No comments about Wacky Packages.

1 comments about Vintage Collage-Works: Artful Ideas with Antique Ephemera.

1. I was somewhat disappointed with this book. It is a nice take on mixed media collage with tips on painting, but not as new or innovative as I had hoped.

5 comments about Old-Fashioned Halloween Cards: 24 Cards.

1. I ordered this booklet of postcards for my boyfriend because he loves vinatge halloween postcards and other collectibles. I was surprised when I received this booklet because it has 6 pages with 4 postcards on each and they are perforated for easy removal and are very glossy. My only complaint is that I would want the postcards to be heavier stock i fear of them tearing or crumpling in the mail. I would recommend getting two of these books, one to tear out the cards and mail them to friends and family and the other to keep as a coffee table book. It will surely bring back memories of Halloween and keep your friends talking about old memories. I was very impressed with this buy as was my boyfriend. :-)I definetly recommend it!



2. These old-fashioned Halloween cards are spooktacular enough to make any recipient smile. A great way to say Happy Halloween in style!



3. If you like old fashioned Halloween graphics this book is for you. The format is made to allow you to tear out the cards. If you can bear to part with these gorgeous cards they can be send US mail. Or if you love Halloween as I do you will want to keep these to use as inspiration in costumes and perhaps decorating. Very pretty graphics.



4. I was thrilled when these arrived.
   They are so lovely I almost wish I had ordered another set to cut out and use while saving the other.
   The cards are a nice quality stock and have a shiny finish to them.
   The colors are bright and cheerful.
   I am beyond pleased.



5. 4 postcards per page, printed in beautiful rich color on heavy stock. perforations between cards - you will probably want to use a paper trimmer to get a nicer edge before using them. A nice variety of wonderful vintage halloween designs featuring children. great for postcards, or as decor!

4 comments about Arnold Grummer's Complete Guide to Easy Papermaking.

1. Since the local craft store carries the Arnold Grummer supplies for papermaking, I decided to buy his book - Arnold Grummer's Complete Guide to Easy Papermaking. (Mr. Grummer also has a website.) The instructions in the book are very clearly illustrated by photographs. Many variations in colors and textures are shown. You'll need a frame set and cotton linter both available at the craft store, a blender and paper scraps. Easy to recycle old envelopes or paper (discard the black print which will turn the paper grey). Variations: Colored paper tints the pulp. Add dried flowers and leaves. Emboss wet pulp with brass stencil. Hot tip: When pressing out the excess water from the wet pulp, use a rolling pin!



2. There's an old adage that says, "Never judge a book by its cover."

   That was certainly true for me when I first looked at Arnold Grummer's Complete Guide To Paper Casting. My initial reaction to the cover (& many of the 'projects' was--How 70s can you get?

   Fortunately, I followed the adage's advice and read a few chapters. Result? I found a valuable addition to my how-to library.

   The authors (Arnold & Mabel Grummer) have created a work which is rich with detail. They offer techniques, tips, history, ideas & more in such an easy to read manner that whatever your interest &/or skill level, you will find yourself casting pulp before you know it.

   Saavy enough to recognize that many crafty types want to get started without reading 'War & Peace', the authors provide readers with a quick start-up in Chapter 2. I made my first paper cast within thirty minutes of reading the instructions--(took me twelve minutes to find the blender!)

   From that point on, I found myself enjoying (& learning) so much. I picked up a vocabulary without needing to consult a dictionary; began exploring additives & molds & generally having FUN with paper casting in ways I had not considered.

   With the current trend in paper crafts/arts, I heartily recommend this book to scrapbookers, altered-bookers & collagists. I also recommend it to anyone who has ever asked 'What If?'




3. I love this book. Arnold Grummer is fantastic. This book explains everything you need to know about paper, and making paper, in a very simple way. I especially love the beginning of the book where he gets into the technical aspects of what IS paper and why we can make our own. There are also many full-color samples of handmade paper that I found very inspiring. This book will keep you busy trying all the embellishment and inclusion techniques, too, including botanicals, pin drawing, and coloring. I'll be using this book for a long time, and I recommenend it to everyone.



