5 comments about Old Fishing Lures & Tackle: Identification & Value Guide.

1. Great book if you are into collecting and/or buying and selling fishing lures. Tons of info, pictures, and values of lures. Definately worth every penny.



2. This is a great reference book. All the colored photo's are a great update from the 6th edition. The book contais basic history on lures by manufacturer. This is a must have for lure collectors.



3. i have started to collect lures and this book has been very helpful good book great shiping fast service



4. We have a previous edition and wanted to update. This edition does not have anything but lures, no reels!



5. As a lure collector, I have several identification guides.
   This book gets used more than the rest, simply because it is more an identification guide than a Value guide. (Sure, it has book value included(which means nothing compared to auction values), but, it also has way more information on the lures and companies themselves than most other ID books).
   If you are looking for a complete library (if you want almost any lure identification at your fingertips--or in your head , as you learn about them all--), then you should definately include this one.
   But (always a "but"), this book doesn't cover too many of the "small name" companies out there, or folk arts, nor many flies. But, if it's a top name company (Heddon, Creek Chub, South Bend, Shakespeare, etc.), you will find it in this book, up until 1975.
   You cannot go wrong with this book...and if mine ever wears away with use, I'll keep purchasing new copies as needed.

2 comments about Griswold Cast Iron Vol. #1.

1. This book it great for learning how to recognize great finds and how to ascertain the values in collectors' circle. You may have to thumb through the pages to find the items; but, that in itself is a learning experience. The history of the industry is as valuable as the prices of the pieces. And you won't find this much experience in cast iron between any other cast iron books (if you can find any other cast iron books).



2. I was sorry that I ordered this book. Information is not organized well and incomplete. Prices do not compare accurately to internet auction prices.

5 comments about Antique Trader Pottery and Porcelain Ceramics Price Guide.

1. What do you get in this overall pottery guide which is clearer than specialized ceramics price guides? For one the ability to contrast values for different specialized ceramics, from American and English to European and Oriental. For another, you get a general 'bible' of over 10,000 price listings, over 3,000 color photos, and collecting guidelines key to successful pottery and porcelain investing. A 'must' any serious collector should have.
   
   Diane C. Donovan
   California Bookwatch



2. This great little reference guide is a bargain - the price and the information. It is a easy to use price guide - not a table top book - but useful anyway. I collect Limoges and love Debby DuBay's books but I can't carry them while antiquing - The Antique Trader's books give me enough info so I don't make any major mistakes while purchasing Limoges.



3. to read about the history of antique Limoges or want info on the back stamps or marks suggest Antique Limoges at Home or Collecting Hand Painted Limoges Porcelain.



4. Thanks to the editors of the Antique Trader, I found the wonderful books by Debby DuBay, Collecting Hand Painted Limoges Porcelain, Antique Limoges at Home and Living With Limoges. Thank you! Highly recommend!



5. I purchased this from Amazon based on the reviews listed here and was sadly disappointed. I had expected sort of a systematic catalog of porcelain and pottery pieces. This listed a number of items, but with no real depth at all. It is hit or miss. The chances that you can evaluate any individual item you may be interested in is very small. I returned mine to Amazon.

3 comments about Knives 2005: The World's Greatest Knife Book (Knives).

1. This outstanding showcase of new 2003 custom blades features a brand new eight page color section to accompany over 1,000 black and white photos and an in-depth history covering knives and their custom designs. From scrimshaw and ancient steels to a directory of knifemakers and suppliers, Knives 2003 comes packed cover to cover with invaluable information, in-depth history and detail.



2. This book is part of a series of books that has been coming out now for many years. They consist of an article section, a trends in cutlery section (with lots of artfully done photos, and a directory section of the cutlery collectible trade and custom makers, etc. I have the whole run and look at them now and again for reference.



3. Well,not really but I was disappointed with the advertising inserts in this year's issue. It detracts from the overall usefulness of the book. The Knives series are reference manuals in my opinion and the semigloss Junglee insert and the "Marketplace" advertisement was a bore.

   The B&W photos of the knives are nice as usual and even with a new editor (Joe Kertzman) at the helm the book still seems to retain a lot of Ken Warner's flavor.

   This year's articles are interesting though not as much as last years issue. I particulary liked the article by Mastersmith/Wordsmith Ed Fowler. Man, does that guy know how to write about knives. He can make 'em, too! It is nice to see Bernard Levine and Butch Winter back again this year.

