1 comments about The Insider's Guide to U.S. Coin Values 2008 (Insider's Guide to Us Coin Values).

1. I bought this for a family member and he loves it, very simple to look things up. A lot of book for a little money

5 comments about Antiquing For Dummies (Miniature Editions for Dummies (Running Press)).

1. Very helpful for the antiquing "debutante" in the overwhelming world of antiques, including tips for negotiating with dealers, what to look for on certain items, even ideas of what one might want to collect. Definitely worthwhile purchase.



2. Antiquing for Dummies is a cheerful primer for those of us who were antiques-challenged. Learn what to search for and what to avoid when confronted with the possible pitfalls of flea markets and antique malls. Find out how to differentiate trash from treasure. The text is very readable, filled with puns and mnemonics. A must-read for budding antiques enthusiasts!



3. Antique lover I am HOWEVER, knowledge is minus, MINUS! ANTIQUING FOR DUMMIES was given to me as a gift and MAGIC has been created. My brain is now functioning in the antique mode. How proud and delighted I am. I will be forever indebted to having the opportunity to own such as informative treasure. In fact this book will be on my future "gift purchasing" list for my "hard to please" friends. Again, THANK YOU, from Dallas, Texas.



4. I have collected, sold and even appraised antiques and artwork for 25 years. This book is well written, and has valuable insights and tips for the beginning or the intermediate collector. It has very good illustrations, good anecdotes and hints, and is all in all a delight to have and read! I learned a couple of things myself, and have bought copies for my antique collecting friends and colleagues as gifts. I would highly recommend this to anyone who wants to gather practical and easy to understand tips and facts from authors and experts who obviously have many years of study and work in the field of antiques, collectibles and fine art. For this price, it is worth more than many of my big fancy books on single topics within the field of antiques or antique collecting. This is easy to read, humerous and fun to read, and offers good basic information on many kinds of antiques and fine art which are being collected, inherited and sold. Bravo to the writers and to Dummies!



5. Whether you are someone who breaks for garage sales or the serious collector of rare antiques, Antiquing for Dummies offers information, tips, insight and inspiration. Zoglin and Shouse help de-mystify the world of antiques and collecting and leave you feeling like you, too, can confidently and successfully find treasures that fit your lifestyle and needs. The tips on negotiating are especially helpful and I have never seen them appear anywhere else. Zoglin has spent three decades in the antique business and knows what he is talking about. Whether you are interested in antiquing or not, this book provides an entertaining read, and you will likely not look at a teacup or Granny's old desk again without a deeper appreciation of its history.

5 comments about Pictorial Guide to Pottery & Porcelain Marks.

1. This book is a must, for all those interested in Pottery, and the manufacturers marks, obviously they cannot put every mark in the Word in it, but it has a fantastic range, and is interesting both to read, and study the photographs supplied, a great investment that I will use over, and over again.



2. I like this book very much. e.g. Photo of mark, dates used, and a typical item it would be marked on. It has the most popular companies, and if the company used many marks; they are here. I have yet to be disappointed in this book.



3. It's true, there are numerous marks, but I was truly disappointed that they were pictures taken on the object and the problem is they are not readable. The reason for having reference is to help identify a mark and year and I would have preferred an actually factory mark so it was legible and then how it might appear on product. Not all that helpful.



4. Excellent resource book for china & pottery marks, quality photographs of many marks, well organized. Highly recommend.



5. The idea of putting a picture of an item together with its mark is admirable, and the book is useful in this regard. It is not a complete guide, but then again, no book of marks is.
   
   However, the date information given for some pieces (for example, Syracuse China) is very inaccurate, and there are misidentifications that should not have happened in a book of this type. I would not rely on the dates shown in any way whatsoever.
   
   The unfortunate part is that there are sources that could have been consulted to obtain the correct information (including titles from the same publisher).

5 comments about Collectible Cups and Saucers: Identification and Values (Book 3, Collectible Cups and Saucers).

1. The layoutis fantastic. A person is able to find and see the information they are looking for. Being in color is an absolute necessity. I have read thru the book several times. It is a valuable tool in collection. Thank you very much. Kay Brashers.



2. Too bad someone didn't bother to edit this book - especially as it is a SECOND EDITION! It not only is missing 20 pgs (in the early 100s from what I recall - I sent book back and hope for a refund), it also had 20 duplicate pages! I can't believe NO ONE here who raved about this book noticed this! It's one thing to buy it and get pleaure looking at pictures of someone's pretty cups, but quite another when you are doing research and spending money on books! Checking for brands in the index and not finding a page listed is how I found this gross error! A lot of cups would have been covered on those 20 missing pages. The seller I purchased book from said "it was publishing error and not picked up on reprint" and had the nerve to ask ME to "let him know if I find one that was corrected" as he said all books are like this. Unless the seller is misrepresenting...I say "BOO" to the editors/publishers - no excuse on 2nd edition!)