4. The day I recieved this book I could not put it down, I had to read the entire book! From the start, it is an encouraging and creative book to be used in every aspect of the papermaking process. Unfortunately the only parts I felt were weak would be for paper artists who want a totally acid free paper. His comments on that though, do need to be believed because He is the curator of the Dard Hunter paper museum and a paper chemist. He feels that the best way to make that type of paper is to start with recycled paper that is already acid free. Those artists who create from plants alone may not find enough information to please them,yet many of His techniques can still be applied with their experience to create very artistic paper. Even beginners can tackle the most professional results with this book in hand. I feel even children could achieve surprising results with the processes he shows, step by step, using mostly home supplies. He shows you how to make your own mold and deckle too! The "moon paper" recipe he shows you how to create is worth the price of the book alone! Out of my entire library of paper books, this does stand on its own for the most part and for that reason, I recommend it for all beginner and intermediate artists and every papermaking teacher.Your creative juices will flow with this book!

2 comments about Matchbox Labels: Over 2,000 Elegant Examples from All Over the World.

1. I bought this as I'm interested in popular graphics and the two thousand samples included certainly capture the flavor of this tiny corner of the printed ephemera market.
   
   The book is very well designed and printed but ultimately I was rather disappointed with the contents. There is a sameness about so many of these labels. The huge number from the old Soviet Union and the Eastern Block certainly look similar, only to be expected I guess but other nations output also seem bland and unimaginative. Perhaps the reason is that most of the labels included are brands rather than advertising labels that are so common today. Strangely none of the labels are dated but I would guess that most of them were produced several decades ago and the cheapness of liquid lighters now has reduced match output.
   
   As another reviewer has commented the absence of North American product maybe also explains the lack of pizzazz and color. The matchbook was the flame of choice for Americans and there are no examples of these included.
   
   This will probably be the standard book about matchbox labels because it is so comprehensive. The American matchbook is another story; their colorful design and huge output over the years will still produce occasional new titles. The one I like best is:Close Cover Before Striking: The Golden Age of Matchcover Art (Recollectibles) with several hundred matchbook covers in an attractively designed book.
   
   ***FOR AN INSIDE LOOK click 'customer images' under the cover.



2. Well designed and printed on quality paper, this well-stocked archive is a decent production for collectors, fans, and graphic designers. It's organization is clear and the color labels easily identified.
   
   However, the most obvious shortcoming, and one that I found frustrating, was the amazing lack of North American selections. Nearly the entire 2,000 examples showcased are from former Soviet Union satellites and Asia. This isn't necessarily a bad thing - as you get a very good sense of Soviet-era constructivism and wonderful Asian simplicity & beauty. But the lack of labels from the United States, Canada and Mexico is sorely missed.
   
   Although unbalanced - I would recommend this to devotees of the genre - if only to expose them to labels that aren't often seen. However, for graphic designers and fans of Americana, I would recommend focusing on selections by Chronicle Books.

5 comments about Stereo Views: An Illustrated History and Price Guide (Stereo Views).

1. This is a "must-have" book for the serious collector of stereo views and those just now getting interested in this fascinating subject. Waldsmith really knows his stuff. Highly recommended.
   
   -David Burkhart, author of Earthquake Days: The 1906 San Francisco Earthquake & Fire in 3-D.



2. This is an excellent history of the 19th and early 20th century phenomeon "stereo views" in which two copies of a photograph were produced on a letter-sized card and viewed through a hand-held viewer to see the picture in 3-D effect. You still see these old photo cards occasionally at flea markets and antique shops and they have been avidly collected for generations although this form of entertainment died out around the 1920's. Mr. Waldsmith gives us detailed listings of many of the stereo view cards, price value, and information on many photographers. A wonderful bonus for the baby boom generation is the inclusion of the history of Viewmasters, the "updated" version of SVs a fond memory for children for over 50 years and still being issued today. Waldsmith includes a complete list of Viewmaster photo reels and packets issued up through the book's publication as well as the less popular rivals of Viewmaster in the past. Highly recommended even if you don't collect either stereo views or viewmaster reels and invaluable if you do.



3. The revised edition is excellent, apart from forming a useful catalogue of stereographs to seek out, it is also a wonderful history of the many subjects photographed in 3-D over the years. I rated it at 4 stars rather than 5 because I consider the reduced content of the index to be a retrograde step. Having said that it is a 'must have' for all stereographers.



4. There are prices listed, as well as tips about how to grade collectibles. While prices are always debatable, it is still a great reference. With more than 300 photos on a total 336 pages it is also a wonderful book to browse.

