1 comments about Historic Flash.

1. Although this compilation of tattoo designs was interesting, it was , for me, limited as to the variety of designs pictured. I would still recommend it to anyone who is new to the area of tattoing as a form of art, or wants to get started on deciding what to get permanently decorated with. I think the more you see before getting "inked" the better - it's hard to get it removed once it's there - so take a look at as many designs as you can, maybe even including this book.

5 comments about The Standard Knife Collector's Guide: Identification & Values (Standard Knife Collector's Guide).

1. I found a cigar box full of old pocket knives in my mother in laws attic. I wanted to learn more about them and what they might be worth. This book answered that question easily while also sparking some interest in acquiring other similar knives of value. I would recommend it or "Official Price guide to collector knives" by Price to anyone wanting to know more about pocket knives they might have.
   
   What I didn't like about this book was the poor quality pictures and sketches for many of the knives, they were of copier type quality. But they were good enough for me to learn what I wanted to know.



2. Positives: Comprehensive overview of the various manufacturers. Good valuation system that gives direction on which brands are more desirable. Decent discussion of knife care. Good glossy color insert.
   
   Cons: Does not discuss the history of various patterns(Stockman,Trapper, etc.), but this seems beyond the scope of the book (find an old copy of Bernard Levine's Guide to Knives...either the 3rd or 4th edition). A general overview of patterns and their intended use would be nice.
   
   This book will get you headed in the right direction of knife collecting. This combined with the Bernard Levine book mentioned above is all you need unless you specialize in a brand. There are Case, Cattaraugus, etc... specific books. As to some other comments, I guess I knew this didn't cover fixed blade knives, but I guess it should be "The Standard Pocket Knife Collector's Guide."



3. The fifth updated edition of The Standard Knife Collector's Guide remains a 'must' pick for any who would regularly consult a 'bible' of knife values and history. Over seven hundred pages pack in details on major knife companies, issues, collectible ratings, current stampings and more, with small black and white photos and illustrations enhancing the book's reference value for collectors. It's a specialty item to be sure - but knife collecting is one of the most popular collector's items and so this book is sure to see ongoing interest for any collector library patron.
   
   Diane C. Donovan
   California Bookwatch



4. Excellent in every way. The authors have incorporated years of common sense in their advice. The rating scale is a stroke of genius. Thank you.



5. Other than proposing to be a knife price guide, this book has no information about knives, other than a very cursory overview, for someone who knows absolutely nothing about knives. The book fails miserably in its attempt to be an informative price guide. The concockted mathematical formula for determining a knife's value is devoid of reality. In the case of certain brands, such as "Case" and "Cattaraugus", the values are so far below real world values that the book is almost entertaining as a jest. Someone who wants to learn about knives and gain a feel for their values would best be served by getting a copy of Levine's 4th Edition. I wish I had read my own review before I purchased this book.

5 comments about How to Restore and Modify Your Corvette, 1968-1982 (Motorbooks Workshop).

1. This is a well written introduction to a happy ownership of your new vintage C3 Corvette. Read it before you start planning to buy a C3 or start a long lasting and costly prosject. Most people will pick up some valueable tips inside the book.



2. If you are new to Corvettes and restoring them, beware that the author probably has little better knowledge than you do on the subject other than going through one project himself, which hardly makes anyone an expert.
   
   If you are not new to them, you don't need this book.
   
   The book is filled with: dubious, almost flippant advice "..the softest possible (suspension) spring should be the best"; blatant omissions (discusses the merits of numbers-matching 'vettes but doesn't even mention the multitude of fraudulently stamped motors in the market; and incorrect statements "As horsepower and rpms increase, torque decreases."
   
   The book does have good pictures and diagrams, just be careful reading it.



3. As an owner of a 1981 Corvette looking to learn more about his Shark, and the restoration process in general, I found this book to be an outstanding addition to my Corvette library.
   
   This is not exactly a how to book, but is more of a tip and information filled guide that follows Richard Newton through the phases of rebuilding his 1968 Corvette. For example, it will not tell you how to rebuild your small block, but it will give you tips on the rebuild process, and recommendations for enhancing performance.
   
   This book is great for those who want to learn more about how their Shark is put together, and for those that are contemplating a restoration project.
   
   For the hands on owner I would recommend in addition to this book: the GM Corvette Assembly Manual & Service Manual for your year and the Corvette Restoration Guide by Richard Prince.