3. This book is fantastic, beautiful pictures. A pleasure to just look through. Very happy with this purchase!!



4. This book is great for finding different cup and saucer types.
   I would like to have had more information on pottery markings included in the book. Wish the authors had a web-site for questions.



5. The first book I've purchased on tea cup collecting. The gorgeous photos alone taught me a great deal about the art and fun of collecting tea cups. I've enjoyed every page. When the world is so frustrating during the day I can't quite concentrate on reading weightier matters, I pick up this book and lose myself in the gracious and lovely world of tea cup collecting. A big thanks to the authors!

5 comments about Blue Book of Electric Guitars.

1. Some prices are above what they actually sell for (priced too high) well some prices are below market on EBAY anyway.
   Also they need to expand some area's such as Harmony,Yamaha,Taylor and Blueridge,excellent overall guide to Acoustic Guitars aand there prices.
   Blue book has set the standard for all.
   They do an excellent job on Gibson and Martin both but too little info on small names.
   Maybe i should write a book of Yamaha Acoustic Guitars?
   These are very popular on EBAY and are considered the poor man's Martin,which includes me by the way.
   Good amount on the history of companies that Manufacture Guitars which i find interesting,facts most people do not know or realize.
   Gives buyer's the uphand on what price to pay for what condition,as well as an very good examples shown in pictures.
   I would rate this a 5 but there is too much info missing in there guide which forces me to use several.I wish some day they could make this more complete so i only need to buy one.But otherwise i depend on it.
   If you do not own this you are either a genius with one of the best memories on this planet or you are operating in the dark ages.



2. My Friend has an addiction to guitars so I purchased this book as a birthday gift three days ago and he hasn't put it down. Great book, very informative and apparently addictive too.



3. I use this book along with the Blue Book of Electric Guitars from the same publisher as a reference and starting point to price vintage guitars to purchase for my collection. I have found this book to be an excellent source for model information as well as a price point reference. I am not sure I would wish to venture into this collecting field without a reference such as this. I highly recommend both books to anyone interested in buying or selling a vintage guitar.



4. The book is fairly comprehensive and has an adequate description of the guitars and features. Some guitars are not listed, and some of the models are hard to look up when a company makes a wide variety of models. The book seems to get superseded pretty quickly but is much cheaper than some of the other guides out there. Hopefuly the book is accurate, since it lists an imported Ovation guitar as having a solid top when most of those models are known to have plywood tops. If you buy the book on CD, the user interface is awkward.



5. I DO ALOT OF BUYING/SELLING/TRADING, AND THIS BOOK HAS KEPT ME FROM MAKING MISTAKES AND HAS HELPED ME SCORE SOME PRETTY GOOD DEALS. I RECOMMEND IT HIGHLY.

5 comments about Crystal Stemware Identification Guide.

1. I purchased this book based on the reviews that were published. I thought they would also have ways to identify different crystal company signatures. I was just expecting more than a picture guidebook.



2. I think the book is good in the sense it has a lot of pictures even though they are not in color they are still clear enough to make out the pattern. Besides, most stemware is clear anyhow. The stick figure patterns are also helpful for some of the harder to find items and besides they do give a written description as well. I recommend it as a must have. home-of-china



3. I thought this would be a great addition to my library as I enjoy stemware and was very disappointed that most of the "images" are just line drawings and there is no history of lines or anything. I couldn't even find my stemware in the listings and I have several old sets that I have bought over the years. Stick with Gene Florence if you want a really good book on identification. Very lackluster!



4. Lots and lots of phots and makers. Very good even has unknown photos.Worth the money for a glass person



5. It was dissapointing that the contents of the book is in gray and white while the cover is in color. Very misleading. Although a multitude of patterns were covered many were sketched. All in all it would be difficult to recognise patterns using just this book.

5 comments about Antique Trader Book Collector's Price Guide (Antique Trader Book Collectors Price Guide).

1. The expanded new edition of a classic book collector's market guide provides full color and plenty of detail, updating prices for over 5,000 books and using charts to help identify first editions --which can be a tricky process, as publisher's marks vary from publisher to publisher. A new chapter on children's books has been added, while Top Ten lists of rarities and an alpha listing by author makes it quick and easy to use this as a take-along tote for flea market ventures.
   
