting number of specialty publications, usually at considerable cost. I would highly recommend this new edition not only for beginning collectors, but also for the more advanced collector who needs a broad reference to the panoply of Scouting collectibles. Finally, I think most readers will enjoy the author's personal touch, including images from his boyhood Scouting experience. They certainly evoked fond memories of my own early Scouting days.

"Sign This" is a must read for any true sports fan. Unlike other books about sports personalities, Tom Bunevich cuts the fluff and tells it as it is when your heros are behind closed doors. I'm the kind of guy who needs to hear it straight from the horses mouth and in "Sign This," Bunevich seems to be the perfect horse. I don't think you could ask for a more fair and honest appraisal of sports personalities than from an author who has obviously danced with the greatest names. If you want to find out if the personality of your hero dims as the camera lights fade away - read "Sign This."

The stories are fair to all. If a guy's a jerk, Bunevich lays it on the line and says so. But in fairness, "Sign This" certainly acknowledges those stars whose personalities off the field shine as brightly as their accomplishments on the field. Find the story on Dale Murphy and see if that still happens in todays era of autograph collecting!

Bunevich also provides a great history from when autographs were just a hobby to the indusrty it is now. Check out Bunevich's first autograph guest in the mid 80's - a young New York flamethrower named Dwight Gooden - and see what an autograph ticket cost back then. You also might want to get a calculator to check what you could have saved by reading what Mickey Mantle charged for an autograph 15-20 years ago.

Raed "Sign This"- I hope Bunevich's next project will be as honest and insightful as this one!!!

I'm not a sports fan in the least, but I enjoyed Sign This immensely. Tom's stories about hundreds of his experiences are placed in an editorial column format, giving you just the information you need to know and usually containing a witty side note. If you ever wanted to know how our sports heroes from the last 4 decades really act, this book is a must read.

A really great book. I bought one for my brother who has always been a sports nut. I remember him following the careers of many of the people mentioned in the book. The stories about the players were interesting and enlightening. Most of the stories about the 10 bad guys confirmed my opionion. Same for the 10 good guys. You don't really have to be interested in collecting sports memorabilia to enjoy this book. I am sure everyone will find the stories interesting and enjoyable. It is definitely a book you will want to read and share with friends. Better yet, buy two, one to keep and one to give away.

This was a fascinating book to read as it is a sports book about the real personalities of sports personalities. Specifically, how a collection of professional athletes behaves when asked to make paid personal appearances and autograph material. How they react to unscheduled requests for autographs is also included in the analysis. There is a top ten good guy's list:

*) Brooks Robinson
*) Harmon Killebrew
*) Lee Roy Selmon
*) Otto Graham
*) The Famous Chicken
*) Monte Irvin
*) Billy Williams
*) Muhammad Ali
*) Alan Trammell
*) Dale Murphy

They are people who always go out of their way to be polite and helpful. The only name on the list that surprised me was Ali, it appears that the loud mouth attitude that he projected was an artificial one. There is a companion top ten jerks list:

*) Willie Mays
*) Rickey Henderson
*) Errict Rhett
*) Mike Schmidt
*) Darryl Strawberry
*) Reggie Jackson
*) Joe Dimaggio
*) Pete Rose
*) Gaylord Perry
*) Denny McLain

I cannot say that there were any surprises in this list.
One hundred other sports celebrities are also ranked and there is a chapter devoted to Mickey Mantle, the most popular athlete. The author organizes sports celebrity appearances, so nearly all of the commentary is based on the author's personal experiences. It is indexed based on the athletes' name, so if you are interested in a particular figure, then this book will provide you with accurate information.

This book is a must have for anyone who spends Mondays cleaning black sharpie marker off their hands. You definately have to check out the Jerks and Good Guys lists to see if your favorite signers are there, and who you should not even try to get (unless you want to get yelled at).

The book was as represented and came within a week.
I would not hesitate to do business with this seller in the future.

Now in a thoroughly updated and expanded second edition, Chuck Furjanic's Antique Golf Collectibles is the definitive, authoritative, and reliable price and reference guide for dealers and collectors of golf memorabilia and collectibles. This new edition is highly recommended for personal, professional, and community library antique/collectibles reference sections, and features detailed photos of all golf collectibles, a new sixteen page color section, updated prices for thousands of specific items, and new chapters on golf bags, auctions and more. If you are thinking of buying, selling, collecting or swapping golf related materials, begin with browsing through the pages of Chuck Furjanic's Antique Golf Collectibles.

Have collected putters and was looking for documentation as to the values and was never able to get get a good feel until I found this reference guide. If you collect old golf clubs, or golf balls and tees this guide is a must.

The most comprehensive (individual) price guide for golf collectibles.

