5 comments about Nancy Ann Storybook Dolls.

1. The author (who is now deceased) wrote this book with the information she had collected. Since then, it has been further researched, new facts were collected, new pictures taken, and now Elaine Pardee's "Encyclopedia of Nancy Ann Storybook Dolls" is the result of this research. This book was wonderful when it was published, and I still love it.
   Mary



2. THIS IS A GREAT BOOK ON NANCY ANN DOLLS. IT HAS A LOT OF PICTURES. THE ONLY THING IS THE PICTURES ARE IN BLACK AND WHITE. IT WOULD BE A LOT BETTER IF THE PICTURES WERE IN COLOR. IT WOULD BE EASIER TO FIND THE DOLL YOU ARE LOOKING FOR. WOULD BE GREAT IF SOMEONE WOULD WRITE AND UPDATE THIS BOOK ON NANCY ANNY STORYBOOK DOLLS WITH COLOR PICTURES. SEEMS A SHAME THAT THE TOY COMPANIES CAN'T BRING THESE DOLLS BACK FOR US TO BUY. THE LITTLE GIRLS MIGHT NOT LIKE THEM, BUT I AM SURE US ADULTS WOULD LOVE TO HAVE SOME NEW NANCY ANN'S. I KNOW I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE SOME MYSELF.



3. Considering how long ago the dolls were produced this is a helpful book for those trying to identify their dolls. It is true that 95% of the pictures are in black & white which makes it much more difficult to recognize but it is better then no picture. Also there are several mistakes in the discriptions of some dolls and wrong accessories on some of the dolls. Lets just hope that a new and improved version (with color photos) will soon be available.



4. I felt the book was incomplete, it only had two pages of color pictures and the description led me to believe it would have more of a complete listing and photos of the complete line.



5. I agree with the reviewer who said this book was a disappointment. The editors should be smacked for including all of those horrid b&w photos. As someone who was looking for help identifying Nancy Ann dolls and could have really used this book, it was a great disappointment because of the photos.

5 comments about Brimfield Rush: The Thrill of Collecting And the Hunt for the Big Score.

1. Well-researched, well-written non-fiction that tells a great story. We meet many of Brimfield's characters, as well as dealers trying to make a living in ever-changing conditions. The last few chapters deliver as much suspense as a good mystery.
   
   Terrific book!



2. BRIMFIELD RUSH; THE THRILL OF COLLECTING AND THE HUNT FOR THE BIG SCORE is a lively survey of a massive outdoor antiques and collectibles show spanning over 20 fields along a one-mile stretch in Massachusetts. It attracts thousands of dealers and collectors yearly - but BRIMFIELD RUSH follows not only the event's history but the experiences of a couple's year at Brimfield markets. The morning's opening 'rush' serves as a fascinating survey of Brimfield's treasures and attractions throughout a spicy, dramatic account collectors will relish and recognize.
   
   Diane C. Donovan
   California Bookwatch



3. If you don't live in New England or make a practice of frequenting flea markets, you might not be familiar with the name "Brimfield." It's not just a small town in south central Massachusetts; it's become an all-encompassing term (in both noun and verb forms) for the event that overtakes that region three weeks of the year. Author Bob Wyss has provided us with a look at Brimfield's history as well as the work that goes on behind the scenes. It's a view we casual visitors don't usually get or could even guess at. The emphasis here is on the dealers and the residents, and not the average walk-in buyer.
   
   Chapters are arranged in sections chronologically by the flea market weeks: May, July, September, and the following May. Though the book begins with a couple in search of a human skeleton -- which they eventually discover and gleefully buy -- the focus throughout the text rests on two burgeoning art dealers, Rachel and Joe. Linked in a new professional and personal relationship, they face a number of challenges as they attend Brimfield to buy and sell items for their Pennsylvania art business. Joe is the risk-taker and Rachel the financial manager, and together they struggle to become successful at a work that is fraught with a variety of dilemmas. Should they merely collect, or buy and sell? How much should they reveal to an unsuspecting seller, since "a score has two sides, and for every winner there is a corresponding loser"? (p. 92) What's real and what is fake? And when will they become comfortable enough to stop moving from show to show and settle down in their own permanent gallery? They find most of their answers by the end of the book.
   
   Wyss includes interesting side stories to the lives of Rachel and Joe, with glimpses at other Brimfield dealers, field owners and town officials. He details the town dispute with its police force in 2003, which resulted in the firing of all but the chief and which certainly contributed to a major silver theft in the field that year. He looks at the thrill of "the big score" in the antiques world, citing several cases that include the discovery of a rare copy of the Declaration of Independence behind an old painting bought for four dollars in Adamstown, Penna., in 1989. The piece sold for $2.42 million at Sotheby's in 1991, and was later bought by Norman Lear for $8.14 million in 2000. That score set the dream devoutly to be wished by anyone ever attending or dealing at a flea market or auction. Wyss also discusses the effect that eBay and other online opportunities have had on live auctions and flea markets. And even a knowledgeable dealer can mistakenly drink his way through a case of Bordeaux before learning that the going rate for it is $1000 a bottle.
   
