3 comments about Standard Catalog Of German Military Vehicles (Standard Catalog Of...).

1. This book is a must for anyone interested in weaponry of WWII. A great source for the vehicles at the Kabinka Tank Museum outside of Moscow and the Munster Tank Museum in Germany. I was amazed that there was a listing of the 12.8 cm Selbstfahriafeete L/61, of which only two were made, the only one in existence in the Kubinka museum. Thanks to the book I could figure out what was in the museums. Oft times they were not labeled correctly.
   
   I highly recommend this book!



2. This book has every vehicle the German Army used during the war.
   A must for every modeler.Execellent pictures!!!



3. I've always wondered about the heavy German use of motorcycles with side cars. And I've been fascinated with the German use of the half track configuration.
   
   This book answered all of my questions. The German half tracks, which came in a wide range of sizes had much better tracks than did the American M2/M3 (It was said that the American machines had rubber bands for tracks), but the German units were not four wheel drive. The little motorcycle looking halftrack was not a tracked motorcycle, but a small prime mover used to do things like haul aircraft around the field. And I've decided that what I really want is a Volkswagon Schwimmwagon, the four wheel drive amphibious vehicle (You can see of these at the Heartland Museum of Military Vehicles just off I-80 at Lexington, Nebraska.)
   
   This book has more photographos of German military vehicles than I would have thought existed. Of course it covers all their tanks, but you find these in lots of books. Here are the rest of the vehicles - trucks, motorcycles, prime movers, everything that the Germans produced during World War II.
   
   If these kinds of vehicles are your thing, this is a book you can't do without.

5 comments about Transformers: Identification and Price Guide.

1. This is the best Action Figure guide I have ever seen. It is very informative and very accurate, the author even adds his personal take on most of the figures. And talk about bringing back old memories. I actually bought this book for nostalgic purposes and was very pleased. It was nice seeing all the old Transformers from the 80's in one piece. Makes me wish I knew what happened to all my old ones, man I'd be rich if I would have taken better care of them. Hope Mark Bellomo does a guide book for the rest of the Transformers. If you are looking for the ultimate 80's Transformers Action Figure guide, this is it!



2. I had heard good things about this author, and this guide, from reviews at other Transformer sites, so I bought it (it was also being sold for half price at amazon.com when I bought it). It was well worth every penny! It is very thorough and gives great details on each type of Transformer and each of the "lines of Transformers" that were made up to 1990. Each Transformer is also given approximate prices for what they are worth as well. Granted, the prices will change over time, but this guide will still be a worthy identification reference for a very long time.
   I would have given it a 5, but there were quite a few grammatical errors in the book, but it won't affect your ability to understand the information.
   My favorite part of the book is that the author appears to have had fun writing it, but takes it seriously enough to make it a very thorough reference guide. A must have for any Transformer fan, from beginner to expert!



3. This is a great book about the 80's transformers toy line. It has plenty of info on many transformers like their favorite motto to stats. If you are fan and/or collector this book is a must!!!



4. This is great reference guide. It shows all the Generation 1 Transformers (84-90). It shows all the pieces and a bio of each character. It also shows the value.
   As kid I had over 50 of the originals and they are worth a ton of money. I use this book as a guide to purchasing used transformers at Ebay.
   I wish he would come out of with with a volume 2 (92-07) which would show all the generation 2, Beastwars, Alternators, Universe,Cybertron, 07 movie, and classics. Which I think are better than generation 1.
   Awsome book. I reconmend this book to all collectors.
   Also check out the G.I Joe guide.



5. I'm a TF fan since it first came out in the 80's. I had a few TF in the 80's which I wish I kept in mint or good/playable condition. I started collecting again since the new 2007 live action movie came out. I wish they had the new toys as well. But for the contents of it, it is packed with what you want to know on all the earlier generations of this franchise. I recommend it for all true TF fans and collectors alike.

No comments about Watches International: Volume IX (Watches International).

1 comments about Warman's Fiesta: Identification and Price Guide.

