4 comments about Collecting Japanese Antiques.

1. If you love Japanese antiques, you cannot live without this survey, with superb photography, spectacular taste, ecclectic choice, and scholarly background by the editor of Daruma magazine. All of the major collectible fields are covered with practical, informative text, and beautifully photographed select finds. The photographic choices are representative, varied and exquisite. Not merely an introduction, the work serves as a springboard to understanding and appreciating many of the accessible antiques from the Edo and Meiji periods in particular. If the book had an index of marks for each type of collectible, it would be perfection. As-is, I like the book so much that I have bought extra copies for my friends, and a new copy when mine started to get worn.



2. This is not your typical collector's handbook listing objects and possibly briefly describing them and listing going prices. This coffee-table quality book with the title "Collecting Japanese Antiques" is a survey of Japanese art works and cultural items with sections of advice for collectors. The historical and cultural background on the different items favors what would be of interest to collectors. But it is also informative and relevant simply for its artistic, historical, and cultural material. Readers looking for concentrated information on Japanese art and culture accompanied by attractive color photographs would find this work exceptionally suitable. For the collectors it is meant for particularly, there's sections on "Tides and Trends in Collecting," guidance in developing collections of certain items (e. g., baskets), lists of artists, notable regions and schools for certain antiques, and especially desirable objects in certain categories. Seton also moves to the technical subjects of materials, production, and workmanship which are important for collectors not only in appreciating items and assessing their value, but in making a preliminary decision about their age and authenticity. Among Seton's 13 categories of antiques are screens and scrolls, ceramics, furniture, sculpture and metalwork, dolls, and tea ceremony utensils. Seton has lived in Japan since 1972, where he currently teaches Japanese art and poetry. In 1993, he founded the quarterly magazine "Daruma" to cover Japanese art and antiques; which he still edits. "Collecting Japanese Antiques" is a work any collector or lover of Japanese art and antique objects will want for sound education and easy reference, and at times for enjoyably looking at the numerous color photos of the varied Japanese objects.



3. This book is a real treasure. If you buy just one book about Japanese art and antiques, this is it. Its presentation, descriptions and explanations are excellent. Reading this book is learning and pleasure at the same time.
   I know the author personally and one can really see in this book his love and dedication to Japanese art.
   For everybody who wants to learn more about Japanese art and antiques I strongly recommend the magazine "Daruma" which is edited by Alistair Seton.
   Markus Zenhaeusern, Kobe, Japan



4. The photos in this book are stunning. The author is knowledgeable.
   If you can't live in Japan to be near the beauty of its art, then this is second best. Rarely will you be able to get such thorough descriptions, history and feeling for the art and antiques of Japan.
   
   Cyndee Nagy, Kobe, Japan

5 comments about Vintage Jewelry: A Price and Identification Guide, 1920 to 1940s.

1. This is a great early guide for those earlier pieces that you don't often see in the other costume/vintage jewelry guides and therefore often hard to tell what they are worth. This book has plenty of pot metal made pieces, white rhinestone pave pieces, and lots of dress and fur clips. This is not a guide for beginners in collecting. My only disappointment would be the same I have with other guides - I would love to see the back of pieces; maybe not all of them of course, but I think it lends to a great education for the serious collector who isn't the most knowledgeable yet - like me! :)



2. eBay is NOT the be all and end all for collectible jewelry. Half of the people list items as "Bakelite" for example when they don't even know what it is. eBay is NOT the place for serious collectors of vintage jewelry. Half the time you don't know what you are going to get due to uneducated buyers trying to cash in on the term "Bakelite". Any serious collector does not use eBay as a barometer for actual values of these beautiful collectible items. There is my two cents on the topic.



3. Without a doubt, one of the best books on this period of jewelry. I have all the books in Leigh Leshner's series and cannot rate them high enough. Brilliant photographs, excellent jewelry samples and wonderfully informative on jewelry from this period.



