2 comments about Indian Artifacts of the Midwest: Identification & Value Guide (Indian Artifacts of the Midwest).

1. The descriptions and price estimates were helpful. The complete lack of color photos, except for the cover, was an extreme disapointment. The photos ranged from average to poor quality and were of limited value in indentifying artifacts. I feel the book description should have clearly noted the lack of color photos.



2. One week ago I went to do some house hunting and found something I wasn't looking for. While going through the house I came upon a large collection of Indian Artifacts. I knew almost nothing about them but susspected they were highly valuable. The next day an estate auction was held and I purchased the collection. Upon searching the internet for some information it became obvious what the best source was for identification of my midwest collection, Lar Hothem's book "Indian Artifacts of the Midwest." I purchased the book and was able to quickly identify many of the pieces that I knew nothing about. The book was written so a "layman" like myself could easily understand and identify many of the the basic artifacts. The quality photographs added to the pleasure of my learning. I was very pleased to realize the age, almost 10,000 years, and value of my collection. Thanks to such a thorough and readable source I now find myself hooked on the collecting and identifying of very interesting artfacts left in my area so long ago.

1 comments about Celebrating Board Games (Collectibles).

1. Absolutely gorgeous photos accompany snippets of information about the games that will leave you thirsting for more (and wishing you could get your hands on some of these beauties)...
   
   if you are a board game enthusiast, that is. One only wishes the book was much, MUCH bigger (and longer).

5 comments about Brilliant Rhinestones: Vintage & Contemporary Jewelry from the Ronna Lee Collection : Identification & Value Guide.

1. I received this book as a gift and found the prices to be very high several years after publication. As the title says it is from the Ronna Lee Collection. Pictures are fair to good. Again as with the Coro book more pictures should have been placed on a page. Pictures of low-end rhinestone bracelets with 2 dead stones are shown for a value of $120-$150. If you want to see someone ones collection and compare it to yours maybe this would be of value otherwise pass on it.



2. I'm surprised to see this book has received such poor ratings because though I agree with other reviewers that it has its flaws, I don't think it is a bad book at all.
   I bought this book at the bookstore without first looking up any reviews online. At the time, I had to choose between Aikins' book and one other book that had better photographs and a sleeker look. The Aikins' book won me over because most of the pieces are dated and they are photographed in their entirety and on their own. There is nothing wrong with focusing on a portion of a necklace or photographing a piece surrounded with props, but I also think it is important to be able to see what type of findings were common at a particular period in time (although the backs of earrings and brooches were not photographed for this book).
   Most of the jewelry in this book is from the 1940s to 1950s. There are a few from the 1920s and earlier and a couple from the 1970s and 1980s. I like the variety of necklaces, bracelets, pins and earrings the author shows in this book. In fact, every time I open it, I seem to find a new piece that catches my attention even though I have read the book from cover to cover. This is not a book for those looking for historical references and explanations about the different styles and trends in jewelry fashion. For that, I would recommend such books as C. Jeanenne Bell's "Answers to Questions About Old Jewelry". "Brilliant Rhinestones," on the other hand, is more adequate as a visual reference for those who want to familiarize themselves with the "look" of a variety of pieces of vintage rhinestone jewelry.



3. I got the book "Brilliant Rhinestones" as a gift several years ago, and I thought at the time that the prices were way, way off - I've never seen such high and uneven prices for costume jewelry. Plus, the book's written content is extremely amateurish and, frankly, irritating in the extreme. Well, to spare my good friend's feelings I didn't share this opinion with her - told her the book was great. So, what did I get for my birthday this year? Yikes!!!!! The next edition, (20th Century Costume Jewelry) even more irritating than the first!! I bear no ill will towards the author, I'm assuming the publisher reeled her in to do another book (this stuff is kind of like the old "vanity press", isn't it?) and is counting on the book to sell just because these books are hot right now. But beware - this latest book has prices for modern jewelry that is absolutely, totally based on fantasy (for stuff you can load up on at Goodwill)and the prices for real vintage jewelry is also way off, about like her first book.