   Diane C. Donovan
   California Bookwatch



2. I bought, then returned this book. It may be a fine book for some but the word "Antique" in the title is deceptive. I am interested in antique books. Considering the fact that books have been published for centuries, a shotgun listing of books of relatively recent vintage may serve some well but was useless to me. Sorry, Mr. Russell. Better lose the "Antique Trader" title if you have another printing.



3. Lighten up a little, guys. The book is THREE years old, fer chrissakes! NO book, even Ahreans, is going to cover everything AND continually be up-to-date on the fluctuations of the market (and market values), but each reference book you purchase adds a little something to your knowledge based, and this one does as well. The chapter on pseud.s adds yet another dimension to the book seller's (and/or collector's) knowledge.



4. This book is very helpful to me as I buy and sell used books.



5. So many times I have purchased books that promise the information I will need to be knowledgable about a subject. And so many times it is an empty promise.

   Antique Trader Book Collector's Price Guide makes no empty promises. It's filled with accessible information that informs the reader on this complex subject. I've not found one easier to use.

   If you are interested in collecting or selling books, this guide belongs in your library.

2 comments about 20th Century Glass (Dk Collector's Guides).

1. A very good selection of designers and examples. I miss more elaborate explanations about the technics used in glass production. Images are in very good quality and the colors are vivid and beutifull. Very recomended for an overall study of 20th. century glass art.



2. I think this may well become the standard reference guide for glass collectors. Beautifully designed, accessible and I thought very comprehensive in its coverage. Starting with blown and cased glass then pressed and moulded, iridescent, enamelled, painted, stained, engraved and finally cut glass. Each of these sections is broken down into national styles, for instance, the Scandinavian section of blown and cased glass covers Kosta Boda, Orrefors, Holmegaard, Riihimaki and Karhula-Iittala. All the glass shown has a caption that includes a dimension and price guide. The back of the book includes a glossary, dealer and museum addresses and that all-important index.
   
   A particularly interesting chapter is the last one, contemporary and studio glass. Eighty-two artists are featured with one or two examples of their work. This is beautiful fine art glass and with some items it is hard to believe that they are made out of such a brittle substance. Predictably, there is not much in this section costing less than a thousand dollars.
   
   I think it is worth commenting on the presentation. All the pages are very cleanly designed with typographic clarity for the main text, captions, key dates and designer information. The photos (over a 1,100) are presented as cutouts and almost jump off the page, all this glass looks just stunning.
   
   BTW. The main US publishers of collector's books should study '20th-Century Glass', this is what highly visual titles should look like!
   
   ***FOR AN INSIDE LOOK click 'customer images' under the cover.

No comments about Antiques Price Guide 2008 (Antiques Price Guide).

5 comments about Collector's Encyclopedia of Milk Glass.

1. I needed a picture book with decriptions. I got that and a history on each kind of milk glass. I think I'll keep this one.



2. Good resource for exceptional pieces, but it's not organized well, and does not cover most everyday pieces. Values are over-inflated, especially for what milk glass is selling for online.



3. I pick up a lot of milk glass in thrift stores and was hoping this book would help me identify some of the pieces. Unfortunately, most of the items in this book have long been unattainable to the casual collector. The informational section was too short and poorly researched, and the author virtually ignored contemporary milk glass from makers like E.O. Brody, Anchor Hocking and Avon (only a few of Avon's dozens of milk glass pieces were featured).
   
   If you want a book about milk glass from 1950 to present, this isn't it. Hopefully someone will realize the need for a book that covers "common" milk glass, which is getting harder to find and will ultimately be tomorrow's collectibles.



4. This book helped me identify unmarked pieces of milk glass with its extensive display of pictures and patterns. The book is fairly organized and covers many manufacturers that are not so well known.

   The only drawback was some pictures were not clear enough to carefully identify a pattern. This is only constructive criticism and should not keep you from using this book as part of a reference and identification guide for fine pieces of milk glass.




5. I picked up the latest edition of this book recently and learned alot in just a few glances. I have been collecting this wonderful form of glass along with Depression Glass and Art Glass for quite awhile, and have accumulated several books on the subject (see my other reviews).This one, unlike some others, has not disappointed me at all. There are wonderful pictures and lots of information. I do prefer price values to appear on the same page with the item and the maker/pattern. I would say that is the only fault here, and perhaps some more commonly found pieces would be helpful to know about too.Still, this is a must for anyone interested in Milk Glass and it's origins, plus information on some of the better pieces to be looking for. I personally enjoy seeing my pieces appear in books, as several are in this volume. Nothing like pointing to a page and saying "I have THAT TOO!!" That said, this book is well worth a spot in your glass reference library.