4. This book is one of the best books for illustrations of the white metal/rhinestone forms of jewelry. All the photos are of high quality and show the pieces well. I found the price advisories to be questionable because the values listed seemed very high for local auctions and dealers and WAY high for the eBay world. Perhaps this is because the publication was over 2 years ago so the prices are even older. All in all a nice book - just get a second opinion on any $ values.



5. The author has wisely given us 400 beautiful pictures of
   old white metal costume jewelry. Since so much is unsigned
   the pictures will make it easier to evaluate pot metal pieces.
   This is the first book devoted entirely to white metal and is
   in a class all of its own. The illustrations make this a
   "coffee table" book. The author establishes all the variables
   taken in when pricing. All the jewelry in the book is mint
   condition. In few words she also explains that the book is

   devoted to the beauty and value of the jewelry, minimizing the
   importance of signed pieces. Thank you Miss Leshner.

1 comments about North American Indian Artifacts: A Collector's Identification & Value Guide (North American Indian Artifacts).

1. This is the 6th edition on North American Indian culture and artifacts by a true expert. It contains thousands of photos, mostly black and white, with some in full color. Lots of data on dozens of topics from arrowheads to pottery, baskets, beadwork, clothing, toys, weavings and jewelry. It includes a handy directory of dealers in Indian materials, arranged by state. Most items shown include their approximate value. A worthwhile addition to the library of everyone interested in North American Indian culture. Not just a picture-price guide, but a valuable reference.

5 comments about Trash or Treasure Guide to the Best Buyers: How and Where to Easily Sell Collectibles, Antiques & Other Treasures (Hyman's Trash Or Treasure Directory of Buyers).

1. This book promotes itself as a source for "honest" dealers and buyers for your antiques and collectibles.
   
   I sent 2 pieces of glass to one of their "honest" dealers, who had me send them insured for $800 and $500 respectively.
   
   Since then that "honest" dealer has disappeared along with my glass. Disconnected phones and so on.
   
   In a call to the author in California, to see if he knew where the dealer had gone, since he had recommended the dealer in his book, I was welcomed with an attitude of no desire to even talk to me, let alone to be of any assistance.
   
   I wish I had never seen this book.



2. If your going to have a yard sale or throw something away, wait till you read this book. I use the book and found thing's worth some real money, that I thought was trash.. So do your self a favor and buy the book. It's worth the money



3. I found the book in the library and when I found I'd bookmarked 40 or so pages, I decided to buy myself a copy (used, for half price). Good advice for working through an estate, which is what I'm dealing with--what to sell to collectors and what should go through a yard sale. Collectors have been very nice to work with, if they won't buy my item they will recommend somewhere else. My first item to sell was a musical instrument; the collector gave me $50 more than the highest bid at a local music store. The book has been very reassuring to both my mother and me to know what's junk and what is worth 10 or 20 times more than we'd expect from a yard sale, or at least double what we've seen on ebay. For the most part, not for newer collectibles (past 1970s), but book has an extensive section listing collectors of fast food, pop culture, and similar items which may only be 10 or 15 years old. Look for an older edition at the library to check the format; I've found this to be an invaluable resource, and several friends have purchased copies of this book as they watch me go through the "old junk" in the house. We all use it so much that we simply refer to it as, "the book".



4. This is a review of this product: "Trash or Treasure - Guide To Buyers" by Tony Hyman. Amazon may display this review on the page of another version of this product, for which this review may not apply. After reading this review, please click on the link so that you can be assurred that the product this review applies to is the same one you thought it was for.
   --------------------------------------------------
   
   I bought this book because I have a lot of 1980s and 1990s action figures, comic books, magazines, trading cards, and the such. I was hoping to finally find someone to sell them to. Well, I contacted some people listed in the book, and ... I've still got the stuff. If you have something made before 1970, this book may be of use to you. But if your stuff was made after 1970, don't waste your money on this UNCOMPREHENSIVE book. Hey, Tony Hyman, how about writing/compiling a separate volume covering items made after 1970?



5. All in all it is a good book and covers a good variety of things that you might normally not think to keep. Know it's hard to cover everything in just one book but I was disappointed that several of the current collectibles weren't covered (or I couldn't locate them) in this book. You almost have to read or scan through the whole book because some items that weren't listed in the index are referred to under other parts of the book. Takes a bit of time to read through but very informative.

