Antiques Books

If you are going garage sale shopping, this book will fit in your tote and provide immediate information. Ms. Morrison does a good job of organizing alphabetically by designer, and she takes the time to warn about copies, particularly the Weiss tree pins. She also has a theme section with pointsettia pins, candles, reindeer, etc. I really like the cover where she lays a selection of her pins on a piece of Christmas fabric. I do find the print of the captions very small, even wearing my glasses, no doubt an accommodation for the size of the book. I also sometimes have trouble deciding which pin among three or four she is describing. Each is noted in the text with a letter of the alphabet, but there's no letter on the picture. I would also recommend that in her next edition, her husband not photograph any pins on dark paper backgrounds. In several instances, a dark burgundy or sapphire paper makes it impossible to see the details of the pin.

Mary Morrison has put together a wonderful array of some of the best costume Christmas jewelry out there! A good range of the inexpensive and available to the rare and most desirable pieces with reasonable prices that reflect the market of the time the book was published. If you only get one book on this collecting area, this is the one to get

Christmas Jewelry by Mary Morrison is the very best book currently available concentrating on costume Christmas jewelry. The photography is excellent, allowing you to clearly see the details in each pin. Mary's descriptions with each photo are informative and interesting. It's size is very convenient for carrying to shops and shows. It is extremely easy to use. The variety of pins shown is staggering; as a Christmas tree pin collector with over 100 pins, my only disappointment with this book is that it is not a catalog where I can place orders!

I love this book! I am a beginning collector and this book has inspired me. The research is thorough, and it is great to finally know the story behind the pins I already have.

Beautiful book! Would have liked to see weapons of the north and south in the same book.

For years, the field of American Miliary swords has barely been addressed. Since Peterson's book, which is good, but by now quite outdated, there has been no orderly study of the field. Bezdek's books have been useful, but are not as comprehensive as Peterson's. The rest of what is out there has been amateurish. This has been particularly apparent if you are familiar with Jean L'Hoste's superb books on French swords. Finally, someone has come along, not only to fill the gaps, but to significantly expand our knowledge and understanding of American swords: John Thillman.
This is a well-written, beautifully illustrated book on sabers of the Civil War era. If you own it, you will have at your fingertips virtually every reliable bit of information known about the subject, in a wonderfully useful form. Best of all, the author is planning further volumes to cover other sword types. There can be no doubt: this is the book to buy. It will expand not only your understanding of American swords, but sword manufacture, manufacture in general during the Civil War, and the use of swords and sabers during the Civil War. Bravo, Mr. Thillman. Keep up the outstanding, and seminal work!

I have been interested in Civil War swords for the past 30 years. Unfortunately good sword reference books with pictures were limited. This volume answers allot of questions and has loads of images. As they say a picture is worth a thousand words.
I recommend it as an excellent buy.

For years, the field of American military swords has only been superficially addressed. The foremost book on the topic, has been Harold L. Peterson's The American Sword, 1775-1945. Though a very good treatment of the subject, it has grown to be quite out-of-date in scholarship (the first edition was published in 1954). Since his book, there hasn't been any serious publication dedicated to American swords that is until now. John H. Thillman, an expert on U.S. cavalry and artillery sabers, has assembled a comprehensive and meaningful guide to Civil War sabers. The first section contains notes on design, materials, and components and is followed by a 16-page color section of photographs. The main body of the volume lists, in alphabetical order, every maker, importer, foreign manufacturer, assembler, retailer, and model. An important feature of this book is that it includes all known sabers from the prewar period dating to 1833. Every make and every known variation is covered with full history, tables and illustrations. The work is extensively illustrated with close-up images showing particular details of the weapons and how to distinguish one from another, as well as photographs of officers who used them. A truly groundbreaking work.
Civil War Cavalry & Artillery Sabers is well-written and beautifully illustrated. It is extremely easy to use when searching for a particular type of saber or manufacture. Sidebars in each section call out specific identifying characteristics and lists of inspectors of particular blades. The image quality is very good. A strong bibliography and useful index complement this book, making it easily one of the best works on American swords to come to light. The price might seem high, but at $79.95, it will be the most inexpensive lesson on Civil War swords a person can obtain. (originally reviewed for Military Trader magazine: www.militarytrader.com)

This book gave me many ideas to change the colors, make up my own designs, and generally be creative. I find all the Rodale books to be complete and easy to follow.