4. As an enthusiast of Corvette's this book impressed me.A good size book with plenty of advice,photos in an easy to understand format makes this book worthwhile.
   "MBI" books are known for their high standards and this book maintains it.
   If you're interested in these model Corvette's,an owner you will find this book helpful.The size of this book is a bonus and great value.
   I also recommend these books too:
   1)"Corvette C3:Buyer's Guide 1968-1982".
   2)"Corvette 1968-1982"(sports car colour history series).



5. This book offers a unique perspective on Corvette restoration. The author restores a 68 Corvette and summarizes the process throughout the book. The car is kept looking stock, but has been fitted with some high-performance modifications such as a high-torque motor and racing-style suspension components. This book gives the reader an alternative view that differs from the factory original restoration.

   One major flaw to his plan is the lack of a track test data section like those found in some automotive magazines. Do all of these modifications really result in a Corvette that is faster and handles better than a factory original? That question is never truly answered. This book is actually a compilation of how-to articles that first appeared in Corvette Fever magazine in the 90s. Thus, it is saturated with product plugs for everything from car parts to spray paint.

   Another problem that shouldn't go without mention is some bad advice given by the author. For example, he takes a 30 yr. old fuel tank, dumps a can of sealer into it, and puts it back into the car. When you consider the overall cost of a project like this, a new fuel tank is a drop in the bucket. He also tells the reader to use a brass punch and a hammer to install the fuel sending unit. Don't try this. They make a special tool for this purpose. You wouldn't want your prize restoration turning into a prize inferno. Overall, this book contains some good information that you don't find in other restoration books, but it could use a newly revised edition.

5 comments about Paleo-indian Artifacts: Identification & Value Guide.

1. Being a collector of Indian artifacts and coming from a family of the same, I think this book is awesome. It is informative and, with the pictures and values given, makes a great resource for the information I was looking for. I had great fun looking up and matching the pictures to the artifacts that I had found in our area of Wyoming. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in artifacts.



2. I was completely dissapointed in this book. On the pro side: it has a lot of pretty pictures and is hardbound. That is about it. It has no technical merit, nor is there any organization to it. It is simply a mosaic of photographs many of which are subjective as to whether they are truley paleo or not, and they do not represent all paleo tools equally. You will have to work to find examples of redstones here. It may be suitable as a coffee table nicknack, but as a reference or good read....Zzzzzz.



3. Once the reader is able to get by the occasional editorial oversight, any serious student, artifact collector or just someone interested in Paleo-Indian/Native American artifacts will find this book an excellent and most enjoyable resource. It is both easy to read as well as full of pictures of these hard to find artifacts. Beautifully photographed...that in itself makes it worth sitting down and enjoying.



4. As previous critiquer noted there is an error in the book RIGHT OFF THE BAT! Could ANYONE have proofread this and missed it? It made me not trust the rest of the book, valid as it might be.



5. This is a BEAUTIFUL book, and well-worth the relatively low Amazon price. However, there are some flaws in it, which might make its usefulness a tad questionable to serious students of Paleo-Indian artifact values and identities. Several pictures are incorrectly ID'ed (see page 6 and 7...the same picture is used for a fluted point and a clovis point. The same thing happens on page 97. This is probably the result of carelessness on the part of the type/image setter, not the author, but it does make one wonder. The images are spectacular (and I'd give my eye-teeth to find any ONE of them), so ignore my carping and purchase this book. It is huge and loaded with full-color photos of points and tools that will make your mouth water. I want to go to Ohio and hunt for artifacts!

3 comments about The Official Red Book a Guide Book of Buffalo and Jefferson Nickels: Complete Source for History, Grading, and Values (Official Red Books).

1. This book is great for the beginner or the advanced collector. It is well organized so you can skip over the chapters that do not interest you. If you are looking to become a specialist in Buffalo or Jefferson Nickels, this book is for you. It covers history and technical details of each series. In addition, each year and mint mark has a separate section detailing collecting strategies and information specific to that issue. Grading standards for each series is also covered in great detail.



