5 comments about The Complete Salt and Pepper Shaker Book.

1. Schneidly Whiplash has done it again! He and his wife have such a wonderful talent for showcasing the values of collectibles!!!!



2. Probably the best reference book to date on collecting shakers. Chock full of pictures and information cover to cover.



3. This book is what I would term user friendly. It is set up in such a way that you can easily access the information you need. In the back of the book is a listing of many importing companies and information on them. This is my favorite of all of the shaker books.



4. If you are going to own just one book on salt & peppers, this is the one in which to invest. It is quite comprehensive and very well organized.



5. Mike Schneider keeps raising the bar a little higher--so high that Sergei Bubka couldn't vault over it. When I got the book I showed it to friends and that was the acid test. Over and over I heard, 'My grandma had that pair,' or ' We have those in the basement...they're worth that much?!?' These people were enthralled with the book. Mike Schneider's book runs from routine shakers to really obscure ones to ones that are absolutely unbelievable. The prices are true and the colors are crisp. Mr. Schneider's previous work caused me to be sure I got this volume--and as always I am very pleased with his efforts. Schiffer Publishing has a rising star.

4 comments about Authenticating Ancient Indian Artifacts: How to Recognize Reproduction and Altered Artifacts.

1. It's a pretty good guess that everything between these covers was learned from Bill Jackson. To assert (as another reviewer has) that the author will "....don the mantle of Greg Perino" is similar to alleging that Barry Manilow will don Beethoven's mantle.



2. This is another great book by James Bennett, and covers many interesting facets of lithics and archaeology as well as authentication. Many people will shy away from this book thinking it only concerns authentication, which is not correct...it also has much good previously unpublished information on how lithics use patterns work, etc. I believe this book should be used as a supplement to James previously published softcover book which has MUCH more information on detecting fakes/fabrications in native american lithics. The softbound book previously published has many more photos, and covers much that this book does not. Therefore my suggestion is to get this book as a supplement to the first softbound book, do not think this book includes all from the other as it does not. However this book is well worth the money and is well done, highly recommened book, but the man who appears to have donned the mantle of the respected but now deceased authenticator Greg Perino.



3. As the title of this review states this should be a book any serious collector should have for reference. The picture examples are worth the cost of the book alone. The information included along with the examples is just what I was looking for in a book about collecting Native American artifacts.
   The book is also very well written so that a person with very little knowledge could pick it up and understand what was being explained.



4. Any collection strong in Native American history, studies or early artifacts will welcome AUTHENTICATING ANCIENT INDIAN ARTIFACTS: HOW TO RECOGNIZE REPRODUCTION AND ALTERED ARTIFACTS. Color photos of artifacts accompany clear directions on the entire authentication and identification process, making for a fine choice for college-level archaeology collections as well.

5 comments about In Flagrante Collecto (Caught in the Act of Collecting).

1. This is the best book I have found on Collecting. The writer gets into the state of mind of a collector, then presents profusely illustrated collections of an almost unbelievable scope. Like - you mean people really collect THIS? Yes they do and it's there. COOL book that will broaden your horizon - and you'll never throw anything away again because someone out there collects it.



2. Reading this book was like day at my favorite swap meet, antique collective or a random search on eBay. I visually recognize the material but appreciate it more for being brought together in groups. The collector's mind automatically seeks groupings and hierarchies of individual examples and this book plays to that weakness easily. The little stories are at times educational and fascinating and at other times too personal and esoteric. My only problem is that after reading this book, I tend to want to own too many of the objects featured.



3. This is a beautifully produced look book. The unusual and very particular collecting subject matter is very personal. Quirky, wonderfully photographed and of superior quality.



4. I have purchased at least seven copies of this fascinating book to give as gifts to a wide variety of friends. For those interested in collecting, the book offers fresh insights into the forces that motivate people to acquire, while illustrating a remarkable diversity of eccentric collections that surprise and delight. For the novice or general reader, the breadth and types of collections are amazing. The book is superbly designed and the objects beautifully photographed and presented. The author is a farsighted collector with an awesome range of historical knowledge and an accessible, highly informative writing style. I highly recommend this book for readers of all persuasions who simply enjoy being intellectually and visually stimulated.



