No comments about Mary Cassatt Cards: 24 Cards (Card Books).

5 comments about Vintage Hats & Bonnets 1770-1970: Identification & Values.

1. I bought this as a gift for my sister who collects Victorian type items. I was very pleased with the quality of the book, it is beautiful, and the price was great. Would recommend to anyone who is looking for a little history.



2. Very detailed, lots of images. Values a bit on the wishful side. Great for collectors, costumers, dealers as the research possibilities can be as simple as using photos, to actually reading the informative text.
   An excellent addition to your library.



3. if it is tons of pics of hats you want this is it!



4. a realy beautiful book .full of hundreds of illustrations and a good source for a budding milliner



5. The book is a good buy for the price with a lot of color photographs and text but I was really more looking for something to compare my vintage hat collection to as a price guide. I have over 110 vintage hats, and I still don't have any idea about the history or value of any of them.

2 comments about British Tea & Coffee Cups (Albums Series).

1. A very nicely done brief discussion of British teaware, mainly cups and coffee cans. The text is short but informative. The pictures are excellent, well selected, and clearly reproduced, with useful captions. Good on handle types. My only objection is the price which is steep for such a very short book, though I feel it was worth it to me because of the fine pictures which I will continue to refer to.



2. I found the book (40 pg. pamphlet) to be an abbreviated, superfical treatment of the subject. It has limited pictures and text. Perhaps the book does not satisfy my novice tastes, but I have difficulty identifying a constituency to which this book would appeal. If you are looking for a thorough treatment of the subject, try Jim & Susan Harran's book, Cups & Saucers - Identification & Values. Sorry to have wasted my money.

2 comments about Anime Figures: Tokyo's Hottest 50 Anime Figurines.

1. This is a small book. It measures only 6 x 8 1/2 inches. It also clearly states that there are 50 figures but I only count 45! There is a picture on the front (the small one on the bottom in the middle) of a figure that is not anywhere to be found inside the book! Very misleading. Comes in a cool slip case though.



2. Although I personally never owned a Japanese anime PVC, I've seen them so many times in Akihabara, sold at anime conventions and I can see why otaku really go for them.
   
   These PVC action figures feature anime characters in the sexiest and seductive pose, really good craftmanship and a keen sense of detail on umm...certain body parts. These figurines are the ultimate in fan service but the chance to own them is a collector's dream.
   
   The book features two pages with photos of Tokyo's hottest 50 figurines. Americans will no doubt know Amane Misa of "Death Note", Belldandy of "Ah! My Goddess", Ayanami Rei of "Evangelion" and video game fans who may know Tojo Mitsuru of "Persona 3 and Shieri and Shion of the popular "Melty Blood" series.
   
   The photos by Shimono Yoshio really capture the craftmanship of the figurines. The sculpting are very well done and one thing that these PVC's sure do emphasize a lot are on the female character's breasts and nipples sticking out through their clothing. Also, the fan service of a anime girl with her skirt flowing in the wind and a peek at her underpants.
   
   It's quite perverted if you think about it, especially if you are not into figurines.
   
   But for toy collectors in America who like detail for "Star Wars" figures, especially that Slave Leia and Scarlett or Baroness of GI Joe and how their curvatures are shown and give them a slight fan service, the Japanese figurines make sure that the otaku gets their money worth.
   
   One PVC featuring Shion of "Melty Blood", is shown on all fours in her school girl outfit (maybe looking for something she lost in the ground) and of course, fan service giving a sneak peak of her rear end.
   
   The creator of the model made sure that the curves were well done, especially the lines from her umm..panty region. And Shimono made sure the lighting was perfect to create the shadowing in his photos.
   
   The most jawdropping figure was of an original character named Aizawa Sanae dressed in a cow-like cosplay with a cowbell around her neck ala choker but no bra and the detail in the breast area, the creators went all out in making sure everything looked realistic in a fantasy sense. The figure just screams "Got milk?"
   
   By saying that, by no means is this book for the kiddies. The book and it's slip case cover have a big red words in the back that say "Contains PVC Nudity".
   
   Also, I have seen these figures from Akihabara blogs and I can definitely understand why these figurines are attractive to the consumer.
   
   These figures scream to the otaku... "Buy Me"!
   
   So, if you have any remote interest in PVC figurine collecting especially for video game and anime characters, this book is definitely for you.

5 comments about Boys' Toys of the Fifties and Sixties: Memorable Catalog Pages from the Legendary Sears Christmas Wishbooks 1950-1969.

1. Boys Toys of the Fifties and Sixties is a terrific book for us boomers who grew up in that era. There's no color inside the book, but that may have made it too expensive to print. I found the b&w pages clear, no problem reading them.
   
   You'll find most of your favorite toys in here, as well as those pre-inflation prices. We tend to forget our parents didn't make much money in those days, so everything's relative.
   
   Obviously they did not include all the pages from each year's Sears catalog, but the representative pages give a nice sample. As you read through this book, you'll find yourself slipping back 40 or 50 years when times were much simpler and toys required more imagination.
   
