5 comments about Wacky Packages.

1. For the last 10 years I've been dreaming of a book just like Abrams' Wacky Packages archive. Like a lot of kids growing up in the 70s and 80s I had a huge collection of Topps branded sticker cards, from brightly colored and iconic-bordered die-cut movie and TV show sticker subsets, to the sets of beautifully painted parody sticker sets. My main focus was in collection Garbage Pail Kids, but when one looks back we wouldn't have had those without the many Wacky Packages sticker sets. Guys like Len Brown, Woody Gelman, Kim Deitch, Jay Lynch, Art Spiegelman, Peter Orens, Norm Saunders, Ray Hammond, and the Shorin Brothers, the Topps old guard as they were, were the equivalent to trading cards what the staff of MAD magazine was to humor comics, pumping out hundreds of hilarious and deftly rendered product parodies from the late 60s through to the late 80s.
   
   This Abrams coffee table book serves as a cleverly designed art book and an archive of the first seven Wacky Packages series. All of the paintings are presented one to a page and at about double the size of the original stickers in full color. The hardback book itself is smaller than most coffee table volumes (about the size of a standard DVD case), and is wrapped in a nostalgia inducing wax-paper dust cover that resembles a pack of the Wacky Packages stickers. This volume features an interview with Art Spiegelman and a forward by Jay Lynch, as well as some never-before-produced Wacky Packages stickers. It serves as an excellent way to flip though the stickers without having to spring for the long out of print original stickers on the secondary market.
   
   Abrams is also releasing a second volume, titled Wacky Packages New New New, which will feature all of the stickers from series 8 through 14. It's the perfect gift for anyone who loves sticker collecting, Topps, or sticker cards like Garbage Pail Kids, Weird Wheels, and the granddaddy of them all the Ugly Stickers from the 60s.



2. It is great to see these old memories revived. I remember collecting the first set of Wackies, as a kid, back in the late 60's (that same first set was re-released in 1973). A real blast from the past! So much of the history and culture of my age-group (those born between mid 1954 and the end of 1964) has simply fallen between the cracks. I would like to thank Art Spiegelman for bringing back something of our forgotten generation.



3. This is a great book that is done so well! Wonderful pictures of the sticker categorizes by each set that was issued. I grew up in the Wacky Packages era and remembered and had many of these stickers. It was fun going through them with my kids and pointing out the ones I had and seeing if they could figure out the real add/brand that they were spoofing. Some of the adds were a challenge for even my husband and I to figure out. This is a really well done book and great to have in our library!



4. I'm sure anyone who was in elementary school in 1973 remembers the craze that was Wacky Packages! We brought them to school. We stuck them to the backboards of our beds (and everywhere else!). We traded them amongst our friends (although I needed to trade *two* to a boy at school to get one Hungry Jerk pancake mix to finish my 3rd series).
   
   If any of the above rings true to you, then this book will be a great trip down memory lane!
   
   This book reprints all of the cards from the first seven series of Wacky Packages. Most of them have been printed directly from transparencies made off the original art, so those look fantastic. Others were printed from stickers, so those look like...large stickers. And while they do look OK, you will definitely notice the difference between the sticker-based reprints and the higher-quality transparency-based ones.
   
   The book has more going for it too! The dust jacket has the texture of an old wrapper - and it's complete with "imperfections" printed right on (so it *really* looks like an old wrapper!). Take the dust jacket off and there is a piece of that hard-as-a-brick bubblegum printed on the front cover of the book (and a broken piece on the back cover...!)
   
   You will also find a small packet of four "lost" Wacky Package stickers inside the back cover. Opening this packet will give you the same kind of "I wonder what I got?!" thrill you used to get all those years ago! It's a nice touch.
   
   But, there are a couple of minor things that I wish were done differently...
   
   Originally, many Wacky Packages stickers were designed and printed in a "landscape" configuration. But instead of reproducing them top to bottom (so you'd have to turn the book to better see them), they are printed to fit each page (which is designed for "portrait" configuration). This makes it easier to read each landscape-style card, but it also means that they are reproduced a lot smaller than the ones that were portrait-style to begin with. It might have been better to print them "sideways" as turning the book is preferable to having smaller-sized art. ("Hipton Tea" also looked kind of odd. So after a bit of research, I learned that the book used the Hipton Tea artwork from the WP poster series, not the original 4th series sticker.)
   
   It also would have been nice if the book reprinted checklist cards from each series. The checklist / puzzle-piece cards were just as much as part of the whole Wacky-experience as the rock-hard gum and the stickers. And every pack had one of these cards! Trying to figure out ahead of time which product was being lampooned was a big part of the fun, so I kind of felt the book was lacking just a bit due to this one detail. (I mean, they reproduced everything else - even the gum - so why not the checklist cards..?)
   