5. The first thing to hit me was how beautiful this book is. The photographs of the thousands of collectibles are delectable. It made me want to run out and find some of this stuff, or find new things to start collecting. The author unfolds her theories about why people collect, and describes many wonderful childhood scenes of Bronx life and early collections of marbles, baseball cards, sewing kits, you name it. Adult adventures collecting all over the world, and the collecting adventures of her friends and family, are included, and make for a wonderful warm biography of a collection of collectors. The descriptions of the original uses and methods of manufacturing of various collectibles is fascinating, and it's lovely to see simple and sometimes disposable things treated with such interest and respect. The history and character of our country shine through in the old graphics and designs of postcards, matchbooks, lawn sprinklers, and countless other items, and after spending time with them in this book, I can feel more deeply what's been lost to more efficient means of production. I'll never browse a flea market or garage sale quite the same way again. It's a wonderful conversation piece, a fun book to have around for guests to peruse. It gives you permission to bring out those old shoeboxes of stuff from under your bed and show them to your pals, even though you're not a kid any more. I loved this book, it was part anthropology, part history of design, part memoir, part encyclopedia, part travelogue, all work of endearing art.

5 comments about Standard Encyclopedia of Pressed Glass: 1860 - 1930: Identification & Values (Standard Encyclopedia of Pressed Glass 1860-1930).

1. The 5th updated edition of a pressed glass classic continues to be a 'must' for any avid collector of the medium: it covers glass companies, shapes and patterns, decoration definitions and insights on table glass factories, and more, blending in history with the latest values and collecting trends. Color photos on every page make it easy to identify pieces, while accompanying descriptions comment on cuts, names, pattern development, design modifications and changes, and more. Simply packed with detail, any authoritative glass collecting collection needs STANDARD ENCYCLOPEDIA OF PRESSED GLASS 1960-1930.
   
   Diane C. Donovan
   California Bookwatch



2. Would that it were otherwise! The fact is, no other commonly available reference is as handy and easy to use; and while the pictures leave much to be desired, this book has more useful color pictures than any other. It has helped me become familiar with the most common EAPG patterns, but since I know it's full of mistakes I don't accept its information uncritically. I wish the authors would clean up their many sloppy errors in future editions, even as I look forward to the book's expansion. This book is helpful, but I use mine alongside McCain's vastly more authoritative, reliable work.



3. Some of the reviews of this book surprise me. I have seen similar negative comments written about these authors on separate web sites, and no doubt the comments here are by the same people. My experience with this book is this....the main appeal to this book is that there are literally hundreds and hundreds of patterns identified, and by using the photos in this book, I've been able to identify pieces in my collection that I previously could not. Certainly I wish there was more information and detail written about each pattern...this book lists maybe a line or two about each pattern only, with no to few comments about reproductions. So, I use this book in conjunction with other pattern glass books (Reilly and Jenks, Warman's, etc) to get the most comprehensive picture I can. Some of the pictures are not super clear. Compared to other books which don't list many patterns at all and then do so in black and white or hand drawing, I'll live with it. I would imagine photographing the detail on clear glass isn't easy! I guess I'll summarize by saying that while the book is not perfect, it certainly takes a good stab at trying to organize information and photos of hundreds of pieces of glass from the turn of the century. Are there errors? Probably! But with all the fires in these glass companies over the years I am sure no one has the truth about everything.



4. Suppose you do not know much about glass. You probably won't know a whole lot more when you've looked at this book. Some of the pictures do not show the pattern. There are numerous ones, ie.; caprice, chestnut oak, star & thumprint, etc. that are taken at poor angles, or poor lighting or whatever and are just indisctinct. I was looking for a pattern on Cathedral and that is shown on a bowl that has the pattern going underneath. No way can you see what the entire pattern looks like. In the front of the book, they describe the shapes of the glassware. They list 20 shapes, but in the price guide, they list many more. What is the difference between a milk pitcher and a pitcher? a tumbler and a goblet? What size and shape is a sauce? What is a wastebowl? They never show or describe the bottom pattern. No explanation is given as to whether this is important, distinct or has no effect whatsover. I have no more knowledge of the patterns on my glass than I did before.



5. I have been buying and selling pressed glass for 30 years
   and I can agree with reviewer 'a reader' totally. I have read 3
   other books by this writer and consider them all as incompetently done as this one.

2 comments about Lenci: The History and the Dolls.

1. A wonderful book perfect for the Lenci lover...reasonably priced and loaded with great pictures and information.



2. This much awaited book provides an in-depth look into the history of the Lenci Company. The detailed study of the dolls is a must for any collector. The photography is wonderful. The dolls are presented in categories that make it easy for future reference. This is a classic that belongs in any doll collector's library.

5 comments about Old Fishing Lures & Tackle: Identification & Value Guide.

1. Great book if you are into collecting and/or buying and selling fishing lures. Tons of info, pictures, and values of lures. Definately worth every penny.



2. This is a great reference book. All the colored photo's are a great update from the 6th edition. The book contais basic history on lures by manufacturer. This is a must have for lure collectors.