2. It was a splendid idea for Whitman to combine Jefferson and Buffalo Nickels into one guide as it is a logical progression from one series to the next (usually in reverse order). The beauty of this book is that it is that it breaks down each year in the series with a the kind of data that one really cares about; strike quality in the case of Buffaloes; Step data for Jeffersons; major die varieties in both series. This book is small enough and helpful enough so that one would not feel self-conscious taking it with him to a coin show for helpful consultation. I am less familiar with Buffs than I am with Jeffs so I'll confine my criticism to the Jefferson discussion and that is with the frequency data of 5 and 6 Full Step coins. I find this data to be far too generous for the following reasons: 1) The number is a hypothetical count on freshly minted coins and the reality is that most of the coins in the issue will not have countable full step cartridges due to wear; 2) Authors do not take into account hits which render the step count meaningless. In other words, in the real world one is simply not going to find full step coins, free of hits and bridges at the rate the editors claim. It is helpful, though, that the editors of this guide quote heavily from Nagengast which until now has done the most exhaustive published study of Jeffersons. I feel confident relying on the Whitman guide knowing that the editors of it studied Nagengast. As to the values charts that accompany each coin, these are definitely helpful if not dispositive but should be used in the context of the coin market at time of publication. Price swings are dramatic depending upon whether the coin market is doing well or poorly. All in all, this is a top notch guide and actually the best one on nickels I've encountered precisely because of its compact size, good coverage, dual coverage. There are better Buffalo books out there, Lange's third edition comes to mind, but for the money this is definitely top of the food chain.



3. A Guide Book of Buffalo and Jefferson Nickels is the eighth entry in the Bowers Series of numismatic references: while general-interest holdings might find it too specialized a reference, any library strong in coin collecting must have this. Fine historical background accompanies detailed high-resolution enlargements of coins and discussions of mintages, market values in different grades, and even a reference to error coins. The chronological arrangement and discussion lends not only to quick identification, but to quick assessment of background history and values, making for a 'must' any serious coin collector needs.
   
   Diane C. Donovan
   California Bookwatch

4 comments about Hex Signs: Pennsylvania Dutch Barn Symbols & Their Meaning.

1. Didn't have nearly as much information about the history and evolution of the Hex Sign as I expected. It also didn't have very many pictures as expected of these beautiful symbols and important piece of history. Good book but, could have definitely been more.



2. This little gudie is great if you are interested in the Pow Wow practice of Pennsylvania Dutch hexerei. Though these writers are interested in the cultural and commercial aspects of the barn hexes, they do offer an introductory discussion of the hex marks and a brief history of its appearance in teh New World. Totally worth your time to peruse and worth your money to have



3. The authors take a pragmatic approach to the subject of the many round decorations that have graced barns and homes of Pennsylvania for hundreds of years. Especially among Pennsylvanians of "Deutch" or German ancestry, the fancy round "hex signs" are a cultural identification as well a decoration for their barns. Perhaps these signs also have magickal meaning as a ward or protection. The term "hex" means a magic spell in German, and "hexen" means witch. The authors shy away somewhat from a serious inquiry into the magickal meanings and efficacy of protection hexes. They do offer a collection of good photos of many old and new signs, interviews with current painters and discussion of those available commercially.



4. "It is an excellent book on history of Pa.Dutch Hex Signs" Colorful and very informative!

5 comments about Percussion Pistols And Revolvers: History, Performance and Practical Use.

1. Good Job MEC
   
   
   A very good book that gives valuable information on black powder pistols and their history. The author does a superb job on keeping it straight giving the latest and greatest. Along with the past of shooting pistols and percussion revolvers.



2. I am pleased with the book with one major exception. The book's promotional material here on Amazon shows large color pictures. Copy these for your viewing pleasure because that is all you are going to see. The book in a smaller format and everything is printed in black & white. The diagrams of the pistols parts, text in the pictures, etc are too small to see and be useful. The textural information however is VERY good. This is the only book I have found on the subject but it's presentation could be improved upon.



3. Well-written, lots of information about caplocks during their brief but important period of use. I was not disappointed in the reason for purchase which was the honest reviews of modern replicas. The only reason for 4 instead of 5 stars are the pictures and awful Old English font used. A 19th century one would have been better. Maybe in the 2nd edition they will make some changes.



4. This is a fun little book, obviously a labor of love by the authors. The coverage of performance is not all-inclusive, but the historical information is interesting and you can infer the authors' preferences for certain brands of reproductions. They missed the Rogers & Spencer revolver, though there aren't many of them around. I like the R&S grip and it's a solid design, so too bad they didn't cover it. The book does cover the Colts and the Remington New Army pretty thoroughly, along with a few others that were of less interest to me. It steered me away from the Walker and Dragoon Colts and convinced me I had to have an 1851 Navy Colt, though I bought a .44-cal version that's compatible with my other cap-and-ball revolvers. The authors didn't test the .44-cal, only the more-common .36-cal.
   
