5 comments about Kovels' New Dictionary of Marks: Pottery and Porcelain, 1850 to the Present.

1. Nicely laid out book with lots of information on Pottery and Porcelain marks, great illustrations and contains a comprehensive reference list for further reading.



2. Great quality of shipping. Found book to be in the best condition.
   Thank you so much and I would hope to have the opportunity to purchase
   a book from you again.



3. If you collect this type of pottery, you will have to get this book sooner or later as it provides an outstanding reference to marks found on these items and so permits you to assess the age of the item. But the lack of any real advice, wisdom, guidance, explanations, etc. about the subject of collecting these pieces, knowing when marks are real or fake, and assessing the quality of the pieces is essentially nil. So you will have to learn pretty much everything you need to know from other sources. A real disappointment given that the authors are almost certainly know a lot more about the subject matter than they put into these books. M Pezim



4. This is a good resource book. It has it's limitations, but I use it almost daily. I look up alot of ceramics marks, and I find the large majority of them in this Kovels book. It is great if you are looking for a specific makers mark, or decoratoras mark. The limitation is that there is no way to comprehensively view all marks from one particular maker. If you have a few treasures that you want to accurately identify, then it is very good. Don't get me wrong, I haven't found every mark I look for. But I haven't found a Marks reference that I do. This book provides a good clean and easy format to locate the mark I need, and quickly.
   
   Also, if you are looking for back ground info on the company, this isn't the book for you. While the Kovel's do an excellent job of showing literal thousands of easy to find marks, thats all they show. All in all a highly recommended resource. Any serious ceramics collector, dealer, or dedicated flea market/yard saler should have a copy.



5. Bought this as a gift for my daughter and she has really enjoyed it's contents. Now she can see if the "Junk and/or Antiques" she has purchased has any real value!!

5 comments about The Official Precious Moments Coll Guide to Figurines 4th (Official Precious Moments Collector's Guide to Figurines).

1. This book is a MUST have for any collector. With the information I found I can place a value on each individual piece for insurance purposes. A real time saver!



2. The 2007 Bomm Precious Moments guide is truly precious since it incorporates retail and secondary values into the same book. The cross-indexing by figurine title and model number is also wonderful. The photos are great quality, too. The guide is a must-have for all collectors!



3. Took a while to receive due to release issues, but once received, Book is great!



4. I think this book is a great way to keep track of my Precious Moments and give me a current value of each one. However, because values change from year to year, it could be a lot of work transferring them to a new book each year. I think every couple of years would be fine to keep track of what you have unless you purchase numerous figurines every year.



5. This guide is an essential reference for any serious collector or anyone buying or selling Precious Moments figurines. The lack of serious competition will make sure this sells. However, there is little improvement in this 3rd edition over the 2006 second edition. The addition of the newer figurines and an update in pricing, which seems to average about 16% increase, are the main differences. There is also a size difference. The second edition was a handy 8.5" x 5.5" but the third ed is 11' x 8.5", which I believe is too large for a soft cover book. There is no new information about each piece that is not in the earlier version. It would have been nice to include the size of each item. There is an annoying change in the index that consolidates several previous entires into entries by series. For example, instead of separately listing the sugar town skating pond there is one listing for the series 'sugar town' with 18 page numbers.
   
   Overall, I was disappointed in this guide and would recommend that anyone not needing information on the last 2 years figurines stays with the 2nd edition and awaits the 4th.

5 comments about Collectors Encyclopedia of Limoges Porcelain (Collector's Encyclopedia of Limoges Porcelain).

1. This is a very thorough history of Limoges. I did not find the pattern that I inherited, but after reading the book, I now understand why there are an amazing number of patterns.



2. Purchased this book as a gift for my wife, who has some Limoges dinnerware. She loved the book and has been able to identify much of her collection with its help.



3. If you collect Limoges Porcelain this is an excellent reference book, with a large section on marks and their dates. The colour pictures identify many patterns, along with a detailed section on manufacturers and a history of Limoges porcelain.



4. I purchase books online based on the reviews so lets be honest. Debby DuBay's book Antique Limoges at Home is the book to purchase. Gaston's book has terrible photographs & just can not compare to DuBay's books.



5. Mary Frank Gaston wrote the foreword to Debby Dubay's Antique Limoges at Home and the introduction to Collecting Hand Painted Limoges Porcelain and I'm thrilled. Two experts collaborating to give collectors all of the info they require to collect successfully. Please write a book together.

