5 comments about Costume Jewelry: A Practical Handbook & Value Guide.

1. This book has a wealth of good information and is well arranged. I use it a lot. My only wish is that the pictures of the jewelry had been photographed on much lighter backgrounds as the black just sucks the sparkle out of the jewelry.



2. I was very pleased with this book!! It covered many jewelry manufacturers that had not been mentioned in any other books. It's very useful to me. I sell vintage, high-quality costume jewelry. The only draw-back, and it is small, is that some of the black jewelry doesn't show as well as it would have on a lighter background. Great Job!!!
   Laura
   City Scavenger Vintage



3. Of all my jewelry reference books I own, I use this one the most. It has a wide range, good photos, practical information on the manufacture. I wish I could find one like it with current prices. It's great!



4. This book is one of the bes t for covering the different makers and I especially enjoyed the charts and guidelines for buyers.



5. This book provides a short introductory section on cleaning buying selling etc and then write ups on different jewelry companies. The introduction is good for people with little information about caring for jewelry: displaying, cleaning, storing and repairing. It is sometimes humorous, as when Rezazadeh describes the meticulous procedure he goes through to clean his jewelry and then recalls discovering that his wife cleaned her jewelry by scrubbing it with a tooth brush and then blow drying it. There is also a bit about apraising and the supply and demand at work. I doubt that this is a book for dealers, because they presumably already have good resources and knowledge.
   
   The body of the book has short entries on different jewelry companies. About a page is dedicated to each, but there are sometimes two to a page and sometimes four or five pages to a widely spread company. Each company gets a short write up and photo of some jewelry pieces. The photos are good, but obviously not full page. They are enough to oo and ah over. Each photo has a caption describing the jewelry and giving an estimate for price it would cost. Companies are grouped into European and imported depending on where they were located. There are also sections on unmarked jewelry. These are grouped by how they are made (enamel, Austrian crystal, plastic, etc.). Since there is no company these sections have more pictures to text.
   
   If you are into vintage including jewelry then this could be a fun book. Also if you design jewelry then the multitude of pictures here can be a good resource for ideas and inspiration. The pictures are the highlight of this book.

No comments about Warman's Field Guide to Precious Moments: Values and Identification (Warman's Field Guides).

1 comments about Indian Artifacts the Best of the Midwest: Identification and Value Guide (Indian Artifacts of the Midwest).

1. If this is the best that Mr. Hotham can find, he needs to look a little harder.

5 comments about Barbie Doll Fashion: Vol. 2, 1968-1974 (Barbie Doll Fashion).

1. What would vintage Barbie lovers and collectors do without this and the other 2 books by Sarah Sink Eames? Without a doubt her books are the best on the market for identifying all the wonderful vintage outfits for Barbie and her family. Beautifully presented, detailed and comprehensive information. Each outfit is presented by name, stock number and years made, as well as detailed descriptions of the fabrics used and the accessories accompanying the outfits. Original outifts that came with the dolls are also shown and described. A trip down memory lane and the next best thing to owning all the wonderful outfits.



2. Another great book by Sarah Sink Eames!-Great outfits and pictures-easy to see values-Fun to see how Barbie and friends followed current fashion trends for the late 60's and early 70's-very helpful to any vintage collector!!



3. Great book. Found outfits and the year they came out. Do Recommend if you are into Barbie clothes...



4. If you are a collector, you should have this book on your shelf. Comprehensive, complete, with photos galore. A+++++



5. In Hong Kong, it is not popular to collect vintage Barbie dolls so that it is not easy to explore specific related knowledge. This book really helps a lot. It is a bible for every Barbie collectors!

5 comments about Standard Catalog of World Paper Money, General Issues (Standard Catalog of World Paper Money Vol 2: General Issues).

1. This book is very well for inform on bills in a world! Pictures, year, price...Very complete!



2. I use this book only, I don't know better source for basic informations for collectors.



3. It was a pleasure for me to order from you. The catalog is great and I got it delivered in no time. The service was GREAT!!!



4. The new edition of this catalogue is an extremely disappointing effort in terms of keeping up to date with price developments. A majority of the countries covered in this update have not been reviewed at all, resulting in a very misleading guide to collectors. If you have the previous edition, there is little incentive for you to buy this new edition. Editors should really put much much more effort in updating prices, or simply stop printing updates of the catalogue altogether. Changing the cover picture does not justify a new edition.