1. THIS BOOK IS A MUST HAVE FOR ALL COLLECTORS OF FIESTA. THE PICTURES ARE ABSOLUTELY THE BEST AND CLEAREST I HAVE EVER COME ACROSS. I HAVE READ ALMOST EVERY BOOK OUT THERE AND THIS ONE IS THE MOST PRECISE. SEE ONE OF THE LARGEST COLLECTIONS IN THE US. EXPERIENCE THE JOY OF BEING ABLE TO IDENTIFY AND PRICE ANY FIESTA WARE YOU COULD EVER FIND. YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED WITH THIS BOOK

5 comments about Standard Catalog of Lionel 1945-1969 (Standard Catalog of Lionel Trains 1945-1969).

1. This is an excellent reference work. The layout of the book is easy to use and the pictures are first class. This book surpasses many of the standard reference works available. Makes a great addition to a reference library on Lionel Trains.



2. this is the only book you will ever need if you collect older lionel trains it covers all the bases and lets me remember everything I forgot many years ago when I got my first train set extremely informative thanks I only wish there was a book to cover later years



3. Now in a newly expanded and updated second edition, David Doylle's "Standard Catalog of Lionel Trains' showcases Lionel toy trains made from 1945 through 1969. Surveyed in an authoritative collector's reference this new edition packs over a thousand color photos with its expanded catalog , which includes variations on Lionel cars and accessories. Many collectors of Lionels will find come to consider this a major 'must have' bible of information, packing in color photos and charts of values for Lionel trains in all conditions.



4. Excellent amount of information on post Lionel trains. The catalog contains the highest amount of information on Lionel trains, the value and rarity for each model. Plenty of photos to provide visual reference for your research.



5. The best or one of the best Lionel guides to postwar Lionel trains. The only guide that authoritatively lists all production variations over the years covered.

5 comments about Colored Gemstones, 2nd Edition: The Antoinette Matlins Buying Guide: How to Select, Buy, Care for & Enjoy Sapphires, Emeralds, Rubies and Other Colored Gemstones.

1. "Colored Gemstones" is a beginners' guide to gemstones that aims to help consumers understand what types of gems are available, what to look for in determining value, and how to go about doing that. This book does not oversimplify the subject as some guides for beginners do. Author and gemologist Antoinette Matlins gives readers some preliminary guidance on how to familiarize yourself with a gemstone using a loupe and how to determine if it is well-cut. Then it is on to Part 2, which constitutes the bulk of the book and is a fount of essential and fascinating information.
   
   First, the "4 C's" of color, clarity, cut, and carat, with particular emphasis on color and cut and how they relate to one another. Sample laboratory reports on gems are provided, so we see what a lab report can tell the consumer. The chapter on synthetic gems and enhancement treatments is particularly informative. The author describes common treatments and provides a very useful chart of treatments by gemstone. The chart lists treatments for 34 gem groups and indicates which treatments are typically used, seldom used, whether they are stable, and whether the treated gemstones require any special care, including which should avoid ultrasonic cleaners. Information on color enhancement spans several chapters.
   
   A chapter on fraud and misrepresentation lists which gemstone treatments are acceptable practice and which are dishonest, with descriptions of the treatments, and a list of deceptive names often used to mislead customers. So we will know what our options are, the author lists gems by color, provides a list of gems not routinely enhanced for those who prefer natural stones, and a table of how much treated vs a natural stones differ in price. There is a detailed price guide for 21 groups of (faceted) gems, indicating what you may expect to pay for good to extra fine quality stones, wearability, and availability. Opal and synthetic price guides are separate. One chapter is dedicated to descriptions of about 40 gems, with data on hardness, chemical composition, wearability, and brilliance for each. Ms. Matlins concludes with specific advice on what to ask and look for when buying stones, what facts to make sure appear on your receipt, and tips for cleaning and caring for gems.
   