5 comments about Pictorial Guide To Pottery And Porcelain Marks.

1. Nicely laid out book with lots of information and pictures of Pottery & Porcelain and their Marks and contains a comprehensive reference list for further reading.



2. I have hundreds of collecting , price guide and reference books for antiques. As we all know, a price guide does not mean much, unless you have the venue and buyer to get the price. This book is the best investment in a reference books I have ever made! I buy and sell antiques and feel that if I can identify the mark, the research is easy. This book makes it easy to find the mark! I purchased this 2 years ago, and have used it everyday! This is a must have if you are a serious porcelain collector.



3. The good news: this book has thousands of photos of ceramic items with their backstamps. The bad news: there are many inaccuracies of company names, typographical errors, errors of dating, and other errors. Given the over 7000 photographs in the book, perhaps it is to be expected that there was insufficient proofreading or fact checking before the book was published. The book is interesting to browse, but it has not been a reliable reference book. However, it is useful as a jumping off point, when used in conjunction with other reference materials.



4. This is the first mark identifier I bought and was really impressed with the color photos of the marks along with an example of the piece. I was able to identify and date many of the pieces from my collection and date items I've found since buying this book. It became very handy when it came time to clean out my great aunt and uncles home this past winter. That being said, I've since discovered there are many marks not included or variations missing, i.e. Nippon marks and Frankoma. The dates on some are too broad. The color photos are nice to have but some marks or the coresponding piece did not photo well. I understand no guide is ever complete, and if you were to compile every single mark and variation this would probably be a multi-volume set. For me, this book is a good starting point, but I usually have to use other sources to narrow down dates.



5. I have been using this book faithfully for over a year. I enjoy that it features actual photographs of the marks as well as examples of the pottery. It is easy to use and until this week I have found it to be reliable.
   
   The Moorcroft marks do not have entirely accurate dates. This is why I am giving it only 4 out of 5 stars. If I had done this last week, it would have been 5!

4 comments about At Home with Wedgwood: The Art of the Table.

1. If this is a subject you are interested in you will be very happy with this book. The text is very readable, the pictures clear and well done, and it's interesting without being over-powering.



2. A beautiful book for fans of Wedgewood. Sadly no example of the fairyware shown (even though not created for the table, still could be used as a decorative item).



3. Lovely photos of unusual patterns in beautiful settings. Anice tribute to Wedgwood for their 250th anniversary.



4. The lovely lyrical language, coupled with classically gorgeous photography make this a wonderful book to own, and show off to others!
   I really love Catherine Calvert's literary style.
   Not just a coffee-table book!

5 comments about Lehner's Encyclopedia Of US Marks On Pottery, Porcelain Clay.

1. I gave it to my son. He's an amateur collector. He's enjoying it very much.



2. I bought this book in hopes of using it for reference. It's not what I was looking for.



3. I find this to be among the very best books on American backstamps or marks for ware made just about everywhere in the U. S. It was published in the 1980s; some things are not accurate any more including references to companies that have since gone out of business or changed hands. I agree with another reviewer who wished for a more thorough index. I would also add a wish for an updated version with photographs rather than drawings.
   
   While Lehner's Encyclopedia is great for most American pottery, if researching ware made in the nation's Pottery Capital (the East Liverpool area) do turn instead to the Gates & Ormerod book "The East Liverpool Ohio Pottery District Identification of Manufacturers and Marks". Assume that the Gates & Ormerod book is best when it comes to East Liverpudlian ware. Lehner and Gates/Ormerod both wrote unfailingly useful reference books.
   
   If only interested in Harker, the most thorough book on that subject is the book by William and Donna Gray. They discovered over a hundred additional marks which were not included in either the Gates & Ormerod or Lehner books (which were published decades earlier).
   
   Otherwise the Lehner book is very useful, and I hope it stays in print!



4. The book arrived on time and the condition was as described (new). The secondary packaging could use improvement as the box had broken and opened at the bottom. The primary packaging was excellent and prevented the book from damage when the box broke.



5. This book is a definite 'must have' for anyone dealing in or buying collectible ceramics. I have just started selling glasswares and have come across a lot of different pottery marks. Without a reference book, you cannot determine an items' real worth.
   This book has thousands of different marks and artists' marks! This book is by my side when trying to determine the ceramic items' origin and age.