   A true "must have" book for any stereo collector!




5. This is a brand new, year 2002, 336 page book with over 3,000 detailed listings of stereo view collectibles. It has more than 500 black and white photos with a wealth of useful and interesting text on this popular collectible. Chapters include care, condition, and dates of views, evaluating views, leading photographers and publishers and much information on modern era 3-D visual collectibles, including Tru-Vue, Novelviews, View-Master, GAF and more. The volume is completely indexed for easy location of items. Very comprehensive updated value guide. This updated edition is a must for stereo view enthusiasts. Add it to your library.

5 comments about Firecrackers: The Art and History.

1. My husband was looking for a book on firecrackers and I tried the local book stores, i.e. Barnes and Nobles, Bookmart, Books a Million, but no luck. I browsed the internet and the reviews on firecracker reference materials were few and far between. Finally I came across this book on Amazon and took a chance it would please him.....he's quite picky about his reference library. This soft-cover book is GREAT! It is packed with beautiful, vibrant full color photos of the common labels all the way up to the very rare. The book layout is dotted with photos and the glossary is helpful to even the intermediate collector. The section "Interview with a Collector" gives a nice insightful look into the pursuit of fireworks labels. The history of firecrackers is also discussed, giving the collector a great back-story to the industry. No price guide, but that is fine with my husband, as it tends to date a book after a couple of years. This is an informative addition to the Hubby's library......he's happy and I'm glad.



2. Bright, colorful pages packed with color illustrations and photos chart the art and history of the firecracker, from their construction and advancement to the making of labels and items promoting them. Beautiful drawings pack an illustrated history which invites leisure browsers as much as researchers, and which is very highly recommended for general library collections.



3. This book shows great insite into the history of the firecracker and the intricate artwork involved with the packaging of them. The clarity of the illustrations are wonderful, its hard to believe some of the labels are as old as they are. I highly recommend this book to anyone who can remember the excitement of being able to "set off" these firecrackers on the 4th of July, without worrying about breaking the law. Those of you who were not as lucky to experience this thrill, will definitely find this book fun.



4. Excellent beautifully illustrated book well worth the money. The illustrations and layout are extremely well done. This is easy reading that covers some terrtory not well documented anywhere else (Vietnam.) Some historical inaccuracies especially in the history of the manufacture of "Chinese" crackers in the 20th century. Overall an excellent job! Highly reccomended to anyone who has an interest in the subject, or who just likes the imagery of the old labels.



5. (As noted in the last pages of this book, firecrackers are now politically incorrect, suffering the wrath of do-gooders, safety mavens and law enforcement. For those of us old enough to remember a pre-"nanny state" summer, this book brings back wonderful memories. By the time I was old enough to get real cherry bombs, they were outlawed. But I could tell a few stories...)

   I always wondered how even today, firecrackers in their millions could be produced. The answer, documented in his book, surprised me. This book reveals the fate of the companies whose names appeared on the labels I saw in the 1960s. Ever wonder what happened to Kwong Hing Tai? The authors reveal how the firecracker trade developed in China and made its way to the United States. Even some of today's importers are mentioned.

   Technically speaking, the book is well printed and the illustrations are crisp and sharp, not bad for paper originals that may be most of 100 years old. Although not exhaustive, there is good reference for collectors. I'd recommend you to get a copy of this book while it is still available. I look forward to many hours of pleasure leafing through my copy.

1 comments about Collector's Guide To Cookbooks: Identification & Values (Collector Books).

1. Looking forward to sorting out my collection and getting all of it in order.

1 comments about Devilish Greetings: Vintage Devil Postcards.

1. Book Review by Susan Brown Nicholson
   
   
   Beauchamp, Monte. Devilish Greetings, 2007, 160p, 160 color ill, ISBN 978-1-56097-871-8: Grath & Thompson, Fantographic Books, WA. To order: Fantagraphics Books, 7563 Lake City Way NE, Seattle, WA 98115, 1-800-657-1100.
   
   Once again Graphic designer Monte Beauchamp has produced a delightful book on a devilish subject, vintage devil postcards. The illustrations are outlandishly delightful with examples of metamorphic, novelty, and outstanding publishers like Osnabrucker Papierwaaren Fabrik (OPF), and more.
   