   Having read Renee Newman's Gemstone Buying Guide, I find that Ms. Matlins' "Colored Gemstones" is more complete. This is primarily because the coverage of enhancements, synthetics, and price are more extensive in this book. Its discussions of how cut affects color are also better. That said, the "Gemstone Buying Guide" treats star and cat's eye stones more thoroughly and has a slight advantage in coverage of opal and jade. It provides more vital statistics, including refractive index, cleavage, and specific gravity. "Colored Gemstones" biggest shortcoming is the scarcity of photographs. There is a 16-page insert of color photos, but most of the gems discussed are not pictured. The "Gemstone Buying Guide" has far more photos, but if you have to choose one book, I think you'll be happier with "Colored Gemstones" unless your interest is in cat's eye or star gems.



2. If you buy Jewellery and gem buying guide from the same author, you find it is a lot of repetition. However, to me this book is giving more information than the other one as the discussion of more focus on gemstone.



3. Quite enlightening. Particularly liked the guide for prices of gemstones as well as the uses of stones. Had I purchased this book before, I would have made more informed choices when buying gemstones. Would recommend to anyone buying any type of gemstone.



4. Everything I needed to know to get started buying gemstones. Easy to read and very detailed; it helped me learn where the true value lies in these gems. More than I ever thought I'd learn!



5. I'm a novice at gemstones, but I found this book easy to read. It had all the information I needed to shop for gems! I'm sure people with more experience would also find this helpful.

5 comments about Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, and 50s.

1. I've rated this book good, but I've got mixed feelings about it. On one hand it's wonderful! Lots of good info and interesting items featured. It really is a fun read with lots of cool items photographed. But my main concern is the execution of the book. The lighting on many of the photos is very poor for example. They look like they were taken with nothing but regular room lighting, not special lighting I would assume a professional photog would use. So, I'm sort of split down the middle. But I would definately say I'm glad I bought it, even with the split decision!



2. Love, love , love this book. It was exactly what I wanted and so much cheaper than the book store. It arrived very quickly and was in excellent condition.



3. A+++ A must for any collector! Beautifully written, photographed, and illustrated. I can't wait for Ms. Zweig's next book!



4. This is a wonderful book written and illustrated fabulously - dealing in Vintage Kitchenware and Home Collectilbes with our own online web shop, it was a joy to read and savor every page - made us love the eras talked about even more!!
   
   linda
   Evelynne's Oldies But Goodies
   http://www.evelynnesoldiesbutgoodies.com



5. It's a great book but the first time we looked thru it the pages were falling out. Very poor quality binding.

5 comments about McCoy Pottery: Collector's Reference and Value Guide, Vol. 3.

1. This book has many nicely done photos and includes brief information concerning the individual pieces. A good thumbnail guide to McCoy pottery. I would however recommend that you purchase volums #1 & 2, unless you are well versed in McCoy, before you buy this one. I am a beginner when it comes to McCoy and I was looking for more history then I found in this volume.



2. The book had the information that I was wanting and much more. I recommend this to anyone who is interesting in collecting pottery or who is interested in being able to recognize valuable pottery pieces for resale.



3. A must have book for any true Mccoy collector. A lot of true Mccoy out there that is not marked Mccoy and the opposite which is not the real Mccoy.



4. While the book has beautiful photos, it is hard to use as a reference. Unless you know what the piece is exactly it is very difficult to locate in the book.



5. The authors are fitting and devoted source whose familiarity and love about McCoy Pottery shine through. Every collector of McCoy Pottery should and MUST have this book. This book is aimed at all levels of collectors. It has the wealth of information needed to help beginners make sense of things that may initially seem confusing. With its color photographs, lists prices, and careful organization this book will be of use to collectors and buyers in need of a general pricing guide. In light of the fact that there are so few books on McCoy Pottery I am grateful to the authors for their effort and dedication. Thank you!

5 comments about Price Guide for the Beatles American Records.

1. This 6th edition from Mr. Perry Cox & Frank Daniels continues the long tradition and reputation of Perry's top price guides with the highest degree of research, knowledge, sources and listings available anywhere!
   