Love the book, represented well, quick efficient seller, I was very surprised on how fast I recieved my order.

This is a Great Book..Quick Delivery...To me she's a A+++++++

This book contains instructions for 12 log cabin variations, antique & contemporary. The diagrams, charts, and yardage requirements are as good as they get! There is even a black and white line drawing of each quilt so you can experiment with your own color combinations. Very well done, a nice book for a beginner or experienced quilter.

Learn something every day. Love that maxim!! This book gives you the complete picture, well worth the money.
Dennis Skea

For a long time there was considerable confusion about the authenticity of ancient coins. While considerable quantities have been found in the former ancient sites, and they have been collected since ancient times, few works were available to help the collector distinguish between the actual ancient works and fakes and copies made after. Works that are available are hard to find, usually specific to one forger and quite costly. I can safely say that this book clearly outlines the things to look for, from the commonest tourist cast copy to the advanced techniques used to fool the more advanced collectors.

If you want to collect coins you should include this book as one of your first buys because it can save you many times its cost with the purchase of just one coin that is not right. This is especially true if you are buying on the internet from sometimes unreliable impersonal sources.

The format is great with a show and tell approach, easy to use, and references to other works on specialized areas of counterfeiting.

While it shows and concentrates on mostly ancient coins the information is valid for all copies. There are great plates of the fakes the average modern collector is apt to encounter now on the market. This book will help you acquire the basic knowledge necessary in collecting coins just as in any other facet of collecting antiques or art.

This book is a must read for those starting out in collecting coins, either ancient or modern. It explains the differences in the original minting of coins, and the "modern" reproductions, fakes and forgeries, even ancient forgeries. It is easy reading, and will give a good basis for coin collecting. It is worth the short time it takes to read, and it may save you from some embarassment.

I enjoy reading Mr.Salyes' books and this one is no exception. He easily one of the best current numismatic authors. This work does a great job of covering the types of counterfeits along with their history and an overview of how they are created. It is a very good book for anyone beginning to collect ancient coins. One thing the book is not is a catalog of counterfeits nor a guide on how to detect counterfeits. These subjects are beyond the scope of any general work and are dealt with by various numismatic associations and their publications. So if you are only looking for a manual or catalog move on.

I haven't seen a better book! The auther clearly spent a lot of time on this work of art. It is a must have for all collecters, and all golf fanatics. If you are looking for a father's day gift, this is perfect! If you have any doubts, I advise you to buy it anyway. It will definitly be worth your while!

Without doubt this is the most beautiful and fascinating compendium of antique golf clubs you will ever come across. It is well worth every penny. The illustrations are superb and the content flawless. You will be amazed at the splendour of the Clubmakers Art.

I recently recieved this book as a gift for my birthday from my wife. I was highly impressed with the fine quality and craftmanship of this work of art. I plan to give this book to my friends that are as interested in golf as I am, and even to the ones who don't like golf! No one could ever be displeased with this book! My compiments to Jeff Ellis on his accomplishment.

The Clubmaker's Art is a magnificent example of hard work and dedication to the golf industry. I received the book recently, and I couldn't be happier with what I got. The pictures are so life like, and they pop out at you. This is the best example of quality in the writing industy, and I think that every golf collecter, lover, and player must get this book!

I have found this book invaluable as I am a collector of souvenir spoons. If you collect souvenir spoons, thinking about collecting them or just enjoy looking at them - you need this book!

