No comments about Art Deco Bookbindings: The Work of Pierre Legrain and Rose Adler.

5 comments about A Pound of Paper: Confessions of a Book Addict.

1. The book is a mixture of tidbits about famous collectors, the author's coming of age in Australia, obscure collectibles/authors, and whatever else came to the author's mind. Maybe a hardcore collector could keep up with this account.
   I gave it up after 118 pages. I love books and was interested in the Australian descriptions, but became discouraged by the disjointedness of the book.



2. This was a terrible disappointment. More of a memoir than anything about book-collecting, it was so disjointed it is hard to say what it was about or what the point was. There seemed to be no context or fabric to the book.
   
   There were, however, HUNDREDS of references to obscure authors, actors, film-writers, magazines and books. There were pages at a time where I was completely lost because I had no idea about whom the author was speaking, but he wrote as if the person was well-known to the reader.
   
   Baxter leads the reader around the world from his beginnings in Australia, thence to Britain to the US and ending in France. Again, there is no context. He would flip from a reference to the obscure artist, to an anecdote about himself or some bookseller or collector and then perhaps mention how he had acquired a book.
   
   If viewed as a book about collecting books, you will not learn much. If viewed as a memoir, there was little that was interesting about the author's life and there was precious little about his life other than acquisitions.
   
   There were a very few nuggets about what makes a book valuable or diminishes its worth to a collector, but they were too few and far between.
   
   If you could not tell by now, I can not see much reason to read this book. I think Mr. Baxter flattered himself to think that either he or his collection would be of general interest.



3. I am a book collector and I enjoy my passion very much. Many people would say I'm obsessed but it only takes a book like this one to remind myself that I'm in the minor leagues.
   
   Part memoir and part peek into the world of book collecting, Baxter tells of his youth in the wilds of Australia where, like many of us, he delved into the world of comic book and science fiction collecting. He matured along the way with an interest in Graham Greene before dumping that collection and moving onto other literary interests.
   
   And he did not stay in the wilds of Australia forever. He travelled and made his way up in the world of film and publishing. Baxter has had the fortune as a film critic, writer and collector to meet a number of interesting people, from the writers he collected to eccentric bookmen like Martin Stone. The book has a definite British flavor, though Baxter has made some forays into the United States. Still, any book collector will see things he recognizes in Baxter's experiences and, in some cases, things we wished we could have experienced ourselves.
   
   Let's face it, a person with a passion for book collecting will feel some jealousy when reading of some of Baxter's finds and encounters. Unfortunately, most of us do not have the means and/or opportunity to do some of the things Baxter has done. But this does not totally diminish the fun in seeing how he was able to come to have the experiences he had and it makes for a great read for anyone interested in books.



4. 
   
   I rated this book 5*'s but not in the normal fashion.The title got my attention as I like "books about books";of which there are a varied lot.To start with,this book is well titled;A Pound of Paper,how unpretentious can you get?
   Now, as to my rating:
   As an overall book,I enjoyed it at times,at other times I found it a drag,I skipped a lot;but still couldn't put it down.
   I rated it 5*'s;but only by adding up 5 single *'s:
   1*-As a biography,for anyone who knows the author;I had not
   heard of him.
   1*- Stories about experiences of buying books and searching
   for 1st.editions,inscribed tomes,etc.
   1*-Telling what makes a bibliophile "tick".I noted many of
   the same traits in myself.
   1*- Description of book buying and selling in France.
   1*- For the three appendicies.
   Each of these areas was overshadowed by his experiences;but so many writers and books were of no interest to me and the whole of Sci-Fi leaves me cold as I don't tend to read much of it;although one with that interest would probably rate the book a 5*,for that material alone.Also,the book is heavily slanted to British and Aussie books and hardly mentions anything else.This is understandable as this was where he lived and where his interests lie.
   Nevertheless any bibliophile will enjoy the book and it is really a 5*.I plan to keep it ,mainly for the appendicies.



5. I was terribly disappointed in this book. It's more of an autobiography of the author's life than it is about books and book collecting. Also, while I read more than the average person and I don't only read mainstream books, I felt like "Pound of Paper" was full of references to obscure authors.