   First, I give my strongest praise and congratulations to the co-authors (Perry and Frank), along with additional kudos to Mr. Bruce Spizer who contributed the Foreword, layouts, editing and publishing in this beautiful edition (and yes, I own most of his incredible "labor of love" books surrounding The Beatles records). These gentlemen are what we collectors consider "The Source" when it comes to being specific, detailed, precise and answering the tough questions that come with collecting what I consider "the greatest music memorabilia of all time".
   
   Secondly, I would like to take a moment and get personal about Perry Cox and what he means to me in this business. I have done business with Perry since the early 1980's (when, at that time, I was just a young sailor in the U.S. Navy and spending as much of my extra money on my #1 passion - Beatles records and memorabilia). Perry immediately befriended me and has been more of a "mentor" and a "personal confidant" during these 25 years of our friendship. He has yet to steer me wrong or not provide the tough answers throughout all these years and I greatly admire his passion, dedication and genuine love for the hobby more than anyone else that I have had the pleasure of sharing this excitement with in this hobby. I remember back in the 80's and most of the 90's when I would receive Perry's "mailer lists" that he religiously mailed out to those of us on his distro list. Receiving those lists in the mail has long been replaced with the technology and real-time convenience of the internet (specifically Ebay), but I will never forget what those first 15 years were like when we couldn't see the items and relied on Perry's specific details on each item for sale in his mailer list! Times they were a-changin'. Regardless of the resources, Perry has always been top-notch and quickly became my favorite source (which he remains to this day). I have since retired from the U.S. Navy after 21 years service and now live in the Tampa area - but I still email Perry whenever those technical questions need to be answered (or merely for his advice on items I am considering for my personal collection). Bottom line is that I give my full and unconditional recommendation (without hesitation) to any source that Perry endorses in this hobby - and his price guides are legendary among the amateur and professional collectors alike - across the board! Thank you Perry for your deep friendship over the past 25 years my friend.
   
   Next, I would like to humbly thank both Perry and Frank for recognizing me under the "Acknowledgements" section in this price guide. It is a labor of love for all of us and all I can say (after all these years collecting and sharing knowledge, experiences, etc.) is "How cool is it to have your name inside the actual book of your favorite lifelong hobby?" It is a dream come true and I am touched for that recognition! I have had the unbelievable fortune of meeting all four Beatles in person throughout my life, along with being stationed in London for two years with the U.S. Navy, and having my name mentioned in this book completes a long journey for me (for a little boy from Flint, Michigan who originally watched those "four lads from Liverpool" tear it up on that black & white television while dancing with my mother and older sister)! Little did we "Flintoids" know that we would also be treated to our own hometown heroes just six years later from "Grand Funk Railroad". Imagine that...
   
   As for the 6th edition of "The price guide for The Beatles American records", I would like to echo some of the wonderful comments from Mr. Robert York of Tacoma, WA (scroll through the reviews and you will find his detailed analogy of this new guide). I agree that it is very fitting that this book is the same size and lines up beautifully on the bookshelf with Bruce Spizer's books (not a coincidence I assure you - these gentlemen do all the extra work to ensure high quality products from start to finish). This new guide also has more colored photographs and layouts than I've seen to date and it is absolutely gorgeous. It starts out in the inner cover with many of the single (45's) in their respective picture sleeves in bright colors - and ends on the back inner cover with all 24 American Beatles' albums (in order of release) all in color as well. Everything in between these covers is simply magic and very nicely laid out! I am a stickler for detail and for making things "make sense" and this book does exactly that. One of my favorite things is the color-coding throughout the book. The authors got it right and made this very easy to use for all hobbyist - and the outer edges of the pages are actually color-coded so that the user can go right to the appropriate section he/she is seeking (without having to thumb around and find things aimlessly). The guide is broken down into sections, starting with Beatles singles and EP's, then Beatles albums, George Harrison, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Pete Best and George Martin, Apple, Dark Horse Records, Compilations, and ends with Vendors (and those who paid to be sponsored in this publication).
   