3. i have started to collect lures and this book has been very helpful good book great shiping fast service



4. We have a previous edition and wanted to update. This edition does not have anything but lures, no reels!



5. As a lure collector, I have several identification guides.
   This book gets used more than the rest, simply because it is more an identification guide than a Value guide. (Sure, it has book value included(which means nothing compared to auction values), but, it also has way more information on the lures and companies themselves than most other ID books).
   If you are looking for a complete library (if you want almost any lure identification at your fingertips--or in your head , as you learn about them all--), then you should definately include this one.
   But (always a "but"), this book doesn't cover too many of the "small name" companies out there, or folk arts, nor many flies. But, if it's a top name company (Heddon, Creek Chub, South Bend, Shakespeare, etc.), you will find it in this book, up until 1975.
   You cannot go wrong with this book...and if mine ever wears away with use, I'll keep purchasing new copies as needed.

5 comments about Blue Book Dolls and Values, 16th Edition (Blue Book Dolls and Values).

1. Very helpful book - have really been enjoying this book as I have wanted this book for years, finally got it!



2. I bought this book to help me determine the value of a collection of high quality dolls that my aunt wants to help her sell. Our of five doll designers, only one of the designers was even listed in her book. This was a waste of my money, for sure!



3. I am formilair with this book. It is a great book IF you know the name of your doll. If you don't it is not a good one for you.



4. THE resource for all your doll questions on values and dolls.



5. Although the Blue Book is the avid doll collectors' favorite price guide, it contains numerous categories that have not been updated for quite a number of years. China, parian, papier mache, and wooden, some of the earliest dolls in existence, have been gaining in popularity for several years now and the market prices, both at auction and online have been rising considerably. The Blue Book has not caught up with this trend.
   
   Also, it would be extremely helpful if there were a comprehensive section that described the methods used in compiling the information as well as the sources of this information. Some of the prices are so far off the mark in actual market prices realized, that it makes the professional wonder if the numbers are merely picked out of blue sky.
   
   The book is well structured and is the easiest to use on a daily basis, of all the price guides, however, serious updating and a description of the price compilation process, would improve it immensely.

2 comments about Tiffany (Special Edition).

1. This book gives a detailed account of Tiffanys works in most of the mediums he chose. The photographs are gorgeous.



2. This is truly the most fabulous book on Tiffany's works,including many illustrations of works not previously seen.  As a Tiffany book collector, I know that Nuestadt's book may have more lamps illustrated, but none have the incomparable colors and qualities as the images in this book.  They are truly magnificent pictures (over 400 color plates)on a black ackground and are of the same quality as Sotheby & Christie's catalog pictures.  Tiffany at Auction by Alastair Duncan may be a collectors item, but having seen it, most of the pictures in that book are in black and white and do not begin to compare with this book.  While the Sotheby and & Christie catalogs display beautiful pictures, they only show what people choose to sell, unlike this book that shows treasures that I have never before seen in any of the books or catalogs that I have collected.But this book has so much more.  Almost every lamp picture has a close up of the actual pattern.  As a stained glass worker, these close ups are sufficient for you to reproduce the design.  The outstanding and superlative index at the rear contains small thumbnails of each work of art in the book with illuminating information and page number shown for easy access to the item.  Actual copies of the Tiffany factory workbooks,similar to Nash's new Tiffany Notebook book, are included in this book.
   Of course, this book also has the requisite biography of Tiffany.  One third of book is biography and windows, second third is lamps, and last third is vases, index and bibliography.
   You will NOT be disappointed in this book - it's the best that is available as far as I am concerned.

1 comments about Eisenhower - Anthony: Dollars (Official Whitman Coin Folder).

1. Whitman Coin Folders, the industry standard in coin housing, offers another solid coin folder designed to house Eisenhower Dollars from 1971-1978 and Susan B. Anthony Dollars from 1979-1981. Be warned, that the book does not include the latest information on the 1999 release of the Anthony dollars, however, there is space in the book to write them in.

5 comments about Batman: The Complete History.

1. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. As a Batman fan, I found it very interesting reading about the history of my favourite superhero - from the way he was created, through various evolutions over the years, and how he (and his comics in general) have developed into the modern style that I am most familiar with.
   
   There are plenty of pictures which are great, and help to illustrate the changes that batman has gone through.
   
   A few slight criticisms though: First, the amount of book dedicated to each era of batman seems disproportionate. As expected, there is a great deal dedicated to his origins and early days, and quite a bit on the campy batman of the 1960s TV show, however there seems to be far less focussing on the way he evolved into the modern batman, and his modern appearances. Specifically, the movies of Tim Burton and Joel Schumacher receive little more than a passing mention, when they could have been fleshed out much more to explain the Dark Knight's successes onscreen.
   
   Also, be aware that this book was written in 1999, and as such is almost a decade out of date in terms of Batman's recent appearances - the most obvious that I would have liked to hear about was the new imagining of batman for Batman Begins etc. However, this is not a fault of the book, but merely of time - but it is best to keep in mind that it is no longer a 'complete' history of Batman.
   