   I would recommend "Used and Rare" and other books by Larry and Nancy Goldstone if you really want to read about books and collecting.

2 comments about Japanese Print: Historical Guide.

1. Yes, there is the one censored plate, and the author is prudish throughout about shunga prints in general. However, anyone who is purchasing this book for the illustrations will be severely disappointed. There are some color plates in the middle of the work, but the vast majority of plates are reproduced in black in white. This is not a coffee table work with large, full-color illustrations. Nor is it a scholarly treatise on Japanese woodblock prints or a critical appraisal of why certain artists are held in higher regard than others. What it attempts to do is provide a brief overview for the general reader of the careers of the major artists and a historical guide detailing the development of the medium, and within the scope of its modest ambitions it actually works fairly well as an introduction to Japanese woodblock printing.

   As stated, this is not for the specialist or the serious collector. The historical details are very general, and it is difficult, based only on this book, to differentiate between the stylistic differences between the various schools. Likewise, the critical evaluations are generally rather vague, and though the book attempts to describe the artists as major and minor, it often does little more than repeat the general wisdom without clearly explaining why an artist is held in such high or low esteem. As far as coverage, the work slants heavily toward 18th century artists and prints, which is a perfectly acceptable bias, but a new collector might be disappointed to find that many of the artists and prints discussed in length are actually generally unobtainable in good condition for those who are not either affiliated with museums or super wealthy. A more serious quibble with the work is that some of the prints (not the majority however) chosen to illustrate examples of the various artists' work are rather idiosyncratically chosen and not terribly representative.

   Overall, this isn't a bad place to start for the beginner. There are much better introductions to the medium, but few at this price. The plates, though the majority are in black and white, are easy to see, and the reader gets a fairly serviceable historical overview. One caution however: though the paper is thick, glossy, and generally high quality, the binding is a little flimsy. If you are hard on books, this might not be the one for you.




2. I was shocked upon opening this book to find that the one example provided of a "shunga" print (p. 88) had been censored. In discussing Utamaro's prints, the text reads, "...a large part of his work is devoted to this type of subject matter, and it has often been said, with some justice, that he is probably the greatest master of this genre in the entire history of the Japanese print (Plate 36)" Plate 36 then has a large black bar running across the print from left to right, blocking out about 25%, and leaving heads and feet. The caption reads, "Lovers. Shunga, shown here partially masked. About 1790. Ronin Gallery, New York." I find it difficult to trust the judgement of someone who advocates studying an art form "partially masked". If someone is not able to honestly address these prints, s/he may avoid them, but I can`t recommend a critic who feels that s/he has the right to deface them.

2 comments about The Book of Kells.

1. Fabulous illuminations;
   I became fascinated with and got attached to those stunningly beautiful initials, the most amazing calligraphy I ever examined in my life. I have been also amazed by and curious about the four Symbols of the Gospel writers, since I first encountered in the Chapel of the Episcopalian Bishop of NC in Raleigh, and was informed that they were influenced by the preaching Coptic Monks to the Celts and Scots.
   Only people of developed artistic orientation, could appreciate how beautiful these genuinely original decorations reach out to the overwhelmed reader. Alas that parts of the Gospel according to St. Luke are missing from the original Codex.

   Religous Celtic Art:
   Long before the coming of St. Augustine of Canterbury in 597, Christianity has been introduced among the Brittons, by Coptic missionaries who reached as far as the British Isles. "We do not yet know how much we in the British Isles owe to these remote Coptic hermits...Everyone knows that the handicraft of the Irish monks in the ninth and tenth centuries far excelled anything that could be found elsewhere in Europe. Their unrivaled illuminations, can be traced to the influence of Egyptian missionaries, we have more to thank the Copts for than has been imagined." Eminent historian: Stanley Lane-Poole.




2. Kells' mini hardcovers:
   The variety of exquisite little hardcover reproduction volumes are reproductions of parts of the original illuminated manuscripts. They are magnificent, with gold-leaf detailing and sumptuous full-color illustrations, making them a perfect gift for all who cherish the rich legacy of Christian art. The original illuminated manuscript, is permanently on display, since the 19th, in the Library of Trinity College Dublin.
   It is one of the most beautiful of the world's most famous manuscript. It contains 680 pages (or 340 folios). Just two of the pages are without ornament, while about thirty folios, including some major decorated pages, have been lost. Two volumes can normally be seen, one opened to display a major decorated page, and one to show two pages of script.A CD-ROM version of all 340 folios from the Book of Kells is available for purchase.
   
