5 comments about Among the Gently Mad: Strategies and Perspectives for the Book Hunter in the 21st Century.

1. A wonderful read about the world of books by one of the preeminent writers on the subject of book collecting.Using the word 'subject' to describe the passion of books is akin to using 'subject' to describe love or any other passion.Blame that on me,if you will,not Nicholas.
   It seems I never get enough of these books about books and this is one of the best.Here we are given a look in on the wonderful life the author has in the world of the High End Collectors.Those like me,and that means all but a very miniscule number,who can only dream of attending and partaking in those auctions,where single rare books sell for tens of thousands,and lots or even complete personal libraries sell for sums equalling the national treasury of small countries.That doesn't mean reading about that sort of thing isn't very interesting;and the author has the ability to make one feel they are part of that activity.What one gets from this book is that anyone can have the same desires,same enjoyment,and all the rest of what comes along with having a passsion for reading,collecting,owning,sharing,arranging,their personal collection whether it is a small number of favorite volumes or some huge ammassment--it's their collecion and is what they have the ability,desire and resources to call their own.I suppose many who work with books like booksellers or library staff can even imagine the books around them are their own.I remember once reading somewhere, something to the effect that nobody ever really owns a book,but only has the privilege of being its caretaker for a while until it eventually passes on as its "owner" is sure to do--it's only a matter of time.This idea comes through very clearly as the author shows how collectors spend lifetimes searching for books that eventually end up in university,library and other collections.
   The author describes the personalities he encounters and we can identify with all of them as we pursue our passion with books.
   In a nutshell you'll get from this book that the only real difference between your collection and the world he writes about is a matter of scale
   A great read and highly recommended to anyone who loves books and reading.



2. This is a great book for anyone interested in collecting books, or who likes books, or even anyone just interested in what makes a book collectable. Different people adopt very different approaches and strategies to book collecting and Basbanes documents a number of them. The eccentric madness of it all is what makes it entertaining and I found that this quickly became a hard book to put down. After reading this I suspect that I will never look at books the same way again. The fundamentals of book collection are not unlike other forms of collection, so people who are self confessed "collectors" (You know who you are!) are likely to find this an exciting read. In among all the entertaining yarns is a pretty good starters guide to book collection, and this book contains a number of practical pointers to web sites and book sellers to get the novice started. Overall it was really enjoyable to read and very much a page turner.



3. In "Among the Gently Mad," Basbanes declares, "the more you read or read about reading, the more you will uncover about other books." And, the more, it seems, you will get to know an ever-expanding circle of people who collect and/or sell books. All their stories are here...what they collect, how they collect them, how much they spend and on and on until the value of this book is almost hidden under their weight.

   However, if you are serious about book collecting, "Among the Gently Mad" is a tremendous resource. Reading between the lines of other book collectors' stories, you will find out which web sites, bookstores, dealers, book fairs, organizations and other sources can help you fill out your collection. By the way, this is not just a book for those who collect rare books. An antiquarian book is simply described as any book that is worth more now than when first published. Basbanes's first rule of collecting books is to focus on subjects that hold your interest and, in fact, your collection should contain books you actually want to read. If you are gently mad, that is "taking delight in the pleasant touching of books long coveted," this book is an indispensable tool to fulfilling your own madness.




4. In rapturous, elegant prose, the author envelops the reader in his consuming passion for books and the people who love to collect them; as the hours flew by while I curled up with Basbanes, I assuaged my guilt at forsaking mundane tasks with the right-on lines that end the book's first chapter: "... a sentiment that I confess I savor on a daily basis: Books are not Life, But then what is?"



5. Reading Basbanes is like engaging in a long, relaxed conversation over coffee in your living room with a very knowledgeable friend. In this third volume of his slightly rambling but always fascinating and well-informed discussions of books, book collectors, booksellers and dealers, and all the periperal subjects they engender, he combines advice on bibliophily in the age of the Internet with reminiscence on how collecting used to be done, and what the old and the new still have in common. As a small-time collector of limited resources myself, I enjoy reading abut the fabulous collections built up by those who not only have money to spend but also the intelligence and passion to add value to what they hunt down and acquire by adding to the accretion of knowledge. In fact, as Basbanes makes clear, becoming personally involved with books and other "stuff" is what separates collectors from mere accumulators. In fact, I find I have also become a collector of Nick Basbanes. . . .

