3 comments about German Military Collectibles Price Guide: Collector Items of Historical Interest from Imperial Germany and the Third Reich.

1. This book is so out of date it isn't even funny. Save your money and buy a real book on German collecting from a reputiable writer. This book is a complete waste of time and money.



2. Concise is being generous. Skip this book, Whitmans are the ones to buy.



3. Published by the reknowned Manions' Auction Company, this small book is a concise price guide to german militeria. Included in the price guide is almost everything: books, helmets, medals, badges, uniforms, photos, identification books, posters etc.. Heavily illustrated with small photographs and concisely described, the items number in the thousands. Sadly, however, the prices listed are now almost seven years out of date. It is now rare for example, to find an original Second World War, Iron Cross First Class for only $85.00. A good supplemental reference work and a useful "floor" price reference, this book provides a good representation of items usually offered for sale on the open market. This book however,is by no means comprehensive. It should never be used to completely authenticate an item.

1 comments about Warman's Civil War Field Guide (Warman's Field Guides).

1. This purports to be a handy field guide that on can take to autcions, flea markets, and the like for indentification purposes.
   
   Descriptions read like those that usually accompany reputable auction house photographs, published in pre-auciton catalogues that ordinarily cost 3 times the suggested price of this book. In this case, however, far too many decriptions have no accompanying photograph.
   
   Unfortunately, the prices given are somewhat (to be kind) out of date. Further more, many of the item classes are specialties in themselves, and provenance (meaning proof of origin in writing) is more reliable than informaiton that can be crammed into a "field book" of this sort. Descriptions of items with no photos of an example are really useless to the novice and meaningless to the cognoscenti.
   
   One of the positive aspects of the book are the occasional diversions regarding what kinds of items are difficult to fake (e.g., flags) but there is no dicussion of how to evaluate any purported Confederate item (whether used after pickup on the battlefield, manufactured in the South, or imported. Such issues are critical to anyone willing to put hundreds of dollars into any Civil War item.
   
   The Glossary is also good, but too short--the Index a positive, but also brief. If you are going to go into collecting, you're going to need much more than this type of "field guide."
   
   An investment of a few hundred dollars in specialized books (e.g. Civil War Rifles, Dance & Brothers Revolvers, Civil War Swords come to mind), will save one hundreds of dollars in errant purchases. "Caveat Emptor"--let the buyer beware!!

2 comments about Toys Go to War: World War II Military Toys, Games, Puzzles, & Books.

1. I came to this book as a World War II history buff. I am also a serious collector of a limited type of World War II items--not toys. Coming from this perspective, I loved this book because it showed me an area that was virtually unknown to me even though I have been studying the war seriously for more than 20 years. Furthermore, I simply enjoyed it. My one complaint is the horizontal format which makes it difficult to read.



2. This is one of many books that are currently very popular which deal with items from the mid 20th century. Sure there are lots of toys that many of our parents and grandparrents will remember, especially if they spent formative years during WW2. Yet my feelings about this book are torn. For a comparable price you can purchase similar themed books (albeit not about war toys) that is presented in full color. That minor quibble having been said, it is still a one of a kind book that most collectors should own.

2 comments about V for Victory Collectibles.

1. This book is remarkably full of errors. Multiple prices for the same item are listed in different locations. Items are completely mislabelled with regard to what they are made of or what they are. When comparing prices in this guide with his other homefront guide the prices for many items are completely different reflecting this authors failure to be consistent and to proofread his work. Were it not for the pics sent by the collectors, this book would have zero utility. The pics are good thanks to his contributors but the rest of the guide for accuracy and integrity is sorely lacking. Give it a one star because of the pics. I'd pass on this sloppy work...



2. This is a brand new 2001 volume featuring a wide array of collectibles with the "V" for victory from the 1940's. Many photos are large, sharp, and in full color. Most are super black and white photos. There's a nice introduction. Major topics range from Pearl Harbor, Banks, Music, V-Mail, Postcards to Linens, Stamps, Bonds, Banners, and Victory Gardens,Toys, Ads, posters, and much more. Adequate text is provided. This is a very timely book, with patriotism at an all time high. It's of interest to every American, no matter their year of birth. Add it to your library.

2 comments about Uniforms of the French Revolutionary Wars 1789-1802.

1. Haythornthwaite provides background to the French Revolutionary Wars followed by 62 pages of color illustrations keyed to 44 pages of text descriptions.A nicely illustrated look at the men who composed the French Army and the Allies, their weapons and equipment, and their tactics in combat. Six appendices provide further information on French and Prussian uniforms. New to this edition is an extended bibliography.Useful appendices, a bibliography, glossary, and index round out this book



2. This book covers the uniforms as they transitioned from Frederican to the better-known Napoleonic Glory Years. These are the soldiers that forged Gen. Bonaparte's reputation in Northern Italy. Some obscure entries, too, for those miniature collectors looking, say, for a dromedary corps! Good buy!!