   All in all, this book is a treat for anyone who got yelled at by her father for ruining the backboard of her bed with original WP stickers, or anyone else who remembers Skimpy Beanut Putter, Putrid Cat Chow, Land O' Quakes butter, or ...Hungry Jerk pancake mix...!



5. This was a great walk down memory lane. There is a history about how Wacky Packages came about and to see the original ones that I collected as a child, minus the stick of bubblegum, was great.

3 comments about The Golden Age of Postcards Early 1900s (Identification & Values (Collector Books)).

1. All was as described. Very good service. The only minor problem was the length of delivery time. Order placed Jan 29, 2010, received Feb 27, 2010.



2. I both collect and sell postcard (just a beginner). The best part about this book are the illustrations--just wonderful. I wish there was more text is the only complaint I can think of.



3. Collecting post cards has been a beloved hobby and pastime from the very beginning of the American postal system and their 19th century introduction to an eager public. THE GOLDEN AGE OF POSTCARD'S identification and values for postcards from the early 1900s will prove an invaluable pick for any interested in pricing or acquiring such postcards, and is a recommendation for any library strong in collector's price guides. Color photos of cards are arranged by season and provide quick look-ups of prices and makers.
   
   Diane C. Donovan
   California Bookwatch

2 comments about Encyclopedia of Collectible Children's Books.

1. Diane McClure Jones & Rosemary Jones' ENCYCLOPEDIA OF COLLECTIBLE CHILDREN'S BOOKS: IDENTIFICATION AND VALUES offers book lists by both author and series, the latest values, and color photos of selected books. The result is a fine survey perfect for any library catering to either general collectors or specializing in children's literature. It packs in the top collectibles and adds a healthy dose of publishing history insights to boot.



2. 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.

4 comments about Old-Fashioned All-Occasion Cards: 24 Cards (Card Books).

1. I really love the old-fashioned all-occasion postcards. The quality is great and they are just beautiful. I hate to cut them out and use them but that is why I bought the card book, cheaper than individual cards at every holiday and less money for postage. I sent the two valentines to granddaughters last month and just mailed the St. Patrick Day cards today. A fantastic product that I recommend to anyone who likes postcards or anyone who just wants to save money on postage.



2. These are absolutely adorable. I love old vintage cards and these are great examples. They are so cute I almost hate to mail them out (but I will!)



3. If old post cards fascinate you, but you can't find or afford the now antique originals, then this is the book for you. Really well done reproductions.



4. This is a charming collection that invokes memories of a gentler time. The postcards feature holiday themes, most with sweet faced children and soft, cuddly animals. The patriotic cards (Memorial Day, President's Day, Fourth of July)are rousing and powerful. This is a delightful collection that will charm the recipient.

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

1. Wow- what a beautifully photographed book with some exciting and interesting ideas for collages and uses of found objects. I am not very good at assembling intertesting combinations so this will really help with compostions and sources for ideas.



2. 
   This is a great book for people who are interested in making collages using antique ephemera, postcards, etc. It has many ideas for using these materials. I was an antique dealer and have a lot of this paper ephemera and old photographs which I kept when I quit my business. However, you can obtain these items at auctions, antique malls, on ebay, or look in your Grandparent's attic. Norma Meier



3. Vintage Collage-Works is really simple to understand as the techniques are designed to help beginners create beautiful works of art instantly. It's definitely a book I would recommend to anyone interested in learning about collage art, but may be intimated by the process.



4. This book is a beautiful journey into the world of vintage images and ephemera with some very creative project ideas! I really enjoyed it!



5. I bought the book based on the title and the cover and how lucky to hit the jackpot. This book is brimming with inspiration! Offers step-by-steps for the less experienced artist but the step outs aren't so overbearing that a more seasoned artist can't take the projects and explode in a frenzy of creativity. Several pages of clip art in the back for scanning and using - a great addition for those who are just beginning their ephemera collections.
   
   I would say this book, quite aptly, caters to every level of collage or mixed media artist who loves working with ephemera. Love this book! One of my favorites.

5 comments about Stereo Views: An Illustrated History & Price Guide.

1. i am a new collector of stereoscopic viewers and stereo view cards from winning one at an auction... and i wanted to know more about my find, and make sure that my purchase price was in range... and this book is fantastic! it is interesting reading and finding the no. of the cards and descriptions is very easy. There is even a section at the end devoted to Viewmasters... a great reference guide and detailed index to the viewmaster collector. i also purchased a 2nd copy for my friend who has collected viewmasters for years... and she can't put it down. she had no idea there were 3D viewers before the traditional viewmaster of today!! i'm very, very happy with my purchase and have made good use of it already, purchasing more viewers and reels too.



2. 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.



3. 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.



4. 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.



5. 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 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!