2 comments about McCoy Pottery the Ultimate Reference & Value Guide.

1. The book is very informative. I recommend it to anyone who is interested in collecting pottery especially the McCoy items of which many are unique.



2. Color photos abound in a values and identification guide perfect for any avid collector of McCoy Pottery. From wall pockets to cookie jars, planters, specialty pottery and more, "McCoy Pottery: The Ultimate Reference & Value Guide" provides a top pick for any specialty collector and for libraries catering to them, offering in-depth assessments and the latest prices.

2 comments about English China Patterns & Pieces (Identification & Values (Collector Books)).

1. I found this book very helpful in the identification of antique English china. Obviously, it does not cover everything, but there are many unusual items listed that are no longer made. Beautiful photography.



2. Key to collections strong in glassware collecting is Mary Frank Gaston's ENGLISH CHINA: PATTERNS & PIECES, a collector's handbook pairing lovely color photos of pieces and sets with an arrangement by type of English chinaware for quick reference. From cow creamers to egg stands and pitchers, makers and values are quick to locate, identify and make for a fine collector's reference.

5 comments about The Collectible Teapot & Tea Calendar 2010.

1. I bought this calendar as a gift for a friend that collects teapots. She was so overwhelmed by the whole concept of a teapot collectors calendar that she had tears in her eyes. Being a teacher she found all the background information about teapots just fascinating. It came with postcards as an added bonus.



2. It's a very good product, just as I expected. Ihave bought 2009 Calendar and it pleased me so much thar I decided to adquire the new one. The postcards are very beautiful and I've sent them to my friends.



3. I was absolutely elated to find this Teapot calendar on your site. I have
   ordered 2 calendars annually now for 5 consecutive years. I saved money on
   both the calendar and delivery fee with you. Thanks and I will shop with you again!
   
   The Communi-TEA
   Newport, Ky



4. Beautiful pictures, came quickly and in great condition. I've replaced the Victorian Calendar with these, enjoy them all year round!!



5. The details given in the write-ups that accompany each picture are very interesting and well researched. The calendar itself is quite sturdy, the photo colors are vibrant and the teapot arrangements seem to be well thought out.

5 comments about Blue Willow Identification And Value Guide.

1. Updated prices, fabulous photos and easy to use. I would like to see more about pieces most of us find on the market today. The rarer pieces in the book are probably in collections and we will never run across them.



2. Very pleased with the condition the book we ordered came in and the delivery was very quick. Thanks and would buy from you again.



3. This book contains interesting information about the origin of this design style but little detail about any of the many varieties that were/are being made. It is about 2/3 taken up with photographs of various styles but with only one or two pieces of any given style and no details about each or any idea of what the variety of other pieces within each style look like, so it is nearly impossible to truly identify the style you have or want. I was interested in the information, but found little guidance in my quest to discover more about the pieces that I own. Even the prices given are merely a recount of the price paid for each piece; but not when the purhcase was made or under what conditions or whether this is a reflection of the relative "value" of a given style of the blue willow design.



4. The book "Blue Willow: Identification & Value Guide" is an excellent reference book. Not only does it give a better understanding of all the different Willow patterns out there, it also contains beautiful, very clear illustrations. The quality of the paperback edition is excellent, using glossy, very good quality paper that enhances the photographs. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in Blue Willow dinnerware. I bought the book for my husband who knew nothing about Blue Willow before this purchase. He is now much more knowledgeable on the subject and is confident in his purchasing. As a novice, it has helped my husband greatly.



5. I bought this out of curiousity brought on by the possession of two subtley disparate pieces of Blue Willow ware about which I was curious as I was under the impression that the patterns were all the same. This book immediately disabused me of this notion which is, in big part, why this is such a great reference: Because it shows and describes a myriad of different vessels, wares, designs, and manutacturers in FULL COLOR with information that is relevant and helpful to both the novice and the professional.
   If you thought you knew quite a bit about the Blue Willow pattern, I guarantee that this book will humble you because the author presents such a broad range of items (with a present day price range) from USA, China, the UK and Japan, ranging from plates and saucers to cups and pots to spoons and utensils to platters and chargers to egg stands and vases that only the most serious collector can hope to have seen as much different material as found here. There is also a helpful section on, believe it or not, reproductions. I think that you will be quite happy with this book even if, like me, you do not collect the stuff.