   I would also like to add that just before the color-coding starts in this publication, the authors have compiled some of the most important pages that will benefit collectors ten-fold (these pages are priceless, trust me). They have added sections on introduction, Market Analysis, Beatles records worth $1,000 or more, Grading records (very important especially for newcomers in the hobby), Acetates and Test Pressings, Promotional Records and Markings, Sealed Albums (which I have been involved in with Perry over many years), Capitol Inner Sleeves (nice explanations on what sleeves go with which albums, etc.), Records from other countries, Capitol-Apple Labelography (these are truly valuable pages here because it is so detailed and collectors need to become aware of all the differences on these labels), Capitol-Apple Tapeography, Pressings of "A Hard Day's Night" on UA (this is not testable, because 99% of us would fail the exam), Beatles U.S. Discography (you'll love this section and is perfect for "quick reference" or when creating your own personal spreadsheets, discography, or collections), and the last item in these white pages before the color-coding starts (and perhaps among the most important of all) is the "How to read the guide listings" section. This section specifically educates the reader on the Spizer Identification Number (which Beatles author/historian Bruce Spizer developed this numbering system for identifying items pictured and described in his books on The Beatles American records). This numbering system is quickly becoming popular among collectors and I would not be surprised if Mr. Spizer's system will one day be the universal standard for identifying all Beatles' American records (I have almost finished numbering my own personal collection with his numbering system and it just makes good sense)! Again, those white pages (pages 1-43) are some of the most valuable and educational sources that you will ever find on collecting Beatles American records (the price guide is worth its price for this information alone, not to mention pages 45-316 "the meat and potatoes" of the entire price guide).
   
   Lastly, I highly recommend this price guide to everyone interested in gaining knowledge on Beatles American records, their history, how to identify exactly what you have, and it is simply the top-notch book available anywhere on this subject. A superior book cover-to-cover and I am so impressed with various elements throughout this guide. It takes the reader on a journey itself and you will experience the roots, growth and unbelievable spectrum that The Beatles records went through from the start to present day. After traveling through these pages several times I found myself in many different stages of my life, in retrospect, thinking about where I lived when a certain album was released or what girl I was sharing those moments with, etc. An incredible 5-star book which should be owned by all Beatles hobbyist (I own three myself and had to ensure I got the low serial #'d edition in the slipcase signed by all three gentlemen mentioned above). Purchase the guide, you'll be amazed at the weatlth of knowledge, perspiration, inspiration, dedication, and how cleverly laid out it really is! "I read the book today, oh boy..." and Perry, Frank & Bruce "made the grade". Cheers!



2. Now, let's face it; you won't be carrying this price guide with you to garage sales. No, this will be the reference book that stays at home. And what a book it is! Similar in size to Bruce Spizer's record books on the American Beatles' releases, this baby is published in a hard-cover format on nice glossy paper. The color photos are wonderful for fans to view the items, and the whole book is entertaining as well as informative in terms of accurate prices. Some of the color on some pages seemed to have a purplish haze to them, but hopefully that is remedied on new issues. Overall, a top-notch job by Perry. Now, Perry, what I would like to see from you is a price guide on international pressings. Maybe concentrating on the UK and Japanese pressings since many of these are collectible. Also, tell Bruce he's not done yet. He may have called his last book "Swan Song" as a way of saying goodbye, but I'm sure many fans, including myself, would like to see him tackle all of the British pressings.



