5 comments about Tomart's Price Guide to Johnny Lightning Vehicles.

1. This is a great resource for JL's up to 2001. Good history of the company from the original topper era to the Playing Mantis era. A must have resource for anyone collecting Johnny Lightnings.



2. This wasn't for me, I gave it to my husband for his birthday. He loves it. Likes the pictures and likes how you can see the value of the cars as well as the Johnny Lightening Whites. He also uses it as a check list to mark off which ones he has already collected.



3. i'll give my review after i received the item .
   many thanks
   
   
   ari



4. This is a slick and attractive book, and I suppose great if you're into collecting the modern Playing Mantis Johnny Lightning cars, but there's precious little here on the original vintage JL cars: only two pages of photographs. At least you get a picture of each of the original cars.
   
   So, my three star rating probably reflects my disappointment both in the descriptions I read here as well as the book it self. It's almost useless to me as a vintage JL collector.



5. This book is everything I expected and more. Being a true J/L fan I appreciate the descriptions and color photos. One thing I noticed is it needs to be updated some what. But its an excellent resource if you are into selling,buying,or trading!!!!

1 comments about Maxfield Parrish : Identification & Price Guide 3rd Edition (Maxfield Parrish: Identification & Price Guide).

1. Incredibly useful. I believe Flacks has written the most accurate and convenient pricing guide available for Maxfield Parrish collectors and anyone else who wants to figure out what a Parrish item is worth. If you're looking for a great coffee table book, I suggest Alma Gilbert's The Masterworks. -- James Halperin, sf novelist (The Truth Machine & The First Immortal) and Parrish collector.

No comments about Greenberg's Pocket Price Guide 2001: M.T.H. Electric Trains (Greenberg's Pocket Price Guide).

2 comments about Teddy Bear Encyclopedia.

1. If a bear wanted to find out his/her family history, this would be the encyclopedia to buy. Being a teddy bear is still very in vogue. This is a fascinating way to find out why we love teddy bears and why they appeal to collectors all over the world.
   
   You can read about all the best-loved bears, from the original "teddy" to "Winnie-the-Pooh. The latest collectibles such as Beanie Bear and the Millennium Bears are also included. Pauline Cockril is the internationally recognized expert on the history of the teddy bear. She is also a regular contributor to Teddy Bear Times.
   
   If you see a teddy bear and instantly want to buy it...this book IS for you. Also look for The Ultimate Teddy Bear Book which is considered to be the bible of arctophily (bear collecting) and is used by collectors, dealers and toy shops around the world.
   
   The first bear listed was made in 1902 and was an experimental Steiff bear. The bears are listed all the way up to the year 2000. If you think you have seen it all...wait until you see the Pink Dino, a Swiss bear with characteristic elongated designs that I think looks more like a monkey. I much prefer the 1991 Pam Howells bear that has a lace collar, shaggy golden mohair plush "fur" and a cute hat trimmed with fabric roses. The Australian Teddy bear on pg. 137 looks somewhat like a koala bear for some reason. :)
   
   I know a place where a lady has bears sitting everywhere in her Bed & Breakfast. You just want to take one of the bears home with you. In each room, she also has a "resident" bear that sits on the fluffy down-comforter covered bed. The whole place is like one big teddy bear picnic. I bet she knows about this book!
   
   It is just unbearable not to own more bears. I must go shopping since I gave away most of my teddies when they had a teddy bear drive for kids. It was sad to say goodbye to some of them, but I know they are now happily living with a child who loves them. I do think it is time to start collecting again!
   
   ~The Rebecca Review



2. This is a great "beginner" book to learn about the points that distinguish one bear from another. Somehow they all seem to look alike at first!!

   This book teaches you to pay attention to whether the nose is stitched up and down or from side to side. Are the feet big or are they little stumps? Are the eyes glass or plastic? Are the ears close together or far apart? Are the arms long and pointed or short and stumpy? These all are clues as to the date and manufacturer of the bear!!

   Includes a section on repairing an antique bear (less is better!) as well as a section on newer bears!

   A great learning tool! Written so it is easily understood........you don't have to already BE an EXPERT to BECOME one with the help of this well written book!!

4 comments about Watches International: Volume VII (Watches International).

1. While this book is heavy on pictures (and just heavy), it lacks some interesting brands and it doesn't have prices (even suggest retail helps establish a base line). There are better books on watches on the market but the price is low enough to make it (for me) not all bad.
   
   You can do better - keep clicking !



2. How about some new information? And lately, it seems like this collection is nothing more than the same as last year, with a few pages of what's popular this year added in. Where's a comprehensive book?



