5 comments about The Official eBay Guide to Buying, Selling, and Collecting Just About Anything.

1. While it is very outdated, it is still a good book for the novice who needs to get there feet wet.
   This book has all the basic tools you need to get you started in the Ebay experiance but offers nothing to help you once your passed the basics.
   There are some good tips on listing your items and using HTML code ect.
   So, if you are already an experianced Ebayer then this book is NOT for you, but if you are a beginer to Ebay then you'll find this book to be very benifical in getting you started.



2. I am very disappointed in this book. As most of the information in this book is outdated, this book should be selling on ebay as a collectors item. Much of the information that can be considered useful to the current ebay functionality is common sense. That is, the book did not reveal to me anything that a second or third time user of ebay could not have figure out.



3. This book was probably very good in its day, but eBay has changed so much since it was published that it really doesn't hit things straight on. It has the basics of buying and selling, and is loaded with cute anecdotes. I've had gotten better information with the updated Dummies books on the subject.



4. If you have never been to eBay then this book is for you. It will give you the basics of buying, selling, and searching on eBay. If you have any experience at all either buying or selling, then you probably already know the things in this book.

   I was pretty disappointed in how outdated the book had become in just a short year. Ebay is always changing something, so some of the references are no longer valid.




5. The Official ebay Guide gave me the basics to everything about ebaying. Answered many questions that I had from the past couple of years of ebaying & now wanting to get a whole lot more. This books raised many more questions that the book could answer. However it gave me the basics and left me in search of more detailed information. So, the book is just what it listed a Guide. Now I look for the Handbook to ebay.

5 comments about Titanic: Fortune and Fate : Letters, Mementos, and Personal Effects from Those Who Sailed on the Lost Ship.

1. seeing personal items that belong to people who lost their life in such a tragic way,really touch my heart.we sometime forget they were just people like us.who had dreams and families.



2. This book is great for a quick read on the Titanic. The pictures are wonderful and filled with interesting captions. Also, there are brief anecdotes, such as the story behind Mr. Astor's watch. The book discreetly handles such a terrible human tragedy.



3. This is one of the best White Star Line Titanic books I own. As a Titaniac I find the pages of this book to be seen many, many times. Having been to the touring exhibit in Norfolk, and the exhibit at The Mariners Museum I appreciated the effort. This would make one want to visit The Orlando, FL musuem instead of those other things like Universal, or Disney World. Any Titanic, Olympic, or Britannic enthusiast would love this book to add to his/her collection.



4. There isn't much to say about the amazing book exept that throught the words and photos of the passangers' letters, diaries, quotes, tickets, staterooms, clothing, ect.; you get an exellent feeling of who was on the Titanic, not just a group as a whole, but you begin to know them as individuals.
   Believe me, this "Fortune" is one exellent investment!!![...]



5. This book must adorn your bookshelf if you are a serious Titanic fan. The book contains everything from a complete passenger list, tantilizing facts and amazing pictures of artifacts that will make any "Titanic-maniac" feel like they're owning the real thing!

   As you read the book, you can't help but feel as though you've been transported back to 1912 and feel a part of history...

   This book is definately a keeper, Good Work!

5 comments about Queen's Jewels: The Personal Collection of Elizabeth II.

1. After reading this book and salivating at the photographs, I'll NEVER lust after anyone else's jewellery again. Apart from the sheer magnificence of the stones and the settings, the provenance of the pieces and just how they happened to be in the possession of the various members of the royal family, is completely fascinating. It's also a very interesting look at the social mores of the various eras. In Queen Victoria's time, she tended to wear more modest jewellery, much of which had a sentimental value to her, and so the ladies of the day tended to follow her example. In the following reign, that of Edward V11, the upper classes of the day followed the example of Queen Alexandra, who was a beauty and who dressed lavishly in her own particular style, which was followed by ladies of the court and which featured high necklines, decorated heavily with diamonds and precious stones. In the following reign of a very rigid George V and Queen Mary, the court seemed to be bolstering the idea of an unapproachable royalty, above the touch of scandal and to foster this idea by literally covering the Queen in jewels from head to toe. Today's monarch jewels up only on the most formal of occasions, but it's thanks to her and to the Queens of the past that this amazing collection has been built up over the years to amaze and bedazzle lovers of beautiful jewellery everywhere.