   The Trends section placement of photos are A1. There are some stunning knives there like Jerry Fisk's damascus bowie and Tom Johanning's survival knife. How do these guys do it? There were many other great knives there. Too many to list, though. Check out the pocketknife section. I would love to own anyone of them. Dan Burke's work is just out of this world as is Richard Rogers.

   The factory trends section is very good this year with a nice variety. Some excellent knives there also like the Benchmade Mel Pardue Axis lock and the reemergence of the Marbles knife co. Missing in my opinion is the knife/bargain of the year. The MicroTech LCC design by Greg Lightfoot--an exception tactical knife built like a tank and priced most folks can afford.

   The directory gets bigger and bigger each year and I like that. The Knives series books are the first I turn to when I am checking out a new maker. The directory includes a state-by-state listing along with the alphabetical listing, a knife photo index (smart move) and a plethora of other specialist ranging from sheathmakers to engravers and etchers.

   Knives 2001 is the number one knife reference book to have this year. Overall I am really pleased with it and each year seems to get a little bit better sans the advertising pitch.

   I highly recommend this book. A must for any knife nut! :-)

5 comments about Levine's Guide to Knives and Their Values (Serial).

1. I have the "extensively revised 4th edition" and I really like it...Pretty much covers everything in knife collecting..Lots of charts, diagrams, pictures, references, etc.....I liked the section on American Indian trade knives....Well worth the money...."A knowledgeable buyer to a knowledgeable seller in an unpressured transaction."...Damn skippy!!!!...The section on Knives as an Investment was interesting as well...This would make a great companion to Knifemakers Of Old San Francisco...No mention of READ THE KNIFE though.....



2. Krause asked me to update specific articles in Levine's Guide #5 by employing the SAME WRITERS Bernard used. Krause removed some material from some of the other articles. They also added 16 or so pages to the book, and told me what they wanted. Again, I used some of Bernard's writers, and a couple noted collectors suggested by some manufacturers. If Bernard's writers are so bad, why did HE employ them? Bernard later bad-mouthed me in Knife World regarding this book. I contacted Mr. Houston Price, the publisher and friend of mine, noting this wasn't a very smart move (lawsuits?), and Price sent me a later copy of Knife World with a written retraction by Bernard. To this day, Bernard will not speak to me even though we see one another maybe 10 times a year, almost face-to-face. But, that's his right. Most who have savaged Book 5 have a right to do so. I do feel they should know what they are speaking about first. Bud



3. Publishing has sunk to a new low with this edition. Levine had nothing to do with it, and the publisher hired some dealer to give prices made from thin air. Save your money and buy the 4th edition again. The 4th edition remains the standard in the hobby.



4. I'm not a publisher, but I bet I could compile a better book than this. I feel like I've wasted my money. The book is incomplete, hard to index and the pictures are shoddy. What more needs to be said?



5. Maybe calling this the "stripped down for racing version" would have been more appropriate. It certainly isn't the family station wagon, full of Knife Information, that it was before Krause slashed all the pertinent data out of it. The 5th Edition is a classic case of creating a new version just for the sake of sales. That may not have been so bad, except they removed much important data which knife collectors use to identify and collect knives. Then, to make it appear they had changed it, they added superflous "bloatware," in an effort to make it look different. If Levine's 4th Edition didn't exist, it would be better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick, but you can still get the 4th Edition so that option can be avoided. One of the major facinations of old knives is their level of handmade quality. The historical record tells us that newer is not always better.

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.

5 comments about The Coin Collector's Survival Manual, 5th Edition (Coin Collectors Survival Manual).

1. Collecting coins is a great hobby for both the young and the old. If you are going to get into selling coins as well, this is a MUST READ. Spend the time with this book and you will avoid getting ripped-off and actually make some money.



2. I have been a fan of Scott Travers books for a while now. When it came time to sell my collection after reading a few books, Mr. Travers who promotes himself and his firm throughout this particular book, was nowhere to be found. I followed the advice in this book and tried to contact Mr. Travers several times by phone and email to sell my collection valued at over $20K. After leaving messages on more than one occasion, I received a phone call inquiring on my collection, and explaining I would receive another phone call later. That phone call never came. All I would ask is that this author, who took time to write a book claiming to be the best of it's kind on the market, to follow through with his own words.