3. to be honest the book is filled with wonderful color pictures and descriptions of the watches.this is a good book to have for reference. I do perfer wristwatch annual as they include the prices. but for the money tis is a good book for someone who either collects or appreciates fine watches. a very nice overview



4. This book is a very comprehensive volume of today's finest watch brands and timepieces. There are at least two major brand omissions, including my favorite watch brand, Omega.
   
   There is not a single mention of Omega or Blancpain in the entire book. This leads me to believe that the book is really a pay to play advertising vehicle and these brands either chose not to participate or were intentionally left out. For me, with Omega missing, the book became a disappointment.

2 comments about Fostoria Glassware, 1887-1982: Identification & Values.

1. Wonderful reference guide to Fostoria Glassware. I would have preferred more color pictures to get a clear image of the glassware. Some pages tend to be a little dark. I feel this book is more for the Experienced Fostoria Glassware Collector.



2. A well researched volume loaded with useful information about this popular collectible. Much of the material was obtained directly from Fostoria archives and includes many illustrations from original company catalogues and brochures. All illustrations are clear in black and white. Products are listed by categories and run from bowls and candlesticks to dinnerware to vanity dresser items. Very comprehensive. A useful price guide is featured. Fostoria collectors will find this volume of value and will use it often.

4 comments about Collector's Guide to Housekeeping Toys 1870-1970 from Metal to Plastic: Identification and Values (Collector's Guide).

1. I purchased this book entirely out of curosity. What a wonderful decision! The book brought back many nostalgic moments. I was really surprised at how many of the toys shown were once part of my 1940's childhood - and some of them even made their appearance on the cover, although I didn't notice that until the book was delivered. I thoroughly enjoy this book. It is a really good history of housekeeping toys in the USA. The photos and captions for the items are supurb. The layout is wonderful. This book is really an awesome source of info for collectors - or anyone just wondering what kinds of toys we kids used to have. The plastic housekeeping items of today just don't measure up to the older toys that were once produced. I'm glad that I've still got many of my tin litho playthings. Thank you, Margaret Wright!!!



2. One of the reason I love Collector Books is that they have wonderful niche books that just no one else covers. Take this latest toy book, Housekeeping Toys 1870 - 1970. This paperback edition covers, what else, those play toys that simulated domestic activities such as cleaning and cooking. What immediately strikes you as you read the book is the many wonderful metal toys they USED to make as opposed to today's dull plastic toys. Those toys featured fantastic graphics that today's stickers on plastic just cannot match.
   
   The book is arranged by type of toy including stoves and ovens, kitchen ware, bake ware, cleaning items, wash day, tableware, and more. Each item pictured includes detail about the item such as the year it was produced, the manufacturer, the dimensions, and a price range on the toy.
   
   The metal stoves include late 1800's and early 1900's wood-burning type ovens and goes right on up to the famous "Easy Bake Oven" of the 1960's. You might be surprised to find out that the Easy Bake oven was not the first electric toy oven. In fact, there were toy electric ovens dating back to the 1920's!
   
   The section on household furnishing is a true trip down memory lane. These toy kitchen cabinets and refrigerators came stocked with miniature toy versions of name brand products such as Cheez-It crackers, Lava soap, and Kellogg's corn flakes.
   
   The section on tableware features fantastic graphics with characters such as Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Krazy Kat, and Snow White showing up on tea sets, china sets, platters, and more.
   
   The book features brilliant, full-color photography of each and every to in the book, and it is just shy of 300 pages. While it may not be completely comprehensive (and what collectible book is?) it is extremely well done and does included a detailed bibliography. A niche book but a fantastic one! Written by Margaret White.
   
   Reviewed by Tim Janson



3. Great Book! Enjoying it tremendously since I collect children's toys!!!



4. Margaret White's COLLECTOR'S GUIDE TO HOUSEKEEPING TOYS 1870-1970 organizes its chapters by type of housekeeping activity - cooking, wash day, tableware, cleaning and more - and adds color photos of each item, along with values. The photos, organization and latest values make this a winner.

No comments about Warman's North American Indian Artifacts: Identification and Price Guide (North American Indian Artifacts).

No comments about The Unauthorized Guide to Olympic Pins & Memorabilia (Schiffer Book for Collectors).

2 comments about Gaston's Flow Blue China Comprehensive Guide (Identification & Values (Collector Books)).

1. One of the best books on the subject. Weak area is china from areas other than Britain.



2. The author has done her homework with this book of flow blue items. It's easy to follow and very well put together. Great reference book - great reading!!