3 comments about The Collector's Guide to Inkwells: Identification & Values.

1. THE BOOK DOES NOT HELP COLLECTORS OF CZECH BOHEMIAN IRIDESCENT INKWELLS. FIRST, THERE ARE ONLY 8 EXAMPLES IN THE BOOK. THE PHOTOGRAPHS ARE TOO DARK AND DO NOT CAPTURE THE BEAUTY OR TEXTURE OF THE GLASS. BUT WORSE, THE INFORMATION IS WRONG. INKWELLS CLEARLY MARKED WITH THE GERMAN PATENT MARK, D.R.G.M. ARE LABELED 'AMERICAN." IN ONE INSTANCE, TWO INKWELLS MADE OF THE SAME GLASS ARE CALLED RESPECTIVELY 'AMERICAN" AND "EUROPEAN." THE AUSTRIAN MARK OE.P COMES OUT "DEP." AT LEAST THEY ARE CALLED "LOETZ-TYPE," WHICH IS ACCURATE, SINCE NONE OF WAS MADE BY LOETZ. A GOOD BARGAIN BOOK TO LOOK AT PICTURES, BUT DEFINITELY NOT FOR THE ESPECIALIST.



2. This is Badders' second volume of magnificent color plates of inkwells. This one contains 757 photos, some of which are alternate views of the same inkwell. Those who have Volume one are probably not even bothering to read this review. They ordered this companion book immediately and are at this moment drooling over the beautiful inkstands, looking for those that are similar to the ones in their collection.



3. Badders' book is a pure delight for the collector of inkstands and ink bottles. It has 502 colored plates which will have the collector/reader drooling and upon discovering a match for one in his collection feeling that superb sense of satisfaction only a true inkwell lover can understand.

   Badders has included inkwells of many varied compositions, and unlike the very few other books on the subject, has included the range of value of each item.

2 comments about Elegant Glassware of the Depression Era: Identification and Value Guide Tenth Edition.

1. This book is a little large to be carrying around, however I still do carry it to places that I already know will have the pattern I am looking for.
   
   The forward describes "Elegant" glassware as handmade and acid etched glassware that was sold by department and jewelry stores during the Depression era through the 1950's, differentiating it from the dime store and giveaway glass that has become known as Depression glass. The word "Elegant" has become "official" nomenclature among today's dealers for designating handmade glass.
   
   It is well organized with the glass patterns in alphabetical order and the prices in columns by color of glass. Most of the pictures are color and have good enough definition to identify what you are looking at. There is a contents by pattern and a contents by company.



2. This is a beautiful book. Mr. Florence out-did himself with this one! It is so easy to read, is laid out so beautifully, the information is complete and the photography is outstanding. I respect Gene Florence's expertise and would make this my "Bible" for information on Elegant Glassware.

No comments about Kovels' American Collectibles 1900-2000 (Kovels American Collectibles).

No comments about Scott 2008 US First Day Cover Catalogue & Checklist (Scott Us First Day Cover Catalogue & Checklist).

No comments about Issues in the Conservation of Paintings (Readings in Conservation).

4 comments about Blue Willow: Identification & Value Guide (Blue Willow).

1. Very pleased with the condition the book we ordered came in and the delivery was very quick. Thanks and would buy from you again.



2. This book contains interesting information about the origin of this design style but little detail about any of the many varieties that were/are being made. It is about 2/3 taken up with photographs of various styles but with only one or two pieces of any given style and no details about each or any idea of what the variety of other pieces within each style look like, so it is nearly impossible to truly identify the style you have or want. I was interested in the information, but found little guidance in my quest to discover more about the pieces that I own. Even the prices given are merely a recount of the price paid for each piece; but not when the purhcase was made or under what conditions or whether this is a reflection of the relative "value" of a given style of the blue willow design.