   All in all though, an excellent book for the Batman fan, or anyone with an interest in superheroes or the comic book industry.



2. 
   This book is very thick, nicely done, and chock full of -Holy History Museum, Batman!- lots of amazing photos and comics. It tells you everything you ever wanted to know about Batman. If Bat-History were to be a subject in school, this would be the book in all the desks.
   
   The reason that I only gave it four stars is because there is one very sick-minded and disgusting comic towards the back of the book, that's all about man/woman stuff that no kid should be reading. I tore it out as soon as I saw it, because it's a flaw in this otherwise amazing and beautifully constructed book on the Dark Knight. Also, go through this book with a black marker before giving it as a gift- there are some pictures in it of women who need to learn how to dress themselves better!
   
   All in all, a PRICELESS volume.



3. I thoroughly enjoyed reading Les Daniel's history of the Batman concept as expressed in comic books and strips, television shows (animated and live action) and movies. As a young child I took great delight in the Adam West TV show--blissfully unaware of how really campy it was--the comic books, of course, and all of the Batman paraphernalia that was available in the 1960s. I picked up this book for nostalgia's sake, and did not expect it to be a very sophisticated treatment of the subject. It just looked visually like a lot of fun.
   
   So, I was pleasantly surprised to find that Daniels takes his subject very seriously indeed. He plumbs the cultural antecedents of the Batman concept, and describes its realization in the comic book. He meticulously details the process in which the comic book stories and art for Batman were accomplished over the decades, paying particularly close attention to the key artists and writers involved in the process. He carefully explains the changes--subtle or not--made to the Batman concept over time, and reveals the business and artistic philosophies behind these changes.
   
   It's fascinating to see how this cultural icon evolved over time, like a pendulum moving back and forth from the dark and creepy to the silly and campy. Daniels reveals Batman's role in the 1950s debate over the morality of comic books, and he explains how Batman's creative team sought to deflect criticism that Batman and Robin's relationship was suspect by introducing a "family" for Batman, including a Batgirl and a Batwoman.
   
   Daniels deftly addresses both the art and writing of Batman and the hugely popular cultural phenomenon Batman has been over the decades. It might have been tempting, from a commercial standpoint, to have given a lot more attention to the live action television show and the recent movies, but Daniels treats all manifestations of the Dark Knight rather evenly.
   
   I can understand the concern, expressed by others here, that the busy layout of the book distracts the reader. Admittedly, as I mentioned above, it was that eye candy that attracted me to the book in the first place. And, for me, I did not find all the illustrations and sidebars unpleasant distractions in a book devoted to such a primarily visual topic.
   
   I highly recommend this delightful, and well researched and written book, to all readers who have an undying fondness for the Batman cultural icon.



4. This book chronicles in great detail the history of the Dark Knight, from his comic book debut in 1939 to the various media incarnations of today. While this book does not include Batman Begins or the Justice League animated series, everything that came before is laid out in vivid detail, with some excellent photographs by collector Chip Kidd, who previously collaborated with author Daniels on Batman: Collected, a book about the various Batman products that have been marketed and sold over the years. This is an excellent item to own for fans of Batman of any age (reading skills desirable). Final grade - A



5. This is a real tough book to describe. It's packed with great comics art, paintings, photos, animation art, rare interviews and information. There's a ton of Bat-material from every media, and a comprehensive chronology of the Caped Crusader's comic chronicles. BUT--the layout is strictly a frenzy of "look what I can do with Quark!" Copy jumps several pages at a time to accomodate ridiculously enlarged Bat-heads and sidebars, completely derailing the reading experience. I know some may consider this chaos trendy and artistically modern, but its just the same old "pop art" condescension towards "kiddie books." Obviously readers cannot cope with page after page of words and relevant illustrations, so the "Award Winning Designer" has pumped up the volume with lots of big cropped images and 7-inch wide columns of copy in reverse-type sidebars (the nuns should whack his knuckles with a ruler for that alone--"BAD, BAD, designer.") Content is definitely A+. Presentation is strictly art school C-. This book is worth it for the rare and exciting artwork, but it really could have been so much better. When will the comic companies stop being so ashamed of their product? Books like this just contribute to the presumption that comics are hyperactive adolescent trash and the readers are unsophisticated cattle with the attention-span of gophers who will buy any incomprehensible crap that insults them. Wait a minute...
   
   DC also released a calendar book using the same design aesthetic. Guess what? Same cluttered, crappy, childish look. My advice? Don't buy either product and let them choke on a couple thousand copies. Problem is, they won't blame the design, and will just assume that the Batcraze is over. You really can't win, because the "designer" probably has an MA, and we're all just stupid comic fans. Guess who can't be wrong?