   I read this book in the middle of a Brimfield week, and it gave me a new perspective on the event. This time I saw more paintings than I'd ever noticed before. I caught saw PBS's Antiques Roadshow personality Gary Sohmers charging down a path, dressed just as described in the book. I understood that a "big score" could still be gotten by a visitor or dealer. And I realized that the "Brimfield Rush" is not just the frenzied way that customers enter the fields at the opening bell. It's that feeling that permeates your very own nervous system when you buy something you know is wonderful.



4. Bob Wyss has given us an exciting, insider's look, at the biggest flea market in the world. As someone who purchased his first antiques, 33 years ago at the Rose Bowl Swap Meet, this book has rekindled my interest in the antique trade. "Brimfield Rush" is extremely well researched and gives you the background you need to venture out there and make your first deal. The reader is taken for a roller coaster ride of highs and lows as Joe and Rachel navigate through the worlds of flea markets, art galleries, estate sales, and eBay. For anyone interested in the "Hunt for the Big Score," this book is a must read.



5. Absolutely wonderful look at the passion of collecting rush that's so much a part of going to the Brimfield Fleas. Wyss has an engaging style in this story of a couple in search of the great art treasures at Brimfield. The truth is is that it's a difficult trail to take, as Wyss recounts. However, that doesn't stop the tens of thousands of visitors to Brimfield thrice yearly. I've been attending and taking photographs there for over 20 years now and it's easy to see that Wyss captured the essence of this event - an even that attracts celebrities, famous people and collectors from all over the world.
   A great, short read that's worth the trip to the bookstore. You will not be disappointed. Also a great primer before attending your first flea market in the antique town of Brimfield, Massachusetts.

1 comments about Antique Glass Bottles : Their History and Evolution (1500-1850) - A Comprehensive Illustrated Guide With a Worldwide Bibliography of Glass Bottles.

1. The publication of Willy's book marks a major milestone in the field of black-glass collecting. It is the first real effort at a comprehensive and authoritative guide on European bottles aimed at a broad English-reading audience worldwide. For years, collectors and others have waited for just such a book to appear. The numerous colour photos are outstanding. The text is clear, to the point, and easy to read. Any collector, no matter where he lives or what he collects, will, after reading the book, be able to pursue his passion in a much more informed way. I highly recommend the book, which should be on the book shelf of every serious bottle collector and student of historical glass containers.

No comments about Millersburg Glass: As I Know It.

5 comments about Hallmark Keepsake Ornament Value Guide: Tracker Edition 1973-2005 (Tracker Guides).

1. Now let me say right from the start I am not really a Hallmark ornament collector. My wife and I do have quite a few that we've bought over the years for each other to be placed on our Christmas Tree but we're not collectors in the true sense. But I found out full well the value of Hallmark ornaments when I found five pieces in the Frosty Friends collection at a garage sale a couple of years ago for a few bucks. These were numbers 3 through 7 in the series and those few dollars resulted in quite a tidy profit when sold at eBay. Since then we've made it a point to look out for Hallmark ornaments at garage sales and flea markets but the problem was we really didn't know which ones were really valuable. That all changed when I got this fantastic book by Bangzoom. I have owned a lot of collectible price guides in my life and this is easily one of the best.
   
   What makes it so great? Simple...how about a picture of every Keepsake ornament from 1973 through 2005...in full color, with the ornament name, retail price, item number, and current value. Add to that the pictures are color coded if they happen to be series or club/event releases. Add to that are outstanding articles on the history of Hallmark, special issue ornaments, protecting and insuring your collection, and an excellent article by Rhonda Cline called "Hallmark Collecting 101" which is a valuable resource whether you are a veteran or novice collector. There's even a list of Hallmark related websites that provide even more resource material.
   
   One note to mention, a previous reviewer said the book does not show the original retail price of the ornament, which is incorrect. As noted in the book's legend, the retail price is the first three or four numbers that is immediately followed by the item number. It looks like one long number so that may be why the previous reviewer didn't notice it.
   
   While the bulk of the book is dedicated to Keepsake ornaments, Bangzoom doesn't stop there. You'll also find sections on the Miniature ornaments introduced in 1988, ornaments for other holidays like Easter and Halloween, special issue ornaments such as the Ambassador Holiday House Collection, and Tree Toppers. There's also a comprehensive, alphabetical index that can double as a collector's checklist, and finally profiles of the Hallmark artists and sculptors. It's truly a complete package and one-stop source for Hallmark collectors. I had a lot of fun thumbing through the book and finding out just how much all of our ornaments were worth. Of course, my wife won't let me sell any of the ones we bought for each other, but now when we hit the garage sales, we'll have the perfect, take-along resource. My highest recommendation!
   
