1 comments about Old-Fashioned All-Occasion Cards: 24 Cards (Card Books).

1. This is a charming collection that invokes memories of a gentler time. The postcards feature holiday themes, most with sweet faced children and soft, cuddly animals. The patriotic cards (Memorial Day, President's Day, Fourth of July)are rousing and powerful. This is a delightful collection that will charm the recipient.

2 comments about The Intrepid Art Collector: The Beginner's Guide to Finding, Buying, and Appreciating Art on a Budget.

1. This is a great starter reference for the novice. The guidance is sound, and Lisa Hunter's enthusiasm is contagious. A few color photographs would have been nice, but wisely this book focuses on cultivating the reader's own intelligence and knowledge rather than dictating taste. If you have ever been interested in starting an art collection of your own, or buying that Kashmiri silk rug, a little research is a good thing. This is a grand place to start.



2. I love art but I've always felt nervous buying art. How do you know if you're getting the real thing? How do you know if you're overpaying? What's that rug really worth? Why is a photograph worth so much? What's the difference between a valuable vintage photograph and a copy of it that looks exactly the same? No one can tell you what a piece of art will be worth in ten years, but Ms. Hunter explains how to go about buying the real thing (and avoid buying fakes) -- and why you should buy the real thing. I feel much more confident about buying a few pretty things for the house now.

4 comments about BMW Z4: Design, Development and Production--How BMW Creates the Ultimate Driving Machines.

1. I love the background on design of the Z4 and the pictures used to support the text are wonderful. This book was written just before or after the premier of the Z4 in 2003, so it's somewhat dated. No info at all on the changes to made to the Z4 after 2005 or the MZ. It's not a repair manual but has good info on what you can expect for performance of the car and it's major systems. I would buy the book again.



2. I've just bought a Z4 and I love that car. It was my dream car for years... I was looking for a book telling the entire story of that marvellous car. This is almost perfect. What is missing is just a couple of photos of the latest 2006 restyling and related facts and figures.
   
   I'm waiting for the new release of the book ;-)



3. I am a proud Owner of one BMW Z4 SMG 2.5 2005, and this book is an obligated reference, uses a technical narrative, howerver, clear enough to understand even for my wive (now she understand the cost rationale)



4. If you are fan of this car you won't be disappointed. Gives you a lot of small bits of knowledge about the development phase of the car. Explains the technologies much better than I have ever seen anywhere else.

4 comments about The Codex Nuttall.

1. El códice Nuttall es uno de los varios códices mixtecos que resaltan por su belleza y maestría de la composición.

   Pero son más que simples representaciones. Son una forma de escritura, que aún no se ha terminado de descifrar del todo. No sólo inspiran creación artística, sino también constituyen un legado cultural de nuestros antepasados; en ellos se plasmaron sus conocimientos históricos, medicinales, matemáticos, astronómicos, literarios, etc.




2. This is an interesting reproduction of the original document that is now kept in the British Museum. Essentially it is a historical geneological representation of the Mixtec kings lineage from 838 A.D. to 1330 A.D. Most of the information centers around the great military and political hero 8-Deer Tiger Claw. The Codex Nuttall is very difficult to understand and very little explanation of each plate is given. On the flip side, the pictures if studied carefully, are quite revealing and graphic in nature. As Meso-American art it is a wonderful depiction of Mixtex kings and their lives. The colors are true to the originals and rich with hues of red, brown and green mostly. This is a good book for anyone intersted in Meso-American art, either to reproduce or inspire to create something new borrowed from something old. As an archeological artifact it is a superb collection of drawings that inform as well as visually entertain. If you're into Pre-Columbian life in Mexico or want to learn more about the ancient civilizations that existed, this is a book for your collection.



3. I'm sorry if this confuses you but this book is actually a Mixtec manuscript, not Maya. In the edition I read, the colors are not as good as the reconstruction of the Codex Borgia. The Zouche Nutall codex contains stories of Mixtec towns and persons. The most interesting one is the story of Eight-deer. This books is a wonderful source of information for those interested in Archeology, Art, or simply curious



4. The Codex Nuttall is a graphical transcription of Mayan hieroglyph of uncomparable beauty and emotional impact. The original is exposed at the Peabody Museum; in the book is depicted with hi-fidelity colors and printed on quality white paper. It results very close to the original and better than photographic reproductions available. It is indispensable for all that works with design so as painters, architects, tattoonists.... But it is a powerful tool for who are interested to know about the magical simbolism of the Ancient Mexicans.

   Stefano Bianca designer musician inventor

3 comments about Warman's Civil War Collectibles: Identification And Price Guide (Warman's Civil War Collectibles).

1. This a great book for collectors of Civil War relics! The book has nice colored pictures of everything from bullets and artillery shells to full uniforms and pictures. Great reference for all your collecting needs.



