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.

5 comments about Encyclopedia of American Farm Implements & Antiques.

1. This is a great read for anyone interested in old farm equipment. The only problem was that I recognized too many of the pieces from my childhood and started realizing how old I am.



2. C. H. Wendel's Encyclopedia of American Farm Implements & Antiques is a first-rate work. The illustrations are exceptional, and the scope impressive. Wendel documents the machinery of manufacturing giants and the lesser-known manufacturers from the middle nineteenth century to the middle twentieth century. If you need to identify a machine or manufacturer Wendel's book ought to be your first source.



3. I bought this book as a gift for my father, who collects antique farm tools and tractors, has done his own restorations, and goes to antique shows all the time. I have no higher praise than this: when he settles in for the night, he gets in his favorite chair and opens that book. He may read it for hours, or browse a few pages, but it's his favorite reading material.



4. Once again, Charles Wendel shows that he is the undisputed master author of obscure antique farm implements and tractors.Wendel shows old sales brochure engravings of everything from hog oilers to corn shellers and hay loft pulleys. From feed grinders to hay tedders, and EVERYTHING in between.A MUST READ if you want a guide to antique farm implements from the 1800's through the 1950's.



5. It's hard to find info on old farm machinery. I especially liked the close-up illustrations of wooden windmills

4 comments about Center-Draft Kerosene Lamps, 1884-1940: Identification and Value Guide.

1. J.W. Courter's CENTER-DRAFT KEROSENE LAMPS, 1884-1940 packs in black and white photos of lamps, along with values and in-depth discussions of manufacturers and production differences. Its chapters hold many keys to both value and makes and operational differences.



2. I found the book not only helpful in identification but also I had a good learning experience. It was very informative.



3. The previous review can be taken with a grain of salt. With a little research this reviewer would have found out that 99% of center-draft kerosene lamps are made of metal. And that the books by Catherine Thuro cover glass kerosene lamps.
   
   Also, note that this book does not cover Aladdin lamps manufactured by the Mantle Lamp company. These are covered in Courter's, Aladdin The Magic Name in Lamps.
   
   In Center-Draft Kerosene Lamps, Courter provides information on lamps made by dozens of companies. From the well known, i.e. Bradley and Hubbard, Edward Miller, Plume and Atwood, etc. to the obscure, Meriden Malleable Iron Company, S. Elwood May, etc.
   
   There is a history of each company with numerous picture of lamps. Actual lamps are shown and also pictures from old catalogs, trade magazines, newspaper ads, etc..
   
   Also illustrated are the lamp parts, with illustrations of burners, flame
   spreaders, wick raiser knobs, oil fill covers, etc. Courter provides patent numbers and dates for these items. He also list the original finishes for the lamp. All valuable information if you are trying to determine if a lamp is authentic, or one that somebody stripped the finish from so it looks shiny, or one that is a hodge podge of borrowed parts.
   
   Finally, Courter provides average prices for many of the lamps.
   
   A great book.



4. I was very disappointed to find that there were very few examples of glass depression lamps. The book was comprised mainly of lamps that were made with metal. I have a large pink depression lamp that I was hoping to identify. The book was of no use in my search and contained just a few glass examples.

5 comments about American Character Dolls: Identification & Value Guide.

1. This is a great detailed book featuring many of the beloved American Character dolls! It has helped me tremendously with my doll collection.



2. Very nice book & lots of information i have been looking for these past few years.



3. You can order an autographed copy directly from Judith by going to: www.americancharacterdolls.com
   
   You cannot buy an autographed copy through Amazon.



4. A most comprehensive and well-researched book! Having contributed to the Tressy section of the book (look for pics from my collection!), I must say that this guide is a must have for Tressy collectors as well as for those who collect other American character dolls.



5. Judith Izen has written another wonderful book! For collectors of American Character dolls, it's a book that needs to be on your bookshelf. It's well written and researched with great photographs. We can only hope that Ms. Izen will continue to share her love and knowledge of dolls with more books.

3 comments about Antique Trader Vintage Magazines Price Guide.

1. I've been interested in old magazines for a few years now, and have been looking for a helpful price guide. I just bought this, and I highly recommend it. There's a lot of information, not just about the magazines most of us are familiar with, but also about many lesser knonwn older magazines that have great value due to authors who published their early work in them--e.g. Edgar Allen Poe. It's not just helpful information as a price guide, it's very interesting reading! Lots of great color photos also. I looked through another magazine price guide in a bookstore, and this one is much, much better.



2. I picked up this book to learn more about vintage ads and magazines I was interested in. I was pleasantly surprised that not only was the book a complete guide to magazines but had great analgoies and stories the "editors" wrote within.
   Great information on a subject that seems to be little explored.



3. When we moved into our 1920's home,we found boxes left in the attic filled with old fashion magazines. My husband was ready to trash the lot, but being of the pack rat variety I found a home for them in my office.
   
   With the help of The Antique Trader Vintage Magazines Price Guide the door was opened for me to the world of old magazines. The beautiful color photos helped me to easily identify my boxes of "trash" and give them a value.
   
   Most important, the love affair the authors have for magazines comes across in their historical entries. The unique way they organize collectible magazine people into Sleepers like OZ artist W.W. Denslow or Stars like F.Scott Fitzgerald makes me want to haunt local yard sales. My major problem with the book was that I became so fascinated that I wanted more. The book could easily have been double in size and information and kept my interest as both a reader and for use as a desk reference. With what I've learned, our next home will hopefully be an 1890's Victorian with a basement full of Godey's Lady's Book magazines.

1 comments about How to Start a Home-Based Antiques Business, 4th (Home-Based Business Series).

1. When you read "home-based", believe it. It's geared toward those who want to turn their living room into an antiques store and comes complete with tips on remodeling your home. With that said, much here could be applied to those who want to start a shop outside their home or sell on the internet.
   This book covers the "nuts & bolts" of running a business, from writing the business plan to advertising and merchandising. It also covers pricing, displaying, and other ways to make money in antiques. It covers all bases on where to get stock. All in all, it seems to be very thorough.
   I wasn't looking to turn my living room into a store and didn't expect a book on basics of starting a business. However after reading it I've found this book full of useful information.