5 comments about Collector's Encyclopedia of American Dinnerware.

1. I really love this book. I've used it many times to find the names of patterns I have from years of estate sales to sell on e-Bay. Great work.



2. A wonderful beautifully done book.This is a great book for looking up patterns. There are plenty of color photos which show great detail. I plan on buying the previous and subsequent volumns of this book.



3. While the book was somewhat helpful with listing the various companies, it was very short in pattern names, examples and pricing.



4. Other than the photos, there isn't much here. It's very amateurish. Whole categories are missing -- there is barely a mention of "Fiesta" at all. Makes you think the publisher had an arrangement so as not to infringe on sales of their Fiesta books. There is no mention of Metlox. Also, while there is a price guide, it only lists the specific pieces that are shown in the photos, not all the pieces in the line. This is a major shortcoming. There should be some mention of pieces not shown. The book is also poorly organized, with ads from old magazines interspersed with original writing. It reminds me of an 8th grade book report. Spend your money elsewhere.



5. The title of this book implies that it is an all-encompassing American dinnerware reference work. However, it is sadly lacking in both breadth and depth. Any collector would be well advised to look elsewhere. This work is so superficial that it is virtually useless.

No comments about Collector's Guide to Porcelier China.

4 comments about Blue Willow: Identification & Value Guide (Blue Willow).

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



2. 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.



3. 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.



4. 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.

4 comments about Antique and Collectible Marbles.

1. This is an excellent referance book for early hand made German and American marbles. It is well illistrated and easy to follow. It is not meant for marbles manufactured after the late 1920's. A must have for marble collectors.



2. I was disappointed not only in the size of this price and identification guide for marbles, but also in the marbles that were covered. I was looking for a guide that would help me identify older, but more common marbles, not so many pages on sulphides with characters encased and rare marbles.



3. This book has beautiful pictures and is a nice introduction into marble collecting. However, it is not very helpful in identifying your marbles. There are pictures of different manufacture's marbles but enough information to teach you how to tell them apart yourself.



4. This book IS marble collecting made easy. It's easy to understand with very clear pictures and text. The pictures are fantastic. I had picked up some old marbles in an auction boxlot and this book really made it possible for me to identify the valuable ones. It has to be the LEAST dry and boring antique reference book I've ever found. I highly recommend it!

5 comments about Collectors Encyclopedia of Nippon Porcelain: Identification & Values (Collector's Encyclopedia of Nippon Porcelain).

1. This book is well documented, thorough and the pictures are excellent. In addition, this book discusses the Nippon history, provides an excellent chapter on marks and backstamps with a short commentary on the different mark colors and their meanings.
   
   I particularly liked the glossary, and cross-referenced price guide index which is placed in the back of the book yet neatly references to pages and plate #'s. Because of the extensive patterns in the Nippon history, every pattern is not in the book but I was able to identify particular shapes of pieces which I could check against marks/backstamps and the price guide to get a reasonable value range.
   
   Any collector or dealer will suit their library well by having this book for education and reference to Nippon.



2. Joan Van Patten's Nippon Porcelain focuses on Japanese porcelain, from painted vases and stamps to plates and smoking pieces. Gorgeous color photos abound.



3. As part of the 5 series volume, this series contains some updates. From my previous reviews of the collection series, I've mentioned that if you are beginner, a keen buyer/seller, or an experienced collector/trader of Nippon items, then you need to have this book, along with the other series. Like the previous series, this book contains information on Nippon porcelains. It provides actual photos, and price ranges for each items featured. Nippon porcelains have their disctinctive mark, based on the year and place they were manufactured, so this book gives you what to look and watch out for, in order to identify the authencity of the item.



4. Like the series 2 book, this is part of the 5 series volume. If you are beginner, a keen buyer/seller, or an experienced collector/trader of Nippon items, then you ought to get this book, along with the other series. The book contains a lot of information on Nippon porcelain collections. It provides nice photos, and price ranges on each items featured. It also gives you the marks to look and watch out for, in order to identify the authencity of the item.



5. I bought this book as part of the 5 series volume. If you are beginner, a keen buyer/seller, or an experienced collector/trader of Nippon items, then you ought to get this book, along with the other series. The book contains a lot of information on Nippon porcelain collections. It provides nice photos, and price ranges on each items featured. It also gives you the marks to look and watch out for, in order to identify the authencity of the item.

2 comments about Chinese Export Porcelain, Standard Patterns and Forms, 1780-1880: Standard Patterns and Forms.

1. I own several recent Nancy Schiffer books on Japanese porcelain that are of the highest quality in every regard; layout, printing, very clear close-up color photos, and with informative captions relative to the piece being illustrated.
   
   Based on this experience I purchased this earlier book and now regret it.
   
   The cover of this book is very misleading as to the contents.
   
   The pictures are mostly black and white, taken at a distance, out of focus, and poorly printed.
   
   This book is of little help when learning Chinese porcelain because the main attributes that educate are the subtle color variations used in the enamels and the base form which is not shown at all in this book.
   
   Also, the captions of the photos do not provide specific information such as dates, kilns, etc.
   
   The majority of this book is devoted to Rose Medallion when there are countless other decorations the Chinese produced during the era this book covers.
   
   Finally, the type face and printing used in this book is most primative, amateur, and unpleasant.
   
   I highly recommend you do not buy this book unless you have low expectations and are mainly interested in Rose Medallion dinnerware.



2. I have used this book as an initial guide in my collecting of Rose Medallion and other Chinese Export Porcelain. Very good basic source.

No comments about Miller's: Pottery & Porcelain Marks: Pocket Fact File (Miller's Pocket Fact File).

1 comments about Porcelain Painting With Uwe Geissler (A Schiffer Craft Book).

1. Uwe is a master at his craft he explains the tools the mediums and the techniques very clearly I will use the book more than once, I hope he does more books in this vein maybe with more drawings to copy for our own painting.

No comments about Homer Laughlin China: 1940S & 1950s (Schiffer Book for Collectors).

1 comments about Worcester Porcelain: The Zorensky Collection.

1. I have seen this book by Simon Spero & John Sandon, and as with all of their books and/or catalogs, the quality is exceptional. The photos are superb, and the descriptions very informative. For collectors of Worcester porcelain, this book is a "must have". The Zorensky Collection is fabulous, and these two authors have given a wonderful representation of it. This book makes me want to go out and buy more Worscester!