3. The book "Blue Willow: Identification & Value Guide" is an excellent reference book. Not only does it give a better understanding of all the different Willow patterns out there, it also contains beautiful, very clear illustrations. The quality of the paperback edition is excellent, using glossy, very good quality paper that enhances the photographs. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in Blue Willow dinnerware. I bought the book for my husband who knew nothing about Blue Willow before this purchase. He is now much more knowledgeable on the subject and is confident in his purchasing. As a novice, it has helped my husband greatly.



4. I bought this out of curiousity brought on by the possession of two subtley disparate pieces of Blue Willow ware about which I was curious as I was under the impression that the patterns were all the same. This book immediately disabused me of this notion which is, in big part, why this is such a great reference: Because it shows and describes a myriad of different vessels, wares, designs, and manutacturers in FULL COLOR with information that is relevant and helpful to both the novice and the professional.
   If you thought you knew quite a bit about the Blue Willow pattern, I guarantee that this book will humble you because the author presents such a broad range of items (with a present day price range) from USA, China, the UK and Japan, ranging from plates and saucers to cups and pots to spoons and utensils to platters and chargers to egg stands and vases that only the most serious collector can hope to have seen as much different material as found here. There is also a helpful section on, believe it or not, reproductions. I think that you will be quite happy with this book even if, like me, you do not collect the stuff.

No comments about Treasury of Carolers: Over 20 Years of Christmas Tradition & Remembrances.

1 comments about Winchester Slide-Action Rifles: volumes i & ii (Winchester Classics).

1. Ever since shooting a Winchester slide-action rifle in a shooting gallery, it has been my dream to own such a rifle. After many, many years, I finally came across a used Winchester Model 61 that I could buy. A large part of the enjoyment, however, comes from reading up on the history of this type of weapon. I find it fascinating to be able to establish the year the rifle was made and to check whether all the parts are authentic because they were made in the same time-frame.

2 comments about Martin Puryear.

1. Martin Puryear, like Louise Bourgeois , defies categories and this makes him a challenge for anyone organizing an exhibition or a book for that matter. His workmanship is outstanding and this tends to lead viewer astray into thinking that fine finish is really what he is after. His thought provoking sculptures appear so simple, yet they are both artistically and techinically complex. This book is an outstanding example of what can be done when those producing the book understand the work of the artist they are trying to disaplay.



2. Being at the opening of this show at moma was an amazingly wonderful and magical evening. Went to the very exciting opening of this show in NYC and it was truly uplifting to my soul, a very inspired exhibit!!
   
   Emotional content mixed with organic elements of expression. Amazing accomplishment. He is a 30 year ago Art school friend of my friend.
   
   For me it was like a immensely large tree [the art show] growing in the middle of a cement Jungle [NYC]. Signs of life, expression, that are giving me hope .
   
   I Highly recommend this show, and while I agree that moma may not be the best place to show his work, the contrast to that place was so striking that his work seemed very alive and sprouting right through the dullness.
   
   I like this quote from a review:
   Unlike other sculptors his age who emerged in the post-minimalist era, he values what he can make with his hands. His efforts are not just conceptual but physical. As critic Michael Brenson once observed, ''Puryear has the ability to make sculpture that is known by the body before it is articulated by the mind."

4 comments about Antique and Collectible Marbles.

1. This is an excellent referance book for early hand made German and American marbles. It is well illistrated and easy to follow. It is not meant for marbles manufactured after the late 1920's. A must have for marble collectors.



2. I was disappointed not only in the size of this price and identification guide for marbles, but also in the marbles that were covered. I was looking for a guide that would help me identify older, but more common marbles, not so many pages on sulphides with characters encased and rare marbles.



3. This book has beautiful pictures and is a nice introduction into marble collecting. However, it is not very helpful in identifying your marbles. There are pictures of different manufacture's marbles but enough information to teach you how to tell them apart yourself.



4. This book IS marble collecting made easy. It's easy to understand with very clear pictures and text. The pictures are fantastic. I had picked up some old marbles in an auction boxlot and this book really made it possible for me to identify the valuable ones. It has to be the LEAST dry and boring antique reference book I've ever found. I highly recommend it!