   You'll see great toys from Louis Marx (my favorites), Mattel, Kenner, and the other big names of the time. The descriptions are fun too, probably written to appeal to the 8 year-old mind.
   
   If you come home from work with a headache or have some worry, this book is great escapist reading. I think you'll enjoy it.



2. The type of catalog i would i would like you to send is sound effects, ice skates, record players, and so much more. So that would be great.

   thank you
   from
   Emile Alston




3. for those of us who grew up in a certain era and were products of the commercial age this book will bring back many memories. having had a dad who worked in the field until i was 7 i was spoiled and got about anything i wanted. try explaining to a 7 year old that dad no longer gets all the freebies he wants! well worth the time for any boi boomer!



4. I liked the catalog, but was dissapointed to see that all of the pictures were black and white (I think I do remember pages in the 60's that had color). It looks as though someone just copied the pictures on a plain copier, and slapped this book together. The idea was very good, but don't expect the quality of true Sears Catalog pages.



5. I come from a family of 7 boys. We all grew up wishfully dreaming every Christmas of GI Joe and erector sets found on the pages of the Sears Wishbook. This book brought so many memories rushing back - of things I fondly remembered and things I had forgotten about - I can't count them. My wife bought it for me last Xmas, I'm going to buy a copy for all my brothers this Xmas.

1 comments about Picture History of the French Line.

1. Once again, William Miller has put together an excellent volume regarding the history of ocean liners, this time those of the CGT. This latest release contains extraordinary b&w photographs and text thoroughly covering the history of every magor CGT liner and most secondary ships from the Washington to the France (1961). Each article includes the specifications of each ship, construction locations, and major birth dates. Where available the current status of each ship is also included.

   This book makes excellent reading material, and is perfect for referencing. The photographs included, unlike those in many "typical" compilations, are rather rare- I don't believe I saw any of them until I read this work. In future, I hope Mr. Miller will continue writing these types of books, for their value to the ocean liner wnthusiast far exceeds that of the paper on which they are printed. What's next? Only he knows. (But I would like to see "Picture History of Norddeutscher Lloyd" or "Picture History of HAPAG" soon)

1 comments about Contemporary Stone Sculpture: Aesthetics Methods Appreciation.

1. A fine reference volume, this book is perhaps less valuable in terms of instruction than Liebson's book, but Meilach picks up where Liebson leaves off. Liebson devotes his book entirely to technique -- to the craft of sculpting; only the first third of this book does the same, but with the help of over 350 photos, Meilach instead concentrates on the art of carving. Not so much art theory, but rather considerations of form, volume, and meaning, and how to impart those to your sculpture. Liebson will teach you how to carve; Meilach will help you figure out what to carve. Liebson's book is still #1, but Contemporary Stone Sculpture is its perfect complement.

2 comments about Gaston's Flow Blue China Comprehensive Guide (Identification & Values (Collector Books)).

1. One of the best books on the subject. Weak area is china from areas other than Britain.



2. The author has done her homework with this book of flow blue items. It's easy to follow and very well put together. Great reference book - great reading!!

5 comments about The Gold-Plated Porsche: How I Sank a Small Fortune into a Used Car, and Other Misadventures.

1. I enjoyed this book. As a car guy and a new Porsche owner, it was a pleasant, rambling account of a restoration project and lot's of tangential life's learnings. Certainly not very technical, but technical enough to make it interesting for me, this was a book I read in a few evenings. It kept a smile on my face, and it kept me relatively engaged. The author writes well, and spins a decent yarn. Per the title of this review - reminds me simply of a (rather long) well-written article you'd find in any top-notch car magazine. No hesitation in recommending this book - but don't look for a detailed account of a technical restoration... that's not what it's supposed to be.



2. I was a bit mislead by the title of this book, particularly the part of the title: "...How I Sank a Small Fortune into a Used Car...".
   
   The Amazon review states that the author spent $60k on his car, whereas the author repeatedly states he spent $70k on his car restoration. This discrepency isn't really the issue, what I was hoping for was some description of what exactly the author bought and spent $70k on during the restoration. I am planning on restoring a vintage Porsche myself and was hoping this book would shed some light on various pitfalls I may want to avoid.
   
   Of the 20 or so chapters in this book I'd say about 15 were dedicated to personal stories about the author and his illustrious career, and only 5 chapters to stories actually related to the Porsche he restored.
   
   After reading this book I feel like I got to know the author quite well but not his Porsche. It was a delightful series of stories and I did enjoy the book, yet it wasn't what I thought it was going to be. I found the cover and title of this book to be misleading.
   
   Not a bad book at all, just not what I was expecting.



3. Wilkinson is a true character and he spins his experiences in restoring a pseudo-classic Porsche 911 (okay, to a true Porsche nut they're all classics) into an entertaining tail. He's an amusing cross between Tim Allen's character from Home Improvement and that uncle your parents don't talk about much because of the nutty things he's done. Strangely these characteristics endear you to him and as a pilot and aircraft owner I enjoyed (and frequently cringed at) his diversions into his experiences as a pilot and aviation editor. Speaking of this the book is rich with diversions into other aspects of his life tangential (or not) to the car project. For some this adds a lot and in general I enjoyed these but I could see where some might find it too fragmented and distracting. Overall though his series of life experiences, including those directly related to the books primary subject matter make for a fun and interesting read.
   
