5 comments about Fenton Art Glass Patterns 1939-1980: Identification & Value Guide (Fenton Art Glass).

1. This is a thorough book and one that I refer to often. It helps to identify many of those pieces you find in your grandmother's china cabinet. There is a lot of information about the various designs, colors and years of production. It's one of the handbooks that I constantly look to for information.



2. I got this gift for someone else, and they LOVE IT. All the information they were seeking was there, plus it helped price and identify the Fenton items they had.
   
   The pictures in the book are beautiful, you can see every detail.



3. The lack of an index makes this book difficult to use efficiently. The only guide is the table of contents which divides the book by pattern, then color. If you want to look up a particular piece and you don't know the name of the pattern, you will have to look through the entire book to figure it out and hope the piece you have happens to be in this book. Likewise if you don't know the color name of the piece. With Fenton, what you think is pink might actually be called peach. Is what you have light blue, aqua or turquoise? You won't be able to figure it out unless you look at every possibility. If you happen to collect Fenton "Amberina" don't buy this book, there isn't any reference at all to that color.
   I find the layout too busy and hard to look out. The black type on green background for the price guide adds to the busy look.
   Yes, there are a lot of photos and info but in my opinion, the book really needs to be more well organized for me to call it a good book.



4. im a newer collector so i needed some reference guides.this book has tons of pictures, pricing and information from cover to cover..id recommend it to any fenton collector new or old



5. Book is very helpful in identifying pieces. New Fenton lovers should buy this!

5 comments about Maxfield Parrish.

1. Note: I made some immature person angry by giving negative reviews of books written to "prove the Book of Mormon." Rather than answer my criticism, this person automatically gives my reviews negative votes. Oh, well.
   
   Your "helpful" votes are appreciated, and please remember that a short review is not necessarily a bad review if it leads you to a great book.
   
   I love "Daybreak" (see cover) with a nude figure standing above a girl sleeping in a columned pavilion. If you like this painting, then check out different reproductions (the colors vary widely and change the nature and mood of the painting. Really change it.
   
   "Twilight" is another great painting. For me, it is evocative of a great mystery. You want to step into that farm yard and explore the house and barn. No people are shown, but it gives me the feeling that ghosts live there (without being scary--in a dreamy sense).
   
   "Afterglow" is also intreguing, showing a New England church as the stars come out.
   
   The book is full of both color and black-and-white illustrations. I would love to see "Landing of the Brazen Boatman" in color. A robed figure is walking down some stairs of a strange temple while a boatman awaits.
   
   What a gift of imagination Maxfield Parrish left to the world!
   
   Highly recommended.



2. A comprehensive survey of the artist's work, it covers not just his paintings, but also his posters, advertising and magazine and book illustration and the murals. Very well illustrated and with a comprehensive text it chronicles the artist's development and his vast array of work.
   
   One of the most interesting chapters is that which explains in detail the methods Parrish employed to achieve his remarkable results. This includes his use of photography and the painstaking glazing techniques he employed.
   
   A very interesting and useful publication; it is not one that sits idly on my book shelf.



3. The version of this book that I own is from the second printing (1974). What a beautiful book! In some ways Parrish seems to be the dreamy counterpart to Norman Rockwell. An amazing attention to detail and lighting. To reiterate a point raised in other reviews, this book would benefit from more color plates, but that is a minor criticism. While I have not yet purchased any of the other books in print on Maxfield's work...this is a fine place to start. There is a generous sampling of landscapes, product advertisements and magazine covers. Recommended!



4. This book has always been the "essential" Maxfield Parrish reference for me. It contains page after page of information about the artist's incredible personal and professional life. It also goes into great depth detailing the illustrator's perfected (and tedious) technique of creating illustrations. From crafting meticulous miniatures for layout to the final process of layering oil glazes onto the canvas. It's all there.
   
   I would highly recommend this book to Illustrators, art teachers, and overall art enthusiasts who want to expand their knowledge about illustration and a true master of the past. This book has been cited in other publications such as "Step by Step Graphics" for the depth analysis of his technique.
   
   My only small criticism is that I would've liked to seen more color prints within the book. A few too many black and white reproductions of the artwork. That aside, I feel this book is of tremendous value.



