1 comments about Swiss Carvings: The Art of the 'Black Forest' 1820-1940.

1. This book is the first serious study of this genre. The authors have put together a bonanza of information including not only serious academic research but the most amazing photos. Bears on skis, majestic eagles, faithful hounds, and amazing sculpture, leap out of the pages...The authors point out that this whole ouvre has long been ignored and needs to be re-classified for what it really is, a serious, 19th/early 20th century art form. The chapter on international exhibitions, for example, puts a completely different perspective on Black Forest. The book is thoroughly readable and also refreshingly unpretentious.

5 comments about Queens' Jewels.

1. This magnificent book is so finely put together. The information is fascinating and the extraordinary photos are printed with such high quality. The author has created a work of art in itself.



2. Hi
   I'd be interested to know which typos, grammar errors and careless proofreading you found in Queens' Jewels.



3. A feast for the eyes, of course, but so many typos, grammatical errors, and careless proofreading should never be permitted by any publisher, much less one with such a distinguished subject. Were there no editors?



4. This Vincent Meylan's "Queens' Jewels" makes an interesting read. It did a good job on the English aristocracy/monarchy. The same applied to the French, the Scandinavian, and the Russian overlords. Its chapters were well-grouped and well-sectioned: thus making it easy for readers to select whatever interests them with great ease.
   Sadly, little effort was made as to improve the quality of the included photographs. Also, some of the information which Mr. Meylan presented were flawed. And, the details of some royal treasures, (particularly those of Italy, Austro-Hungary, Netherlands, Spain, and Portugal) were scanty.
   Overall, this is a good book (if one ignores its pardonable errors and omissions).



5. The paper used to print this book is of better quality thant the text. The "research" Mr. Meylan has made, at least in the case of Spain, is simply inaccurate. On the other hand the book doesn't make any reference to such important treasures as those of the Dutch and Portuguese Queens. Finally, the quality of the photos is poor in many cases.

No comments about Holiday Collectables.

No comments about Goldmine Records & Prices (Goldmine Records and Prices).

5 comments about Batman Collected.

1. Chip Kidd, who also wrote a neat "Batman Animated" coffeetable book on the well-loved and critically acclaimed "Batman: The Animated Series" that debuted in 1992, turns here to the hobby (and serious business, for some) of collecting.
   
   He includes his own childhood remembrances of Bat-items, as well as wonderfully quirky photography. This book, full-color throughout, is not a "guide" to the collectibles, as it does not include price values or manufacturers (it does give the year and dimensions for each piece pictured). And it's by no means all-inclusive (hey, not even a third of the "Animated Series" merchandise I own was in there!). Plus, there is an editorial comment on the Andy Warhol Batman piece that's got a bit of an attitude.
   
   But all in all, it's a neat celebration of the Bat-phenomenon -- and the Bat-collector, who in our modern times has become quite well-known, too.



2. Chip Kidd loves Batman and it shows on each and every page of this gasp-inspiring book. If you're like me and and grew up with unrequited desire for each and every Batman-related product available, these pictures are almost as good as having the real items.

   Text is sparse, but entertaining. And if you have the hardcover version of this book, you'll want this new edition as well for the new material included.




3. As the editor of the Batman Toy and Collectibles Price Guide located at http://www.btcpg.com I can assure Batman toy collectors that this book is wonderful. It's pages are a bit too filled with tight shots of close ups of Batman pieces instead of the whole item, but then that's why MY publication exists.



4. I LIKE THE BOOK BECAUSE IT HAS GREAT PICS I MEAN THINK THE BOOK SAID THAT IT HAD 250 SOMETING PICS AND THE SUMMARY IS GOOD IT IS A MUST FOR ALL BATMAN FANS



5. As the editor and publisher of the Batman Toy and Collectibles Price Guide, I highly recommend this book to those who collect Batman toys as yet another source of information on our great hobby. We here at the BT&CPG use this book whenever we do our DETAILED listings, as the full color pictures are ALMOST like having the Batman toy in front of us! Thank you Chip Kidd, and feel free to contact us at jmack@azstarnet.co

2 comments about Miller's: Collecting the 1970's (Mitchell Beazley Antiques & Collectables S.).

1. I grew up during the 70's, but did not remember many of these items. I should have realized the book would be that way(mainly British) since I already own the "50's" and "60's" edition, but since the 70's was my decade, I felt I had to get it as well. Disappointed, but still enjoy perusing the pages for the patterns and colors of the 70's.



2. I had no idea this would pay off in an instant but all those things I grew up with in the 1970s - from calculators to clothes - do have a value today! It's real good-value reading - groove-on baby!

1 comments about Hallmark Keepsake Ornaments 2001 Edition (Collector's Value Guides).

1. Checkerbee has updated its Hallmark Value Guide and it is better than ever. It shows every ornament that Hallmark has produced from 1973 up to and included the soon to be released 2001 year. It also shows Merry Minuatures and Kiddie Cars. All with pictures and all with a secondary market price, (to be used as a guide only!)

   One of the best things that I like about this guide is that all series ornaments are pictured together. You can easily see which ones in the series that you have!

   There are spaces to record your own collection, interviews with several artists and helpful articles that deal with collecting. An alphabetical index in the back is very helpful too!