5. An excellent catalogue. The only disturbing problem is that there are several mismatchs between pictures and descriptions. Unfortunately more frequent than in earlier issues.

3 comments about The Complete Guide to Corning Ware & Visions Cookware.

1. This is a very nice starting place for review of Corning Ware pieces with lots of photos. It seems there is a lot more research to be done on this product line however. From items I have seen out there, there are many pieces that did not get covered. Includes a very nice history.The book is worth the price.



2. Kyle Coroneos has written a lovely, informative book that I find myself using constantly. I originally purchased this large paperback just so I could identify my mother's Corning Ware pieces, in the hopes that I could fill in her pattern set (once I realized Corning Ware was no longer being made!).
   
   Soon, I found myself purusing eBay, book in hand, wondering if I should start my own collection. Now, whenever I visit thrift or garage sales, I leapt upon the Corning Ware items I see, eager to take them home and check them against the pictures and information in the book. Then I sell them myself on eBay!
   
   This book has become my Corning Ware Bible. Not only an almost complete list of every product Corning made through the 20th century, but each item is accompanied by great photos, making it a simple task to identify pieces and match patterns and casserole sets. Furthermore, Coroneos did a through job of giving a history, not only of the Corning Works company, but also of the items made, so that you're learning all those technical, nitty gritty details about an item that adds value to it. He even bothers to translate one pattern's french words, just in case you can't be bothered to look up one online yourself.
   
   Most importantly, a section on how to clean your Corning Ware is in the back, and the book was worth the $15 just for that information alone! I've been saving many scorched pans with Coroneos' tips. Whether you are a collector or a seller of Corning Ware, if you don't have this book, you are losing out.



3. The brown and raspberry glass is so seventies and they were created POST seventies. They came in these giant boxes in the stores and they seemed a good idea so people bought them ... for other people as well as for themselves. Well, that's why you see with regularity Visions cookware for sale on ebay (at affordable prices) and sometimes NIP i.e. New in Package. LOL.
   
   The problem with this cookware is that it heats up very quickly and whatever you are cooking very easily burns so you end up with a hard to clean black crust on the bottom. I've heard that the nonstick version is worse because it chips off. *shudder*
   
   Now that I have a dishwasher, I love them because they are good enough that I don't have to go on the torture trail after Le Creuset and the other likely suspects. I use them all the time in addition to a thin metal wok. I like what other people liked about them - that you could see into the pot - but for most people that was not enough to stick with a pretty annoying cooking experience.
   
   The best piece of Visions cookware is the stockpot on the cover of this book. I never need to buy a designated popper or a microwave because with this stockpot all I need do is coat the bottom with olive oil, sprinkle a layer of kernels, lid on and watch them go. I don't get burned kernels and only one or two unpopped kernels. It's deep enough to steam a pyrex bowl of rice and a platter of some savory. It's also the best looking of the set. I also use all the different sizes as mixing bowls with long handles. They are great.

2 comments about Guns of the Wild West (Buffalo Bill Historical Centre).

1. A very good book.Full of interesting facts.Could have been a bit more comprehensive, but its a must have for any western ethusiast.



2. The curator of the firearms museum of the Buffalo Bill Historical Center, David Kennedy, has written a masterful but all too slim volume about the guns that won the Wild West.
   
   Included here are the Sharps Buffalo Rifle used in great effect in the tragic decimation of the buffalo, the LeMat Revolver and Carbine, used in varying degrees of success by the Confederacy during the Civil War, the 1866 "Trapdoor" Springfields, which were used by Custer's men at the Big Horn, the "pepperbox" pistols (so small they could fit in a pepperbox...and sometimes so dangerous even to the user, as all four shots could go off even if the owner intended on firing only one), the oh-so-familiar Colt Navy Revolvers - used mainly by Army Forces! (I have a replica of Confederate 1860 Navy Colt in my possession), and so many more.
   
   Kennedy has also opined that Custer and his men were done in by sheer numbers of Sioux and Cheyenne, not that the single-shot weapons used by the 7th Cavalry, or that the majority of Braves had repeating rifles. In fact, according to Kennedy, only 30-50% of the Sioux and Cheyenne even possessed firearms. Custer and his men were done in chiefly by the bow, the arrow, and muzzle-loading trade guns.
   
