No comments about Kennedy Half Dollars Folder Starting 2004 (Official Whitman Coin Folder).

2 comments about Art Deco (Dk Collectors Guides).

1. I had expected more general treatment of the collectables, such as materials, form, etc., and perhaps less in the line of the Very High Priced items. Still, it is a good reference to get the general idea of Art Deco style. Great photos, and some amazing pieces in here. Couldn't beat the used price, either. (under $10.00)



2. This book is devided into eight chapters: furniture, textiles; glass; ceramics; jewlery; silver and metal ware; sculpture; and posters and graphics. Each chapter opens with an introductory overview that discusses the historical background of the medium and its place in the history of Art Deco. Profiles of the most important Art Deco designers and factories are given and then followed with examples of their work. Each page is filled with beautiful photographs of Art Deco objects and 2005 estimated prices.
   
   Many books on the history of Art Deco and Modernism profile the same iconic pieces. These are works that are mainly in museums and in the hands of very wealthy collectors. The beauty of this book is that a potential collector can get an idea of the wide range of Art Deco pieces that are still readily available to be purchased.
   
   The term Art Deco covers a wide range of material objects and this book should not be seen as a guide to help one determine the price of particular items. This book is a general reference and it is unlikely that one will find the exact items pictured in the book.
   
   Finally, this book is published by DK and in usual DK fashion it is jammed with beautifully photographed objects. This book is a visual pleasure.

2 comments about Lighting Fixtures of the Depression Era.

1. The previous reviewer says "this book also didn't give the dates of when the lights were originally made so you can't use it to date a light of your own if you want to." This is not accurate. While Volume I did not include dates for the various catalogs reprinted and priced, it did state that the fixtures are from the 1920's. Volume II, however, covers the 1930's and includes the date of publication for each catalog.
   
   My problem with the series is that the books are only a collection of old catalogs with guesses as to the prices of the items. No real life values are shown, auction or flea market. It is an interesting collection, but almost useless as a price guide.



2. this book was pretty good lot of good picture but would of liked them all to be in color,this book also didnt give the dates of when the lights were orignally made so you can't use it to date a light of your own if you want to.

4 comments about Collector's Encyclopedia of American Composition Dolls 1900-1950: Identification and Values (Collector's Encyclopedia of American Composition Dolls).

1. Excellent book-Well organized by years, showing top quality photos of American compo. dolls. Highly recommend!



2. The photographs in this book are outstanding and very helpful when trying to identify a doll. Ms. Mertz has outdone herself in the information she provides in this book. I especially like the closeup photos of the dolls' heads because it is so helpful when trying to identify unmarked dolls without original clothing. This book is a joy to read, and I have kept it on my chair side table in close reach so that I can enjoy it every time I sit down for a break.



3. This is a 'must have' book for the collector of American composition dolls. It is well researched and showcases many smaller companies that produced dolls as beautiful, and desirable, as the larger ,better known manufacturers. The addition of actual advertisements from trade magazines, touting 'uniqueness' and sales potential for particular dolls, is both interesting and education to the serious collector as well as the novice. The histories of the lesser known companies ,no matter how short, are enlightening since many of them I knew nothing about. This volume is as beautifully photographed as the first; Ms. Mertz took no shortcuts on quality. Both volumes I & II are well worth their price.



4. Ursula Mertz has done it again! Her first volume of the COLLECTOR'S ENCYCLOPEDIA OF AMERICAN COMPOSITION DOLLS set the standard for compo doll reference books. Now her Vol. 2 -- all new information and photos -- has been published and it more than lives up to the quality of its now out-of-print predecessor. For anyone who enjoys the composition dolls of the first half century of the 20th Century, this book is a "must buy!"

2 comments about Blue Book Dolls and Values.

1. I have more than one of Jan Foulke's Blue Books. I find them useful not only for the price guide, but for the full-color photos that can be found on almost every page of the book. And don't think that only the prices are updated in each issue. Ms. Foulke also swaps out most, if not all, of the photos, so each new edition gives you more visual examples to refer to. I recommend this or any of her books.



2. If you buy ONE doll price guide book, this is the one to buy.
   EXCELLENT!

5 comments about Collectible Silver Jewelry: Identification and Value Guide.

1. "Collectible Silver Jewelry" provides a brief, yet reasonably comprehensive, guide to silver jewellery and jewellery makers from around the world. This book covers most of the major silver jewellery producing countries of the world, including the U.S., Mexico, Peru, Scandinavia, the U.K., Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, China, Japan and Siam, and for each country, it provides a guide to all of the main silversmiths and manufacturers of that country. For each manufacturer, a brief history is given, along with a photograph or illustration of the maker's marks used. A valuation guide (with pictures) is also provided at the end of each section to give the reader some idea of the style of jewellery produced in each country and its value (although this book was first published in 2001, all values were updated in 2005).
   