   What this book needs more than anything else is copy editing. There are many consistent misspellings, which detract from the pleasure of reading it. That's why I gave it only 4 stars. Perhaps the authors can find a friendly local English teacher to clean up the manuscript before the next edition.



5. Nice little book, full of information about various types of handguns. I liked the opinion bits about various gun makers, the load charts for each gun, nice amount of information (including history)- even for a novice to the sport. I like the range test details and comparisons to modern weapons too.
   At least one reviewer mentioned the poor photographs, I don't remember the technical term but they're printed newspaper style (too hard to look at) and would be helped if they were larger. The old English script(why use that?)on these pictures is very hard to read at this scale, in one instance it's impossible. Fortunately the real information is in each chapter instead of the pictures.
   My biggest complaint is that while various gunmakers/ dealers/ parts suppliers are mentioned you don't get an address or website for any of them. Many of the readers of this book will already have these bits but they should be provided for the novice as well.

2 comments about George Inness and the Visionary Landscape.

1. A delight and pleasure to read in every way. Bell's George Inness and the Visionary Landscape is a model art book: highly informative, extremely well researched, and intelligently written. The text is divided between a lengthy introductory chapter and then several sections--such as "Science, Art, and the Visionary in Italy," "The Rhythm of the Working Hand," and "The Anonymous Figure"--that contain shorter texts describing various aspects of Inness's work and splendid color reproductions. Bell writes beautifully and reflects her obvious love of the subject. At the end, you want to go out and see all of Inness's work for yourself. A highly recommended publication!



2. Hungry for everything I could get my hands on regarding the great Hudson River artist George Inness, I spotted this book in Borders bookstore and immediately bought it. It will be one that I visit from time to time, but not for the text. It does have several reproductions of works I had not seen previously, and they are printed excellently (albeit radically reduced in size) on very thick stock.
   
   This is where the quality stops. One has to wonder why the size is so diminutive, especially for a color repro book. In several places, it takes a magnifying glass to view the works at their best. Why publishers skimp on size (and in many places, using black and white over color reproduction) is beyond me, and I would imagine that art lovers everywhere would agree.
   
   Rather than give a history of the artist in full, Bell concentrates on the spiritual or religious history of the artist and does so with great detail - but includes possibly too much unecessary history of other luminaries of that era. Copious notes are in the addendum for those who love to pour over these types of things as well as list of works presented in the book (although I'm not sure why this is done in these types of books, especially when the same information is present by each piece. It's an outdated form that keeps existing long after it's usefullness.)
   
   One rather bothersome point is how the work is not in chronological order. This is done to concentrate on several suppositions of Bells for which there is a notable lack of evidence.
   
   One example of this is Bell's dissection of Inness' Lake Nemi work, where it is supposed that the painting is made up of triangles. I would argue that nearly any landscape could be sliced in such a manner, and there are no notes from the artist or any of his contemporaries to support this rather loose idea. Bell waxes prosaic and over-flowery on the picture descriptions throughout as well, making supposition her over-stated trademark.
   
   If you are interested in the Swedenborgian school of thought, this is the book for you and while it may have been a great influence on Inness, Bell aims her focus on it to the point of dreariness.
   
   I found the book rather dry to read but the imagery faithfully reproduced, although it would have been worth my money to see more and larger imagery with less text - unless the text was more about his life and techniques instead of his philosophy, regardless of the book's subtitle.
   
   However, since there is so little of his work published and/or written about, I'll take what I can get and I am thankful this book was produced, however weak the result may be. At the very least, the paintings are there to speak for themselves, regardless of Bell's perfume-veiled mendacity.

3 comments about Zuni Fetishes and Carvings: The Compete Guide, One-Volume Expanded Edition.

1. The book is very informative, compact and well illustrated.
   It invites one to visit the Zuni Culture as a whole!



2. Contains a great deal of information about the Zuni carvers and their carvings, but does not get quite far enough.



3. Zuni fetish carvings are fascinating and addicting. This new book by Kent McManis, who owns Grey Dog Trading Company, combines two earlier books into an expanded version with even more pictures of the carvings.
   
   I didn't see much new information in this expanded edition but it does have more photos than the earlier volumes combined. If you have the two earlier books, you probably don't need this new one unless you just like to look at pictures of the fetish carvings.

5 comments about Warman's Jewelry (3rd Edition).

1. As on online vintage jewelry dealer, Atlanta vintage jewelry dot com, Warman's book was one of the first in my reference library. Sure, it has some faults, but not to the degree to make the book 'useless'. I used to spend my evenings in bed reading through the pages, getting familiar with the vast array of information.
   