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.

No comments about Scott 2008 Standard Postage Stamp Catalogue: Countries of the World: G-I (Scott Standard Postage Stamp Catalogue Vol 3 Countries G-I) (Scott Standard Postage Stamp Catalogue Vol 3 Countries G-I).

5 comments about Glass Toothpick Holders: Identification & Values (Glass Toothpick Holders).

1. I recently bought a 74 piece lot of toothpick holders at an estate sale. This book helped me identify several of them. The cross-referencing notes gave me a lot of info that I would not have had. I really enjoy this book.



2. This book is a gold mine for collectors of old and reproduced American-made toothpick holders! Not only does it have excellent photos and/or drawings, it also gives a brief history of many glass makers in the late 1880s to the present time. Also lists original manufacturer, original colors, reproduced colors and the reproduction company. I've been able to verify and/or identify almost all of my thirty or so toothpick holder collection. Fabulous book, highly recommended!
   
   



3. I bought this book because another reviewer said it had all the good pictures of the first edition plus more, and was a must have. (I should have put more stock in her "one star" rating than in her description!) Since I didn't have the first edition, it seemed to be a good bet. It IS a beautiful book! It pictures nearly every holder listed. Some of the pictures could be more clear, but overall, it is a good job. It lists the holders alphabetically by company. Listing by design characteristics would make it easier to find and identify holders. HOWEVER, the holders listed are nearly all late 19th to beginning of the 20th centuries. There is a VERY SMALL section on foreign and modern holders. This needs to be expanded greatly to be useful. I had an entire box full of holders, but could only identify two of them, and one of those was a modern reproduction for which the authors gave no values. So I still have no idea if it is worth anything. A 5-star book if you are looking for a nice coffee table book, but not of much help to the actual collector unless you know you only have 100-year-old holders.



4. This book has all the great toothpicks and pictures of the first
   book. The pictures have been redone and are brighter and clearer.
   Plus there are many new toothpicks and pictures for some that were just drawings in the first book. There is also a new contempory toothpick section and a section on foreign toothpicks.
   I think the authors would have a grandslam if they would of expanded the section on newer reprodutions by the newer companies
   and included information on how to rate the condition and how the condition affects value. Great must own for toothpick collectors.



5. This is a wonderful book ... for collectors of toothpicks specifically, but also for anyone who collects and/or deals in early pattern glass. Beautiful photos, great historical info on the old glass companies, and reliable and well-organized presentation of all the information one generally seeks in a collectibles price/pattern identification guide.

   I've often used this book to identify toothpicks, but also found it great for identifying other pattern glass pieces ... The photos really show off the pattern detail, and the (many!!!) accompanying line illustrations are extremely helpful, too. Also, since it's organized by company, if I know who made something but have no idea what it's called, this is the first book I reach for.

No comments about Guide to Coin Collecting (Collector's Series).

2 comments about Pyrex by Corning: A Collector's Guide.

1. I was pleased with the book but was not pleased to find it did not have the price guide with it. I was sent a piece of paper stating I could purchase the price guide for an additional $8.95. This was not stated on the description of the book even in the additional information.



2. Although not all-inclusive, this book is an excellent guide for pyrex collectors. Because pyrex is so varied and has been produced for a long time, it is a wide category. This book does a great job of grouping, pricing and identifying what is out there in pyrex.

1 comments about The Standard Antique Clock Value Guide.

1. 215 pages of detailed illustrations with information on the type of clock, pattern name, when manufactured, dial size and price. Even if you're not a collector or seller this book is interesting to look at with all the different styles of clocks. Would make a wonderful coffee table book.

1 comments about Warman's Farm Toys Field Guide: Values and Identification (Warman's Field Guides).

1. Borderline useless.Waste of money.
   Heavily biased toward John Deere.The important Case models are ignored completely.Even for what is advertised as a book that cannot be all,to all;it falls short of expectations.
   Regarding the price at Amazon,Overstock is cheaper.And lower shipping to boot.My mistake,twice.

