2 comments about Bad Mags 2: The Strangest, Sleaziest, and Most Unusual Periodicals Ever Published!.

1. This book, is a wonderful, little insight, on a time period, that I find very interesting. Witches, satanism, California, Manson, Tate, and all things, dark, are found here. I wish there were more publications, today, that are found in this book. Not For The Innocent!



2. .....If you are a collector of Mansonabilia and all ephemera true crime related with a dose of Satan and Myron Fass thrown in! I have both volumes of this title and if I were limited to just buying one of the volumes of Bad Mags, Volume 2 would be the one I would pick, in spades! Not that I'm an enemy of Sexploitation and Sleaze, as heavily featured in Volume 1. It's more that Volume 2 is a better tool in the things I collect and a much better reference therefore. Just the photos alone would make this a valuable reference, and the descriptions of all the mags within are succinct and not only useful, but valuable. My only caveat would be that there is not enough color. It must be a typo on the publishers part, but in the ad for the books at the rear of volume 2 it says that both volumes have 8 pages of color, each. Perhaps that was the total of the 2 volumes taken together, but even with the dearth of color, I recommend this title in a big way, especially to anyone interested in the minutia of the obscure and the savagely esoteric. Mr. Brinkman is to be thanked by the rank and file of the great unwashed collector of the bizarre, and no, I'm NOT the Jeff Goodman who endorses the book on it's rear cover, just another in a long line of fans of this type of material who have similar names and tastes....maybe it's astrological, somehow!

2 comments about The Winchester Single-Shot, Vol. 1.

1. John Campbell is to the Winchester Single-Shots as Frank Sellers is to the Sharps. This book, and its Volume II, are outstanding books about John Browning's first gun. It covers EVERYTHING you will ever want to know about this rifle, and then some. It is a must for anyone interested in the history of John Browning, Winchester and the famous Model 1885 Single-Shot Rifle. The book is FULL of pictures, diagrams and information about the 1885, including every modification and improvement this rifle went through during its long years in production. It also gives unbelievable details about every customized option or version that the rifle was ever made into. So if you are interested in the Winchester Single-Shot and its history, this book is the one, of two, to read.



2. This book has it all for the 1885 enthusiast, as well as for anyone who has an interest in John Browning, Winchester Repeating Arms, single shot rifles, and/or the beginnings of the modern gun industry here in America. Highly readable, with plenty of facts, figures, and illustrations. Well-edited, and excellent graphic presentation. A beautifully written, edited, and executed book, and one that you will read several times for the sheer enjoyment.

   The quality of this book is a standard to which all others of its genre should be written to, but unfortunately too often aren't. I salute the author for a job truly well-done, and I unreservedly recommend this title to anyone who has even a remote interest in the subject matter; the cost of the book is money well-spent. The book is that good.

3 comments about Goldmine's Price Guide to Collectible Record Albums (Goldmine Record Album Price Guide).

1. I found this book to be extremely informative, even though it may be missing many artists and albums in its price guide. The information pertaining to what to look for and what *not* to look for helped me immensely when I decided that I wanted to become a collector of vinyl.



2. I am very surprised about this issue missin many imprtant singers and has alot of wrong information the 4th addition is much much better than this issue.



3. Umphred is pretty sharp and his book is too. There are loads of good pictures and a host of informative essays in the front. The one about the Beatles and about the Dylan rarities are notable, as well as his list of the 100 most valuable albums. My collection is not that big, but I love this book and bought it even though a friend had already lent it to me. Enjoy

1 comments about COLLECTIBLE MAGAZINES: Identification and Price Guide, 2e.

1. Of course not all magazines are here but so many are that you can still get a feel for what certain magazines cost. Some of these listings contain who/whats of each issue, there is a section on monster and adult mags too.

4 comments about Antique Trader Vintage Magazines Price Guide.

1. This wonderful, very well-done and in-depth manual is filled with all the background info you need to dive into the world of vintage magazines -- we recommend it highly.