2. Field has produced an excellent balance of text and pictures and has done an exceptionally thorough job of documentation. I was fascinated by his descriptions of how the jewelry was modified over the years to accommodate the fashions of the day and the taste of the current owner. The only reason I did not give this 5 stars was due to the pictures. Most are black and white (for obvious reasons), however some were of very poor quality, and very few taken with the intention of displaying jewelry. There was one delightful story of a gift to the young Princess Elizabeth, a necklace and bracelet, which the Queen now refers to as "my best diamonds". But do we get to see the diamonds? No, the only available picture was a distant news photo of the young Princess sitting at an angle and the jewels nearly impossible to see. For Princess Diana fans, don't bother buying this book. There are less than a half dozen images of Diana, and nothing you haven't seen before. And just a reminder, this is her personal collection. You won't see any of the crown regalia.



3. Leslie Field's "The Queen's Jewels: The Personal Collection of Elizabeth II" is a splendid, splendid book in every way. Field has gathered together hundreds of important photographs (of the nearly half million she saw altogether) of Queen Elizabeth's jewels. These are shown both in their cases and being worn by various monarchs, and we see how different royal family members have altered the look or the purpose of pieces as fashions and times changed over the years. Field has complemented these photographs with her outstanding, meticulously researched text. Even if you purchase the book mostly to drool over the photographs, you will end up being both captivated and educated by the accompanying text.

   Field begins the book with the ascension of Queen Victoria to the throne. Because of the Salic laws passed by the House of Hanover in 1833, Victoria was prevented from becoming ruler of both the United Kingdom and Hanover. The kingdoms were split for the first time in well over a century. Immediately, King Ernest of Hanover--an uncle of Queen Victoria--demanded his share of the royal jewels, arguing that since the kingdom had been split, so must be the gems. Victoria disagreed, and the argument went on for two decades before finally being settled in favor of Hanover. Subsequently, Victoria gave up several important pieces of jewelry to her uncle's descendants--but was already well on her way to amassing an important collection.

   Victoria was the first British monarch to make clear that some pieces belonged to the Crown and were for use by any Queen to follow her--and that some pieces were her personal property, and hers to dispose of as she saw fit. British monarchs have followed in her footsteps ever since and although Field showcases many sumptuous Crown pieces in the book, the bulk of what we see are the Queen's personal pieces. And what a collection it is!

   The collection is vast and jaw-droppingly beautiful. Field wisely divides the book into types of stones, from diamonds and pearls to emeralds, sapphires, amethysts, turquoise, and more. We see everything from parures
   (i. e., complete matching sets of everything from necklaces to brooches to rings to earrings and more) to necklaces and tiaras which were gifts from other governments or from such quaintly named organizations as "Girls of Great Britain and Ireland" to pieces designed by Prince Philip expressly for his wife.

   Among the many stand-outs in the book are:

   - Queen Elizabeth's three-carat diamond solitaire engagement ring, designed by Prince Philip for his wife and set with a handsome diamond taken from a tiara belonging to Philip's mother (p. 85);

   - The Godman Necklace, which had been bought by an English naturalist in the 1890s while on holiday in Bavaria. His daughters, many years after his death, wrote to the Lord Chamberlain saying that they felt they owned jewelry once owned by Empress Josephine of France and that the Queen might be interested in it. Although it turned out not to have been of this provenance, it was undoubtedly a stunning and valuable piece, showcasing seven large emeralds and three smaller ones, and surrounded throughout with an encrustation of diamonds and platinum filigree (p. 95);

   - The Cambridge's Lover's Knot Tiara, shown being worn by the Duchess of Cambridge in 1818, the Grand Duchess of Mecklenburg-Strelitz in the 1890s, Queen Mary in 1926, Queen Mary again in 1935 (this time without the upright pearls which originally adorned it), Queen Elizabeth in 1955, and Diana, Princess of Wales in 1985. This is powerful testimony that good design and fine jewelry are both timeless (pp. 113 - 115);

   - Queen Mary's "Rose of York" bracelet, which is a breathtaking ruby and diamond pendant which was eventually turned into a bracelet (p. 143).

   Of course these are but a few of the many treasures in the book. It is a fascinating read, and a wonderfully complete and detailed account of what is probably the finest jewelry collection in the world today.