5. I, like you, want to own Daybreak--perhaps more so than any other painting. Sometimes an illustration entertains, perhaps greatly. Some evoke admiration, even gaping admiration. In the case of several Parrish paintings, admiration is merely the aftertaste of a much more powerful emotion: the craving to be in the space the artist has created, to have or to be the characters therein. A desire to truly exit this world and remain in the other. The list of works that affect me in that way starts off like this: It's A Wonderful Life, Oz, Narnia, Harry Potter's magical England, Parrish's Daybreak & Land of Make-Believe & Air Castles et al., Robert Heinlein's Glory Road, ERB's A Princess Of Mars... We read or watch or view them over and over again in an attempt to ease the longing.

   This volume satisfied that craving long enough for me to catch my breath.

2 comments about Miller's: Chinese & Japanese Antiques: Buyer's Guide (Miller's Buyer's Guide).

1. Encompassing 2000 years of history, and everything from ceramics to furniture to Mao era propaganda, it isn't a comprehensive guide to any one subject. It isn't meant to be; nevertheless it serves as a full intro to the field in one portable volume. Several thousand pieces with prices in Brit pounds (most for museum quality specimens, not the more everyday kind). About 70% b&w, though does include some lovely color sections. Still a bargain.



2. I bought this book to help me discern chinese porcelain and learn a little more about the oriental collectables. This book has too many black and white photos and falls short of being a necessary refrence guide.

3 comments about Barbie Doll Around the World 1964-2007: Identification & Values.

1. Barbie Doll Around the World: Identification & Values 1964-2007 is a top pick for any specialty Barbie collection or for lending libraries seeking to go beyond the general antiques and collectibles guides to get specific about the most collectible items. Barbie dolls are among the most highly collected types of dolls, so if you're a public lending library seeking a popular collectible guide, make it BARBIE DOLL AROUND THE WORLD: it covers all kinds of Barbie collectibles, not just USA issues.



2. Good job indeed! I always like Augustyniak's works as he's very accurate in his descriptions and shares also lovely pictures of dolls which are important to guide collectors within the huge world of Barbie dolls. I especially appreciated this book about international versions of dolls as I'm Italian and recognized many of them as sold in my country alone. It was also useful to know about special editions from other countries such as Japan or Philippines. Thanks Michael, as I said: a good job indeed! :-)



3. Once again, Michael Augustyniak gives us another wonderfully informative book, but this time on those very hard to find Barbie dolls from the foreign markets. Michael breaks the book down by country, and those include, Australia, Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Europe, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan and Venezuela.
   
   As in his other books, Michael gives a picture of the doll and a close up on the face. Barbie, Ken, Skipper and Kelly, among others, are featured. The years range from 1964 to 2007 with over 350 pages and a break down of Barbie's foreign family tree and celebrity friends. With this overwhelming task of finding these obscure dolls, some lines are not complete, but this book is well worth the price for any Barbie collector.
   
   This is a useful and fun book about Barbie dolls around the world.

1 comments about Kentucky Derby Glasses Price Guide.

1. Among the legions of racing fans that frequent such thoroughbred races as the Preakness, Belmont, and the Breeder's Cup, are those for whom their enthusiasm for the sport leads them to collect various kinds and categories of racing memorabilia. Now in an expanded and updated fourth edition, the "Kentucky Derby Glasses Price Guide", compiled by Judy Marchman is a unique and superbly illustrated compendium focusing on all of the Kentucky Derby glasses and shot glasses, as well as other rare and valuable glasses associated with professional horse racing. Organized chronologically by year, each color illustrated example also cites its price as a collectible. Ideal for novice collectors just starting out, and an informed reference for dealers and established collectors, "Kentucky Derby Glasses Price Guide" is an ideal and prized addition to personal, professional, and community library Antiques & Collectibles collections.
   
   Diane C. Donovan
   California Bookwatch

5 comments about The Pearl Book, 3rd Edition: The Definitive Buying Guide: How to Select, Buy Care for & Enjoy Pearls.

1. As the title states, "The Pearl Book" is the definitive book on pearls. This 198 page book tells you everything you need to know about pearls, starting with a history of pearls and then moving on to descriptions of the different types of pearls, and advice on the selection and care of pearls. Of particular interest to me was Section 5, in which famous jewellers speak about pearls. The only drawbacks of this book are that the photos (with the exception of some colour plates in the centre) are in black and white, and being published in 2002, it is now slightly dated (the pricing guidelines are now irrelevant and the reference list does not include any web addresses). Nevertheless, this is an interesting read and a valuable addition to a jewellery library.