3. for many many years,perry cox and bruce spizer have done thier best to uphold great quality items on beatles reference subjects.
   they have finally started to do it in a very good way by showing COLORFULL scans of every capitol or apple product you can think of is the united states.
   perry worked his butt off on this book.
   why am i giving it 4 stars instead of five?
   one reason.
   nothing is included from canada(he gives credit to another book on that subject)which would have really been helpfull on the capitol issues..but spizers books covers canadian lps and 45s.
   also bootlegs are missing..and many times there were infamouse ones that would make a good fan laugh ..like "how do you do it" on the swan label which was never released but would have been a hoot to see here.
   knowing this book was never intended to show boots it is forgivable but two or three pics wouldnt have hurt.
   other than that,there are guides to show you what lps were issuerd on what label variations and finally some good pricing.perry has been a seller of beatles records for many years and in this book he shows you just how incredible the beatles were to not only groove to,but to collect.a MUST for any beatles fan or collector!
   also other formats are finally addressed and treated with respect(reel to reels and 4 tracks especially!)



4. Great book, fulled with information and high quality pictures. What makes this book nicer than the previous book is that the pictures, which correspond to the description, are on the same page. The only negative comment I have is that it's a hard cover book, that's too big and bulky, making it more difficult to flip through the pages and quickly look up an item. The last edition was a nice, small paperback book that I kept at my desk to flip through for a quick reference. This book is big, and heavy, and not made for flipping, but rather individual page turning. Being too big for the desk, I keep it on a book shelf, and more often than not, find myself thumbing through the more convenient last edition, rather than the new one. It went from being a guide to a reference book, but a great reference book!



5. It was an earlier edition of Perry Cox's Price Guide that originally got me started on collecting Beatles records again. I had been collecting since 1974, but had stopped around 1979. When I picked up Perry's book in 1992 at Rockaway Records in Los Angeles, I realized all the things I didn't have!
   
   Perry Cox's Price Guide is the best way for any fan interested in collecting Beatles records to get familiar with what's out there, what's worth what, and what's worth having or not having. Even for the fan who just wants to learn - it's the best way to see - this time in brilliant color, thanks to Bruce Spizer's top-quality publishing - everything in the American Beatles record/tape/CD world. From the most common of 45's to the rarest of vinyl and CD's, the Price Guide is the "bible" for the Beatles record collector - bar none.
   
   Matt Hurwitz

5 comments about Warman's Hot Wheels Field Guide: Values and Identification (Warman's Field Guide).

1. This small but concise volume is Warman's Hot Wheels Field Guide: Values and Identification (2nd edition), which was released on October 30, 2007. It was purchased as a gift for an avid Hot Wheels collector, shortly after he had noted that it would be good to have a small and simple book to keep in the car as a quick reference book when casually shopping for cars for his collection.
   
   This new edition should not be confused with Warman's Hot Wheels Field Guide, which was published in May 2003. That older version features a Deora on the front cover.
   
   After a couple of weeks worth of use, he commented that its 500+ pages are chock full of good information. Though it's not the ultimate resource on HotWheels cars, it's perfect as a handy quick reference when shopping at the local chain and toy stores for that occasional rare car that does slip through. There's good info on Blackwalls, Redlines and the Number Pack details, and has over 500 color photos of some of the highly prized Hot Wheels cars, along with a decent "Wheel Guide" for easy identification of some of the rarities that pop up on the racks.
   
   If you're looking for something larger and more detailed, you might wish to look into Hot Wheels Variations: The Ultimate Guide (3rd edition), also by Michael Zarnock, and published July 6, 2007.
   
   All in all, this compact volume is perfect for what has been described by the publisher, and a good handy reference for the hobbyist, casual collector or avid Hot Wheels fan. Add to that, it's a great gift.



2. When I bought this book I was IN heaven It had all of the pictures I wanted to see except for the cover car.It hardly had any of my cars but Im okay with IT.



3. This little book fits right into your pocket. You can take it with you when you go on your "treasure hunts"



4. This book has some good information, but is very incomplete. It does not even contain the deora car that is on the front cover and title page of the book!!! This book only lists mint in package prices and many cars have been left out. It also contains very little variations. If you are looking for a complete price guide, look somewhere else.



5. It is not clear in the description of this book that only a relatively small sample of Hot Wheels are featured and the only values listed are for "mint packaged vehicles". Because of these limitations, this book was of little value to me.