2. I've collected Civil War relics for over 13 years now & I can tell you that it's very important to have a book like this. By studying this book you'll be able to better identify relics as well as tell a fake from the real thing. I've already used this book to identify a canteen I recently bought for $40.00(!) as a Union medical canteen. Also, this book will tell you the general price of each relic so that you won't be cheated by some crooked dealer on e-bay! However, this book doesn't cover excavated relics well at all & doesn't even mention collecting Civil War veterans' relics. The very best Civil War relic price guide available is North & South Trader's Civil War Collector's Price Guide which not only covers ALL categories of Civil War relics but also has great sections on Revolutionary War relics & the War of 1812. That price guide cost at least double what Warman's guide does, but it's worth it. I think both are great & belong in every Civil War buff's library.



3. I thoroughly enjoyed this book - it had exactly the information I was looking for, and was extremely interesting. I highly recommend this book for anyone intersted in the Civil War, whether or not they collect Civil War items.

3 comments about Kitschmasland!: Christmas Decor from the 1950s Through the 1970s (Schiffer Book for Collectors).

1. You might think, as I did, from the cover photo that this was a nostalgic visual treat of Christmas décor. It certainly contains plenty of festive items but the giveaway are the cover words: With Price Guide. It is actually a collector's guide to decorations from one of the leading publishers for this market. Books for collectors are basically plenty of individual photos (mostly no better than snaps) of items from whoever owns the largest collection, whether it's Barbie dolls, Fostoria glass, baseball cards or Avon bottles. From my experience the layout and typography are rather heavy handed and very dull as it is with this book.
   
   The back cover says there are more than four hundred photos, no doubt very true but they are of individual decorations just placed on a white background, snapped and placed randomly on the page with a too thick black box round each and a caption below. For collectors this might be fine but for anyone else who wants to capture the festive glow of a fifties or sixties childhood I thought the book was a real disappointment. It is possible to be creative with collectors material, Beckett Publications did some wonderful looking books of Coca-Cola collectibles.
   
   The book also includes several interior photos of collectors homes with their Christmas decorations displayed on mid-century décor. Mostly these are very unimaginative photos, badly cropped and displayed on the page in an uninteresting way. Three pages in the book did catch my eye though, they show nineteen LP covers of festive season music. None of the covers are anything special but seen together they create their own interest (publishers: how about a book of these Christmas LP covers? Surely a few hundred must have been released over the years).
   
   Kitschmasland! didn't capture it for me.



2. Travis Smith's Kitschmasland is an homage to the quirky, kitschy, holiday trimmings of more innocent, less consumer-crazed times. I was thrilled to see the felted Santas, bottle-brush trees and ceramic elves that decorated my parent's and grandparent's houses back when Christmas season officially started after Thanksgiving and endowed December with a magical quality. His collections span the gamut of gorgeous to goofy with smart, witty and personal stories for appreciators and collectors alike. Smith has captured all those delicate foil angels, plastic santas and beaded ornaments in exquisitely detailed photos that will light up your memories and revive the wonderful spirit of the season for anyone.



3. Every page of this wonderful book takes me back to those kinder, simpler years. When my guests peruse this book, I love watching their eyes light up and hear them say "I used to own one of those". This book is beautifully photographed and the assortment of Christmas decor is mind boggling. The book contains a wealth of information, great for the collectors, but so much fun for all of us.
   
   I hope Mr. Smith has another book waiting in the wings.

5 comments about Old-Fashioned Halloween Cards: 24 Cards.

1. I ordered this booklet of postcards for my boyfriend because he loves vinatge halloween postcards and other collectibles. I was surprised when I received this booklet because it has 6 pages with 4 postcards on each and they are perforated for easy removal and are very glossy. My only complaint is that I would want the postcards to be heavier stock i fear of them tearing or crumpling in the mail. I would recommend getting two of these books, one to tear out the cards and mail them to friends and family and the other to keep as a coffee table book. It will surely bring back memories of Halloween and keep your friends talking about old memories. I was very impressed with this buy as was my boyfriend. :-)I definetly recommend it!



2. These old-fashioned Halloween cards are spooktacular enough to make any recipient smile. A great way to say Happy Halloween in style!



3. If you like old fashioned Halloween graphics this book is for you. The format is made to allow you to tear out the cards. If you can bear to part with these gorgeous cards they can be send US mail. Or if you love Halloween as I do you will want to keep these to use as inspiration in costumes and perhaps decorating. Very pretty graphics.



4. I was thrilled when these arrived.
   They are so lovely I almost wish I had ordered another set to cut out and use while saving the other.
   The cards are a nice quality stock and have a shiny finish to them.
   The colors are bright and cheerful.
   I am beyond pleased.