   The book includes excellent pictures with clarity, and lots of them. It covers jewelry designs from various eras, beginning in the mid-1700's through present day.
   
   Many people in the vintage jewelry circles may refer to Warman's as the 'bible' of vintage jewelry as it also covers both fine and costume.
   
   In spite of its somewhat unreliable index referred to by others, this hefty book is well worth the purchase price. I'm glad for mine.
   
   Gail Gupton, Author: The 31-Day Diet of Spiritual Enlightenment and Seekers of Truth.



2. Over the years, Warman's guides to antiques have established a reputation for reliability. This volume is the third (2002) edition of their jewelry guide. It's lavishly illustrated with examples from many styles, eras, and price ranges. It provides a feast for the eyes and a lot of useful information as well.
   
   Romero divides the material according to time period and, when appropriate, according to style and material and country of origin. She gives concise summaries of the essentials of each and links jewelry fashions to world events and clothing styles. Sometimes her discussions are a little too concise for this curious reader ( to be fair, the book is a guide, not an in-depth treatment), but she provides a full bibliography at the end for those who want to dig deeper. There's also a glossary of jewelry-related terminology and a section on marks.
   
   According to the introduction, this edition reflects the increasing globalization of the marketplace and the influence of internet buying. Romero has expanded coverage of Scandinavian jewelry and added discussions of Neo-Renaissance and Beaux-Arts jewelry. Every illustration is in color, and the captions are fully detailed. Several reviewers of earlier editions mentioned that there were problems with the index. These problems seem to have been corrected in this edition.
   
   Any problems I have with this book are mostly quibbles. The author makes a point of linking changes in jewelry fashions to changes in clothing and in social conditions. I wish that she had put in a few period illustrations showing the fashions and the jewelry worn with them. This is probably a little out of the reach of an identification and value guide, but it would have been a nice touch. Nonetheless, this is a wonderful resource for jewelry collectors and, in fact for anyone who thinks they might like to become one.



3. "Warman's Jewelry," 3rd edition, by Christie Romero, is subtitled "A Fully Illustrated Identification and Price Guide to 18th, 19th, & 20th Century Fine and Costume Jewelry." The book is full of fascinating and useful features, among them an extensive bibliography, glossary, index, and chronology. There are also a number of appendices, including a hallmark identification guide and a guide to the marks and names on Mexican silver jewelry and metalware.

   The 272-page book is full of hundreds of clear, beautiful full color photos of jewelry. Each photo is accompanied by essential information on each piece depicted. The items shown represent a huge price span; in this book you'll see a $336,000.00 gem-encrusted platinum bracelet, a $10.00 brooch shaped like a poodle, and lots in between. Many types of jewelry are pictured: necklaces, cufflinks, earrings, lockets, scarf pins, etc. Included are pieces representing a broad variety of artistic approaches: whimsical, elegant, gaudy, graceful, fierce, futuristic.

   Also fascinating is the broad range of materials covered: diamonds, emeralds, opals, turquoise, gold, coral, agate, wood, rhinestones, plastic, brass, porcelain, etc. The photography is accompanied by an interesting, well-written text. Jewelry production is placed in historical and cultural context. There are also special sections devoted to jewelry of particular cultures (Native American, Mexican, Danish, Norwegian, Swedish, and Finnish). Interesting trends such as Victorian-era black jewelry and "eye miniatures" are also highlighted. Overall, this is an endlessly interesting and stunningly beautiful reference work.




4. AS AN OLDER PERSON, I HAVE 'LIVED THROUGH' MANY OF THE FADS WHICH JEWELRY MANUFACTURERS REFLECT. I STARTED COLLECTING JEWELRY, AND DECIDED TO WRITE A RESOURCE BOOK FOR THE NOVICE. WELL, WHEN I READ MS. ROMERO'S BOOK, I FOUND THAT IT WAS SO INCLUSIVE THAT IN ORDER TO FILL IN THE GAPS, AS IT WERE, MY WORK IS REALLY CUT OUT FOR ME. THIS BOOK IS A WONDERFUL ADDITION TO ANY JEWELRY COLLECTOR'S REFERENCE LIBRARY. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME THE SPACE TO REVIEW IT.



5. A great book, with lots of valuble information, but the index, is not accurate.this makes it very frustrating to look things up....warmans should issue partial refunds to the dedicated customers who purchased the book...