4. I purchased both this book and the sister companion, 20th Century Jewelry and felt that it was on my list of one of the worst photographed books that I have seen. There are two others by this same publisher that are lackluster in photography. Little information about the jewelry history is included in both books. While I appreciate all that the author has going for her (no doubt the other review was written by her husband), a little more attention to photography detail would have made this book much more enjoyable. I felt that the prices were a little over inflated which is a shame for both books because gorgeous jewelry is featured, just lousy photography to show them off.



5. Little information, very inflated prices on low end costume jewelry. Misleading for novices, no information for seasoned collectors. I wish I could sell things at these prices!

3 comments about Traditional Jewelry of India.

1. Oppi's thoroughness and attention to the detail in this book is amazing. Pictures and illustrations are just magnificent. Oppi covers the jewelry of maharajas to jewelry of tribal people. The jewelry descriptions in this book include every region and every style there is in India. I bought this book when I was asked to talk about India's jewelry at an art museum. This book definitely improved my knowledge about the subject.



2. Oppi's book is magnificent. It is a culmination of over thirty years of Oppi's research. His book covers more than just Indian jewelry, but forehead marks and henna mendhi.

   Inspired by trips to New York's museums when he was young, Oppi crafts a anthropological journey through a fascinating history of human ornamentation, beginning with wood ash and mud. Oppi traveled extensively to personally research his subject in association with scholarships he won, including a Fulbright scholarship and funding from John D Rockefeller III.

   He shows the use of natural items in jewelry, such as leaves, flowers, seeds, vines and wood. Unusual jewelry materials like anteater claws are pictured. Of course, gemstones and precious metals are included. There are photos of elegant gold filigree and fist-sized gemstones.

   My favorite part of the book is called "Typology from Head to Toe" in which Oppi takes you on a journey in pictures of people wearing ornaments in their hair to those worn on the toes. The book includes an extensive index and bibliography. It is a very human book, showing how ornaments are worn by people, not just showing photos of the ornaments alone as many other ethnic jewelry books do.

   Although you might think the subject of Indian jewelry is narrow before you see the book, a glance through the book will make you want to own it even though the sticker price is high.




3. An excellent and well researched study with extraordinary photographs by a well known scholar of Indian art. 430 interesting pages that are very well presented to the reader. You'll find possibly more detail than you may need, but you can return later for the items you missed.

1 comments about Coin World 2006 Guide to U.S. Coins: Prices & Value Trends (Coin World Guide to U S Coins, Prices, and Value Trends).

1. This book is one of te only i have seen which includes a comprehensive price guide with Grading values from Good-4 to PF-70!!!! no other book i have seen has pf69 and 70 grading values for the new coins.. Very helpful and tells you about the reliable grading services.

5 comments about The History of Beads: From 30,000 B.C. to the Present (Beadwork Books).

1. A beader was looking for the history of beads, their origins and the processes used to produce beads. Specifically, those topics for modern day beads. Too little detail on modern beads for the purpose the book was purchased.



2. Highly detailed, technical and descriptive ... outstanding for the "advanced", but over-whelming and a bit complex for the novice (as I am).
   
   Overall, a book that one can acclimate to and find valuable and well worth the investment in time and practical use.



3. This book was fine if you wanted information regarding beads up until the 1940's, but the information on beads after that period is very very slim. The words "to the present" is very misleading.



4. This book covered all about beads. I bought it for a presentation my daughter was doing for her 6th grade class. It was very helpful.



5. I was expecting a huge book full of pictures and information, and while there are pictures and good information, it's rather sparse. I'm surprised at how few books are available on the subject of jewelry in history, considering it's nearly the only thing we have left of many cultures. If you are desperate for any information on beads in history, this is a good starting place, but I was left wanting more.

3 comments about Glass Candlesticks of the Depression Era: Identification and Value Guide.

1. Gene & Cathy Florence's Glass Candlesticks Of The Depression Era, Volume 2: Identification And Value provides a secondary volume of addition candles collected since the author's first volume, presenting the same easy organization by maker and the fine color photos which lend to quick identification. From patterns and color notes to sizes and valuation, Glass Candlesticks, Volume 2 is a pick any owner of Volume 1 needs.



2. Very beautiful pictures, but limited. Wish Florence has used a different format instead of listing by color. It would have been helpful if he had stated the colors and etchings available for each candlestick.