Latest 400 page encyclopedia of golf collectibles contains over 500 large, sharp, black and white photos and more than 50 in full color. Not just a picture and price guide. Full text is provided for the major topics ranging from: Collecting Antique Golf, Collecting Societies, Antique Golf Clubs, to Signature Balls, Golf Tees, Golf Art, Medals and Trophies, and Trading Cards. A comprehensive index is included to facilitate item selection. New chapters include Golf Bags and even Auctions. Collectors will enjoy the "paper items" included. A great reference.

this book has it all. It has very concise lists of baseball cards. My husband uses it every day when cataloging his cards. It was worth the price.

the 2005 edition of Beckett Almanac Of Baseball Cards And Collectibles, which even includes Canadian cards from 1912 to modern times - and coins, pins, stickers, team yearbooks and more. There are thousands of photos which lend to easy identification even in black and white, there are card grading tips and guides for beginners, and each section is introduced with a specific set of notes or collector's tips. Conclude with a glossary of hobby terms and series indexes and you have a top pick which represents a virtual 'bible' - and a must for any serious baseball card collector.

This almanac continues to expand -- and become better. Each year, it has added more sets, more details and more areas of collectibles. It is about to ``outgrow'' its covers. But that will be a long-range bonus for collectors. Beckett and able company will be forced to split the book, probably taking out minor league cards. The editors have become particularly adept at adding team-issued sets. A complete checklist of McCarthy baseball cards -- rumored for No. 6 -- would be a great addition. The only improvement I would like to see would be for more details on some sets and certain variations in a set (how to tell them apart). If you are a serious collector of baseball items, this is one of the few MUST books for your book shelf. And it's getting better and better with each edition.

An absolute must for the advanced collector.

This comprehensive volume combined with Krause's Annual Standard Catalog Of Baseball Cards, are the two most important tools for anyone serious about baseball card collecting.

My only gripe is Beckett simultaneously publishing their inferior 'Baseball Annual' at the same time. It's clearly inferior to their Almanac and borders on customer abuse offering a "lite" version for the ignorant just to make more money.

Still, that problem issue aside, the Almanac is a must-have if you're going take your collection to the next level.

If you collect baseball cards you absolutely must have this book. It catalogs virtually every baseball card ever made, including variations and errors.

Why only four stars and not five? Subtle reasons, mostly. The main reason is that this book, despite being released recently, does not do a very good job of covering the professionally graded baseball card market. This is even more surprising as Beckett does have a grading service of their own. As such, the sections covering the history of baseball cards and how to grade cards is lacking and is pretty much a reprint of what's been appearing in Beckett books like this one for over fifteen years. They really could have done a better job of modernizing those sections.

However, as a reference book to help identity cards and give approximate values, this book cannot be beat. Buy it now!

We all know that golf is more than a sport in the UK - For a golfer aficionados, a pilgrimage to St. Andrews to play golf is a dream. For those of us who will never probably make it to St. Andrews, we live vicariously by watching the British Open.
Bill Flynn's excellent The Feathery deals with a wonderful piece of golf history - golf balls were created with packed feathers encased by leather and sewn tightly. The clubs were hand crafted and without the benefit of computer technology, were amazingly accurate.
The Feathery showcases a golf ball 'feathery' that was made in 1849 when Hugh McNair won the Open with a record breaking 78, which in modern terms would be a profession player making a score in the 50's - quite an accomplishment for a leather ball stuffed with feathers!
Needless to say, memorabilia from the early days is something grabbed up by collectors.
Except for the record breaking feathery that Hugh McNair used.
Scott Beckman always loved the game of golf. His best friend, Matt Kemp, also has the same passion. Scott's mother resented the game because it took her husband away playing golf while she wanted the family to play a more 'civilized' game of tennis - When her husband dies in Iraq, Scott and Matt start getting in trouble. A nice cop takes them to a man, Sandy McNair, (does McNair sound familiar?) who has mentored young boys who had wavered off the path and helped them with discipline and golf. Both boys mature and they become fine golfers and professionals.
When Sandy dies he bequeaths to Scott all of his golf memorabilia - including a rare golf statue and the famous feathery that Sandy's greatgrandfather used to smash the record at St. Andrews! It is literally priceless!
So starts the intrigue when Scott, a struggling pro player decides to auction the memorabilia off so he can have money to survive the pro curcuit until he gets his 'pro legs' and makes money. Scott changes his mind about the feathery and the statue and this starts the action that deal with attempts to steal the feathery, murder and kidnapping.
It also features exciting play details about the British Open and the Masters. You'll feel you are playing next to Scott right there amid the wind and rain St. Andrews is famous for -
Flynn's writing is fluid, crisp and fun. If you weren't a golf fan before, you will be after reading this book.
If you are a terrible golfer like me, you may find yourself mentally playing and being part of the action.
A fun read for all readers.

"The Feathery" has a lot going for it: suspense, characters you pull for, great locations and history. But my favorite thing is the glimpse it gives readers into life on the PGA Tour, particularly for a young golfer just starting out. And for regular hackers, if you can't afford a trip to play golf in Turnberry, Scotland, author Bill Flynn gives you the next best thing by taking you there and to other world-renowned courses.