   
   Origin of Book of Kells:
   The Book of Kells, was most probably copied by hand and illuminated by monks around the year 800 A.D. Its name is derived from the Abbey of Kells, in the Irish Midlands, where it was kept from at least the 9th century to 1541, it was probably begun on the island of Iona. It is uncertainly presumed, that portions of the book were made at Kells, after Viking raids on Iona forced the monastery to retreat to the isolated location. It contains the four gospels, preceded by prefaces, summaries, and canon tables or concordances of gospel passages. It is written on vellum and contains a Latin text of the Gospels in insular majuscule script accompanied by magnificent and intricate whole pages of decoration with smaller painted decorations appearing throughout the text. The manuscript was given to Trinity College in the 17th century and since 1953 has been bound in four volumes.
   
   Book of Columba:
   This same Irish manuscript containing the Four Gospels, is known also as the "Book of Columba", probably because it was written in the monastery of Iona to honour the saint. Some small portions at the beginning and end of the manuscript have been lost, but otherwise it is in a very good state of preservation. It was apparently left unfinished, since some of the ornaments remain only in outline. It is written in part black, red, purple or yellow ink, and it has been thought that the hands of two scribes, neither of whom is known by name, are discernible in the writing and illumination of the manuscript.
   
   Book's Beauty:
   This is the most copiously illuminated manuscript of the four Gospels in existence. No words can describe the beauty and splendour of the richly coloured initial letters, which are more profuse in the "Book of Kells" than in any other manuscript. The artist possessed a wonderful knowledge of the proportion of colour and the distribution of his material -sienna, purple, lilac, red, pink, green, yellow, most often used, and the shade tinting of the letters was managed with fine taste and skill. A series of illuminated miniatures, including pictorial representations of the Evangelists and their symbols, the Blessed Virgin and the Divine Child, are worthy of notice. It is no wonder that it was believed that the "Book of Kells" could have been written only by angels (very artistic indeed!).
   
   Composition and Loss:
   The date of the composition of the book can hardly be placed earlier than the end of the seventh or beginning of the eighth century, It is likely that it is to this book that the entry in the "Annals of Ulster" under the year 1006 refers, recording that in that year the "Gospel of Columba" was stolen. According to tradition, the book is a relic from the time of St. Columba (d. 597) and even the work of his hands, but, on palaeographic grounds and judging by the character of the ornamentation, this tradition cannot be sustained. This must be the book reported at Kildare in the last quarter of the twelfth century, described in glowing terms. Later, it was located at the cathedral of Kells (Irish Cenannus) in Meath, a foundation of Columba's, where it remained for a long time, until the year 1541. Archbishop Ussher presented it to Trinity College, Dublin, In the 17th century where it is the most precious manuscript in its library and by far the choicest relic of Irish art that has been preserved.
   
   Manuscript Ornaments& Designs: The most characteristic ornaments of the Book of Kells, as of other illuminated Irish manuscripts of the period, are the coloured representations of fanciful beings, or of men, animals, birds, horses, dogs, and grotesque, gargoyle-like human figures, twisted and hooked together in intricate detail, a system of geometrical weaving of ribbons plaited and knotted together.
   The versatility and inventive genius of the illustrator surpasses all belief. Lines diverge and converge in endless succession, and the most intricate figures, in lavish abundance and with astounding variety of ornament, are combined and woven into one harmonious design. In spite of the extent of the work and its thousands of exquisite initials and terminals, there is not a single pattern or combination that can be said to be a copy of another. The artist shows a wonderful technique in designing and combining various emblems, the cross, vine, dragon, fish, and serpent. The drawing is perfection itself. It has been examined under a powerful magnifying glass for hours at a time and found to be, even in the most minute and complicated figures, without a single false or irregular line.
   
   *Most of this review material are from Trinity web & New Advent

No comments about Infinite Variety: Exploring the Folger Shakespeare Library.

No comments about Discovering Book Collecting (Discovering).