2. I've been interested in old magazines for a few years now, and have been looking for a helpful price guide. I just bought this, and I highly recommend it. There's a lot of information, not just about the magazines most of us are familiar with, but also about many lesser knonwn older magazines that have great value due to authors who published their early work in them--e.g. Edgar Allen Poe. It's not just helpful information as a price guide, it's very interesting reading! Lots of great color photos also. I looked through another magazine price guide in a bookstore, and this one is much, much better.



3. I picked up this book to learn more about vintage ads and magazines I was interested in. I was pleasantly surprised that not only was the book a complete guide to magazines but had great analgoies and stories the "editors" wrote within.
   Great information on a subject that seems to be little explored.



4. When we moved into our 1920's home,we found boxes left in the attic filled with old fashion magazines. My husband was ready to trash the lot, but being of the pack rat variety I found a home for them in my office.
   
   With the help of The Antique Trader Vintage Magazines Price Guide the door was opened for me to the world of old magazines. The beautiful color photos helped me to easily identify my boxes of "trash" and give them a value.
   
   Most important, the love affair the authors have for magazines comes across in their historical entries. The unique way they organize collectible magazine people into Sleepers like OZ artist W.W. Denslow or Stars like F.Scott Fitzgerald makes me want to haunt local yard sales. My major problem with the book was that I became so fascinated that I wanted more. The book could easily have been double in size and information and kept my interest as both a reader and for use as a desk reference. With what I've learned, our next home will hopefully be an 1890's Victorian with a basement full of Godey's Lady's Book magazines.

No comments about Texaco Collector's Guide.

No comments about Classic Covers from The New Yorker: 2010 Wall Calendar.

5 comments about Peanuts: Home Collection--A Collector's Guide to Identification and Value.

1. I'm not truly a peanuts collector per se...I don't pursue any item I can find depicting the Charles Schulz characters. But I am a big Peanuts fan and I do collect certain items such as holiday themed items and other odds and ends. There are a few other Peanuts guides out there but I think this is the best. It lists over 2000 items with over 1000 photographs. In somewhat unique fashion the author has categorized the items by the room in your home where you would find these pieces. In case that doesn't work there is a very thorough index.
   
   The information provided is about as thorough as one could expect with the name of the maker, date, price, size, etc...In addition there is some good reference material noting other Peanuts collectors and clubs. Nicely done.



2. I have been collecting Peanuts for over 15 years. This book is the first I reach for when deciding to purchase an item. The index thoroughly covers the book making it easy to get to an item right away. The book has a great coverage of Peanuts collectibles in a logically organized manner. The pictures are professionally taken and in full color. The item descriptions are helpful and concise with production dates, manufacturers, dimensions and price ranges.
   
   Beyond being a pricing guide, this book also contains a tribute to Charles M. Schulz, an overview of how the evaluations of price were determined, collecting tips every Peanuts Collector should know, a collector's corner with photos of Peanuts Collectors' collections, Peanuts Collector's Clubs and activities, and more.
   
   I highly recommend this book for every Peanuts Collector.



3. I was greatly disappointed in the book. While it has lots of Great pictures and information, the editor, freddy Margoline has to let us know time and again how big her collection is or how she has personally met Mr. Schulz and stuff like that. I just never got a "Happiness is" feeling from this book like I got from the Andrea Podley and Derrick Bang book. That book (Peanuts Collectibles: Identification & Value Guide) really does give the "Happiness is a Peanuts Collection" feeling in the spirit that Sparky would appreciate. So if you can only get one book on Peanuts Collecting, get the Podley one - it has a "Happy" soul.



4. This is the best Peanuts Collectors' book ever! It contains excellent pictures and the price values are right on target. These Peanuts collectibles are organized by where you might find them in your home, so it is user friendly. (i.e. Peanuts in the kitchen, bathroom, playroom etc.) It has been very helpful for shopping at auctions on the internet. I have even been able to find items by their discription when the seller has not provided a picture. This book is great and well worth its price.



