2 comments about Southwestern Indian Jewelry: Crafting New Traditions.

1. This, her latest book on Southwestern Indian Jewelry by Dexter Cirillo, is a well written, finely illustrated and impressive volume that I would recommend to anyone interested in this beautiful art form. However, while the list of artists featured in the book is long and contain most of the big names in contemporary Native American jewelry, there is at least one glaring omission. It is inconceivable to me that any serious author on this subject would fail to include Ervin P. Tsosie who, in mine and most collectors opinion, is without an equal in the art of mosaic inlays today. This omission, deliberate or not, is a blemish on an otherwise excellent book. Omissions, sadly, also marred her great first book, published in 1992, failing as it did to include two of the giants in early Southwestern Indian jewelry, Leo Poblano and Lambert Homer.Southwestern Indian Jewelry: Crafting New Traditions



2. Many years ago, too many to mention, during visits to the national parks in the West, I purchased beautifully hand-crafted "pawn" Indian jewelry. Although, thankfully, "pawn" is no longer sold in our parks, I still treasure and wear what I own. So, you can imagine my surprise when I picked up Dexter Cirillo's wonderful and authoritative book on the new Southwestern jewelry being created by today's Indian artists - pieces totally different but none-the-less as creative, unique and expressive as mine. However, this is much more than a picture book. Although the photography is dazzling and certainly moves you easily through the book, it's the text that continues to hold my interest. The stories, anecdotes and explanations make me feel like I know these artists intimately and can relate to the historical references just as they have. My favorite piece? An equisite necklace, which has nine four-sided reversible beads inlaid with 36 distinct bird designs created by Jake H. Livingston. And, the delighful inlaid holiday turkey pin made by M. Dale Edaakie - I love it. As I continue to read about these 85 artists, I am already planning a trip to the Southwest and will use as my guide the jewelry and Indian market sources provided by Cirillo in the back of the book. While, arguably, I may not find many of the jewelry pieces pictured in the book affordable for the budget-conscious consumer, this book "Southwestern Indian Jewelry, Crafting New Traditions" is a bargain for anyone interested in the Southwest, Indian artists and their crafts, history of the New West, fashion, jewelry, stones and gems, and, just a good read. Congratulations to Cirillo and Doty for a fine and scholarly work.

5 comments about Standard Catalog of Military Firearms: The Collector's Price and Reference Guide (Standard Catalog of Military Firearms).

1. As a collector of Militaria I have found this volume a great help with the addition of detail on bayonets that were supplied with the rifles.Making it twice as useful over past copies.



2. Can't do with it if you are a collector or dealer, Has the imfo that you need to price your guns, Very well written so you can understand it and get a general idea of what your items our worth in todays market.



3. This is a great reference. One of the most complete and useful volumes I have ever seen. A must for any firearms collector.



4. I am not an expert, but I do have a collection of: German, Russian, Swiss, Turkish and American military firearms and the popular dedicated reference books for each. What I see missing most from Standard Catalogue of Military Firearms is accuate market values. Prices listed for commodity Milsurp firearms are 2x - 3x market value, even if compared to the past two years. Missing also is the value by country of origin or arsenal and not much attention paid to the glut of inexpensive imports sold through various Milsurp outlets. As an example what is refered to generically as a 1903/38 Turkish Mauser, could actually be conversions made from 1890, 1893, 1903, 1905 carbine, G 98 and the Czech 98/22 Mausers in both small, large ring and hybrid action/barrel.
   
   The Model 1895 Nagant revolver is, again, listed at twice to three times the accepted market value and without discerning the price difference amongst Milsurp models based upon production date, arsenal and configuration. These late production refurbished revolvers were not only made at the Soviet arsenal Tula, they were also made at Izhevsk and marked accordingly. The cartridge for the gun is listed as only the 7.62mm, a label that applies to several cartridges; it is the 7.62x38mmR.
   
   The book is a good source for general identification, which is more than a small accomplishment, it just isn't a very good price guide for buying and selling firearms. It's easier to go to an auction site and spot check as an opportunity arises and reference books dedicated to a more narrow category of firearms will provide a lot more informatio.



5. This book is very interesting and helpful especially when buying old military rifles to collect.

1 comments about Vintage L.A.: Eats, Boutiques, Decor, Landmarks, Markets & More.

1. I saw this in the bookstore yesterday and read the whole thing in one sitting. It's perfect for anyone who isn't typical, and likes the cooler things in life.
   I grew up in LA and while I knew MOST of the haunts in the area, I still discovered a couple new facts in this great book.
   You won't be disappointed. Trust me.

5 comments about Anchor Hocking's Fire-King & More: Identification & Value Guide, Including Early American Prescut And Wexford (Anchor Hocking's Fire-King and More).

1. Nice pictures that is about it. Some pricing information, pages away from items, very confusing. Could not even find pricing on some items. As a collector, way too much time spent looking things up and looking for pricing. Very frustrating, personally would not recommend this book.



2. The book has a lot of beautiful pictures.It is a good book to know about Fire King items, however I found the price on the book is lower than the one that I see at antique stores these days.



3. This book was very informative. It has wonderful pictures and is a must for any Fire King collector.



4. I recently started collecting Jadite. I found this book to be a valuable resource. Great photos. Good price guide and full of valuable information.



5. This is a great resource for any new collector of Anchor Hocking. I find myself fasinated with this book and it's contents.

5 comments about Florence's Glassware Pattern Identification Guide: Easy Identification for Glassware from the 1920s Through the 1960s.

1. Was a good book, but if you already have guide 1,2, or 3 it was mostly repeats with different picture views. If this is your first guide it is a great one!!



2. For a collector, this book lacks many of the patterns, needed to know, in pricing a product. Some of the patterns pictured are not defined enough. A
   magnifying glass may be needed for a closer look. For beginners, it is a respected book, written by two experts.