Don't let the cover keep you away from this read, because this one is definitely not just for golfers!
Right from the get-go I was into author Bill Flynn's story, because it woke up my patriotism due to the death of our protagonist's father while serving in Iraq. What follows is an interesting description of young Scott Beckman's struggle to find his way in society and his sport without his mother's support and his dead hero dad.
Soon, Scott and his buddy Matt are taken under the wing of a very special person who manages a golf course close to where the kids grow up.
As we jump a few years into the present time we find ourselves amongst Scott and Matt and how their talent and love for the sport of golf continues to grow until.... Scott's former teacher and mentor passes away and leaves him a very rare Feathery golf ball and a few other very valuable antique golf items.
With these treasures in his possession Scott's life soon turns upside down as he not just qualifies to play the `Masters' as a pro golfer, but also as his friend and caddie Matt goes missing - along side the Feathery ball.

Flynn weaves a clever cat and mouse chase and light romance with some die hard treasure hunters and we end up in a net of international crime, intrigue, and murder.
I very much enjoyed this plot, though I could have done with a little less of the sport's technicalities.
Overall, The Feathery is extremely enjoyable especially because this thriller/mystery is based on a real artifact which without a doubt, is admired by many collectors around the world.
I'll be certainly looking for more of Bill Flynn's future work.

Rebecca Lerwill, author of Relocating Mia

Relocating Mia

The Feathery is definitely not "light" - reading, that is. Based on bygone facts, it is still hard to believe that in Scotland in the year 1849, where the tale begins, that they stuffed leather casings with feathers! Thus, the title of the book and name of the old-fashioned golf ball.
After Hugh McNair won a tournament back then with the feathery ball, he signed the winning club and passed it on down to the family of his caddy James McEwan. The ball was kept in his own family.
The story continues in the present day and the soon-to-be famous golfer Scott Beckman who inherits the feathery from his trainer and mentor Sandy McNair, descendent of the great Hugh McNair.
The pace picks up as Scott wins game after game, tournament after tournament and ultimately ends up in Scotland for the British Open. With the "bad guys", those who wish to possess the famous golf ball at any cost, after him every step of the way, Scott must keep out of harm's way, not only himself, but his caddy, Matt- who gets abducted, and his faithful girlfriend Beth who stays by his side throughout the perils.
This book will take your breath away, whether you are a golfer or not! It's a wonderful tale of determination and courage.

Bill Flynn is a master at weaving a string of stories that intersect for a marvelous conclusion. The history of the feathery and the game of golf is well researched and told in a delightful manner. Throw in the suspense of murderous thugs, auctioneers, and millionaires who covet the feathery at any cost, and you have a seriously entertaining novel. The Feathery is an easy, entertaining read whether you are a golfer or just like a good whodunit. Well done Bill.

Excellent source book for anyone researching Girl Scout information and history. Fun to just "dip into" and remember the wholesome fun of being a Brownie or Girl Scout.

interesting book. i found most of the items i was searching for in the book.

Long awaited update on 1st edition. I could find very few inaccuracies

Please check this book out at a library or local Girl Scout Council before buying! I was disappointed because I have been searching for quite some time for information regarding four Brownie badges that I earned in the 1970s, but can't remember what they were for or how I earned them. Although this book seems well-researched and is full of interesting and little-known facts, the information I seek was not included in this book or its predecessor. Since these badges were earned within the last 35 years, I was disappointed to find no mention of them, especially when the book includes such a wealth of information regarding previous decades.

This is an amazing collection of information on all things about the girl scouting organization with information of program, evolution of girl scouting, uniforms, badges, age level and has information on other items used by girl scouts . I have found it very helpful in compliling my collection, which is available at www.sparklesgarden.com/patchtrading.html
Thank you.

I purchased this book in hopes of finding many of the toys that I collected when I was a child. Many of the toys I have are from the early 1980's. A cursory glance did not show many toys before 1988. Astrosniks weren't even included, and they were quite popular! I'll be searching for a book that focuses on toys from the 1980's. If you're looking for a book that has toys from the early days, this is not the book for you.

Good book, although they could devote a whole volume to Grimace

This is one of the best McDonald's collectibles books I've seen! This book includes detailed color pictures, very accurate descriptions, release dates, and an estimated value for a wide variety of McDonald's figures including premuims released in the United States and Internationally. A very thorough and informative guide to McDonald's fast food toys!

I love this book. I looked at this book in a bookstore. This books has all the toys from 1970 to 1997. I aslo love eating at McDonalds.

This book is for all, not just those who collect McDonald's memorabilia. My son loves to look at all the pictures and it is excellent to see all the different sets of toys, cause you can never usually get all the happy meal toys of a series. I highly recommend it!!!