5. Freddi's book is a MUST HAVE for anyone collecting or dealing in Peanuts memorabilia. The layout of the book is fabulous and you only have to go to the index to find exactly which page you need to be on unlike other guides that give you a ballpark topic. You want bobbleheads, look up bobbleheads etc! The pricing is fair and not out of this world. Some folks like to charge outlandish prices for Peanuts items but this book gives you the real scoop on what something is worth, so don't be fooled by those who tell you an item is rare and worth $100 when this book will tell you it was made yesterday and on;y worth what was originally paid for it.

   The pictures are great, lots of them and clear and concise, not to mention they show the item as it should be, in pristine condition.

   The Collectors Corner in the back of the book is great too because it gets you up close and personal with others who are just as crazy about Peanuts as you might be. You are not alone in your craziness!

   BUY THIS BOOK!

3 comments about Old Magazines: Identification & Value Guide.

1. Nothing against this publication, but it was not what I was looking for. I thought it would give the value of individual issues of specific magazines which it did for what I would consider antique magazines. However, there was very little information provided on old issues of contemporary magazines.



2. Old Magazines Identification and Price Guide is written by Richard Clear and advised by David T. Alexander, two long time dealers with decades of experience in the field of collecting magazines and pulps. The first thing that stands out about this book is its attractive look. It's magazine-sized, printed in full color on thick, glossy stock. Three vintage magazine covers are printed per page and at 288 pages (NOT 224 as Amazon states In the listing) you get almost 900 color cover reproductions. To me that alone is worth the price of the book. So many very rare magazine covers are included...from popular things like Life, The Shadow, and Mad, to obscure titles like Camera Craft, Electrical Review, Gun Molls, Jolly Joker, and Peep Show.
   
   Clear uses multiple sources to arrive at prices in the guide including surveys of dealers, computer listing, online auctions, and his own thirty plus years of experience. Pricing for long running magazines is done by span of years. For example Life Magazines from 1950 - 1959 are listed at $5 - $10 each while those from 1960- 1972 are listed at $2.50 to $5.00 each. Even with thousands of magazines listed, evidently no guide can be complete and exhaustive. As a collector of monster magazines I was a bit disappointed to see so many omitted from the pages of the book. While a few such as Famous Monsters of Filmland and Monster World are included, many others are not. Fangoria, Scarlet Street, Midnight Marquee, FilmFax, and Cult Movies are all missing. Perhaps these are just too new, but that doesn't explain why older publications like Monster Parade, Castle of Frankenstein, Shriek, and Horror Monsters are also not included. Likewise, Clear includes some of Marvel Comics 1970's horror magazines such as Legion of the Monsters and Vampire Tales, but omits Dracula Lives and Tomb of Dracula.
   
   I found the prices to be a bit inconsistent from my own experiences. Warren titles like Creepy and Eerie are way too low, particularly on the early issues which feature Frazetta covers. On the other hand, prices on Famous Monsters and Vampirella seem right on the nose so go figure...
   
   Clear does make special notations for magazines which featured the work of notable writers like Edgar Rice Burroughs and Norman Rockwell and prices the magazines accordingly. Unfortunately one thing sacrificed to print all these wonderful covered was more detail about writers and artists. For example, Weird Tales which feature stories by Robert E. Howard or H.P. Lovecraft go for significantly more than others of the same period, yet Clear does not note this, nor does he mention Weird Tales covers by Margaret Brundage. Oddly though, Clear does make mention of the stories written by Robert E. Howard for Fight Magazine. These inconsistencies do make for a somewhat perplexing guide.
   
   Still based upon the sheer number of quality covers printed and the number of titles it does include, the book does prove to be a valuable, if not complete resource for magazine collectors.
   
