4 comments about The Big Wedding on a Small Budget Planner & Organizer.

1. I bought this book because I had never been married before, had no money and no one to tell me how it's done. It absolutely saved me! There was an A-to-Z checklist that included everything I wanted/needed plus things I hadn't thought of.
   
   My daughter is getting married in 2008, and I'm using it again for her wedding!



2. This book is somewhat useful, but I found it disappointing and I am returning it. It is comprised of mostly forms and blank pages to write notes etc. I can but a notepad for that! Some hints are helpful, but this is not the book for me.



3. Thanks to Diane Warner's book, my husband and I were able to have a wonderful wedding. She covers everything you need to consider. It helped me to stay organized, keep my sanity intact and we were still able to make the house payments. I can't thank her enough!



4. Diane Warner has been there and done that. She has alternative tips for ways to have a dream wedding without going into Ch. 11. Her ideas don't seem "chintzy." According to Warner there is a whole universe of talented friends out there, from florists to photographers to musicians. If you like her book, enjoy NOTES FROM THE M.O.B. (mother of the Bride) by Sherri Goodall, great ideas and humor from the POV of the mother of the bride.

1 comments about Celebrating PEZ (Collectibles).

1. I say this is quite a interesting little book.
   The PEZ pictures in this book was the reason I brought the book.
   It is very colourful, good photographs and the layout is well designed.

4 comments about Fifty Years of Collectible Fashion Jewelry 1925-1975.

1. I was really disappointed I spent the money on this book. All the price references are in the back, which means taking more time to find them when doing research. I rarely use it.



2. The value in this book is definitely for the beginner jewelry collector. Many jeweler names are mentioned, with colored pictures of some of their designs. This book is a good springboard for further detailed research by jeweler name recognition. The book also holds value for crafters, there are many excellent colored photographs, of unique designs. The book I purchased did have updated prices to 2001. I could not use this book to value any of my pieces except one, and that was worth the price of the book, because I undervalued the beads, shown in the piece.
   I would not overpay for this book, at a good deal, add this book to your order. Probably best as a library reference book. Quick read. Value is in jeweler name recognition, list, and for jeweler craft ideas.
   I have many vintage family pieces that I have no information on identifying from this book, and I don't think this book would aid me in collecting either. I think the prices shown are rather low.
   Mistreglo



3. I started collecting vintage jewelry about five years ago and I had no idea what I was doing. This book really helped me identify a variety of items and their value. Pamela D. Blair, Author The Next Fifty Years: A Guide for Women at Mid-Life And Beyond



4. This book was very informative. It gave the information I needed about some collectible jewelry I am accumulating. It gives a more in-depth history of the manufacturing of many collectible brands than other books I have seen. I would highly recommend this book for vintage jewelry collectors.

2 comments about Bloomingdale's Illustrated 1886 Catalog.

1. This book offers a revealing glimpse into our commercial culture of consumerism as it was just getting started 120 years ago. It is amazing the things you could buy in 1886! Medicines were marketed to meet every possible insecurity or physical shortcoming. The sale ads are just as persuasive as they are today. A five dollar watch for three dollars! We often do not realize how influential the culture of this era, the Victorian era, was on how we live today.



2. I was slightly disappointed with this catalog. I was hoping for more house wares (dishes, sewing machines, porcelain ware etc.) and the prices for these items
   If your interest is for Fashion clothing, jewelry, linens etc. this would be a valuable resource.

5 comments about Elegant Glassware of the Depression Era: Identification and Value Guide (Elegant Glassware of the Depression Era).

1. Cathy & Gene Florence's ELEGANT GLASSWARE OF THE DEPRESSION ERA, 13TH EDITION covers identification and value of a range of Depression glassware, is arranged by manufacturer, and pairs photo lends and color-coded sidebar values with color photos of all kinds of glassware. The result is a survey perfect for any seeking to clarify common confusion over identification and values.



2. The shipment arrived very very fast, the book stinks but that is not the shippers problem.



3. This book is a little large to be carrying around, however I still do carry it to places that I already know will have the pattern I am looking for.
   The forward describes "Elegant" glassware as handmade and acid etched glassware that was sold by department and jewelry stores during the Depression era through the 1950's, differentiating it from the dime store and giveaway glass that has become known as Depression glass. The word "Elegant" has become "official" nomenclature among today's dealers for designating handmade glass.
   It is well organized with the glass patterns in alphabetical order and the prices in columns by color of glass. Most of the pictures are color and have good enough definition to identify what you are looking at. There are a contents by pattern and a contents by company.



4. gene florence , any of his books are concise and show the items in a clear picture . he presents the items along with the current prices . all of genes books as is this one , are lovely to look at and very informative, giving a lot of joy.



5. Orginally purchased for my mother, I purchased it also after looking through it. The original reason for the book was to attempt to id some etched glass, the glass was not in the book, but it was worth it anyway. Beautiful photos, good writing, I saw pieces I had not known exsited. Who knew that such elegant depression glass was out there! I would not recommend it for the "flea market" or "yard sale" groupie, one of his Collectors Encyclopedias may work better, but it is still a very nice book and well worth it if you collect or deal in higher end depression glass.

5 comments about Collecting Head Vases: Identification and Value Guide.

1. This reference book has many well done photos of head vases with values at the time of publication. However, there is little detail about any of them and many vases are marked as the maker is unknown.



2. Excellent book well done. Wonderful display of head vases. He has divided his ladies into catagories. He includes cleaning tips, repair tips, head vase websites and best of all and added plus he has a numerical index in the back of his book very very helpfull to finding that special lady fast when you are checking out prices on Ebay. If I could only purchase one collection book I would purchase Dave Barrons book.