   Devilish Greetings is a fiery, full-color survey of spooky, kooky and delightfully demented devil postcards from days gone by. It is a fun filled page turner, a must have for anyone interested in the visual arts, pop culture, and the glory days of the penny postcard.
   
   The Devil made me do it, is a well known phrase. At the turn of the last century, postcard artists delighted at producing comic art to portray this mythical creature. While as Beauchamp points out, the Devil seems to have appeared in every form of mass-marketed printed matter, no where is he more prevalent than on the picture post card.
   
   The Earliest examples are European, but went on to promote the haunting holidays of Halloween, and to celebrate the sinful and saucy side of life. This book features some of the most fantastic images of this horned creature whether he is in red, blue or black. He frolics in flight with wings and tosses his long tail as a form of expression. Don't miss the colorful antics of this creature featured on the pages of this delightful book.
   
   The design of the book itself makes you want to jump into the fray and start collecting this image. The examples illustrated are outstanding with a nice smattering of the Krampus through the pages. Don't miss this as a devilish gift for someone on your list.

5 comments about An Ounce of Preservation : A Guide to the Care of Papers and Photographs.

1. This is one terrific book. Just what I needed to get started with my old photos and papers before it was too late to salvage them. Obviously, Mr. Tuttle (the author) knows his stuff. "My stuff" has been saved by his sage advice. Thanks, Mr. Tuttle.



2. As a guide book written specifically for lay persons, An Ounce of Preservation has an educational mandate. As such, it is compelled to offer well-researched and accurate information in all details. At the same time, it attempts to simplify a highly complex field to fit the format of a short booklet that can be understood by a reader who has never concerned himself with document preservation before. The main dilemma of this book becomes apparent at the point where these two goals meet: simplification versus accuracy - can both coexist? Some critical observations must be made that demonstrate how the author has compromised the accuracy of his text by falling into some of the traps of over-simplification.

   In the process of simplification, information must be excluded, and the choice of what to omit and what to highlight is not an easy one, particularly in view of the rich history of photographic processes. The guiding principle should be to describe foremost the processes most likely to be encountered by the family historian in his personal collection of historic documents. Unfortunately, Tuttle has decided to concentrate on less common processes. He mentions gelatin based black and white prints in only one sentence, and almost as an afterthought (p. 28), although this process accounted for the vast majority of all photographic prints for about 70 years. Collodion prints, though widespread and likely to be present in every album that goes back at least to the 1880s, are not even mentioned once. Rather, the author describes negatives in detail and even dedicates two sentences to albumen coated glass plates, which never abounded and are exceedingly rare today.

   Complex cause/effect relationships may become too difficult to describe in short paragraphs, but their simplification can easily lead to slight or great inaccuracies, as can be seen throughout the book. The use of parentheses as a space saving method of explaining a former term can lead to misunderstandings, as for example with the description of the calotype process, which "involved the application of silver iodide (a light-sensitive solution) to a sheet of paper..." (p. 24). Silver iodide may be light-sensitive, but it is not a solution, as Tuttle's wording implies. Silver iodide is in fact insoluble in water, and can thus only be formed on the paper fibres by the subsequent application of two aqueous solutions to the paper surface: that of potassium iodide and that of silver nitrate. Had the author formulated his explanation accurately, he might have written, for example: "...involved the precipitation of light-sensitive silver iodide on a sheet of paper". The use of chlorides was actually more common than that of iodides at that time.

   Next to shortening by exclusion of information, the author has chosen to use what he calls plain language - a term that indicates that he is avoiding complex language which the lay reader could not understand. In going down this path, Tuttle uses a terminology that implies that the issue at hand is really more complicated than he can expect the reader to grasp. One of the most used terms in this book is "pH-balanced", which is neither defined, nor used consistently in one sense. The true meaning of this term, which, incidentally, is not commonly used in conservation literature, remains elusive no matter how long it is contemplated. In An Ounce of Preservation it is used to describe any material that is archivally "good", but it does not, for example, differentiate between paper with an alkaline reserve (p. 15) and that which is pH neutral (p. 59). Should a family genealogist come to me as a trained conservator and ask if he should use "pH-balanced" paper to house his negatives, I could only respond with a blank look on my face. Tuttle misses the important opportunity in this and other cases to give his readers the adequate vocabulary to communicate on an appropriate level with professional conservators.

