4 comments about Miller's Movie Collectibles.

1. I've read a lot of books on collectibles over the years. Many of them are no more than price guides - this one is actually a pleasure to READ. Tons of great nuggets of fascinating info. I read it from cover to cover, even the sections on items I have no interest in collecting.
   Yes, it is heavy on posters, lobby cards and other paper items, but so is the whole world of movie memorabilia collecting, so I think it only reflects what people most likely want to know about.
   My only criticism of this book is that it could have been a lot longer and more comprehensive. Maybe someday there will be a sequel. Also, some of the photos are great and I would have preferred a larger format to show them off.



2. As usual, a typical book that focuses on just movie posters and throws small scraps to the rest of movie memorabilia material. Nothing new here.



3. Lavishly illustrated guide to movie posters and associated film collectibles. Informative text. This book is valuable to collectors at all levels, from "I just really like this movie," to those who collect rare items as well.

   Information about caring for and restoring posters is also helpful to all who care to preserve their posters effectively.

   Collectors and film lovers alike will find this book a great addition to their library.
   
   Fans of the PBS series Antiques Roadshow will be glad to see more info from one of their regular appraisers, Rudy Franchi.




4. Rudy and Barbara Franchi have created, in my mind, the most definitive primer to date that deserves a place in the PERMANENT library of EVERY movie poster or memorabilia fan in the world.

   "Miller's Movie Collectibles" packs a wallop - especially for bookish geeks like yours truly who demand a ton of poster and memorabilia images - AS WELL AS fluid prose/text/history laid out beautifully on EVERY page.

   Clocking in at 144 pages and a whopping 36 chapters, this sturdy volume is hands down, a spectacular compendium of content and images, coherent and accessible, laid out with a sophisticated, contemporary design aesthetic that makes every page a work of art (e.g., as in the use of faint silhouettes on every page, in different colors, mirroring movie icons and other related images).

   Lavishly printed on heavy paper stock "Movie Collectibles" is an photo- and text-intensive product of the likes rarely seen. It attempts - and succeeds - to cover every slice of our hobby.

   Color illustrations decorate every page, accompanied by disarmingly breezy and informative text by this husband and wife team (the former a charter popular arts historian featured weekly on PBS' most-watched television series, "The Antiques Roadshow").

   There's a timeless quality to this product that makes one wonder if a second edition will ever be necessary.

   Think of the most desired movie posters in the world, from "The Mummy" to "Tiffany's" to "King Kong." Think of the great cult favorites and hyper-popular genres, from James Bond to Hitchcock to sci-fi to film noir to Disney to foreign classics to horror to musicals to silents. Think of the most obscure, the bizarre, the provocative.

   You'll find them here, in glorious color, jammed with easy-to-read prose that every collector or dealer, from novice to advanced, will gobble up like inmates ending a hunger strike.

   It gets better.

   Rather than sticking with silent and vintage films and dismissing post-1960 products, "Movie Collectibles" devotes special chapters for each decade, from the 60s to the 80s.

   You wanna know more about special illustrators, from Vargas to Brown to Bass to Peak to Frazetta? Yeah, they get their own chapter.

   What about repros, re-issues, pressbooks, programs, stills, slides, lobby cards, sheet music, film books, autographs, promos, and props?

   What about signed contracts, Academy Awards and other ultra-rare items that we see, oh, once every solar eclipse over the continental USA? What about restoration services, types, styles, what's bad, what's good, etc.?

   Taken as a whole, Franchi's inaugural edition of "Miller's Movie Collectibles" represents a stunning debut, an opulently produced yet slim enough volume to carry in your satchel. The authors have a way with prose that is unlike most other books about movie posters and related collectibles. And its contents are akin to what you'd find in a product costing much more.

   "Miller's Movie Collectibles" is a keeper.

5 comments about The Steve Howe Guitar Collection.

1. This is probably the single best book about the beauty of guitars that is around. Really you dont even have to appreciate Steve Howe to appreciate the incredible guitars in this book. Most importantly it reflects upon a time where luthiers and real artists made instruments. When you see these incredible instruments and compare them to the garbage that Gibson and Fender are putting out now its really just an amazing condemnation of what guitar making has sunk to. So many incredible pictures and as a bonus Steve Howe fans will find real nice insights into the instruments and a guy who is easily one of the most amazing guitar players ever to walk the earth.



2. "The pictures are nice but there's a lesson here--in the way society rewards people. I like the old Yes records as much as anybody, but not because of Steve Howe. His thickety-thickety tone & choppy, sloppy runs are not exactly soulful." Steve Howe`s runs ARE NOT CHOPPY OR SLOPPY..... Just the hateful meanderings of a jealous guitarist that knows he`ll never be as good as Steve.



3. Superb book on the Steve Howe guitar collection. I find this book very insightful regarding Steve`s tastes in guitars and the instruments he chooses (and displays in this book) for recording purposes.
   I couldn`t help but notice another review on this page in which the author trys to belittle the talents of Mr. Howe. He likes the book but not the guitarist? The pundit in question must not be a guitarist......



4. The pictures are nice but there's a lesson here--in the way society rewards people. I like the old Yes records as much as anybody, but not because of Steve Howe. His thickety-thickety tone & choppy, sloppy runs are not exactly soulful.

   There are so many players, from shredders to jazz masters with real talent and heart. But this guy ends up with so much money, he can't spend it all.

   By the way, not only does he take all these beautiful guitars out of circulation; he often carves them up with "modifications" some of which are bizarre to say the least (a Les Paul with 4 humbuckers? Cool, Steve).

   And don't forget to read about his guitar "tree" where he clamps the poor things to a wacky "lazy susan". The only thing this collection is missing is one of those Hamer guitars with six identical necks, like Rick Nielson has.