4. I was so impressed with and have gotten so much Joy from this book, it has inspired me enough to go ahead and try my first on-line review. When I noticed this was out of print I was very surprised. Even more so when I realized there was also a 1997-revised edition. I am hopeful its simply because the newly expanded volume is getting its finishing touches. With digital imaging technology having come so far since the publishing of the first two editions (87/97), the detail that is now available will hopefully be prominently featured in the next. A unique aspect of this book is the thoroughness of information presented on several different topics.
   The title subject is definitely covered in meticulous detail. Aside from the jewels it really is almost a complete mini-biography of most of the British Royal Family. After all the Men bought jewels too! It is amazing to see an 18th century piece on Queen Elizabeth and be able to trace it exactly from it origin through the centuries.
   The information in text and pictures give a much better understanding of the whole concept of continuity, with many surprises along the way. Tidbits like how Queen Victoria stubbornly refused to return gems that another Royal House insisted it owned. How important Jewels were to Queen Mary, not for their monetary value but because of their family historical importance. Its the little details like this that give you a much more personal understanding of monarchs, without being dishy or gossipy.

   Both the front and back inside covers gives a complete family tree dating back to Henry VII. Inside, thirteen categories/chapters cover everything from Diamonds and Emeralds to Sapphires and Amethysts, explaining who favored a particular kind of gem or style over another. Do not expect a very in-depth education on gems, however you get a great understanding of the history and importance of gems through the centuries as a symbol of power and status. There is a generous amount of color and B&W photos perfectly balanced with the text. Generations of Royals Portraits set-up three or four to a page wearing the same Jewels over scores of decades are some of the picture highlights. I really don?t think you need to be a Royal Watcher to appreciate the images. From all the individuals listed in the Acknowledgments many of them with titles you understand this book was published with the complete cooperation and help of the entire Royal Family. Its the photography that makes you appreciate this. A perfect example of this is the cover subject. A magnificent necklace part of a set named: The Cambridge and Delhi Durbar Parure. Inside there is another full color page showing the complete set, however throughout the book you can see no less than ten or twelve different royals wearing some kind of configuration of it. Including the World Famous snapshot of the late Princess Diana wearing the necklace as a headband.
   You cannot help but feeling like you know the members of the various royal houses a little better after reading a few excerpts. The entire volume gives you an impression that the author truly respects, enjoys and is highly educated on her subject. This is one of the few books that I own, that I know I will never post for sale used. I hope you enjoy!




5. I can't say enough about this book. Leslie Field obviously loves her subject; the amount of research that went into this book is impressive. It is fascinating to follow a piece of jewelry through history from Queen Victoria to Princess Diana through pictures. The accompanying text is informative, but the pictures really say it all in this book.

1 comments about A Treasury of Bookplates from the Renaissance to the Present.

1. This treasure of _A Treasury of Bookplates_ from Dover Publications is a feast for the eyes--A visual treat for artists and art lovers alike. Softcover book is approx. 8-1/2 x 11-1/4". 146 pages with 4 to 6 black & white images per page; totaling 761 illustrations. Includes bookplates from Germany, Great Britain, United States, France, Italy, Belgium, The Netherlands, Czechoslovakia, Soviet Union, Japan, Hungary and Spain. Some nudity, but tasteful (in my opinion). There are a mere five pages of text, the introduction. In the back of the book there is an A to Z index of the Artists.

No comments about The Official Price Guide to Mickey Mouse Collectibles.

5 comments about Miniature Books: 4,000 Years of Tiny Treasures.

1. Very well written book, the pictures are visually stunning and so intruiging for those who love books.



2. Very readable, loaded with information and ravishing actual-size photos of tiny books through the ages to the present. The authors transmit their enthusiasm for the history and aesthetics of miniatures. Some of these books are made of tooled and embosssed leather, others resemble jeweled lockets, and their workmanship is spectacular. An excellent source book even for the general reader, and especially readers who are drawn to miniatures.



3. What I found delightful in this survey were the books from the recent past. Obviously the authors rightly cover historical items (and with beautiful photos, too) but books right up to the turn of the new century are included.
   
   Some of these really look beautiful like the 1988 colorful polycarbonate covers from Maurice Dufrene's `Florilegium' or the wraparound cover to Frank Dobie's 1979 `White Mustang', created with several different leathers. Both books are only two and a half inches tall.
   
   The nine chapters, in words and images, give an overview of tiny tomes and it was nice to see that most of the books features are displayed actual size. Perhaps missing from the text was a brief description of how many of the books were printed. There is an interesting photo on page 106 of an uncut sheet from 1752 `London Almanack' showing twenty pages (and a gatefold of the Archbishop of Canterbury's Palace) which were no problem to print but the precision was in the binding such small items, if the craftsmen were a fraction out part of a page could easily be missing. Judging by the amount of commercially printed books included from the last hundred or so years binding machinery can handle small pages easily.
   