5. 4 postcards per page, printed in beautiful rich color on heavy stock. perforations between cards - you will probably want to use a paper trimmer to get a nicer edge before using them. A nice variety of wonderful vintage halloween designs featuring children. great for postcards, or as decor!

3 comments about How We Invented the Airplane: An Illustrated History.

1. I hate to confess that I didn't even know that the Wright Brothers had written anything later in life. This was so great to read about how Orville Wright and his brother and family really felt about their quest.

   As co-owner of an aviation restoration company that works on older aircraft, this book meant more to me than most.

   What I have noticed about most pilots is that except for those who get involved in the military or through chance - most pilots are almost "meant" to fly from the start. It is something that inspires them from the time they are kids. With the cost of flying and owning an aircraft, not every kid pursues his dream, but for Orville and the rest - once they are up in the sky it makes it all worthwhile.




2. A full quarter century before the historic first flight of a powered, controlled heavier-than-air aircraft, a minister named Milton Wright presented two young boys with a model Penaud "helicoptere." As Wilbur and Orville Wright observed, "A toy so delicate lasted only a short time in thehands of small boys, but its memory was abiding,"

   This wonderful book chronicles the careers of Orville and Wilbur Wright, drawing upon the writings of the brothers themselves and Fred C. Kelly, their authorized biographer and confidant for more than three decades.

   What makes the story of the Wright brothers so compelling is their deliberate, patient perserverance to discover how to make the dream of flight reality.




3. This is a great book. One of my favorite quotes is when Orville was asked when he got the biggest "kick" out of the invention of the airplane, was it the first flight? "No", Orville said, "I got more thrill out of flying before I had ever been in the air at all-- while lying in bed thinking how exciting it would be to fly." For many of us who fly, we can understand this as we spend more time on the ground dreaming then in the air. -- Ross

4 comments about Collector's Encyclopedia Of Barbie Doll Exclusives: Identification & Values 1972-2004 (Collector's Encyclopedia of Barbie Doll Exclusives and More).

1. Excellent Reference Book for Modern Barbie Doll Collectors.



2. What an excellent resource. We had three generations reading every page about their favorite Barbies and we all learned so much.



3. The Collector's Encyclopedia Of Barbie Doll Exclusives is a great reference to the value of different types of Barbies. I was a little dissapointed that the Holiday Barbies and Bob Mackie Barbies are not listed in the book but I was pleased, otherwise. I would recommend this book.



4. Having read the other collector's encyclopedia's written by this author, this one is also a beautiful collection of the Barbie doll's one may want to know about and/or collect. The pictures are well done and the descriptions very clear and understandable. At a book store, before even my first purchase of these books, I skimmed other books stating they had what I was looking for, but none compared to Michael J. Augustyniak's. Through his books, I have been able to purchase Barbies at what I know is a fair and good price for my own collection. Very good resource book. Highly recommended.

4 comments about Stamp Collecting for Dummies.

1. When you are American and want to start a collection of American stamps, this is the book for you.
   The book contains some really nice tips e.g. how to set up a reference collection. However, I would have like to see some more technical stuff e.g. on how to identify watermarks (and especially when its not straightforward). It also is a pity that the author spends a lot of time on American stamps (and I am not American :) ), askPhil and the fact that you can also start a thematic collection. In so many pages the author could and should have covered a lot more ground.
   So definitely not a book for intermediate level collectors or people interested in the world outside the USA.



2. This volume in the 'Dummies' series is written with a humorous light touch that makes it especially attractive to the Dummy who knows he is one and doesn't need to be reminded that he is one by being frog-marched through impenetrable jargon. In addition, Richard Sine or his editor have had the foresight to break the topics he treats up into very small sections and subsections.
   
   The result is a light-hearted but content-rich introduction to the topic, one that this reviewer is only beginning to explore.
   
   I cannot imagine a more effective starting point for the would-be stamp collector or - like me - the person who needs to know before he invests time and treasure whether this is something he's going to be able to manage.



3. I have always thought the Dummies series of books were some of the best-written "How To" books on the market. This one lives up to that reputation.

   Mr. Sine has produced a well-written, clear guidebook for both new and experienced collectors. He manages to cover the subject without getting bogged down in the jargon of the hobby. His style and wit are welcome in a hobby whose literature can at times be very dry.

   This is a good guide to a great hobby.




4. I have always thought the Dummies series of books were some of the best-written "How To" books on the market. This one lives up to that reputation.

   Mr. Sine has produced a well-written, clear guidebook for both new and experienced collectors. He manages to cover the subject without getting bogged down in the jargon of the hobby. His style and wit are welcome in a hobby whose literature can at times be very dry.

   This is a good guide to a great hobby.