5 comments about B. J. Summers' Guide To Coca-Cola (B J Summer's Guide to Coca Cola Identification).

1. I recently had the opportunity to review another company's Coca Cola collectibles book, they too a well respected publisher of antique and collectibles books and there's no doubt about it, the B.J.Summers Sixth Edition guide has got that one beat hands down. This is a thoroughly beautiful book. Hardcover, thick, glossy stock pages, and fantastic photography highlight this book.
   
   The introduction provides legend keys to the condition as well as the source of the item's value which I think is very important. Summers lets the reader know if the value came from a collector, a completed auction, a dealer, or the author himself. The book then presents 46 different item categories, everything from signs, bottles, calendars and trays, to more eclectic items like Jewelry, no-drip protectors, and ashtrays. There's also a miscellaneous chapter for items that don't fit into one of the other 45 categories.
   
   I was absolutely fascinated by the number of items pictured in the book. With nearly 300 pages and as many as 10 items pictured per page, there are literally thousands of different Coke items pictured. The signage is simply fantastic, particularly those featuring celebrities such as Eddie Fisher and jazz musician Lionel Hampton. In all there are 82 pages of signs alone. Does it picture EVERY Coca Cola sign ever made? Of course not, but what book does? Still even if you have one that isn't pictured, you should be able to find one similar that you can use as a basis for value.
   
   I really enjoyed the section on coolers and those bright, red coolers of days gone by. I remembered the old Coke cooler we used to have back in the early 70's. Like a lot of people, I love the Coke Santa items, especially those great ads by Haddon Sundblom which look great framed and are still very affordable today.
   
   The problems are few and minor. The categories could have been laid out in alphabetical order but instead there seems to be little rhyme or reason to the order. That said, it's still a truly wonderful book that will delight collectors or just plain fans of nostalgia.
   
   Reviewed by Tim Janson



2. This was a very helpful and informative guide to Coca-Cola collectibles. I would highly recommend it to any serious collector. Full of valuable information.



3. We have quite a few old Coke signs and none were in this guide. We were disappointed to say the least.



4. Pros: Extensive selection of signs and cardboard items with lots of nice colour photos throughout. Many items in this book aren't in Petrettis, so it makes a good companion. All up I am happy with this book and use it regularly to price and check items.
   
   Cons: The book is hoplessely laid out and it can be very hard to find items as it seems there is no logic to the order items are listed or displayed. It seems the entire book is largely made up from the collection of one or two private collections and as such prices can be inflated compared to market values, plus many items are missing simply because these collectors didn't feel they are important enough. As with most other Coca-cola collectors books this one is entirely US centric with very little information on foreign items.



5. *****April 2005 UPDATE: "Could be great" but after seeing the 5th edition, the publisher has taken a book with great potential and flushed that potential down the toilet. What they did was gloss up the paper and make it look old-fashioned (it doesn't work for me, but maybe it will for others), but the huge mistake is that they actually dropped a significant number of items from the book and went overboard hiking up the price values! If you are a serious collector, browse through the 5th edition at a bookstore, before buying it. END UPDATE*****
   
   This guide has great potential, but somebody should do some usability studies on it to make it better. It's a chore finding a specific item. For example, collector trays: I still can't figure out what logic was used to arrange/order them in the book. By title? By name? The index at the back of the book is incomplete and often worthless. For example, there's a whole section on blotters in the front index, but try finding "blotter" in the back index.
   
   Prices are conservative. Unrealistically low in many cases.
   
   There are items that aren't found in other guides, and the color pix are exceptional. I really like this guide, but it has design flaws that need to be fixed.

No comments about Coca-Cola Collectible Cars & Trucks (Collector's Guide to Coca Cola Items Series).

No comments about Enamel Advertising Signs (Shire Library).

4 comments about The Encyclopedia of Pepsi-Cola Collectibles.

1. This is the only Pepsi guide book that I have, and I'm not real happy with it. It is inadequate, hardly scratching the surface of all the Pepsi collectibles out there.

   As with most other collectibles guides, the back index leaves much to be desired. I guess the author agrees because he omitted it completely. Big mistake.

   Unfortunately, there aren't a lot of Pepsi guides out there, like there are for Coke. But that doesn't mean this one is the "bible" of Pepsi collecting; it doesn't come close. I'm hard-pressed to figure out why others have written such glowing reviews for it.

   It's pretty, but it's incomplete, the prices are all over the map, there's no back index...but there's very little competition.




2. A very nice reference book and worth the money for collectors or fans of Pepsi.



3. The Encyclopedia Of Pepsi-Cola Collectibles is an amazing resource for collectors and dealers. Nearly the entire book is devoted to full color photographs of everything ever made by or associated with Pepsi-Cola, from slogans and trademarks to containers, cardboard inserts, cans, bottles, caps, a wide array of merchandise and much more. Offer a wealth of historical and background information on the Pepsi-Cola bottling company, along with authoritative and reliable price estimates for Pepsi-Cola collectibles, The Encyclopedia Of Pepsi-Cola Collectibles is a superbly presented and essential guide for the dedicated Pepsi-Cola enthusiasts!