   Kennedy also adds interesting and intriguing vignettes about the owners and users of the guns of the Wild West, from George Custer to Buffalo Bill to Gary Cooper, from Frederick Remington to Dick Cheney, the notorious - Wild Bill Hickok, John Wesley Hardin, and William "The Kid" Bonney, and the great - Annie Oakley.
   
   My only problem is that the volume, while chock full of facts and data, and very informative trivia, is too slim - and does not enough period illustrations. Still, it is deserving of a five-star review.
   
   Required reading for those visiting the wonderful "Guns and Gamblers" exhibition at the Desert Caballeros Museum in Wickenburg, Arizona.

4 comments about 1920s Fashions from B. Altman & Company.

1. This is the real deal. It's what people really wore, not the weird fashion illustrations (although I enjoy looking at those, too). It's interesting to see how modern some of the items are. I'd love to wear the shoes, coats and bags, and a few of the ladies sweater suits today. On the other hand, some of the clothing is incredibly oldfashioned.
   
   The ladies undergarments are a scream. You buy them by your chest size in inches. Notice that there is no "cup size" because these are designed to squash you flat into a tube. See item 4546: "Bust Supporter and Diaphragm Confiner of a strong quality of pick silk tricotine . . . giving a very flat appearance when worn with a very low top corset. Sizes 34 to 46. $5.00
   
   Also, some of the pictures are actually photographs and the models are very "chinny." The models are decidedly shorter and chubbier than today's models, and the flat chests make their chins look even bigger. It's interesting to see how the definition of "pretty" has changed over the decades.
   
   This is great inspiration for anyone interested in vintage clothing or clothing design, or just fun if you love fashion.



2. This is yet another book that has wonderful illustrations and information about 1920s fashion. I recommend it to anyone who is interested in this pivotal decade in fashion.



3. "1920s Fashions from B. Altman & Company" provides over 700 black & white illustrations, detailed descriptions, and prices for clothing for the upper class of the Jazz Age. The focus is primarily on women's clothing and accessories, with everything from sophisticated evening wear to bathing suits, but you will also find a complete array of clothing for men and children as well. Please remember, because they buy directly from the manufacturer, "thus eliminating the no inconsiderable profits of the middleman," B. Altman & Company are able to offer patrons the benefit of the savings. This is a superb record of the styles worn by flappers in the Roaring Twenties; note than this is not simply the reproduction of a catalog from a particular year, but has fashion culled from the B. Altman catalogs of the entire decade. Interesting Footnote: The B. Altman & Company Department Store is now the New York Public Library Science, Industry & Business Library. Dover also has a reprint edition of "Altman's Spring and Summer Fashions Catalog, 1915," which records the fashions worn in the United States in the years before the First World War. This volume will be of interest to the fashion historian and of great use to costume designers working with this period of American History.



4. This is a lovely book of a wide variety of catalog drawings and photos from the B. Altman Company which carried higher quality items as compared to the Sears catalog books. There are men's and women's clothes and childrens clothes, hats, undergarments, stockings, shoes...A real treat if you are interested in what the upper middle class might have worn. And everything progresses by the year, so you can see how the fashions developed.

5 comments about Just Can't Get Enough: Toys, Games, and Other Stuff from the 80s that Rocked.

1. great purchase for any kid at heart who grew up in th 80's. could've been more inclusive. may i suggest a part 2?



2. There's a certain innocence about the 80's that seems very transparent by today's standards. But in the 80's... we all thought that we were living a revolution of cutting edge pop culture. Little did we know that those years would pale in comparison to the childhood trends of the 90's & 2000's. I really believed that I had dismissed from my mind most of the decade and rightly so, it seemed so 20 something years ago. But honestly this book made me really appreciate what I had forgotten. Being a kid of the Reagan Era, I lived through the 90's thumbing my nose at most of these pop culture icons (and listening to grudge rock). I bought "Just Can't Get Enough" as a passing fancy (being a follower of vintage toys), not knowing that the personal stories and memories of the authors would be the gems within.
   