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

1. I borrowed from my library four other books on papermaking before I ordered this. I should have read this one FIRST! (Problem was, no library in our system would let it out on loan.) I would have bought fewer supplies and been less puzzled by techniques demonstrated in the previous books.
   
   Mr. Grummer may have written at length about some of the techniques, but the photos were excellent at demonstrating what he described. Thanks to his photos, I was able to build my own frame from scrap wood and screening I had on hand. The author's encouragement and humor kept the instructions interesting. And my first try at making paper was satisfying. I went on to experiment with paper-recycling combinations and produced 23 sheets, all different. Those sheets, in turn, were used in one of a kind Christmas gifts.
   
   The author did a fine job, not only explaining techniques, but giving the reader enough understanding to modify the techniques to suit individual needs and available supplies.



2. Grummer's Papermaking book is excellent. Lots of good instructions for getting started and lots of crative ideas to go for and incorporate. Great book. LC



3. 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!



4. 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?'




5. 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.

5 comments about Halloween: Romantic Art and Customs of Yesteryear Postcard Book.

1. I really think this is a great set of postcards with a great selection. I think it will be good for decorating and scrapbooking.



2. Love the look of these post cards. Wish I could afford the originals but since I can't these are excellent!



3. These postcards are really neat! I wanted to tear them out and put them up for Halloween, but I couldn't bear to take the book apart (call it librarian syndrome). The images really got me interested in the history of Halloween and even inspired me to do some vintage looking Halloween crafts. I want to get the book by the same author that explains the significance of the images.



4. Vintage Halloween is so much better than our unimaginative Halloween. Commercial isn't the problem, it was commercial back then, as well. It was just more imaginative. None of the cards that they sell for Halloween can compare to these.



5. This book provides terrific postcards from "back in the day" (WAY back). These can be used as is or to give one inspiration. Lots of fun any way you use them.

5 comments about Huxfords Old Book Value Guide (Huxford's Old Book Value Guide, 13th ed).

1. This guide is for the in-between books. It is for books that are not so old that they would be very hard to find. It contains 25,000 listings of old books with current values. It also lists a directory of over 200 dealers and collectors who are willing to buy the types of old books listed in the guide.
   
   Here are a few examples:
   
   John F Kennedy, Profiles In Courage, 1956 1st ed. F/NF $150.00
   Rachel Carson, Silent Spring, 1962 1st ed. F/NF $150.00
   Woody Guthrie, Bound For Glory, 1943 1st ed. G/dj $65.00



2. When I purchased Huxford's Old Book Value Guide, I imagined that the books that were covered might be older than those written by Len Deighton and Marian Zimmer Bradley. There's lots of stuff from 1970 on, but coverage of genuinely old books is very sparse. The title of this guide is extremely misleading, but if late 20th Century books are your area of interest, you might find this useful. I didn't.



3. This book does list values of 25,000 books as it claims, but it is incomplete in some very frustrating ways that have to do with how it was put together. The authors apparently contacted a number of book dealers and collected their 'inventories' into a database. These were then consolidated into the listing(s) of this book.

   But what that means is that you find an extremely unsystematic selection of titles. You may find a $500 title that someone has been trying to sell for years right above a run-of-the-mill used-bookstore title selling for $15. You could find an author's second book listed, but not the first or third. As a lookup/reference tool is is hardly useful.

   I once thought this book would be a nice supplement to the other collecting books that focus on more high-end titles... something to take along to yard sales and the like to see if the $0.25 book was 'worth' $50 or $0.50. Well, even with 25,000 titles you can imagine that many more books are not listed here. Far too often I would not find a listing but COULD NOT KNOW if the book was valuable or not... its non-existence in this book just means one of the selected sellers did not have it in stock. I also kept finding entries in the $25/$30 range - right at the point where it might be a collectable underlisted by that one store or just their overpriced junk. With only a single such listing to consider, I just couldn't know.

   The overlarge physical size of the book also seemed unwieldy to me. Combined with the sense of slap-together technique and a look at the number of other "Huxfords" listings, I frankly feel that it is just an attempt to grab a piece of the growing 'collectibles' market.




4. I am sure this book is excellent for antiquarian/rare book lovers, but I like popular authors with books 20-30 years old too, and those seem to be lacking in this guide a bit. Unless you are a professional book dealer, you will not fetch these prices on the internet, it is flooded with booksellers and the worth of a fine book seems to be waning. But all-in-all it is a good guide to go by when looking up older hardbacks.



5. If you know your books fairly well to begin with, then this book will be at times, helpful. If you are looking for a way to bone up on collectibles, you may just be discouraged. A lot of very noteworthy books are left out, which leaves the reader to wonder if a little favoritism may be going on with the Author. Overall, I still had to rate a solid 4 for good effort in organizing a generally helpful refference guide to the new and seasoned book hound. For the money, it's a go.