1 comments about A Guide to Hopi Katsina Dolls.

1. If you have an interest in Hopi katsina dolls, this is the right book at a price everyone can afford. Having been in contact with the author several months prior to the book's publication, it was eagerly anticipated. The finished product does not disappoint. As a collector, judge at several major juried shows and owner of a Native American Trading Company, Kent McManis knows his stuff! I have only one complaint ... I wish the book were at least twice it's size. At 56 pages, I hope the author will consider another book on the subject as he had with Zuni fetishes. This is the first book I have discovered which traces the katsina cycle and includes the corresponding doll on the page where it is discussed. This aspect alone makes the book a "keeper". Robin Stancliff is to be commended for 70 beautiful photographs of both contemporary / action pieces and historic / traditional katsinam as well. If you have never seen the work of modern masters like Brian and Ronald Honyouti, Cecil Calnimptewa, Ros George, Loren Phillips and Dennis Tewa ... add this book to your library. Thank you, Mr McManis, for sharing such a valuable resource with your readers.

1 comments about Children's Fashions, 1860-1912: 1,065 Costume Designs from "La Mode Illustree".

1. Funny thing, all I could think when I was reading through this was 'Hey Kids, if you think what your mothers are trying to put you in now stinks, this is what they would be putting you in back then'.
   
   Considering what kids are wearing today, back then looks pretty good.
   
   My only problem is this book does not show what work cloths of the time were like. Nor does it show ordinary cloths. Just the Sunday best.

3 comments about The History of Remington Firearms: The History of One of the World's Most Famous Gun Makers.

1. The information in this book is amazing. It is very interesting for any person interested in rifles. Pictures are real and very informative.



2. This is a superficial look a Remington's products. It is fine for the novice but there is little new information for the more informed gun nut. Pictures are nice of the old factory and early development.
   There are better sources.



3. My father use to work for Remington Arms as a project engineer back in the sixties. I was born in Ilion, New York. He really enjoys the book. I gave it to him for Christmas.

No comments about Illustrated Directory of the Old West (Illustrated Directory).

2 comments about Romantic Staffordshire Ceramics (Schiffer Book for Collectors).

1. Schiffer Publications, Ltd., provides helpful guides to collectors of dozens of items. The older "Historical Staffordshire" is a wonderful reference for lovers of all English Staffordshire pottery, though it does not specifically address its kin "Romantic Staffordshire." For those of us who especially collect Romantic Staffordshire, the publication of this new Schiffer guide in November was a long-anticipated occasion. 100's of glossy beautifully-photographed pieces and their markings, with detailed histories of manufacture, descriptions and origins of motifs, histories of significant Staffordshire potteries, and even estimates of value create an astonishing identification tool for all collectors, serious or casual. Thank you, Schiffer!



2. Schiffer Publishing, Ltd., references are always excellent visual and educational resources for collectors, but until November their guide to antique "Historical Staffordshire" pottery styles was the only title available in its category. References focused on antique "Romantic Staffordshire" are scarce, so it was with delight I learned of this guide's recent publication. 100's of beautiful glossy photographs help collectors identify pieces in their collections. EXCELLENT photographs, detailed descriptions, explanations of creation and manufacture, origin of motifs, as well as history of important English potteries and approximate values make this guide a vital tool for any Staffordshire collector, casual or otherwise. Thank you, Schiffer!

5 comments about Haviland China: The Age of Elegance (Schiffer Book for Collectors).

1. While the written information contained within is remarkable in its' breadth and detail, and the publication certainly has a good "hand" on the current market, the publication fails sadly in its' photographic quality.
   
   Certain patterns colours are corrupted in the printing process. A notable example of this is on page 181, Figure 390 "Dinner Plate Chambord Pattern". This plate in fact has a soft green tinge to the entire plate and the edge is a teal / blue. It is not a red pinkish colour, which is how it is represented.
   
   This is a significant misrepresentation of the appearance of the article and there are a series of errors in the publication of a similar calibre, and it reflects badly on what is fundamentally a good publication.



2. Nora Travis is one of the leading experts on Haviland. I love the quality of her books, and have found the photographs professional, and the content informative and interesting. While researching my book: LIVING WITH LIMOGES by Debby DuBay, I again sought out Nora Travis' work for information on Haviland Limoges. She is an expert in the field of Haviland and I recommend this book to all who need information on the subject or for those who enjoy beautiful coffee table books.



3. I don't consider myself a collector of Haviland; I bought this book to get a toehold in this world while searching for replacements for my mother's turn-of-the-century pattern.

   This book is organized in such a way that someone new to this area can understand the basics types of pieces, identify the various markings and get some idea of reasonable values. Did I mention that it also looks good on the coffee table?




4. Nora Travis' book includes photographs of the usual and unusual pieces of Haviland porcelain which makes it a well rounded book for the amateur and serious collectors. It contains many beautiful "art" pieces, and the values are right on target. A lot of work went into this book, and it shows. The photos are really great as well. We, Keith and Thomas Waterbrook-Clyde, are the authors of a book on Limoges porcelain, The Decorative Art of Limoges Porcelain and Boxes.



5. Haviland China, one of the most collected Limoges producing companies, comes to life in this very informative book. Not only does Ms. Travis includes a Haviland family tree in this book, but also a history of this wonderful family legacy.