3. I've decided to begin collecting and needed something to kick-start my hobby. This book appears to be a nice way to ease into it. It gives the basic grading systems and sound advice. It's not too detailed and covers what you might require as a novice. If you're considering US coins, get the "Red Book" as well for pricing and more info.



4. Recently I had inherited a coin collection. Honestly, I basically knew very little about coin collecting. I found this book to be very informative, and very helpful in learning about this hobby. I like that Scott Travers writes in a no-nonsense style. He is easy to read, and better yet, easy to understand. I think he goes well to describe many aspects of coin collecting.
   
   I like that the book takes it time in telling you about the grading of coins, where to purchase coins, and better yet the pitfalls and traps inexperienced people may fall into. I like the many pictures throughout the book and found them instrumental in understanding about grading, and how to look at coins for any possible defects.
   
   I would recommend this book to the novice, as well as the more experienced coin collector. I think this book covers many aspects of coin collecting that everyone can gain knowledge from. This is definately the ideal book to pick up for someone who is interested in collecting coins.



5. OK, so I'm biased. I've known Scott Travers since he was a teenager, and I've worked professionally with him on a number of projects over the years, including this book. But I'm also a former consumer affairs reporter, former American Numismatic Association Consumer Education Committee Chair and a former member of the Board of Directors of the Better Business Bureau in Chicago. Yeah, I'm a big believer in consumer education and protection. That's exactly what Scott's new book provides: absolutely crucial information for anyone who wants to buy rare coins whether for future financial gain or just to make sure you're getting a good deal today.
   
   At the February 2006 Long Beach Coin, Stamp & Collectibles Expo I watched and listened as an unsuspecting "collector" who purchased several gold coins in an online auction was crushed to learn from several reputable dealers that his "MS68" Saint Gaudens was only MS64 at best and worth thousands less than the $8,000 he paid for it. If he'd read Scott's chapters about grading and online auctions he would have saved money --and grief.
   
   Even if you don't buy five, six or seven-figure coins, this book will help save you or make you hundreds of dollars by knowing insiders' secrets about buying and selling even modestly priced coins. COINage Magazine's Senior Editor, Ed Reiter, called this new edition "...the gold standard for coin books on consumer protection and investment." I agree.
   
   -donn-
   Donn Pearlman
   (Affiliations given for identification purposes only)

No comments about Canadian Coins 2009 A Charlton Standard Catalogue (Charlton's Standard Catalogue of Canadian Coins).

2 comments about The Official Red Book: A Guide Book of Washington and State Quarters Dollars (Official Red Books).

1. This book isn't nearly as detailed as Bowers book on Morgan dollars.
   
   It has little detail compared to the Morgan dollars book



2. A Guide Book of Washington And State Quarters: Complete Source for History, Grading, and Prices provides a very specific, detailed resource for quarter collectors which pairs a history of quarter issues with tips on assessing coins, buying wisely, and valuing quarters from 1932 to date. Illustrations in full color throughout make identification easy - along with a grading guide and the latest values. Any coin collector specializing in quarters must have this.
   
   Diane C. Donovan
   California Bookwatch

2 comments about The Collector's Encyclopedia of Barbie Dolls and Collectibles.

1. I have a substantial collection of reference books about Barbie doll and her world, but I simply COULD NOT do without this book! It is the most complete, chronological breakdown of Barbie & family dolls and that I have found. This book, in combination with Marcie Melillo's "The Barbie Book", will help the beginner and even the advanced collector to identify just about any Barbie family doll from any early (60's & 70's, primarily) era. It even goes into detail about dolls offered in successive years, and the differences in their manufacture, so that, for one example, you can tell to WHICH year your specific Growin' Pretty Hair Francie, a doll offered over a few years in the early 70's, belongs. The text accompanying the many, many photos is succinct and easy to understand, and while many photos are in black-and-white, there are quite a few pages of color photos as well, which detail much of Barbie's clothing across those early years. Well-executed, altogether. One might expect just such an excellent guide from Sibyl DeWein, who was a major player in the Barbie collectibles world until her death just a few years ago. I bought the book because she was a name of such renown & had written it (with a co-author/collector), and I was and am pleased to have it.



2. This is a must for anyone who collects vintage Barbies and related items. It contains information and prices from the first Barbie starting with 1957 to 1976. It has all marks from those times. Also, pictures with information each year, which dolls were released and what clothes they were wearing. They have a year by year section, with information on other Mattel dolls, Ken, Midge and other rare ones. This is the most informative Barbie book I've read.