No comments about Miller's Pottery & Porcelain Marks: Including a Comprehensive Guide to Artists, Makers, Factories and Forms (Pocket Guides).

2 comments about Goldmine Standard Catalog of American Records 1950-1975 (Goldmine Standard Catalog of American Records).

1. What a letdown! While this book purports to cover the period 1950-1975, I was sadly disappointed to find that it completely omits one of the most important musical influences of that period, DON COSTA, who was a noted arranger-conductor, master of the 12-string guitar, a performer in his own right, and a man who influenced the careers of many well-known performers like Frank Sinatra, Steve Lawrence & Eydie Gorme, Johnny Mathis, Ferrante & Teicher, Paul Anka, and the list goes on. Don Costa's fabulous arrangements have appeared on labels such as ABC-Paramount, Columbia, Mercury, United-Artists, and his own label, DCP-International. Don Costa was a true musical genius and as such, he was hired to be the musical director of a major Boston, MA radio station when he was only 15 years old!... One can only wonder what other important performers or facts were left-out of this book, and such omissions only serve to cast doubt on the seriousness of the data that did manage to find a place between the covers of this publication!



2. This is one of the best price guide books for American records. Due to its detailed information and clearly organized listings, it surpasses all previous publications in its scope and usefulness. It adds artists not previously mentioned in past price guides but does omit artists on a somewhat arbitrary basis. Why Getz and not Gillespie etc.? For the artists it does include, much hard work is reflected in the thorough discographies which list reissue information and pressing chronology with great accuracy. Obscure artists with limited product are, as is common with books of this type, omitted. For the money, this is the best book. Only Osborne's Rockin Records covers more ground, but in less essential detail.

4 comments about Warman's Roseville Pottery: Identification & Price Guide.

1. The book states it is a price guide. The author had pictures of as many as 9 pieces being auctioned and vague discriptions of some with chips. Another example is a Donatello jardiniere (with chip repair) & pedestal $180-$220. A picture of a Donatello bud vase on the same page just over 6" is listed at $180-$220.Yet another jardinier on the same page (smaller than the one that includes the pedestal with a rim chip is $200-$250.Auction prices for multiple pieces & damaged items need to be kept separate.



2. I am not happy with my recent purchase of Warman's Roseville book. It does not provide a complete listing of suggested prices and many of the pictured pieces are described with damage along with a price. For example, hanging basket with "chip on handle." For a serious collector the book is not of much use and for the inexperienced collector the book is misleading--damaged pieces do not sell for anything close to what mint pieces sell for.



3. Great book for a quick overview on Roseville pottery, the different patterns and price ranges. Not a complete book but a good quick reference for those just starting to collect.



4. Though by no means a complete showing of every shape made for each design, it IS a very generous sampling of each design, with beautiful studio photographs cover to cover. That makes it a must-have for any Roseville lover- none of the ugly black and white catalogue page reprints. NOT so great for pricing information. The pieces are priced with their existing blemishes, which would make a perfect piece of the same design worth ?? how much ?? Also has price listed for the whole set, if the photo includes more than one piece. That is just not helpful when you want to put a value on one piece.
   If not for the vague pricing information, I would rate this 5 stars- especially compared to other Roseville guides. Very helpful visuals in this one!

2 comments about Early American Pattern Glass: Collector's Identification & Price Guide.

1. Ditto to the above review of this book! "Index, Index, Index!!!" I am a relative newbie to antique glass and started a few months ago trying to identify family pieces. Because of the volume, extensive research, pictures, etc... of this source, I bought it a couple of months ago. What a waste of time and money. This book ***only*** has an alphabetical listing of patterns in the Table of Contents - no index. As I am trying to ***indentify*** a glass pattern - do not know the pattern name, the Table of Contents is useless. I have to laborously search page by page (500+) in hopes of stumbling on a black and white pic or sketch of the pattern. Granted several other glass books only have alpha listings of patterns but they are smaller in volume making it a bit easier to thumb through them. Now Warman's Glass by Schroy does have an index which lists not only pattern names but catagories with sub-levels. Why couldn't this book have taken a little more effort and added an invaluable index?