   The last chapter covers oddities including a 1991 German medical companies little book with a dummy heart pacemaker as part of the package. A sidebar is devoted to hidden paintings, printed or individually artist painted, on the fanned out fore pages. `A Small Book of Flies' printed in 1983 includes actual fishing flies (under a piece of glass) in a book two and three quarter inches by one and three quarters.
   
   It is this coverage of books besides the usual fine art ones that made the book come alive for me. Incidentally the production is first class, with gold blocking on three sides (when was the last time you saw that on a book?) printed in 175dpi screen and a handy silk bookmark.
   
   ***FOR AN INSIDE LOOK click 'customer images' under the cover.
   



4. Rare book dealer Anne C. Bromer teams up with scholarly bibliophile and book collector Julian I. Edison (who for more than 40 years has served as the editor of 'Miniature Book News') to present "Miniature Books: 4,000 Years Of Tiny Treasure". This is an elegantly illustrated, 216-page compendium showcasing tiny books showcased in an exhibition at The Grolier Club which, founded in 1884, is America's oldest and largest society for bibliophiles and enthusiasts in the graphic arts. Featuring more than 260 full-color photographic illustrations of miniature books (being 3 inches or smaller in size) from around the world, the examples proffered range from Shakeseare's plays, to Christian bibles, to children's books, to all manner of fiction. Some of these are gemmed, tooled, locked, illuminated, and a few are illustrated by such legendary artists as Picasso, Miro, and Gorey. A work of impressive scholarship and research by Bromer and Edison, "Miniature Books" is a bibliophile's treat and would make a superb Memorial Fund acquisition selection for academic and community library collections.



5. 
   Miniature books, those tiny treasure measuring not over three inches in height, length or width, have fascinated for some 4,000 years. Some of these books as those exhibited recently in Toledo, Spain, are so small that they can only be seen through a magnifying glass. Current prices for these books vary, and some dealers specialize in them. Today, there is a miniature book society, an international non-profit organization, providing a forum for collectors and interested parties.
   
   Now, everything you wanted to know and more is available in this compact, beautifully illustrated volume by rare book dealer Anne C. Bromer and collector Julian I. Edison. The book is dedicated to Stanley Marcus, an avid collector of miniature books and contains a foreword by him in which he said that miniature book collecting gave him the greatest pleasure. He also noted that these small volumes "enlarged my field of knowledge to a wide variety of subjects ranging from pornography to philosophy, religious topics to small books for children." And so it is for aficionados.
   
   Richly illustrated, Miniature Books includes chapters devoted to illuminated manuscripts, religious topics, politics, children's literature, and more. In addition, there are listings of sources for miniature books as well as mention of those in libraries.
   
   Author Bromer notes that she first laid eyes on miniature books some 35 years ago and has been entranced with them since them. So have many - enjoy!
   
   - Gail Cooke

5 comments about Conservation Treatment Methodology.

1. As a university professor who teaches graduate courses in heritage conservation, I welcome this book as an essential text. Barbara Appelbaum provides a carefully constructed foundation for research and decision-making in our field. Conservation Treatment Methodology will find a welcome home on the shelves many heritage professionals. It maps a rational process for assessing the material and cultural needs of objects within the broad context of collections care.



2. Thoughtful and clearly written, Appelbaum's book is an essential read for both students and practitioners of conservation. Her work is particularly useful during the planning stages of treatments.



3. If you don't want to have troubles with Brandi, Jukileto or Muñoz Viñas, and just want to identify the practical utility of conservation decisión and judgement process including all related with means and symbolism, this will be a totally usefull and delighful book. Highly recommended for teachers and students of conservation.



4. Truly, enjoyable reading if you're interested in the field of conservation. If you can see a cartoon pop-up of conservator's head, well, Barbara Appelbaum explained all. Many good stories, and some technical stuff actually add real flavors. Good stuff, indeed!!



5. I am delighted to have this book. Barbara Appelbaum has thought through and presented many ideas I have met over the last 30 years as a conservator, but that no one before has put into this kind of focus. She demonstrates the kind of thinking that is critical to responsible care and treatment planning. Thanks you, Barbara, for giving us the benefits of what you have been doing and teaching all these years. This is an enormous contribution to the conservation field. The content is insightful and practical. The book should be read, owned and used as reference by everyone who owns or takes care of art objects.