4 comments about How eBay Really Works.

1. As someone who wanted to get started as an Ebay seller, this book was a great resource for me. The buyer section was a little mundane since I've been doing that for awhile, but I still learned pointers that I didn't know before. For the potential seller who is intimidated by the unknown, however, this is a gold mine of tips, hints, and how-tos on getting started as a seller on Ebay.



2. 
   
   How eBay Really Works is a latecomer to the How to sell on ebay book category and that's a good thing because it's fresh, not dry and outdated. Back when I was starting there were fewer books about ebay, Most of them were a dry read and had lots of screenshots of ebay web pages. Some of those old books are here on Amazon and sell quite well due to their ratings and longevity on Amazon itself. I've read quite a few of them and I can tell you they are getting stale quickly.
   
   Brad and Deb told me they were writing a new book geared towards the ebay novice, the ebay buyer who wishes to become a seller. I thought, "Boy have they got a job". I thought how could they make it different and better, than the other 100 how to sell on ebay books already pounded out by everyone and his brother/sister who thinks they know how to "eBay". Writers, who have never sold or bought a thing on ebay, yet profess to others in print as if they were experts.
   
   First you get two writers for the price of one! Second you get 352 packed pages of eBay info for only $14.95! Brad & Deb are true hardcore ebay aficionados buying and selling on ebay. If they haven't bought or sold it on ebay they know someone who has! And that is where their strength and expertise lies, when they write an eBay book they harness the power of the eBay community and bring it to life on printed pages, you'll never be bored reading How eBay Really Works, It features quite a few of the best sellers on eBay contributing the best secrets and tips they have, found in no other book. The My Best eBay Sale and My Best eBay Buy stories that end each chapter really pull this book together. There are lots of sidebars, interesting facts and quick start lists sprinkled throughout.
   
   I think every buyer and seller on eBay should have this book! It really does explain how to be the best buyer you can be, how to get the best deals, how to handle a transaction gone bad and how to avoid a bad transaction in the first place. It really is about how eBay really works and in a few places the underbelly of ebay is exposed, something ebay doesn't want you to see. ( eBay is not always a rosy picture, despite how ebay and the media paint it.) This book will help you navigate those pitfalls with hints and advice from top sellers who have been in the reader's shoes.
   
   One of the sections I enjoyed most in the book was setting up a website and moving beyond eBay. I think this section was very applicable for an eBay book and should be one of the first considerations for anyone who wishes to make a living selling online. Ebay is now like the Army, (It's a great place to start). The truth about eBay's Prostores, not to be confused with eBay Stores, is an eye-opener, another must consider section of the book. Ultimately, the message in the book is that you can do it, you can sell on eBay, it's easier than you think, the authors point out all the things you need to know in order navigate ebay SKILLFULLY.
   
   Brad and Deb have written three eBay books
   
   eBay Powerseller Secrets:Insider Tips from eBay's Most Successful Sellers
   eBay PowerSeller Million Dollar Ideas
   How eBay Really Works
   
   I have bought and read all three, each is different, yet all are packed with information you can use. I recommend purchasing this one and ebay Powerseller Million Dollar ideas together, you get a discount and more bang for your buck!



3. This is one of the few eBay books I've read that really gives the whole picture about eBay--not just relentless cheerleading about how much of a sure thing it is. Half of the book is for new buyers; the other is for new sellers. So there's a lot here for new eBay users no matter what they're interesetd in. I like that the authors use a lot of stories from real sellers and buyers to make their points and keep this fun to browse through and read.



4. If you've read Ebay Powerseller Secrets. I would suggest you skip this one.

1 comments about The Encyclopedia of Antique Postcards/Price Guide (Wallace-Homestead Price Guide).

1. I have enjoyed reading this wonderful book from cover to cover and refer to it often! This well organized book takes the reader through the history of postcards; provides valuable suggestions for beginning collectors; instructions for preservation, restoration, & framing; includes background information on artists A to Z; artfully displays 1100+ common to rare postcards; and includes a price guide, a glossary, and an extensive bibliography.

   Susan Brown Nicholson's, "The Encyclopedia Of Antique Postcards" is a ~must have~ reference tool for all postcard collectors!