No comments about Greetings from Beverly Hills.

5 comments about Free Autographs by Mail: 4,000+ Verified Celebrity Addresses.

1. This book was written almost 7 years ago, so current stars aren't included in this list, and the ones that are, are from the 80's and early 90's. I wrote a few letters, but don't expect any responses since there is a good chance that their addresses have changed. The people who are included in this book are old stars, and of no interest to younger readers (30 something and below). I'm sorry I wasted my money on this book because every star that I wanted to write to did not have their address in this book. If you are serious about writing and getting free autographs, invest in a current book that includes more than 4,000 addresses.



2. This is the second book that I've ordered by this author and neither disappointed me! Nicely done!



3. I love autographs and LOVE this book! I've purchased all the others and this one is by far the very best that I've tried. It's about time that collectors have a book where the addresses DO work! AWESOME BOOK!



4. I found this book to be very up-to-date, accurate and time saving. Since receiving it, I've already gotten a large amount of autographs using the addresses contained in this book. I look forward to any future books by this knowledgeable author!



5. Overall it had good information. The fact that it can all be found for free on the Internet is another item all together. If you don't want to spend the time online, or don't have Internet access at all, this book will be of benefit to you.

   Keep in mind addresses change frequently and they are all not guaranteed to provide a result.

5 comments about Horror Movie Posters (The Illustrated History of Movies Through Posters, Vol 7).

1. From the first few pages of LON CHANEY SR POSTERS you wont be able to put it down.The photo of Dracula and Frankenstein are worth the price of the whole book.The Thing half sheet, Or The fly six sheet would make any one want one in there collection. Book goes all the way up to the movie Scream.You cant go wrong



2. Horror Movie Posters is at once a beautiful book to browse and a fascinating chronicle of advertising art through the decades. Just a cursory look reveals how the graphic art evolved, from the incredible stone-lithography of the golden age (silents to late '30s) through the more garish '50s style to the photo-based designs so common today. As a collector of movie memorabilia, I have found this entire series an invaluable resource; one needn't be a collector to enjoy these books, however. Any film aficionado will treasure this volume. Highly recommended!



3. This review can easily apply to any of the books in the Bruce Hershenson edited series of film poster history. Hershenson rightly treats film graphics not just as pop culture artifacts but true works of art. His books are filled with a curator's eye for superior choice and reproduction, each poster in striking color and with a clarity of printing that rivals most any coffee table art book. Somewhere between advertising and illustration, film posters, like book jackets and record covers, inhabit that imaginative and atmospheric zone where one art reflects another. It's not just the history of film or the history of film design, it's a history of twentieth century Saturday afternoons and Saturday nights. How often we would go into the dark theatre armed only with the ideas and ideals of the posters outside, and then return to them afterward, perhaps with nodding affirmation or smirking disillusionment, but still a vision of what could be. This series of books should be subtitiled: THE FINE ART OF ANTICIPATION, for no matter if expectation was filled or emptied by the films behind them, their posters kept on shining.



4. For lovers of film, film history, and specifically, poster art, Bruce Hershenson's series of full-color books is the cream of the crop! And, the quality of printing and photography is superb, with razor sharp images and vibrant colors.



5. Horror Movie Posters shows photographs of 306 movie posters in chronological order. All are in color, and very clear. The ones that are more detailed are larger. It's a picture book, meaning the author does analyze the posters. He lets the visual content speaks for itself.

   It is very intriguing to see some posters from movies before my time. It's funny to see that the movie picture industry treated horror movie posters in a somber mood in the early days, and then moved to "silly" posters in the 50s. Now in the 90s, after having viewed some of the horror movies, the poster is the scariest thing.

   If you are really into movies, I think this would be a really cool book to own.

1 comments about ABC of Bookbinding: An Illustrated Glossary of Terms for Collectors and Conservators.

1. There are several sections in this book including a glossary, an evolution of bookbinding styles, descriptions of historical bookbinding (time and place) and information about actual bookbinders through history.

   Jane Greenfield provides a comprehensive glossary for anyone interested in bookbinding. Her small illustrations capture and describe the terminology beautifully.

   Not designed as a primary resource, the sections about specific historical periods are overviews. Other books will provide more in-depth information.