Published in 1998, this 336 page book contains 750 large, sharp, black and white photos, plus 12 full color pages. Although difficult to photograph, the pictures clearly show the designs on the spoons. The volume contains informative text, covering the history of spoons, introduction, and details. Major topics range from Inspiring A Nation, First Americans, and Modern Vision of Government, to Inspiring Our Children, Our Bowl Overfloweth and Craftsmanship and Painted Silver. Price ranges are provided as well as a comprehensive bibliography and index. A valuable reference tool for souvenir spoon collectors.

A recommended pick for any collector's reference library, WayneBednersh's Collectible Souvenir Spoons Book II ... considers both usual and unusual categories of spoons, from historical and art spoons to rarer prison spoons.

Everyone who is interested in sterling silver and other types of collectible spoons, needs to purchase a book like this. The author has made a grand effort to bring together a great many styles of spoons for the reader and viewer......ENJOY IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It helped me alot. I now have an idea of what some of my items are worth.

Judith Miller has the best antique pricing books available. I love the wonderful color pictures and the easy to read pricing! Highly recommended!

I collect a few things including political memorobilia, silver electric plate, books and ceramics. I bought it to a) make sure I don't overpay in my areas of interest b) to identify anything I could buy and sell on at a profit.

It paid for itself almost instantly - I had no idea digital watches from the 1970's were collectible!! Glad I am a horder.

Great illustrations, interesting and fun to flick through. Good for anyone who loves garage sells or ebay. And anyone who makes a living in this area.

This valuable resource guide not only offers pricing information, but 'closer look' background and history on many, many items. I was able to use this book to take stock of items I currently have and become more knowledgeable about designers and collections I had not yet discovered. The information is concise and readable; the visuals are beautifully done. A big bonus at the end includes a directory of auctioneers, clubs and societies, and, my particular favorite --Internet resources. I've learned a lot from this book and refer to it often. All in all, a very accesible, enjoyable book.

This book is great for anybody that has an interest in collecting baseball memorablia. Mr. Zachofsky has unique suggestions for collecting autographs and how to display them.

I received this book as a gift and was very impressed with the suggestions and the history it gave. I have since begun creating my own Baseball Memorabilia Room and I have even gotten a few Hall of Famer autographs. I find this book extremely helpful for any collectors, experienced or new to the hobby. I think this book is fantastic and it is the "BIBLE" of any collecting manual. With the upcoming baseball season, it really makes a great read especially if you're interested in starting a memorabilia room. The forward to the book is written by one of my all time favorites, Duke Snider -- very impressive! Also, I love the pictures that are included! I highly recommend this book!

After 5 years of struggling collecting baseball memorabilia, I've finally found the magna carta for this fascinating hobby. Attempting to collect the key signatures for this hobby is the ultimate goal. Collecting Baseball Memorabilia A Handbook makes it easy, enjoyable and is a great investment. Lastly, since I've purchased this book, I've added 5 Hall of Famers to my collection without the stress because of the knowldedge found in this book.

Since collecting baseball cards many years ago I have always been an admirer of Baseball memorabilia collections. I never started on because it always seemed too difficult. This book makes it easy. From the aficionado to the novice,from the young to the old,this book encompasses all aspects for starting,adding to, or preserving a baseball collection. Amazing insight into the collecting world it gives great advice and tips that are so valuable to a new or even seasoned collector. This book is the "Ball Four" for collectors as it gives an insiders view from someone did it. It has interesting comments and synopsis of Hall of Famers and baseball park and team information. Concise and easy to read with great photos and a foreword by the "Duke of Flatbush",my hero. A must read for anyone into collecting or who enjoys baseball memories.

Pictures are fairly decent and accurate, with minor exceptions. A few obvious PhotoShop jobs. But the text has factual and spelling errors that number in the hundreds. I still recommend this book to beginners I come in contact with, but I cringe at the errors I see. Price Guide is 100% subjective, therefore worthless. Most likely what the author paid for the rocks he bought and included. If it were accurate, I'd have a rock worth over $37,000.