   On a positive note, the author has kept the chapter on repair and cleaning very basic (p. 63). The techniques he describes are among those that are considered standard preservation measures in the contemporary understanding of minimal intervention. Any complex treatment, Tuttle stresses, should only be carried out by a professional conservator. This makes it clear that many treatments can easily lead to greater damage if carried out lightheartedly. The inclusion of a description of the ethics and complexities of the work of a conservator as well as definitions of basic terminology might have been beneficial, however, as self-help books will often give the reader the impression that a do-it-yourself approach will always work.

   The absolute condemnation of the lamination of documents (pp. 45-46) brings up the concept of reversibility, which is fundamental (even if impossible to comply with) for the understanding and application of conservation treatments. Although the book does cover many sources of deterioration and gives hints on housing documents, the most important advice is missing: how to actually handle your papers and prints. The ground rules should be clearly stated at the beginning of the chapter on storage and care (p. 55): maintain a clean workspace, refrain from smoking, eating and drinking in the presence of important documents, and simply wash your hands before handling them. Humans, after all, are the greatest source of danger to documents.

   Despite the many small inaccuracies, omissions, and simply false statements, such as the definition of relative humidity in the glossary (p. 93), distributed throughout the book, An Ounce of Preservation does install in the reader a sense of appreciation for those old papers and faded photographs in the basement. This is an important achievement in itself. Apparently, an expanded second edition of this book is in preparation. One must hope that, prior to publication, Craig Tuttle will submit his manuscript to a paper conservator and photo historian for review, so that his book can advance from being 'recommendable with reservations and in view of the lack of alternatives' to 'wholly recommendable' from the conservator's point of view.




3. With no background in caring for old photos and papers, I was in a quandry over what to do with the box full of items left to me by my deceased uncle. I didn't have the money for a professional to refresh and repair the photos, many of which suffered from long years of neglect. So I went online in search of a publication that would tell me where to start. An Ounce of Preservation provided me, a true archival dummie, with the groundwork I needed to begin the restoration project. As I sent off for information from companies listed in the appendix of the book, I learned more and more, unti I now feel like a blooming expert! I have a great scrapbook of my uncle's photos that I can pass on to my grandchildren, and it's a scrapbook that takes care of the items instead of aiding in their destruction. Without all the easy-to-follow techniques and many, many leads for more information provided in the book, I doubt if I would have ever had the courage to tackle the job myself. And since I didn't have the money for professional help, all those precious items of family history would still be deteriorating away in my closet. I contacted the publisher (to find out how to contact the author) only to learn that a greatly expanded second edition of this book is in the works. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn the basics -- it was all news to me!



4. "An Ounce of Preservation" is more aptly described as a pamphlet which delivers only the most BASIC information that most people nowadays regard as common knowledge. The reader looking for practical help, such as what solution to use to clean a smudged photo from the twenties, will find very little to go by (no more than a three-sentence paragraph for the cleaning of old photos). This thin book might have been more successful if the author had limited his scope and treated his subject in more detail. As it is, it's a lot to pay for text that can be read in less than an hour.



5. To learn more about old photographs and their care, I ordered three books; An Ounce of Preservation by Craig Tuttle, Collector's Guide to Early Photographs by O. Henry Mace, and Care and Identification of 19th Century Photographic Prints by James Reilly.

   An Ounce of Preservation, A Guide to the Care of Papers and Photographs, is a small, almost pocket size book that can be read quickly. It has a good description of all the major types / categories of photographs (Daguerreotypes, Tintypes, Albumen, etc.) that have been produced since the birth of photography. It helps identify the specific type of damage likely to be found, and then provides advice to both reduce further deterioration and to treat the damage.

   Unlike the other books, An Ounce of Preservation provides a background on the paper manufacturing process, which is helpful for understanding the base structure of an old photograph. Also unlike the other books, it also addresses the care of various other types of paper documents (manuscripts, postage stamps, trading cards, postcards, comic books, magazines, etc.)

   This is a great book for gaining a basic understanding of the types / categories of old photographs in existence and easy-to-implement procedures for reducing their deterioration. Anyone who cares about maintaining old family records or local historical records would find this book very useful. If a detailed knowledge is desired regarding either the types of old photographs or the proper care for old paper based photographs, then one of the other two books I purchased would be better. However, the other two books are not as concise, and you would need to purchase both of them to learn about both the types of photographs and their care.