4. A brand new, year 2002, hard-bound library volume containing 256 pages with more than 2,000 large, full color, sharp photos of every type of Pepsi collectible. Current values are shown. Items are listed by category, including signs, containers, novelties, toys and accessories and paper items. Sufficient text is included, covering Pepsi Collectibles, Reference Guide, History of Pepsi, History of Pepsi Trademerks and Advertising Slogans. I found the "Paper Items" section particularly interesting. Add it to your library.

No comments about Commemorative Coca-Cola Bottles (Schiffer Book for Collectors).

3 comments about Advertising Paperweights: Pictorial Value Guide and History.

1. The photography in this book is of such poor quality that it is below "crime scene" standards. What a disappointment. I collect advertising paper weights and expected to see examples in colors and detail that would enlighten and entertain. This is a rich topic presented poorly.

   I was particularly disturbed to see the terrible, murky poorly lit photographs. The author should have wondered why the photos looked so unrepresentative of the original pieces. It isn't just poor printing (that is so as well) but the lighting of this difficult reflective subject is low grade. Any good pro "tabletop" photographer could have made these items sing. In this case, they have croaked.

   Also, it is apparent that the prices of the items are badly out of date, reflecting those of the early 1990's at best. In today's active paperweight market, these prices are just not representative. Any visit to eBay will confirm this.

   In short, this "guide" isn't much of anything and certainly doesn't offer the crisp detail of images or information that one would expect for this price.

   If I had seen this in a bookstore, I would have laid it back on the pile. I wish I could get my money back.

   ---Disappointed In December




2. This subject matter of this book has long been overdue in the collecting world. Until now very little had been published on Victorian advertising paperweights. This is certainly one of the most under appreciated and overlooked niches of collecting advertising memorabilia. The book is jammed with pictures of hundreds upon hundreds of examples. Many of the paperweights pictured are so rare that only one or two copies have been found. I have been collecting since the 1970s. I wish this had been published twenty-five years ago. This book is a visual feast for the novice or the experienced collectors alike.



3. A brand new year 2002 delight of a book featuring 192 pages filled with very large, outstanding, beautiful, sharp full color photos to delight any ad paperweight collector. There are few collectibles books whose photography and printing surpass this guide. Collectors will be in awe of this work. There is a nice introduction to the collectible, a list of manufacturers, and a section on "questionable" paperweights. The book covers glass, celluloid, figurals and others. Pricing is current. A beautiful, beautiful book.

2 comments about California Orange Box Labels: An Illustrated History.

1. It's such an enjoyable book with lush and beautiful illustrations throughout. I keep mine on the coffee table because guests love to flip through it. A nice conversation starter for sure!



2. Vivid colors true to actual. Very comprehensive on subject matter and well documented. Would highly recommend if interested in the subject matter or California history.

3 comments about Collectors Guide to TV Toys and Memorabilia: 1960S & 1970s (Collector's Guide to TV Toys and Memorabilia).

1. This beautiful, completely revised, latest edition, 296 page volume has colorful, laminated hard covers. There are over 1,300 full color, sharp, large photos of very type of TV toy and memorabilia. If you were around in the 60's or 70's or enjoyed re-runs of some of these shows you'll really enjoy using and owning this book. Having the book is almost as good as owning the items! It includes shows from Beverly Hillbillies to Fantasy Island, to Happy Days, Laverne and Shirley, Partridge Family, Patty Duke, Welcome Back Kotter and Saturday morning shows. Estimated values are shown. Very, very nice book.



2. Tv Toys is the all time greatest book ever written for toy collectors. I haven't found anything that even begins to compare to this book. I wish that Mr Davis and Mr. Morgan would write more like it. Great job guys. Thanks



3. This is a GREAT book for collecting TV Toys!! The book covers most hit shows from the 60's to the 70's. Ever see a Samantha doll from Bewitched? Ever see a Bewitched coloring book or a Brady Bunch Fan Club Kit? Well if you buy this book you'll see nice color photos of LOTS of TV Memorbilla!! The book has a nice forward in it by Erin Murphy who played Tabatha on the 60's hit sitcom "Bewitched". The book even has price ranges for the memorbilla listed. If you love classic TV or TV toys this book is for you! So take a walk down memory lane and pick it up today!! Or for other information visit the author's website at TVTOYS.com

4 comments about Antique Tins.

1. Very informative for identification of tins and their values. Would highly recommend this book to all. Great color and photography. Quite evident that a lot of foresight and hard work went into making this book what it is, the leader in the field of tins. A must for all collectors.



2. Absolutely great for tin collectors. Great pictures, acurate values. Love it.



3. Dodge Books II (1998) and III (1999) are already in print. You folks are not staying abreast of the field.



4. Dodge puts admirable effort into presenting a collection of excellently preserved tin cans. However, I cannot recommend the result to the serious researcher! The descriptive information was not useful. Yes, the photos are "pretty" to look at, but if your interest is in manufacturing dates or length of use, this book will only disappoint. The book's descriptions gave only manufacturer and estimated value - not date or patent information. I bought this book because the title "Antique Tins" seemed to suggest it would provide useful information, but that is not the case. I returned the book.

No comments about 100 Years of Harley-Davidson Advertising.