   The Book Itself - It's pretty neat really. The chapters are each a certain 80's icon, divided into small subsections with titles like, "The Story" or "The Products" or "What Does It All Mean?" All of this wrapped up in a suedo-Trapper Keeper style cover with a velcro clasp. When reading the chapters, you begin to appreciate how much time and effort was put into this book. With chapters devoted to Transformers, He-Man, Madballs, Scratch N' Sniff stickers, Garbage Pail Kids, etc., the book gives equal focus, regardless of obscurity. I particularly liked the toys that I remembered fondly from childhood, but also enjoyed the great details about toys I never knew - i.e. Pogo Ball or "Pogo Bal" as the writers note humorously. The authors treat us to most of the usual suspects of the decade, but there are a few rarely honored candidates such as Crossbows And Catapults, Choose Your Own Adventure books, and Hit-Stix among others. Also, there are some obvious misses such as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Ghostbusters, Gremlins, Get Along Gang, Shirt Tales, Smurfs, Pound Puppies, etc. Hopefully these oversights make way for a follow-up volume. But what you do get makes up for anything not included. First thing you will notice is the great writing style. I particularly like the sarcastic overtone that seems to permeate from every page, pure "Gen X" humor at its best. These authors go to great lengths to make each chapter witty and nostalgic. In fact, if you are unable to feel an overwhelming sense of nostalgia after reading this book, then you most likely were born after Operation Desert Shield... or during the hay days of Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In. Whether you relive the 80's regularly or haven't looked back since 1990 - this book is going to trigger fond memories... or at least jar something loose from the painfully hidden recesses of the mind.
   
   My Personal Reaction - I found myself on several occasions laughing out loud. My girlfriend seemed frustrated with me continually interrupting her TV watching by loudly exclaiming, "listen to this" as I read aloud large passages time and time again. Finally she picked up the book, which was a big mistake for me... since it took me quite a while to get it back. She appreciated different sections (the My Little Pony, Strawberry Shortcake, Rainbow Brite). It was like going to Toys 'R Us from your childhood; you either were in the boys section or over in the pink section if you were a girl - no matter which, it was fun. So I can say, there is something for everyone, boys and girls alike. Personally, I was pleasantly surprised by my fascination with chapters like the game Guess Who?, which I actually hated as a child. The more ridiculous the idea the funnier the commentary became as the authors put it all in perspective. And when I say perspective, I mean being a 20 something or 30 something adult. There is some crude humor in here that is not at all pointed to the young kids we once were. But honestly, do we expect any children today to even bother reading this? I can plainly put that to rest - kids today would never "get" what this book is about. Once you start reading, remember this isn't just a book about the items; it's a book about how they all relate to us - the children of the 80's. So don't get caught up expecting a long treatise on the history of everything 1980's, that's not what it's about.
   
   Final Thoughts - I read this only wanting more. The only fix for your "jonesing" would be to share this with others. If you buy this book, then don't forget to invite your other Gen X friends or siblings or whoevers to a fun filled day in the way-back machine. I highly recommend this book as a fan of humor and 80's pop culture. But, if you only want to see details of 80's toys - minus the nifty sarcasm, then check out Action Figures of the 1980s (Schiffer Book for Collectors) - it's loaded with great pictures. But be warned, that book doesn't have a one-tenth the laughs of "Just Can't Get Enough." If the authors do nothing else, then this book is still a masterpiece in its own right and worthy of a notable writing career. I hope this isn't the end though; there are plenty of unvisited pop culture products still lurking in our memories for "Just Can't Get Enough"... Volume 2.



3. After buying this book for my brother for Christmas (which he loved too btw) I Got this book yesterday for myself and read it all last night:):):) it's exactly what I was looking for a great nostalgia filled trip down memory lane....I thought I was a complete 80's geek but some stuff in this book I hadn't even heard of.....even though it's written by two guys and has a lot of "boy" toys....there were still all the major "girl" toys in there too....and I loved the candid stories they shared especially the babysitters club and punky brewster doll (sorry action figure) too cute:):):)it is nicely set out and presented really well.....a great gift for 80's children everywhere:):)I hope they will do another one from the 80's tv shows/fads etc.....and even the 90's too:):):)good job guys:):)



4. I am a big 80's fan and this book seemed interesting so I figured that I would give it a shot. I am soo glad that I did. I love the writers sarcasm and memories about the toys mentioned in this book. The book is like a trapper keeper, with the opening on the side. There are 32 toys mentioned in this book. I think I'm a little to young to remember some of them , but I know most of them. I showed the book to my brother who just flipping through it was laughing. It was so fun to talk about the toys.