3. I was a little unhappy with the book. I had inherited 2 original ladyhead
   vases from a deceased Aunt. I couldn't find either one in the book. I
   wanted more info on the collecting of the vases and the book was lacking
   there too. I should have gotten another one that went into more detail.



4. The book is in great condition and exactly what I exected and useful to me. However the process after the purchase from Amazon takes far to long. A month for a book is rediculous.



5. For the amateur to the experienced, this is a fabulous reference guide for all headvase collectors! Definite must-have !

1 comments about Marble Collectors Handbook.

1. Marble identification is complicated. This book has excellent photos to assist in identification. The narrative pertaining to each type of marble is informative, quick, and to the point. This is a book to be used.

5 comments about Warman's Vintage Guitars Field Guide: Values and Identification (Warman's Field Guides).

1. Some good, some bad. Not overly impressive, but filled with some useful info. Somewhat slighted towards certain brands I think.



2. Not very happy with the information in this book. Tried to look up a Martin Guitar 021, there is 11 pages of Martin consisting of 9 guitars only. Eric Clapton auction guitars has 66 pages. Wish I had read the reviews before I ordered. Tried to look up Les Paul custom, there are 2, a 1955 and a 1958.



3. I was very dissapointed in this book. It has no real value to a collector. If it was a lot larger and thinner, it would be an attractive coffee table book. If you want pretty pictures and you have a very small coffee table, buy this book. If you want real information, get George Gruhn's guide and Vintage Guitar's price guide.



4. Pocket-sized mini-reference of the major guitar manufacturers. Also includes some amps.
   
   I was a little disappointed in this book. It has lots of color pictures of the most popular guitars (several of the same model in some instances) and price ranges. There is also a potted history of each manufacturer. However, there is little or no detail or description of each model.
   
   Easy reading, and good for somebody just discovering guitars who wants a cheap and quick visual reference to the most popular models.



5. unlike field guides to, say, western reptiles or birds, this book contains almost no information on the guitars in the guide. basically it is a picture book of a few examples of a few models, with very little descriptive information or text to inform us of year by year changes or other forms of "speciation". it's not really much of a filed guide, it won't help you in the field. it's a pocket book of pretty pictures.

1 comments about English Silver Hall-Marks: Including the Marks of Origin on Scottish & Irish Silver Plate, Gold, Platinum & Sheffield Plate: With 500 of the More Important ... from 169 (Dealer Guides) (Dealer Guides).

1. There are two books on English silver hallmarks available on Amazon, the other being Pocket Ed. Jackson's Hallmarks, and of the two books, this is my favourite. Both books are almost identical in content: both provide illustrations of English, Irish and Scottish silver, gold and platinum hallmarks, and illustrations of the more important makers marks, which allow for the dating of silver, gold and platinum items. However, this book is the easier to use of the two, with the information presented in a way that makes it easier to find what you are looking for. This book also includes a section on Sheffield plate marks and an index of the makers marks, which are not included in "Jackson's Hallmarks".
   
   The periods of time covered by these two books are slightly different. This book gives hallmarks for the period from 1554 to 2004, whereas "Jackson's Hallmarks" covers the period from 1300 to 1991. However, as I have never had any need to date items made prior to 1554, and most of the items that I have dated have been more recent items, I find the period of time covered by this book to be the most appropriate for my needs.
   
   Although both books are very useful and both are likely to satisfy the requirements of the average silver collector, if you are only going to buy one of these books, then this is the one to buy.

5 comments about Oil Lamps: The Kerosene Era in North America.

1. A great study of Oil Lamps and will be looking forward to other publications and updates from Catherine Thuro. A wonderful display of illustrations and photos.



2. This is an updated printing of the original book. I have the older one and it was nice to review the new updated information. This is a great book for any oil lamp collector, and it has a very reasonable discounted price. Betty Lonsdale, Florida



3. One book can't possibly cover every manufacturer, even the big names. However Thuro has provided history, research and extraordinary detail to offer well over 300 pages of pictures, descriptions, old advertising and assorted information that educates the individual on oil and kerosene lamps from North America.
   
   Of particular interest the author delves into specific new patents such as adding handles or modest change in designs to demonstrate how improvements were made over the years. Thuro covers railroad lighting, ships lamps, whale oil lamps and provides an excellent chronological history of lighting as it progessed through the years.
   
   In addition to dozens of color and black/white photographs, the author provides drawings and old advertisements to give the reader detailed information on dates and lamp design. Values are updated to 2004 but with the changing markets these become fluid rapidly. For education, collecting and identification this book will serve most collectors and dealers well.



4. This book was a big disappointment. I have several Bradley & Hubbard kerosene lamps, and there is not one word about them in this book. Bradley & Hubbard were one of the largest manufacturers of kerosene lamps during the 19th century, and are very popular with collectors today. The Smithsonian has a collection, with a curator and a web site, of B & H lamps and other items made by them. Strangely, there is one brief mention (with a photo) of a Rayo lamp, and the author fails to mention Rayo lamps were made by Bradley & Hubbard for the Standard Oil Co. I was considering buying Oil Lamps II by the same author, but I'm afraid it would be a disappointment also.



5. Oil Lamps I has become the standard reference book on kerosene lamps. It is by far the most comprehensive and definitive book to cover the kerosene era. More than 1,000 kerosene lamps and accessories are shown in over 900 studio photographs. For the historian, student and collector, there awaits a carefully researched and organized visual record. First published in 1979, this newly released 1998 reprint is complete with an updated price guide. Often the first reference I choose.