3. This book is a very colorful and well written book. However, I expected to see many more pictures of candlesticks than are offered in this book. There is 165 pages of candlesticks with 2 - 3 examples per page, which is probably around the amount made during the Depression Era. Florence gives the company name, the pattern, color, size and mint value. The photos are great and I believe this book is valuable to those just getting into collecting candlesticks from this era.

1 comments about Unauthorized Guide to Fire-king Glasswares.

1. I am quite disappointed with this book. If I have read it in a book store (instead of mail order) I would not have bought it. It is bacially a book with only pictures and the prices. It does not even include the price of those that are not pictured. The pictures are not great either, some ivory pieces look like they are green!! The listing is not complete and in my own opinion, any one who goes to an auction site can gather enough pictures and a more complete price list of all the Fire King items than this book. There are only 2-3 pages that have words/writting by the author. I didnot gain any new knowledge by reading this book at all. A waste of money. The one by Gene Florence is much better.

2 comments about Scandals, Vandals, and da Vincis: A Gallery of Remarkable Art Tales.

1. As an art lover and historian, I so wanted to like this book, but it was a disappointment. The title was misleading, a marketer's ploy--these weren't "remarkable" art tales, a majority were known to me, as they would be to many art lovers, and the tales didn't reveal many new facts or insights. There were far too many well-known stories-behind-the-paintings, the stories you heard when you took "Art Appreciation 101" at University, and not enough unknown "scandals, vandals" to meet the title's tease. Nevertheless, I skimmed it cover to cover, but with a space-constrained library, didn't feel it was a "keeper" so gave it to the neighborhood book sale -- where, I hasten to add, I'm sure it would have been scooped up by someone who would have enjoyed it before passing it on in turn. In short--light reading, and entertaining, but a better title would have been "The Stories Pictures Tell"...or some such.



2. Having enjoyed Harvey Rachlin's other books about the stories behind historical figures and artifacts, I was anxious to get into his latest--about intrigues involving the world's art masterpieces. I was not disappointed. Rachlin is a tireless collector of historical curiosities, and he has a true storyteller's knack for ferreting out the most intriguing true tales and turning them into narratives that keep you reading. If you like art, history, mysteries, and you love a good story, check out Scandals, Vandals, and Da Vincis.

1 comments about Encyclopedia of Collectible Children's Books: Identification and Values.

1. This outstanding reference has a range of material and specificity of information on particular books and authors to be of use to collectors at all levels. Even though somewhat specialized, the area of children's books is of interest to large numbers of collectors and dealers, even ones not particularly interested in books. Children's books can be used for gifts for children or adults; in many cases, they are sought after mainly for their illustrations; children's books reflect social history in shedding light on education, domestic life, and raising of children. Some children's books--especially prized ones--are illustrated by major illustrators or artists.
   
   The format is not strictly that of an "encyclopedia" with the conventional, straightforward alphabetical entries. Unexpected, yet plainly relevant and useful sections are succinct publishers' histories, a listing of Newbery and Caldecott Winners from their beginnings in 1922 and 1938 respectively thru 2008, a glossary, and a bibliography. A listing of childen's books by author of about 160 pages with hundreds of illustrations of book covers and another section of about 150 pages also with hundreds of illustrations are the encyclopedia-like sections.
   
   More so than with most categories of collectible books, with children's books, publishers can be a sign of age and value. Books by McLoughlin Brothers, for instance, are usually from the 1800s and are desirable for their handcoloring or chromolithography. Scribner's is well known for its especially desirable series of classics illustrated by notable illustrators such as N. C. Wyeth. Many of Mark Twain's books and books by Jules Verne and Alfred Hitchcock and other authors who are not automatically regarded as children's authors are included--one example of the information and guidance in the range of coverage.
   
   As for a sampling of the reference's depth, the Oz Series by Frank Baum is laid out over four pages. As with many classic children's books, including Mother Goose rhymes and A. A. Milne's Winnie-the-Pooh books, popular children's books have gone on from their first publication to many subsequent reprintings over decades. The treatment of the Oz series helps readers distinguish between first and early printings that can be worth thousands of dollars and later reprintings having little monetary value.
   
   All in all, this is a exceptional, knowledgeable, reliable reference on the perennially popular field of collectible children's books, one of the major categories of book collecting.