   Reviewed by Tim Janson



2. The guide was very thorough. However, only the pictures were listed for the year 2005, there were no values. So if you are looking for a current ornament listing, you will need to wait for the following year. Loved it otherwise.



3. Great value guide. I only wish it included all of the Barbie ornaments. I have quite a few ornaments that were not in the book. I would have given it 5 stars had it included all the ornaments. It was a great investment nontheless.



4. This is a great book. Not only do you have the value of the ornament but the price code is there too. The first set of numbers in the code tell you what you paid for the ornament so you can keep track of the values very easily. This is a wonderful book to own if you are a Hallmark collector. The layout of the book is easy to understand. You won't be disappointed if you purchase this book.



5. I have been waiting so long for a current version of a collector's guide to come out and now that it is finally here I do not know where to begin. Prior to this book,coming out, I was using an old Checkerbee book to keep track of my collection and I had to be content with that outdated book. This one is an up to the minute guide to the keepsake ornaments. It even includes Christmas and Halloween 2005.
   
   First off, this book is FABULOUS!! If you are a Keepsake Ornament Collector then you must get this book.
   
   The book is organized by year and it goes all the way back to the very first ornament and includes every year for Christmas and the Spring ornaments, the special issue ornaments,the Halloween ornaments and the Tree Toppers. The years have the miniatures separated out and the Table of Contents tells where to find the miniatures for each year. Also, there is an Index which lists every ornament by name and/or series. In the pages fopr each year, the series are marked with a blue mark to find them easily.
   
   The book lists values for each ornament and includes every year right up to the ornaments that came out this year. There is a color picture of the ornaments (although in going through the entire book the pictures for about 7 are missing) The book also has a section about the artists.
   
   I have already found this to be an awesome reference and just going through this book has helped me to value the collection that I have been growing for almost 15 years now and to see what gaps there are in my series and groupings. This is great even if you do not want to insure your collection. I was excited to learn of several of my ornaments are values way higher than their original price.
   
   This brings me to one significant deficiency in this book: It does not show the original price for each ornament. In fact I saw one ornament that was valued by the book at $150 and I had to go to the storage to pull it out to see what the price tag on the box was. I would ahve preferred that info at my fingertips in the book alongside the value. However, regardless of this, it is still a great guide and I give it 5 stars.
   
   One other awesome fact about this book is that it is endorsed by Hallmark and is in fact being sold in their stores.
   
   I love this book and will buy every updated edition every year for so long as they publish and I collect the ornaments.

2 comments about The Official Directory to U.S. Flea Markets Eighth Edition (Official Directory to U S Flea Markets).

1. Helpfull but out of date, an update at least every two years would be nice.



2. I've found this book to be very useful to bring on road trips on the east coast and on the west coast. Having the information of where and when a flea market is taking place all in one place is handy and convenient. The flea markets are broken down by state, and then by city. The larger flea markets have a description of what you can expect to find, types of dealers, size, etc. There also a "phone book listing" after the larger flea markets in a state that are just names, phone numbers, addresses, but no description. So far, most of the flea markets I have looked up and gone to are there. The only problem has been in the descriptions for the larger flea markets: they aren't always on the mark in terms of what you can expect to find. Some of the decriptions are outdated and some are too general leading to disappointment when finally arriving at a new flea market. But overall, for the information (names, dates, locations) this is useful.

No comments about Encyclopedia of Small-Scale Diecast Motor Vehicle Manufacturers.

2 comments about American Swords and Sword Makers, Vol. II.

1. The author has broken new ground on one of the most collected fields of collecting. His intensive research is obvious, and the information you find here is seldom encountered elsewhere.
   
   It is a massive work. The author definitely didn't gloss over the subject, something which is much appreciated in books on militaria these days.
   
   While there are a few photographs, I think the format is such that many more could have been offered without significantly adding to the number of pages, enhancing and braking up the text better. Don't get me wrong, the book is about the information within, but more photographs or illustrations scattered throughout would have made the hours you will want to spend with this book just a bit more visual appealing.
   
   Don't pass this one up if you have any interest in sword collecting what-so-ever!



2. The best way to increase the value of a sword that you have in your collection or wish to purchase is to identify it by maker, date and period ownership. American sword makers, and thier products, can be found easily in this book, and their dates of manufacture can often be identified as well. Reference works such as this, with plentiful illustrations, are essential for all collectors.

No comments about Chester County, Pennsylvania, Inventories.

No comments about Museums and Source Communities: A Routledge Reader.