   This book is very well presented. It is a large size hardback with glossy pages and full-colour photographs throughout. A glossary of jewellery terms is provided at the back, as is a detailed index, making this book very easy to use.



2. This was a general book on Silver and I felt it did not go into depth. I do not like it as much as others but it covers many country silver jewelry.



3. I haven't found another book that covers what this one covers. It is well organized and has lots of good photos. There are written commentaries about the various manufacturers of silver jewelry, discussions about mid century artisans, and great information about silver jewelry from Scandinavia, Mexico and other places in the world. There are additional resources in the back of the book and lots of information about hallmarks as well. I can go on and on but take it from me, this is the best book out there on silver jewelry.



4. This book has been fabulous because it includes a broad span of silver jewelry, not just one specific type. It has helped me identify many pieces. Great pictures, great explanations. Includes many different marks. I love it and use it all the time.



5. Whether you are an expert collector or a neophyte, you will find this book a valuable reference source. It is illustrated in full-color and covers the range of silver jewelry makers exhaustively, maker by maker, including illustrations of makers' marks.

No comments about Rare Finds: A Guide to Book Collecting.

4 comments about Collector's Guide to Post Cards.

1. Absolutely useless. Waste of money. Not worthy of its description. This is NOT A REFERENCE BOOK. This is a (poor) photographic journal of a collection, with speculative values based purely on opinion.



2. Horrible prints, can hardly see details, blury pictures in black and white (a very few colored). Set up is okay, but again, pictures are horrible and crammed into the page. A waste of money!



3. The title "Collector's Guide..." led me to believe that there would be informational text about dating, printing techniques, and other descriptive information about post cards. The book is entirely illustrations of post cards in various categories and their prices...fine for long-time collectors, but useless for someone seeking historical information.



4. This reference book for postcard collectors is entirely given over to images of the cards themselves, with no history, grading guide, or other information. That being said, it has thousands of photos of various kinds of postcards, well organized by subject (but I wish the reproduction were clearer). The prices are dated, and do not reflect the impact that Ebay, Amazon, and other online auction houses have had on postcard availability. All in all it's a nice pictorial reference, but not a must-have.

No comments about The Early Paper Money of America: Colonial Currency 1696-1810 (Early Paper Money of America).

5 comments about Collector's Encyclopedia of Bauer Pottery - Identification & Values.

1. Mr. Chipman did a fantastic job at giving collectors an extensive history and overview of Bauer Pottery; its founders, key managers and workers and customer base. The book is an invaluable reference tool, especially for anyone who does not reside in an area where Bauer isn't "common". One must remember though, that this book was published before Martha Stewart featured the pottery in one of her magazine issues, thereby giving rise to the current popularity and scarcity of ringware. Therefore the prices, though out of date, were at one time quite accurate...new collectors can always dream of finding that rare piece priced by the standards of this text...Some of us were lucky enough to be collecting when the prices were even less than those listed here. Good luck!



2. Great photo shots of the various Bauer products. Highly useful to a novice collector interested in the history and examples of Bauer pottery. Enjoyable as a good read as well as a great guide for collecting.



3. This book is wonderful. I found everything I needed to know. Jack Chipman has done a great job - the text is clear and informative and the photos are especially good as they clearly show the important details . This will have a special spot in my book shelf....



4. I started collecting Bauer Ringwear by accident with a totally random visit to a wonderful shop on Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles called Buddy's Art Pottery. Whenever I visited Hollywood, I knew that Buddy would help me choose that single, special, almost-affordable piece of Ringwear and spend lots of his time sharing his knowledge, as if I were a major purchaser. Buddy has, sadly, passed away and his shop is a thing of the past. Living in New York as I do, Bauer is not a common collectible. In fact, most antique dealers do not even know the name and try to steer me to their collection of Fiestaware.

   I am today a more informed buyer and that is mainly due to the writings of Jack Chipman. This Encyclopedia, specifically, has so many gorgeous photographs and such a thorough history of Bauer and its place in California pottery that I feel it is invaluable.

   It is obviously impossible for any writer/collector to price correctly since there are publishing deadlines that must be met and prices, as we all know, change on a daily basis from place to place. But Chipman's price guide is a great "jumping off place." As I cruise Ebay looking for a Bauer bargain, I often think of Buddy and I always consult Chipman. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED




5. We collectors all need to realize that price guides are just that, GUIDES! No one is ever totally happy with the values in books; either too high or too low, kinda just depends on if you are selling or buying. I feel that the prices are on the low side in Jack's book, but I would prefer that over him quoting the higher California area pricing; keep it real for the rest of us across the country. Even if you disregard the value guide aspect, this book is the most complete,informative book you can find if you like Bauer. The color photos are superb and the history is the best info I have found in print. Thank you Jack for putting up with the critics; just remember there are more fans that appreciate the work you have done for us.