2. If you are interested to learn more about Pearls, this is a must read book. It provides you a complete understanding on how to distinguish a quality pearl versus others.



3. I bought this book for our store reference. My staff became hooked, the information is solid and written in a way that reads like a book built for leisure. One critique; There could be more pictures in her book, although a cliche - a picture is worth a thousand (descriptive) words. I will buy more books from Ms Matlins, she has established herself as THE DEFINITIVE WRITER for gems and pearls. Thanks for the great reading material. Veronica, Ali'i Jewelry - Hawaii



4. If you love pearls--or just want to learn more about them--this is the #1 book to buy. I have Matlins 'Jewelry & Gems: The Buying Guide' which is very well worn from use, so I decided to start learning more about pearls with this book.
   
   Wow! Talk about bursting with information! Matlins covers everything from history and lore to famous pieces, moves on to explaining the differences/types of pearls, how to evaluate them, *and* what to look out for... she provides estimated value lists, gives advice on how to buy, wear and care for pearl jewelry. Whew!
   
   Did you know a drop of salad dressing can ruin a pearl? I didn't!
   
   The author also interviewed many pearl industry professionals and their thoughts are informative as well as (at times) entertaining. In fact, the entire book could be described as "conversational". It's not textbook in style, yet provides so much information it could be used as one!!
   
   Do you sell pearls? The information Matlins provides can help you better understand and describe the charecteristics (and value!) of the pearls you sell. Are you looking to invest in pearls or start a collection? Add this book to your shopping cart--you might save hundreds or thousands in the long run.
   
   But if you simply have a passion for pearls and want to learn all you can about them, this book is a "must have" for your library. It's comprehensive, loaded with tips, and easy to read. There aren't pages & pages of photos. It does have some good compare/contrast photos, as well as others of important or famous pieces. You may find yourself wishing there were more of the "educational" sorts of pictures, but overall that's a small nick in an otherwise glowing treasure. No doubt the binding will become worn from frequent use.
   IN SUMMARY:I highly recommend 'The Pearl Book'. It's truly worth every penny. You'll know what to look for if you get this gem.



5. This book covers everything anyone needs to know about pearls. It's filled with information that helped me finally realize what's important in selecting nice pearls, and why some are so much more expensive than others. I was so confused about them after talking to different jewelers that I wasn't sure what to buy (and they are too expensive to make a mistake). This book was a godsend. And I love the pearls I finally bought...and know they will stay beautiful! Also, I never knew there were CULTURED abalone pearls, but I plan to look for them for my next treat to myself!

No comments about Schroeder's Antiques Price Guide.

5 comments about Inside the Jewelry Box: A Collector's Guide To Costume Jewelry, Identification And Values (Inside the Jewelry Box: A Collector's Guide to Costume Jewelry).

1. If you are a vintage jewelry collector by hobby or by trade, this book is a great addition to your reference library. The photos are of excellent quality showing necessary detail, and the author, Ann Mitchell Pitman, has done everyone a great service by adding some additional references of websites and organizations available for continued study. If you are an eBay shopper, I highly recommend this book so you can become familiar with the products and know the approximate values when bidding.



2. I had been collecting costume jewelry for over a decade when I discovered this treasure of a book. Immediately, I was drawn in by not only the beautiful photographs and great reference material, but by the author's writing style. She's one of those rare authors that can take the same information (not that she did) as another writer and make it her own. Her great personality and warm generous spirit shine through on every page.
   
   This is truly one of my very favorite books on costume jewelry!



3. This book covers a host of costume jewelry, better than average photos of the manufacturer's signatures or maker's marks (very important if you are a collector!), along with good descriptions and some pricing information. Included in the back of the book are copies of some of the original advertisements for some of the jewelry. Good stuff! I'd recommend this book if you are a collector.



4. Wonderful pictures! I like the way she has some jewelry shown under designer headings while she also shows groups of brooches, necklaces, etc., with various designers together. I especially like the beginning that shows the backs of designer pieces; something you don't get to see a lot in these jewelry guides. It's one of those books you take out on the porch on a nice day and go through page by page from beginning to end (for me, it was like a kid in a candy store), and by the time you get to the end, you feel much more knowledgeable about costume vintage jewelry!