   Beautiful color photographs enable us to enjoy some of the very rare pieces produced beginning in 1895. The price guide for these pieces are right on the money, and the signature guide makes piece identification easy!

   As a serious Haviland collector, I never go to an antique store or show without it!

5 comments about Restoring Classic & Collectable Cameras.

1. This is not a good first book on camera repair, a distinction which has to be noted in contrast to his first book which is far more suitable as a primer. For the somewhat experienced phototechnician working on the classics covered in this book, it's a useful title. I would start with either his first two titles (Camera Maintenance and Repair 1 and 2),the classic Ed Romney text (Trade Secrets:Basic Training in Camera Repair), or if you can find them the old National Camera correspondence materials.

   That said, given the proliferation of specific books he has produced, they are informative and useful within their scope.




2. This is an excellent repair book. Some who have reviewed this book are missing the point -- this repair knowledge transfers to many cameras other than the ones featured. So I wholeheartedly disagree that this book is for repairing only the specific cameras listed -- it provides scores of solutions for other cameras also. Ever tried to pull a viewfinder window? Ever wondered how to make spraypaint hard and tough? How to fill incised lettering with white paint? The difference between slow and fast epoxy? How to make bellows? How to refurb a resistor? How to clean aluminum? How to remove a round window without scratching it and without buying a special tool? How to mate helicals? How to prevent and repair battery acid damage? Where to obtain chemicals at low prices and when to use them? And on and on and on. Tomosy is like having an expert looking over your shoulder as you repair. I'm going to purchase the other Tomosy books after reading this one.



3. Its a great book if its talking specifically about the model of camera or shutter that you are trying to repair, and its got a surprisingly thorough section on bellows repair. Other than that the book is just OK. I would recommend buying this book if you have one of the cameras that are discussed inside it, which are covered from disassembly to reassembly. Those cameras and shutters are: Voigtlander Heliar No. 6 shutter, Bausch & Lomb Iris Diaphragm shutter, Wollensak Iris Diaphragm shutter, Packard Ideal shutter, Vest Pocket Autographic Kodak Camera (1915-1926), Kodak Folding Pocket No. 3-A, Kodak No. 3 Folding Brownie, Kodak Model A Folding Brownie, Kodak Six-20 Model C, Eastman 5x7 View Camera No. 33A, Lancaster & Son Merveilleux, Rembrandt No. 2 Portrait Camera (Burke & James Inc.), Thornton-Pickard Duplex Ruby Reflex, Graflex Speed Graphic Pacemaker, Ensign-Cupid, Kodak Premoette Jr. No. 1 (1913), Rolleicord Vb, Contax II, Exacta VX, Leica II, Nikkorex Zoom 35, Nikkorex 35, Universal (Univex) Mercury II, Zeiss Contaflex, Contaflex I, Contaflex Super and the Minox C.



4. Not complete, but a good start for mostly pre-1945 cameras and lenses. The sections on bellows restoration and construction alone probably make this book a worthwhile purchase. Tomosy illustrates restoration techniques using specific cameras and lenses that are mostly common and relatively inexpensive. A couple of different Kodak Brownie cameras are two of the cameras examined in the chapter on folding cameras, for example. The Exacta VX, Nikkorex 35, Zeiss Contaflex, and Leica II are some of the models examined in the 35mm chapter. Other chapters cover Lenses and Lens Shutters, Wooden View Cameras, Large-Format Focal-Plane Shutters, Medium Format, and the Minox C. What keeps this from being 5 stars is Tomosy's too casual treatment of wood-, metal-, and leatherworking on a couple of his projects. However, he does include an appendix about tools, lubricants, parts suppliers, and other suggested readings.



5. Great book.Well down.Thank You Mr Tomosy

1 comments about The Jeweled Menagerie: The World of Animals in Gems.

1. THE JEWELED MENAGERIE: THE WORLD OF ANIMALS IN GEMS provides a wealth of jeweled wonders from 19th century artists to survey world design developments through the 20th century. Animal jewelry and makers are profiled with a wealth of color photos and details that include both craftsmanship and historical reflection. Insights on jewelry makers and changing interests in how animals are represented in jewelry make for an inviting, revealing survey perfect for art collections strong in jewelry history and construction.
   
   Diane C. Donovan
   California Bookwatch

No comments about Josef Originals: Charming Figurines (Schiffer Book for Collectors).

2 comments about Miao Textiles from China (Fabric Folios).

1. This would be a very beautiful book at any price, but Amazon's price on it is a real bargain. This 85-page folio has over 100 high quality photographs taken of textiles that are currently part of the British Museum's collection. Gina Corrigan, the book's author, has been leading study groups to China since 1973 and has a special interest in collecting and researching traditional Miao textiles, which are rapidly disappearing as China marches toward modern economic development. Corrigan has collected many of these fine craft textiles and transferred them to the British Museum.
   
   The book begins with a brief introduction to the history of the Miao people that describes the weaving, dyeing, batik, embroidery, applique and other processes used to create the stunning traditional costumes they wear. This is followed by detailed photographs of whole garments and closeups of their decorations accompanied by descriptions of the techniques used to produce them. The garments are highly original and come very close to being individual works of arts.
   
   Highly recommended for anyone interested in the textile arts.



2. This is a thorough examination of these very-detailed textiles and the people who make them. I'm thrilled with this little 'gem' of a book! Thanks!!