1 comments about The Standard Antique Clock Value Guide.

1. 215 pages of detailed illustrations with information on the type of clock, pattern name, when manufactured, dial size and price. Even if you're not a collector or seller this book is interesting to look at with all the different styles of clocks. Would make a wonderful coffee table book.

5 comments about Jancis Robinson's Wine Course: A Guide to the World of Wine.

1. What a great book! This book teaches you as much or as little as you want to know about wine. It takes the confusion out of tasting new wines and shopping for wine is now fun. You could study it like a textbook and become well versed in the subject or learn what you need to know to make drinking wine more enjoyable.



2. If you are looking for a good book to start out with, to learn the basic ABC's of wine, then I would reccomend The Complete Idiot's Guide To Wine by Phillip Seldon. This one (Jancis Robinson's) however is good for people like myself who already know the basics (the distinguishing characteristics of grape varieties, the main regions, how to make reasonablly good food/wine pairings, etc.)
   In other words, it's not the easiest book to follow.

   Another note- she makes her disgust of Spanish wines known in the opening paragraph on page 222 when she says "If it (Spain) had Germany's love of efficiency, or France's respect for bureaucracy, Spain might be sending us oceans of judiciously priced wine made expressly for the international market. But Spain is an anarchic jumble of districts and regions...and heartbreakingly awful human constructions, and has to be treated as such by the wine enthusiast."
   I found those comments to be misleading, as Spain to me is a model exporter of high quality wines. Just about any Rioja or Tempranillo wine imported and that goes for less than $...is of fine quality. That is my opinion of course. Another semi-complaint is that there was not enough material on Argentina (only 6 paragraphs) which I found to be a shame, since Argentina has very unique and delicious wines.

   Overall this is good, as I said earlier, for those who already have a basic knowledge.




3. There are many types of wine books on the market today. Some are the Dummy and KISS type - with little graphics and simple statements to start you from your first baby steps. Other are rich tomes with a wealth of information, like the Oxford Companion to Wine, which Jancis edits. These have just about every term and region you could hope to learn about.

   This companion to Jancis' TV series is neither of the above, and it is much more. It is Jancis speaking to you, from her richly educated base of knowledge, to help you learn what makes wine so interesting. Think of Jancis as your incredibly experienced aunt, who has just come back from some exotic trip. She and you have sat down in the living room by a fire, are sipping some wine, and she is preparing to regale you with stories, and tidbits, and insights, and fascinating worlds you didn't even imagine.

   That's what the book is like.

   It starts with the basics - how to taste, how to serve, how to decant, wine and food. Even in these areas you get the sense that Jancis is chatting with you about something she loves. She admits to decanting full whites not because they need it, but because she loves the glowing color.

   She goes into the gritty details of how wines are made, what a free-run-wine is, how sparkling and sweet wines are created. And then, she begins in on the regional reviews.

   France, of course, is first. It always seems to come first. Beautiful pictures of the Chateau Latour tower and Loire valley gables. You move on through Italy, Spain, and yes, the US and Australia get a mention in here too. The reviews are all written from her heart - you see clearly what she likes and doesn't like, and you learn why.

   A great way to learn more about wine - especially if you're also able to watch the TV Series!




4. This is a very solid wine overview. However, some of the advice is bad. For example, early on the author states that wine purchasers shouldn't worry too much about a wine's vintage or geography. Actually, these two factors are extremely important and crucial to the appreciation of fine wines. Simply stated, Bordeaux wines and Tuscan wines are considerably better in certain. Geography (or terroir) is one of the reasons I will not buy a Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, but I will buy a Barolo or Barbaresco.




5. In what is truly one of the most informative and informal books on wine, Jancis Robinson, the only journalist ever to be given the title Master of Wine, takes you on a journey through this magnificent drink.

   As one who truly knows her craft, Jancis shows the reader everything needed to be able to make good decisions about wine. From a discussion about different wine glasses to the different regions where wine is made to the different grape varietals, Jancis lets it all hang out.

   Don't get me wrong, though. While Jancis is very informal in her discussion, she is decidedly British, so the text reads as if it were spoken with an accent. Some of the terms are British as well, so a little knowledge of the British way of speaking helps. For example, what Americans (and the French) call a Bordeaux, the English call a Claret. These little things might trip a true wine novice, but I'm certain that anyone who enjoys wine and wants to find out more will keep this book in the bookshelf (when not reading it) for a very long time.

No comments about Warman's 101 Greatest Baby Boomer Toys.