3. I was a bit disappointed in this book mainly because of the way in which it was set up. I am used to their other books such as: "Collectible Glassware from the 40s, 50, 60s". I didn't find it as easy to navigate. The pictures are great though.



4. The book was very helpful, great photos, nicely laid out. Buyers should definately know, however, that it is a book of more rare pieces.



5. The drawings and pictures were so helpful when I was trying to identify glassware. It's a keeper.

1 comments about The Official Blackbook Price Guide to US Postage Stamps 2008, 30th Edition (Official Blackbook Price Guide to United States Postage Stamps).

1. Exactly what my dad was looking for. Has been collecting stamps for ages - just what he could use to price his collection.

5 comments about Practical Watch Repairing.

1. I wanted a book that would help me understand and at the end allow me to repair or clean, oil and adjust a watch. This book didn't do it. It says you can start as a beginner. Wrong. Regardless of what other reviewers say, you will not end up disassembling and reassembling a vintage wristwatch. The material is too old and does not cover how you can do the tasks mentioned in the book with today's technology. You'll wind up falling to sleep.



2. As a watchmaker by Trade, i bought this out of curiosity. From the techinques of openning a watch case to the description of indiviual watch parts is grossly outdated. New technology in watch production rendered this book obsolete and would only be suited to someone whose advanced in their studies as a watchmaker rather than a novice.



3. This product, though very good, was not what I expected. It is apparently a very early book on watch repair (updated through the years), written by a watch repairman. The book targets persons wanting to begin a watch repair business, so it included the ideal work space, all the tools necessary to begin an ultimately profitable business, all good information but more than I wanted or needed. It is sometimes difficult to read because a few sections are quite technical and include jargon, but I was also able to locate and understand the information I needed for my own home watch repairs.



4. I am amazed that this book (my edition printed in 2006) is an exact copy of a 1971 printing. Mechanical watches of today are readily described in this 35 year old text.
   
   The 1971 dust jacket has hand drawn lettering. The 2006 dust jacket has been cleaned up by computer aided drawing. It was amazing to find out that the author passed away in 1989. He unfortunately lived long enough to see the Japanese demolish the mechanical watch industry.
   
   This book does have a place in today's world...The mechanical Swiss Watch is making a comeback, although limited to those willing to invest in a $400 and up watch. But if you buy a good Swiss mechanical, it can be passed down and repaired by your heirs.. This book will probably still be available, when your heirloom is in need of repair...



5. SImple things using the right tools and procedures can allow you to get the satisfaction for the simple repairs. I would suggest doing classes etc or going to a professional for the more advanced types of repairs. The book also allows you to gain an appreciation of actually what makes then tick and tock.

2 comments about 2008 Official Gun Digest Book of Guns & Prices.

1. Excellent resource for the price. No pictures and limited descriptions, but the purpose of this book is only to provide prices of firearms and it accomplishes that very well.



2. Comapred to what is avaialble, save your $$$$ on this one.....too limited and not informative al all.....get more info on, off the Web and best to wait until Midway Arms has the Blue Book on sale around April....

2 comments about 2008 Comic Book Checklist & Price Guide (Comic Book Checklist and Price Guide).

1. this book is fairly complete to about june 2007. has listings for alternate covers and fairly accurate pricings for older books. the grading guide that is inside has great color descriptive images to define different grades , with great written explanations.



2. I've been very vocal in my support for the Comic Buyer's Guide Comic Book Checklist & Price Guide. To me it is the comic book price guide of choice over the Overstreet guide for a number of reasons. First, the CBG guide is not weighted down by literally hundreds of pages of advertisements like the Overstreet guide is. I mean, what is the point of endless pages of ads for comic dealers and shops anyway? Who buys mail order with eBay around?
   
   Secondly, the CBG guide is not filled with dozens of pages of market reports from dealers around the country. Yes, at one time I found these market reports to be very valuable. But again, this we in the pre-eBay/Internet days. If I want to know what a certain book has been selling for, I can just search completed auctions on ebay or other auction sites. It's no longer useful to me to read what a dealer in Podunk, Idaho sold a Hulk #181 for.
   
   Lastly, while concentrating its efforts only comics from the Silver Age to the present, the CBG guide is able to provide much more information about individual issues. True, the Overstreet Guide does go back to the Golden Age but at a cost of condensing it's information so tightly and with such a small font, it's almost unreadable. I much prefer the CBG guides where each issue of a title is listed individually, rather than as a range of issues. This allows the guide to provide more information such as notable events as origins, first appearances, and the issue's artist, as well as noting the month and year of each issue.
   
   The CBG price guide provides only the near mint price for each issue but comes with a detailed, full color grading guide that explains how to calculate the prices for books that are less than near mint. Like the Overstreet, literally hundreds of cover pictures are included in the book's 808 pages. This is my price guide of choice. It is all meat without any of the Overstreet fat.
   
   REVIEWED BY TIM JANSON

5 comments about The Arts of the Sailor: Knotting, Splicing and Ropework.

1. A generally informative book, but.....
   some of the directions refer to diagrams with arrows showing the direction of the rope. No such arrows!
   Overall fair to good diagrams and interesting history, but I think I would have bought a different book had I known what was missing.



2. This book has some of the most clearly articulated and illustrated instructions I have ever encountered.



3. A great book chock full of interesting ideas to make your boat more seamanlike. The definative rope working book.



4. This is an excellent resource book and we will use it a lot....



5. This is a unique book on knots. It has a sailing perspective, but I enjoyed it and I don't sail at all. The drawings are about the best I've ever seen for knots. His chapter on splicing is so clear that you will turn in a good eye splice the first time you try! A classic