2. I'm sorry to say this book makes me want to stick a fork in my eye every time I use it.
   
   That's because mostly I need to identify an unfamiliar piece of glass, so I don't have a pattern name yet, and for some reason the authors chose to assume that anyone using this book would already know the pattern name of what they were looking up! Even the table of contents lacks any organization other than alphabetical pattern names.
   
   But most of all, identification is made hair-pullingly difficult by the lack of even a rudimentary INDEX.
   
   The authors have provided no way to look up patterns by characteristics such as 'star and circle,' or 'ribbed with lattice,' etc. The authors of books on marks have managed to come up with organization systems like this - so why is it so lacking in pattern identification books? This is not the only book without an index, even Mauzy's excellent book on Depression glass forces you to look at every pattern on every page when you're researching an unfamiliar piece.
   
   But, what makes this book's lack of index particularly egregious is its enormous size and complexity. Having to look at mostly black and white line drawings of patterns on EVERY SINGLE page of this book's 498 (!) pages of patterns is so discouraging I have yet to actually id a piece. I keep just giving up, which makes this book a waste of money.
   
   In fact, if you have a pattern name, you've already GOT identification, haven't you? All you really need to know is the price and what else is available in the pattern line, which YOU HAVE ALREADY IDENTIFIED YOURSELF!! The use of the word "Identification" in this book's title is an outrageous lie.
   
   The only way to make this book valuable to the majority of collectors, who have not managed to memorize thousands of EAPG patterns, is to buy another better organized book of patterns and use this one for the exhaustive listing of all pieces produced or reproduced under each pattern name.
   
   Obviously, the authors put a lot of hard work into this huge volume (which is the only reason this torture device still got two stars) but expecting anyone to access all that info without an index is ridiculous. This is a reference book after all, and reference books are meant to be WELL organized.
   
   If the authors had done more than just part of the job, and included at least an index and/or at least one other organization method than alphabetical pattern names, this could have been THE definitive guide to EAPG. What a disappointment.
   
   This was my first book on EAPG so I don't have any alternative suggestions, but perhaps someone else out there does?

2 comments about Antique Trader Jewelry Price Guide.

1. Antique Trader Jewelry Price Guide is a reference book featuring thousands of listings and hundreds of photos of jewelry of all styles. Featuring detailed overviews of every major type of jewelry produced in the past 200 years, Antique Trader Jewelry Price Guide is divided into four major sections, each relating to a different form of jewelry: Antique (1800-1920), Costume, Modern (1920-1960s), and Watches. Each jewelry listing has a short, clipped but descriptive listing and a price, often with a black-and-white photograph for additional clarity. There is also a limited selection of color photographs. Economical, practical, and easy to use, Antique Trader Jewelry Price Guide is a staple reference for any auctioneer, collector, or dealer in jewelry from the past two centuries. It is also an invaluable reference for theatrical costumers and historical fiction writers seeking detailed authenticity for their projects.



2. Brand new book featuring 304 pages with 400 nice black and white photos and a 16 page full color section. There is a useful introductory section describing the collectible. Each item description is quite detailed to help identify specific jewelry items. Major topics range from Antique (1800 to 1920) to Modern (1920 to 1960's). It is a very complete up-to-date guide that will be of interest and value to jewelry collectors.

2 comments about Lancaster Glass Company, 1908-1937: Identification & Value Guid4e (Identification & Values (Collector Books)).

1. Item arrived at the same time as items ordered directly from Amazon; item was exactly as advertised. Entire transaction was excellent.



2. If you like depression era glass, and particularly Lancaster glass, you'll enjoy the pics and info in this book. It's fun just to pick up and review the pictures and helpful if you wish to purchase any Lancaster glass. If you are selling a piece of glass, you should know that on some items you will probably get about half of what they are listed for in these types of books.