5. For those who have enjoyed The music of Steve Howe, whether in the group YES, ASIA,GTR, or His many solo works, this book is a real treat. Steve shares his many stories of Guitar collecting in depth. Reading these stories are infectious and entertaining. It is hard to put this book down after reading it. The pictures are beautiful, The guitarist is excellent, and the book is worth every Dollar. David Carlin, Philadelphia, PA

No comments about Early Keyboard Instruments: The Benton Fletcher Collection at Fenton House.

1 comments about Classic Guitars U.S.A.

1. As a newcomer to the vintage guitar craze, I found this to be the most helpful book I've found so far. Fun and interesting reading. Color pictures would have been nice, but the black and white ones will do. Most helpful to me was info on the smaller, lesser known makers, the overseas contracts, and what to look for and avoid. Good job!

No comments about The Official Vintage Guitar Price Guide 2005.

1 comments about Collectible Television Memorabilia.

1. This book on Collectible Television Memorabilia will delight you with it's fascinating topic, photos and descriptions. It covers 900 subjects with 500 photos- all well described,well written and well researched. You'll enjoy turning back the years with page after page of your favorite TV shows trinkets, dolls, games, and much more. Well done!!

5 comments about The Best of Famous Monsters of Filmland, Vol. #1.

1. As the prior reviewer indicated this item is living proof that everything that Ray Ferry touches seems to contract a case of irritable bowel syndrome hence my suggestion that this product would probably make great TP. To add insult to injury..Amazon is now " offering " this garbage for $100. despite the fact that I received it as a free incentive when I made the mistake of subscribing ( only one time ) to the " new " FM. Anyone who knows the true story of FM knows that this is NOT THE TRUE FM which was edited by 4E Ackerman in the '50s & 60s & was revived recently. Ray Ferry snatched the rights to FM from old 4E & 4E won the court case but the legal fees required him to sell his world famous Ackermansion. Outside of the fact that this one hundred dollar magazine has no redeeming features or value whatsoever...a true FM fan will insure that Ferry finally get his just deserts by not purchasing this printed TP.....



2. I thought this was going to be the BEST of the Famous Monsters I read as a kid, but none of that classic material was included, and the imagination of former publisher James Warren and editor Forrest J Ackerman is sorely missed. This is just a re-hash of the few issues of the magazine published without them. The writing is a weak imitation of Ackerman's lively style, ripping off patented puns like "You Axed for It" and "Beast Wishes". Even the cover is a 5th rate copy of a painting from the original magazine. I hear the current publisher of this volume lost a lawsuit for stealing Ackerman's nom de plume, "Dr. Acula". The Famous Monsters of the '50s and '60s was a cool phenomenon once, but the '90s incarnation is a pointless anachronism, since only nostalgic baby-boomers like myself are interested, and there are so many superior efforts dealing with the subject on the market now. Famous Monsters without Forry Ackerman is like a Beatles reunion without John, Paul, George, or Ringo.



3. For horror fans who have to have all issues for their collections, this one will pass as a "good" one to have, but it ain't great. Regular FMOF subscribers already have seen most, if not all, of what's between the pages. I could live without it.



4. Some reviewers of this issue cry that former editor FJ Ackerman isn't included in it. Why should he be? This is a collection of great features from the new FM that Mr. Ackerman had nothing to do with. He quit the magazine in 1995 and the features in THE BEST OF FM, VOL #1 have nothing to do with him. Ackerman fans should go read old back issues. If they don't like the new FM, nobody is forcing them to read it. But discriminating fans of classic horror films will find this collection to be an outstanding, entertaining and informative read.



5. This was the best monster film gulde I've ever read and I'm glad I got it

2 comments about Edison Blue Amberol Recordings 1912-1914.

1. If Jan in Norway is reading this, tell them to read our review and try again to get your money back; this was NOT YOUR MISTAKE!!! We had the same exact experience as you did. We ordered "The Edison Disc Phonographs and the Diamond Discs, Second Edition by Ronald Dethlefson" and received this book on the Blue Emberol recordings instead. It seems obvious since this identical error happened to two Amazon customers that the problem was with their listing; we were able to convince customer service to refund us the complete purchase price plus shipping, however. Note: "The Edison Disc Phonographs and the Diamond Discs, Second Edition by Ronald Dethlefson" seems to have disappeared off the Amazon website now.



2. I ordered "The Edison Disc Phonograph and Diamond Discs, Second edition by R. Dethlefson" which was listed here, but when the shipment arrived after about 6 weeks, it turned out to be the "Edison Blue Amberol Recordings 1912-1914" which I had no use for. After complaining, a new ordere was placed by AMAZON which arrived after another 7 weeks, and the same wrong book appeared. Amazon was deeply sorry, they couldn't deliver and returned my money.
   
   The funny thing is that, after realizing the extent of the problem, Amazon have changed the title of this entry to "Edison Blue Amberol Recordings 1912-1914" which by experience is what people get when ordering here! But, look... the EDITORIAL REVIEW isn't changed, so it is irrelevant to the title offered .......
   
   So, for those interested in the Blue Amberoles, this book describes in detail what is known about the recordings with regard to titles, recording particulars etc. Possibly interesting information to those specializing in this particular field.
   
   And, by the way, the author of the "The Edison Disc Phonograph and Diamond Discs" is George L Frow c.2001. This book is very recommendable, but not available at AMAZON.

No comments about Howe's Transcendental Toybox: The Unauthorised Guide to Doctor Who Collectibles.

No comments about Collector's Guide to Treasures from the Silver Screen (Wallace-Homestead Collector's Guide Series).