Collecting Books

From a 1903 Packard to a 1957 Chevy Bel-Air Convertible to a 1992 Saturn--The 2000 Standard Guide to Cars & Prices is an exceptionally comprehensive price guide covering vehicles for most of the last century. Prices/values are shown using the "1 through 6" rating system, which is the standard in the auto-enthusiast arena. Also included are lesser-known vehicle makes and models, like the Frazer, the Hupmobile and the Henry J, as well as light domestic trucks and even imports. Even the book's size makes it convenient to carry in your own vehicle or to take to car shows. Cars & Prices is a must-have for the serious car collector, restorer, seller or admirer of classic and soon-to-be classic vehicles.

I recommend this book greatly. I'm only 13 and a beginner at coin collecting. This book helped me find out how much my coins are worth. It tells how coins are made, what the ratings mean and gives lots of pictures of the many varieties of coins in the book. A book for all ages.

The book covers a good deal of makes and manufactures of classic and antique model cars. Very usefull in determining the value of your present car or one you planning on buying. Well recomended for either purpose.

This book, which retails for under $20, amazingly consists of over 330 pages of pure content in full color.

20th century paper doll publishing was dominated by just a few large companies, but there were scores of smaller companies that contributed to an industry that is now sadly in retreat. Mary Young's book looks at these smaller companies, whose heyday was mostly in the earlier part of the century. It catalogs the output of the smaller companies and provides profuse all-color illustrations of the paper doll sets. Also, it often deliciously allows the user to peek inside the sets to see the paper dolls as both art and historical document.

Countless sets are shown in this reference book, they are named, assigned monetary values, and descriptive notes are often attached. The value to the collector is significant. The identification of orphaned dolls and even loose items of paper doll clothing, the kind that pop up out-of-place in large paper doll lots, is made possible.

The only drawback to the book is that some of the pictures are blurry or are too dark. That is quibbling because a great number of the items of the items depicted in the book are rare. It was a real privilege to get access to these wonderful old and fragile toys.

A very useful reference of what items were valued at in 1993. Offers values on American, British and German bears & toys. A lot of good information on the American brand of North American Bear Co. with the VIB and Vanderbear collections. Useful information on Steiff, Schuco Toy Co. and even Raggady Ann and Andy Dolls! I can't wait for a more current 5th edition but this 4th edition is a wonderful reference to at least see what items were valued at by 1993.

An unplanned visit to Kykuit, the Rockefeller estate in Westchester County New York led me to this book. The tour guide expressed his admiration for Abby Aldrich Rockefeller as he led us through her famous home. He recommended this biography, and from the moment I picked it up, I was delighted! As we toured the house, we viewed the wonderful collection of modern art and heard the stories of how Mrs. Rockefeller founded the Museum of Modern Art, overcoming the objections of her famous and powerful husband, John D. Rockefeller Jr. This book is a history of a powerful woman's life, and a history of the life of a famous museum. A beautiful woman, a devoted wife and mother,an inspired art collector and devoted patron of modern art; the story of Abby Aldrich Rockefeller holds you in its grip from the opening paragraph. One of the best biographies I have ever read!

Born in Vienna, Alfred Bader fled to England at the age of fourteen, ten months before the outbreak of World War II. Although a Jewish refugee from the Nazis, he was interned in 1940, along with other 'enemy aliens', and sent to a Canadian prisoner-of-war camp.

Today, Bader is one of the most respected men in his field. In this heartwarming book, he tells the fascinating story of how he made good in the land of opportunity, the United States.

It was a case of hard study and hard work. Obtaining his release in 1941, he was accepted at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, where he studied engineering chemistry. There followed a fellowship in organic chemistry at Harvard. He worked in Milwaukee as a research chemist for the Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company and in 1951 co-founded Aldrich, which today, as Sigma-Aldrich, is the world's largest supplier of research chemicals.

He spent forty years building Aldrich's distinctive reputation, and the extraordinary story of how he was eventually thrown off the board of Sigma-Aldrich will be of key interest to people in the chemical industry worldwide as well as to students of business.

After leaving Sigma-Aldrich, he continued a fruitful career as an art collector and dealer, and he has some very pertinent and amusing things to say about the art world.

Alfred Bader and his family have earned a reputation as generous benefactors, notably in the fields of chemistry, education and Jewish interests. Bader's personal philanthropy has been particularly directed toward helping students od chemistry and art history. He recently gave L6,000,000 to Queen's University to purchase and renovate Herstmonceux Castle in Sussex (the home of the old Royal Greenwich Observatory) - one more 'thank-you" to the Canadian institution that had enabled him to take the first steps on the road to success, so entertainingly described in this book.
--- from book's dustjacket

Covers most major companies. Has a good selection and pricing struction. Overall a good book on the subject.

A must for agate lovers!!! This book gives a great overview of the agates of the UK with incredible photography. Also includes information on the formation of agates and various agate industries. Most importantly - includes agate localities and collecting info for anyone interested in pursuing these beauties!

If you are an antique dealer or collector of kerosene lamps, this book is a must have. It is complete with color illustrations of Aladdin lamps from the earliest ones until the late 1980's. Included are guides to help you identify original lamps and shades from reproductions. The author is the world's utmost authority on Aladdin Lamps. The price guide is helpful when shopping for lamps, to provide you with approximate values of each model. Also includes information regarding buying parts for lamps you are refurbishing. Excellent value!!!