   He's clearly an individual for whom there is no substitute for hands-on experience and the process is more important than the end goal. He articulates well what he's learned and, while the book is not bogged down with technical details, he discusses enough of these to keep a gear-head reasonably happy. No one would restore a car using this book as a manual but there's definitely something here for the technically inclined.
   
   All in all it's a pretty easy and light read and a lot of fun. Perfect as a weekend read for the Porsche fan but with, I think, much broader appeal than that (general car nuts, pilots, those interested in 60's civil disobedience, etc.).



4. Before I even opened the book, a question came to mind. Why buy a Porsche? I have a number of buyer's guides and when I read them I am amazed that the company is still in business. How can they survive selling a car which has a leaking sunroof for 20 years??? German engineering is good, why can't they fix that quickly? Anyway, one buys a Porsche because it is a PORSCHE! That is what I got from the book. I did wished he had talked more about the car than other stories but the man obviously has a very full life.
   Those cars have quirks and need a lot of care. If you are going to buy one, don't spend all your money on the purchase of it since you will need a lot for maintenance. Learn to be a mechanic too. If you want a reliable automobile that won't need to be the center of your attention, buy a Toyota. What is the fun in that? This book helped me see more what Porsches are about, PASSION!!!!!!!



5. I really enjoyed reading this book. There are probably a ton of readers and car-nuts out there who can sympathize with Wilkinson's view while laughing at the way it is told. The Gold-Plated Porsche is a fantastic read.

5 comments about American Premium Guide To Knives & Razors: Identification And Value Guide (American Premium Guide to Knives & Razors (w/DVD)).

1. The first thing to notice is a lack of an index. Why call something a guide if you don't provide a way to find information? The book, called an Identification and Value Guide covers only four brands of knives. It would better be called an extensive look at Case Knives and short look at a few others. If you are looking for a general guide for collecting knives, there must be better books available.



2. I will be returning this book. I should have read the reviews before buying because one reviewer described what I just discovered with the arrival of "Knives and Razors." It is a huge, detailed encyclopedia of Case (307 pages), with a bone-thrown to Queen/Shatt & Morgan (84 pages), and Remington (86 pages). It is advertised as an all-encompassing guide to American knives. It is not, although Case collectors will love its focus/detail.
   
   I collect vintage knives, mostly the Texas toothpick pattern, but not Case. An incomplete list of manufacturers in my collection includes Parker, Buck, Ka-Bar, Shrade, Robeson, Hammer Brand, Imperial, Camillus, Winchester, Smith & Wesson, Smokey Mountain, A.G. Russell. NONE of these brands are given a word in the "American Premium Guide to Knives and Razors."



3. Jim Sargent's book, American Premium Guide to knives and razors is not a let down if you are into Case or Queen knives. If you have bought other guides and been disappointed by how many advertisements were in it you will be very happy with this book because there are none.
   
   Most of the pictures are black and white but they are detailed and easy to see. There are color pics and these are quite good but few. Even still, going through the pictures is akin to walking into a knife museum.
   
   There are sections in the book for Crandall and Remington but not as detailed or lengthy as the Case and Queen sections. Still these smaller sections are very good compared to anything else I've found.
   
   The Case fixed blade section of this book is about as good as any I have ever run across with information I have never found anywhere else for any price. This section even details the differences in sheaths from different eras and how to date the knife by the sheath if necessary.
   
   I would recommend this book to any Case, Queen or Remington collector. It is not going to cover other manufacturers in detail so if you are looking for values on your Spyderco knives this is not the book you want. What it does cover for the Case, Queen, and Remington collector is perhaps some of the most comprehensive and detailed information for these knives as you can find anywhere at this writing. It is a great guide for these brands.
   
   I've said, "WOW, I did not know that" more times since acquiring this book than any other knife guide I've ever purchased.



4. The book covers mostly Case and four other makers. It is
   advertized as a guide to help you identify and date individual
   knives or whole collections. If your collection is limited to
   these five makers then you could be satisfied,however if you
   collect throughout the industry you will want a refund. It should be described properly.



5. No one book can completely cover even one subfield of knife collecting and values anymore, but this is probably one of the five or six essential reference works for knife collectors. I bought it mainly because I've been a case collector in the past, and it's also especially strong on pocket knives, and Case is the most well known and most collectible of the factory production pocket knives. The book covers all the other main names in that field, including Buck, Schrade, Remington, Queen, Camillus, Parker, Kershaw, Schatt and Morgan, Winchester, and many other lesser known names. But it also covers fixed blades, limited editions and semi-custom, and custom knives are covered as well. But this book is considered to have the strongest coverage of any collector's book on Case, and it's probably an essential reference work for any Case and other American pocket knife collector.