5. The jewelry in this guide is mainly from the author's and apparently her friends' collections. Quite a bit of the jewelry is unidentified by company. The book is strangely organized beginning with around a dozen companies, unalphabetized, followed by sections under the headings of "Quality," "Fruits & Vegetables," "Bakelite, Lucite & Other Plastics," "Parures & Demi- Parures," "Necklaces," "Bracelets," "Brooches & Pins," "Earrings," "Rings & Things," "Pebble Jewelry," and "Guilloche." Under these headings there is no discernible organization. The book concludes with a short section on contemporary jewelry, general information on reproductions and care and repair, thirteeen pages of vintage ads, and some costume jewelry internet web sites. The strengths of this book are that the photography is pretty good and the collection of figural pieces is extensive.

No comments about Warman's Transformers Field Guide: Identification and Values (Warman's Field Guide).

2 comments about Classic 80s Home Video Games: Identification & Value Guide.

1. The one thing in this book's favor is its price, which renders criticism of it somewhat moot. At a glance, the guide offers relatively comprehensive coverage, but as one digs into the content offered, the beauty of the photo spreads is mostly skin deep. Although nearly all game titles presented within are documented with photographs, far too many items are only partially illustrated (e.g. only a cartridge, but not the accompanying manual or original packaging). Given that the authors could have reached out to the collecting community to obtain photos of the missing items, each absence adds up to an inexcusable shortcoming for a field guide. More troubling are entire product ranges that go unmentioned (e.g. the double-ended cartridges Xonox produced for the ColecoVision) and the rather slipshod presentation of non-game materials for each system, such as peripherals and third-party accessories. The latter are listed in bulk at the end of each section, often without photos, and in alphabetical order rather than categorized by item type. Much to-do is made of variants in packaging cataloged within its pages, but here, too, the information is scattered and incomplete, despite appearances that comprehensive research has been done. General layout of each section can at times be equally haphazard, but for the most part works.
   
   Perhaps the greatest weakness of this work is the effort made to assign valuations to items for collectors. In some cases, the information is accurate. However, by and large, the dollar values appear to be assigned with no attention paid to real-world transactions, instead being plucked from the imaginations of the authors or thinly-veiled formulae (e.g. manual prices are near exclusively assigned as a fraction of "complete" specimen prices, which is an altogether mistaken methodology). In some cases, prices are assigned for portions of games that go beyond reason (e.g. per-token pricing for Odyssey 2 board/video games). These are all common traps for collecting guides, and despite assurances that both authors have deep experience with the field, there is little evidence that either managed to overcome personal bias in assigning values. It would have been better to leave the book as an identification guide than to stretch its authority to (poorly) cover individual game pricing. Moreover, it doesn't help matters much that the book itself is littered with pleas from the authors to contact them to sell them your games. Absent independent research, this work should not be trusted as an authority on the valuation of video games of the era.
   
   [...] the guide is also plagued with authorial bias in its summaries of each system and their merits. It would have proved more profitable to devote more space to the history and nature of each system and less to editorializing about which is better than the other. There's a certain amount of hubris involved with the authors' undertaking here, evident from the front and back cover illustrations. What's on display are the gems of a collection, and not the games that would be familiar to someone who might have owned any of the systems covered back in the 80's. The desire to show off the holdings of the authors should have been tempered to broaden appeal of the work, but again, this is a pitfall common to the field.
   
   In sum, this is a fair first effort that tries to cover too much ground to its detriment. For the price, it's a somewhat useful identification guide. Beyond the photos, though, there isn't ample evidence that the book can be trusted as a value guide or comprehensive catalog. Perhaps a later edition will address these problems, but until the authors rein in the exuberance they have for their favorite systems and personal collections and draw upon the larger collecting community to both broaden and deepen coverage, I fear that one can only hope for the fiddling of a number here and there and not much else.



2. Classic 80's Home Video Games is a fantastic pictorial guide of all things the classic video game collector could ever want. Full color photos, prices for loose game, manual and box, along with descriptions of all known variations of said games. This guide doesn't bog down in text descriptions like other guides seem to do, rather, Jason and Robert let the large, beautiful, full-color photos speak for themselves.
   
   The guide also includes some items either glossed over or completely ignored by other guides. Peripherals, patches, posters, catalogs, they are all in there, and all in full color photographs.
   
   I highly recommend this guide, whether you are a new collector just starting out, or a longtime pack rat such as myself. For the price, it really can't be beat.