5. I bought this book before Thanksgiving this year and after reading it through myself, I had to take it back home with me for the holiday. My cousins and I sat around reading out loud many of the hilarious comments about all the toys we loved growing up and laughing at all the ridiculous (or should I say redonkulous?) toys from our youths. The book jogged our memories on all the toys we couldn't remember on our own now and really made us long for the silliness of the toys of the 80s. It's a hilarious book and really fun to sit around with friends and just remember the good times with the redonkulous toys of the 80s. (and for the record, I STILL want the U.S.S. Flag!!)

4 comments about Official Soviet Mosin-Nagant Rifle Manual: Operating Instructions for the Model 1891/30 Rifle and Model 1938 and Model 1944 Carbines Originally Issued by the Ministry of Defense of the U.S.S.R..

1. This book is essential for anyone who owns a M44 type, Mosin Nagant rifle.
   It is easy to read and has some very detailed schematics. There is also some information that was supplied to Russian soldiers that show how to fight with the bayonet, etc. There is even a section showing how to shoot down enemy aircraft. Overall, it was well worth the money.



2. This is a must have book for every one that owns a Mosin Nagant rifle.
   This is a fantastic manual that includes instructions for every aspect of the Mosin Nagant. Take down & assembly, maintenance, cleaning, inspection, troubleshooting and even shooting & sniper tactics.



3. Major James F. Gebhardt has done a great service for all of us who own samples of the Soviet Mosin-Nagant Infantry Rifle. He's translated a Soviet manual published in Russian in 1961.
   
   This manual concentrates on the operation and maintence of the three most commonly encountered versions of the Mosin-Nagant rifle, the M 91-30, the M-38 and the M-44. These remained in reserve for the Red Army and Warsaw Pact armies until the fall of the Soviet Union.
   
   The original Mosin Nagant was adopted by Imperial Russia in 1891. The Soviets improved the sights and shortened the barrel in 1930 (hence M 91-30) and this is the rifle so prominently featured in the movie ENEMY AT THE GATES (in a scoped sniper version, that is.) The 91-30 is a real piece of history and this manual is very helpful for any shooter or collector.
   
   The M-38 is a short, carbine length version of the M 91-30. It is interesting that the M-38 was not equipped to mount a bayonet despite the Red Army's long association with bayonets. The M-38 was designed primarily for cavalry (horse cavalry) and Red Army cavalrymen all carried sabers eliminating the need for a bayonet.
   
   The M 44 is an M-38 equipped with a folding bayonet permanently attached to barrel. This was developed to meet frontline demands for something that was handier (shorter) for soldiers who increasingly rode on tanks and trucks instead of horses. The longer 91-30s, which were usually carried with the antique looking angular bayonets fixed, were too long for soldiers who spent most of their time riding on tanks or Lend-Lease Studebaker 2.5 ton trucks. The M-44 had the reliability of the familiar M 91-30 and the 44's bayonet could be pivoted so that it rode out of the way next to the barrel.
   
   The old 91-30 bayonets could be difficult to dismount and the Red Army never issued scabbards for them. To keep the soldiers from losing them, or throwing them away, a lot of officers insisted that they be mounted all the time which is not much of a problem if you're marching on foot through open country.
   
   It can be a real headache if you're getting in and out of trucks, or off the rear decks of tanks, however. And, by 1944, most Red Army soldiers rode on some sort of motorized transport. This was a rude suprise to the Wehrmacht and a justification for the M-44 which served during the Red Army's advance into Germany during 1944-45.
   
   This manual would be a great companion to Terence W. Lapin's excellent book, THE MOSIN-NAGANT RIFLE. I gave it five stars.
   
   It is interesting that Lapin translated a 1955 edition of this same Soviet manual and published his version in 1999. The material is the same except that Lapin adds some useful comments of his own.



4. 
   For those of you who have bought a Mosin and want to learn more about maintainence and troubleshooting.