No comments about Cannibal Tours and Glass Boxes: The Anthropology of Museums.

3 comments about Retro-Electro: Collecting Technology from Atari to Walkman.

1. Pepe Tozzo's Retro Electro sounded so cool that I preordered it sight-unseen. A good book on the topic of technostalgia is long overdue and I was eager to see what this self-described "only book to survey the trend" would contain. I now wish I had seen and browsed it beforehand. It's a neatly designed little book with some very nice pictures, but it is just falls too short of my expectations.
   
   There are only one or two items per page in this 8.8 x 8.6, 160 page book and the layout favors large, attractive photos over descriptive text. So in the end there were not as many items as I would have liked to have seen and the descriptions are sometimes not very substantial. I am more interested in obscure facts about the design, creation, function and uniqueness of these things. There are informative and enlightening entries here, but again, more in-depth information on a greater selection of items would have been nice. Also, in a world where collector prices change faster than ink dries, any attempt to print price guides in a hardbound book form seems pointless. So the price guide feature doesn't thrill me.
   
   There are way too many memorable electronic gadgets from our consumer past that are conspicuously absent. Missing are the giant Sylvania entertainment consoles of the 70s, Egg shaped 8-Track players, the Donut Phones, Soundburger (Mr. Disc) portable record players, quadraphonic headphones (yes, they exist) and various other classics. Heck, one could devote several pages to the dozens of groovy Panasonic portable radios and 8-track players of the 70s, but there are no "Dynamite" 8 track players or "Panapets" here... just the Toot-A-Loop is represented.
   
   I'm not particularly excited that items from the 90s and current decade are represented. We can see these kinds of things in retail stores or Sharper Image catalogs today. So I don't see why they should have such equal billing in this book. Though there is probably a good case to leave out items from the well documented 1950s and earlier, I would rather the book included good old Philco Predictas than Sony Playstations. Sure, there are a few things from the early 90s that are interesting, and yes, a cursory mention about what things today may seem retro later might be appealing, but I didn't buy this book to see full page spreads of a 2002 IPOD or a 2004 watch. Other items that seem out of place are things like Smartphones, PDAs, Star Trek Phasers and 2003 Dalek toys. Retro Electronics? Not in my opinion.
   
   The page layouts are attractive, the pictures are very nice and there was a strong effort made here to run the whole gambit of electronic collectables. Retro Electro may be more interesting to folks with only a light interest in this subject and it may serve as a good introduction. Also, if you like calculators there are plenty of neat ones in this book.
   
   Ultimately, there are many cool items in this book. But for every seemingly out of place item in here there are two old standards or obscure treasures missing, which leaves me feeling I should have gotten more out it.
   
   2 1/2 stars



2. The book's descriptions of devices are far too short, and the prices it lists were out of date the moment the book went to print. Useless to true collectors, this book will see only limited use as a conversation starter. It'd be a nice thing to leave for guests in the bathroom.



3. A wonderful look at the electronic marvels we have around the house, along with past playthings long ago left in the dust by ever advancing technologies. My only complaint is that this book barely scratches the surface of what could have / should have been included. Speaking for myself, I would have gladly paid a lot more money to get a book that gave me more to see. As it is, an hour after opening the book, you are done, wishing for more.

5 comments about I Love Lucy: The Classic Moments.

1. This is a really nice look at I Love Lucy. The pictures are great. I just wish they would have been able to include more episodes.



2. this book is a must have for every LUCY-DESI fan all over the world. it contains beautiful pictures and a lot of information about each episode. it is part of my collection and I see myself coming back to it everytime to look something up.is one of the most complete books I have ever encountered.



3. " I LOVE LUCY " WAS 1 OF THE BEST TV SHOWS IN THE 1950'S AND IS THE BEST SHOW EVER." I LOVE LUCY" CLASSIC MOMENTS BOOK IS A MUST FOR ANY "I LOVE LUCY" FAN. IT SHOWS YOU THE CLASSIC MOMENTS IN WHAT THE BEST TV SHOW THAT WAS EVER MADE.LUCILLE BALL AND DESI ARNAZ MADE WHAT THE SHOW WAS,ALSO VIVIAN VANCE AND WILLIAM FRAWLEY WILL ALWAYS BE REMEMBERED AS FRED AND ETHEL MERTZ AT 323 E.68TH ST. I FINSHED THIS BOOK AND I TRULY ENJOYED IT.



4. This is a great book for behind the scenes pictures of the cast and the stage they worked on. I have owned this book for about a year, and come back to look at it all the time. Lucille Ball is my favorite actress, and I just love her to pieces! This book contains photos of their set and everyday life. It also conatains some stories of their lives, so if you are a Lucy fan like me, don't miss this book!



5. Tom Watson has surely created a fantastic book that will help the memory of one of the most successful tv sitcoms ever carry on. Seeing and reading all the unknown tidbits on some of my favorite epsidoes of I Love Lucy is just grand! Every I Love Lucy fan should own this book. What a great way to make sure the memory of I Love Lucy and a wonderful actress, Lucille Ball, stay with us as years go by! Take a ride through many all too funny faces of Lucy!