1 comments about Watch and Clockmakers Handbook Dictionary and Guide.

1. This classic book is a reprint, circa 1881. It is extremely user -friendly, in dictionary format, enabling both the novice and experienced antique clock collector to find helpful hints and tips when dealing with antique collectors or at auctions. Also packs a whopping 500 pages into a convenient pocket-sized carry along book, making it the essential accesory when antiquing. Extensive background information on each illustrated watch and clock.

No comments about Hardstones: The Gilbert Collection.

No comments about The Hobbit Poster Collection: Six Paintings by Alan Lee.

1 comments about McDonalds Collectibles: Identification & Values (Mcdonalds Collectibles).

1. This book is a must for McDonalds collectors! The photos and descriptions have been a great asset to me in cataloguing my collection of McDonalds toys. An absolutely fabulous book!

1 comments about Fantastic Filling Stations (Enthusiast Color Series).

1. Although this coffee table book has photos, it is the short stories about the abandoned gas stations that make the book worthwhile.

5 comments about Collectible Aluminum/an Identification and Value Guide Including: Hammered, Wrought, Forged, and Cast.

1. Virtually everything in the book is innacurate. There are literally hundreds of factual errors. A good example would be the 23 line essay on Wendell August Forge that has 14 errors of fact in those 23 lines. Shame on Grist!! Shame on Collector Books for having published it ! ! Anyone who has paid more than $1 for it has been significantly cheated.

   William Freeman




2. I received this book as a gift. I have some hammered aluminum and thought this book would be useful to help me learn more. I was wrong, indeed! This book has decent pictures and that is all. There is absolutely no timeline for markings to help someone establish when a piece was made. There is no regard to what is 'rare'. There is also no information given on what the numbering system for certain makers means. How many types of things did Rodney Kent make, for example. I have found this book of little help with my collection.



3. With the advantage of hindsight and experience, I have to withdraw my earlier favorable comments. I agree with the negative comments of other reviewers. The one that stated in effect that you are in trouble if you look beyond the pictures is probably right on target. Mr. Grist should significantly upgrade his research, quality of illustrations of marks, provide time frames for marks, get to know "Rodney Kent" better and update his prices. A section on manufacturing methods to distinguish between hand hammered and other would be useful.



4. I have been collecting hammered aluminum for many years and can honestly say that this is the worst book that I have ever seen on the subject. It is riddled with inaccuracies of fact and misrepresentations. I could write a book on the inaccuracies found in this book. If you do anything more than look at the pictures, you will likely not learn much. His research techniques were useless at best. This book is full of fairy tales!



5. This book has come under much criticism from expert, professional, and seasoned collectors. Much of this criticism is justified from their point of view. However, for the novice or one just getting started collecting hammered aluminum it is a valuable tool. I am novice collector who can't afford to maintain a large research library on hammered aluminum. I find this book a valuable aid when shopping for aluminum. The Introduction and maker's marks are an asset. I only wish that some dates or periods of time could have been listed under the marks. Keep in mind that the values listed in the book are relative. At this point the values are highly understated. If you can find quality pieces at or beldow the values stated in this book, you found a bargain!

No comments about Glass Animals Including Animal & Figural Related Items: Identification & Values (Glass Animals Including Animal and Figural Related Items).

No comments about Venetian Art Glass: American Collection 1840-1970.

No comments about Spode (Shire Library).

5 comments about Collectors Encyclopedia of American Composition Dolls: 1900-1950: Identification and Values (Collector's Encyclopedia of American Composition Dolls).

1. I have the other Ursula R. Mertz book on compo dolls and both are just great! I would recommend both books!
   
   1) Photos: Large, bright, highly detailed!
   
   2) Descriptions: Very accurate. Ursula is probably one of the most knowledgeable people on this subject around today!
   
   3) Well written. Well researched.



2. This is by far the best book on composition dolls printed to date. Ms. Mertz begins her book with a little background on the construction of composition dolls and traits peculiar to them alone. Lesser known compaies receive equal representation in this book ,with a section devoted to Patsy look-a-likes that shows many dolls some of us never knew existed. The photography is outstanding and quality is consistent throughout. I particularly like the section on Effanbee dolls;there are some early F&B's that I have never seen anywhere else.
   For the serious collector it is an invaluable resource; for the doll lover, it is a work of art . For both, it is the ultimate 'wishbook'!



3. Thoroughly enjoyed all the information provided. This book will continue to be a reference for anyone interested in composition dolls both recent and antique, the photographs are wonderful.



4. This is the BEST book I have ever seen on Composition Dolls! Not only does it include marked dolls, but identifies unmarked dolls based on their characteristics. Also has many dolls that the Blue Book does not have. Great color photographs! The only thing that this book does not have is an index of marks (initials & numbers) for quick reference. I love this book!



5. Wow! This wonderful compendium of American composition dolls is the most comprehensive and beautifully presented book ever written on the subject. What I most appreciated about this volume was that Ms. Mertz gave thorough descriptions of the dolls including markings, manufactured sizes, inconsistencies and even how these dolls were produced. So many other authors seem to "slap-dash" books together without paying attenton to these important details which truly make a collector's book worth its mettle. This book is not only filled with useful identification markings and values...it is also filled with the most professional of photographs that truly capture the spirit of each doll. It is obvious that this project was undertaken with great care, attention to detail and a lot of love for its subject. Even if one is not a doll collector, this is a book that captures a part of American design history and a simpler time when most major doll companies were still a family business..not some impersonal conglomerate. Hats-off to Ursula Mertz (and her husband) for creating this treasure of historical and collector's information. I think it belongs in the library of every doll collector and every historian of popular Americana.