3 comments about American Military Collectibles Price Guide.

1. Although the prices are somewhat out of date this book is still a very useful reference for the collector of American military collectibles. It is not a reference for the collector of Nazi militaria as the other two reviewers seem to suggest.



2. Save your money, or you'll be sorry. This is simply a marketing tool for the authors ego, and not for the serious collector of Third Reich collectables. Smart collectors will look past this book and move on to true experts in the field.



3. This book is seriously out of date, and is a waste of time and money for the collector. Ron Manion is apparently an expert on Nazi items, that what his auction mostly sells, but that's about it. This book will get the serious collector in a lot of trouble by using it as a reference.

5 comments about Mauser Military Rifles of the World (Mauser Military Rifles of the World, 2nd ed).

1. I enjoy the information this book gives. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is I wish some of the info was a little more detailed. All in all a great reference book.



2. This, the Fourth Edition, is the best yet. All-colour, with additional features such as tables of production runs by manufacturers within countries enhances the value of this book to the student of system Mauser.
   
   The photographs are in the main of high quality and the crests and markings have been enhanced by skilful techniques which show off the (sometimes) faint markings.
   
   A worthy reference to supplement the works by Olson and Smith.
   
   C Forsyth



3. I had hesitation to buy this book reading other reviews; but I am positively surprised when I received the book 4 days ago, and just be really happy with it. It is NOT a book to cover the technical details of mauser rifle design; that one should refer to the book by Olson. Robert Ball did a wonderful job to cover so many mauser rifle versions and its derivatives across the world, and cross-referenced as much as he could. Of course, if any one focuse on the mauser rifles in a particular country, he would probably find this book lacking the depth. With so many countries/models, it is no surprise that the situation can be very confusing; and Ball did a damn good job sorting through; and every single page is for color pictures!



4. This is the most comprehensive work on Mauser style rifles I have seen.
   It covers rifles made from all over the world. If you are into Mauser Rifle history, this is the book for you.



5. Ball's MAUSER MILITARY RIFLES OF WORLD uses an organizational format similar to W.H.B. Smith's classic SMALL ARMS OF THE WORLD. Both books group rifles by the nations which used them.
   
   I find that format convenient for research and it also reminds me how many countries used Mausers. I have the 1996 edition and found the illustrations, which include a lot of color photographs, to be a major selling point for the book. It lacks the depth of Ludwig Olson's comprehensive MAUSER BOLT RIFLES, but is much more profusely illustrated.
   
   I have a number of Mauser rifles in my collection and I found them all in Ball's book. While he doesn't go into them as deeply as Olson does, the information was accurate and easy to read. This may not be the case with later editions, but Krause Publications did a nice job with the 1996 edition. It's a great-looking book and I enjoy the photographs. I didn't see errors in captioning either, but I don't pretend to be an authority on Mausers.
   
   I like them. I collect them. I shoot them, but I might have missed some errors in captioning or text. It looked accurate to me insofar as I could tell.
   
   This book makes a great companion to Olson's book and I gave it five stars.

No comments about A Short History of Costume & Armour: Two Volumes Bound as One (Dover Pictorial Archives).

1 comments about Militaria - A Study of German Helmets & Uniforms 1729-1918: A Study of German Helmets and Uniforms, 1729-1918 (Schiffer Military History).

1. This book is filled with useful information . It has excellent text and plenty of period photographs, coupled with photo's of every type of headgear worn by the Imperial German Military . This book is a must for anyone interested in this period of history , collector and historian alike.

2 comments about United States Navy Scrapbook (Military Scrapbook Series).

1. I just want to say the Navy scrap book, was a great purchase and it had more in it then the ones you purchase from a store and the price was way cheaper then the store also. keep up the good work amazon.com.
   This was not my first purchase from amazon.com, I go to amazon.com first before e-bay or any other shops and I find that amazon.com is where I end up purchasing my items from.
   Thank You
   Carol



2. I bought this scrapbook, elsewhere and paid more, but it's fantastic! I designed this gift to give to my husband for his last birthday. I contacted an old ship-mate (USS GRANT) and received photos, anecdotes, etc. to place in the album. It came out great and the album just helped to enhance the whole "picture!"
   I highly recommend this album for your Navy scrapbooking. There are so many stickers and embellishments out now, it's so easy to commemorate those Navy experiences!