   Reviewed by Tim Janson



3. I bought this book because it has nine hundred covers, printed on glossy paper, three to a page (mostly two and a half inches deep) and best of all, in color. The listing is alphabetical with the magazine title, publisher and prices relating to the life of the title. This arrangement makes for some odd visual surprises Jungle Stories (1954) is facing Kimball's Dairy Farmer (1917) or Everbody's Poultry Magazine (1916) facing Exciting Detective (1940).
   
   The color covers are a bit of an extra for a book that is really a listing but you get a chance to see how publishers presented their newsstand wares over the last hundred years or so. All type covers from the nineteenth century change into illustrations in the first half of the twentieth century and finally into photographic covers that we see today.
   
   How accurate the prices are I can't say but apart from first issues most titles seem to be very reasonable. So if you are going magazine hunting in shops or car-boot sales it would be useful to take this paperback as a guide before you haggle.
   
   If you like looking at magazine covers check out these two titles, ' Front Page: Covers of the Twentieth Century' by Stephanie Duperray and Raphaele Vidaling, or the sumptuous 'Great Magazine Covers of the World' by Partica Kery, both books have hundreds of colored covers arranged in meaningful chapters and finally 'Cover Story' by Steven Heller and Loise Fili, a beautifully designed paperback showing two hundred American magazine covers from 1900 thru 1950.

1 comments about 100 Years of Magazine Covers.

1. It's nice to see that magazine covers are getting the same book treatment that LP covers have been getting over the last few years. There is clearly a growing market of designers and others interested in seeing what these print 'shop windows' have looked like in the past. The covers of the New Yorker, Rolling Stone, Vogue, Saturday Evening Post, Mad, Fortune and Life are all available in book form.
   
   The other cover book format looks at the market in general and `100 years of magazine covers' falls into this category. The five chapters basically look at celebrity, politics and current affairs, fashion, lifestyle and counter culture and finally (the chapter I found most interesting) the rise of the magazine art editor and the designed cover. Nearly all the 350 covers in the book are consumer titles, trade and professional magazines don't need to compete on the newsstand.
   
   Steve Taylor writes in a general way about the various changes to cover design over the years though it's fair to say that there are plenty of covers included that look like they had minimal design input but were probably including because of their influence or reflect a past time in society. As well as the main text there are frequent sidebars about particular cover styles, designers or individual magazines like Colors, Stern, Fast Company or Esquire. I was surprised that the captions didn't include credits for the various designers, all you get are the title, date, volume and number. There is no index either.
   
   Interesting though all the covers are the problem with the book is that it is hopelessly over designed. For example:
   * A simple thing like page numbers are used as a design element, they are mostly 1.25 inches high (sometimes bigger) and are in a different position on each spread and annoyingly don't even appear on every page.
   * Each of the five chapters begins on a spread with just the words Chapter 01, 02, 03 etc with the numerals almost a page deep. The next spread has the chapter title in type that fades to nothing across the spread from the left.
   * At the end of each chapter there is a spread devoted to footnotes. The text is minimal so it is really a waste of two pages especially as all of the notes would easily fit at the bottom of the page with the relevant text.
   * There are frequent pull-quotes, set in display type with underscores that appear on the same page as the text the quote is taken from. Who wants to read the same thing twice?
   * The design elements just waste too many pages. The five chapters each have two pages for the chapter number, two pages for the chapter title and two pages for the footnotes. Thirty pages with no covers at all in a 256 page book.
   * Perhaps the most serious fault is that so many of the covers are too small yet there is frequently plenty of empty page space and I mean lots of it.
   All of the above are just designer whimsy and it's a shame that the visual clutter on most pages totally spoil the interesting cover content for the reader.
   
   I think there are much better titles covering a hundred years of cover design. Have a look at Magazine Covers and Front Page: Covers of the Twentieth-Century. Both have plenty of covers presented in a straightforward intelligent design format that are a pleasure to look at.
   
   ***FOR AN INSIDE LOOK click 'customer images' under the cover.