Book was published with far too much "blind faith" in references. This should have been published by a person who is more knowledgeable and committed, not a "dabbler".

I have both of Stuart Schneider's books and think they are wonderful. I collected fluorescent rocks all over Europe for many years, and now I am doing the same here in the Southwest USA. Stuart is an honest man and he knows a great deal about the subject. It is difficult to get the printed colors in the book to match the beauty one sees in reality, but he comes closer than anyone else. His books are required as part of any good book collection about fluorescence.

This is a terrific book for the beginner as well as for someone who has been collecting for years. Tons of pictures, explainations, and locations of where certain minerals were found, as well as what to look for when rock hunting yourself.

Minerals from the United States from New Jersey to Arizona and California, as well as unusual selections from mineral mines around the world, are profiled in Stuart Schneider's Collecting Flourescent Minerals, a guide to gathering in the field and one of the most complete references to the topic in print. While introductory pages discuss notable mine sources and fluorescent minerals, the heart Schneider's discussion lies in color photos of the minerals themselves, supplementing a price guide which reveals glow factors and favorable lighting.

This is not your typical collector's handbook listing objects and possibly briefly describing them and listing going prices. This coffee-table quality book with the title "Collecting Japanese Antiques" is a survey of Japanese art works and cultural items with sections of advice for collectors. The historical and cultural background on the different items favors what would be of interest to collectors. But it is also informative and relevant simply for its artistic, historical, and cultural material. Readers looking for concentrated information on Japanese art and culture accompanied by attractive color photographs would find this work exceptionally suitable. For the collectors it is meant for particularly, there's sections on "Tides and Trends in Collecting," guidance in developing collections of certain items (e. g., baskets), lists of artists, notable regions and schools for certain antiques, and especially desirable objects in certain categories. Seton also moves to the technical subjects of materials, production, and workmanship which are important for collectors not only in appreciating items and assessing their value, but in making a preliminary decision about their age and authenticity. Among Seton's 13 categories of antiques are screens and scrolls, ceramics, furniture, sculpture and metalwork, dolls, and tea ceremony utensils. Seton has lived in Japan since 1972, where he currently teaches Japanese art and poetry. In 1993, he founded the quarterly magazine "Daruma" to cover Japanese art and antiques; which he still edits. "Collecting Japanese Antiques" is a work any collector or lover of Japanese art and antique objects will want for sound education and easy reference, and at times for enjoyably looking at the numerous color photos of the varied Japanese objects.

If you love Japanese antiques, you cannot live without this survey, with superb photography, spectacular taste, ecclectic choice, and scholarly background by the editor of Daruma magazine. All of the major collectible fields are covered with practical, informative text, and beautifully photographed select finds. The photographic choices are representative, varied and exquisite. Not merely an introduction, the work serves as a springboard to understanding and appreciating many of the accessible antiques from the Edo and Meiji periods in particular. If the book had an index of marks for each type of collectible, it would be perfection. As-is, I like the book so much that I have bought extra copies for my friends, and a new copy when mine started to get worn.

The photos in this book are stunning. The author is knowledgeable.
If you can't live in Japan to be near the beauty of its art, then this is second best. Rarely will you be able to get such thorough descriptions, history and feeling for the art and antiques of Japan.

Cyndee Nagy, Kobe, Japan

This book is a real treasure. If you buy just one book about Japanese art and antiques, this is it. Its presentation, descriptions and explanations are excellent. Reading this book is learning and pleasure at the same time.
I know the author personally and one can really see in this book his love and dedication to Japanese art.
For everybody who wants to learn more about Japanese art and antiques I strongly recommend the magazine "Daruma" which is edited by Alistair Seton.
Markus Zenhaeusern, Kobe, Japan