No comments about Pedal Car Restoration and Price Guide.

2 comments about Collector's Guide to Souvenir China: Keepsakes of Golden Era.

1. This handy paperback volume is a true gem on collecting late 19th/early 20th century souvenir china. The numerous color photos and informative text make this an excellent addition to any collector's bookshelf. Highlights include wholesaler marks and information on manufacturers.

   This edition promises to be the corner stone for the souvenir china collector!




2. This 1998, 232 page book features more than 500 full color, large photos of a great variety of collectible souvenir china. 1998 values are shown. There is a nice introduction to the topic and plenty of descriptive text throughout. It's well indexed for easy item location. Major topics include, Collecting Souvenir China in the U.S., Golden Era of Souvenir China, The Pioneers, Identifying Producers, Shapes, Forms and Styles, and related items. A nice bibliography is provided. Collectors will love looking at the great photos provided. A useful reference.

No comments about Greenbook Guide to Department 56 Villages: 2002 Edition.

1 comments about Encyclopedia of Silhouette Collectibles on Glass.

1. i didn't know that such a book was on the market, when i found it in west virgina at antique store, which i was looking for head vase's.. that is a nother store.... ok the book silhouette collectibles by shirley mace is very yes very infomative..she tells of the factory where they are made. she also gives great care about those who collect and the fun it gives... also on a buying note there is a updated price guide ..avalible the isbn# for that is 0-9633674-0-4 .. i can't believe the way people collect these gems, i like the convex glass over the flat glass silhouettes. benton glass co. is the most often found in my area coming from cleveland oh prints marked with bg are form benton glass other company's are in the book too.. this is a very short synopsos of the book there is at least 100 pic. of varies silhouette's in this book with great reference to others and useful info on getting silhouette repaired and the like. happy hunting on that odd pice that you need to mat! ch we all have those...

5 comments about American Sterling Silver Flatware 1830's - 1990's: A Collector's Identification and Value Guide.

1. I bought this book along with Sterling Flatware by Tere Hagan. I find it difficult to use and poorly organized. She has a lot of information on certian patterns and makers but little on others. There is no index and information is incomplete. I use it as a back up to Hagan's book as she sometimes will have a pattern that Hagen dosen't have. Neither book is complete and this book has some information and a couple of Manufactures that Hagan dosen't cover still both books are valuable but even together not complete. I still have quite a few unknowns in my collection.



2. The 1880s to 1990s American Sterling Silver Flatware is a reference guide to 23 of the major American Sterling Silver Flatware makers and their production. It provides an overview of the patterns and the individual pieces produced in this 100 or so years time frame. For someone who loves silver it is lovely to look at. Some of the images are, just as they are on the front cover; beautifully photographed images. Others seem to be poor quality computer scanned images that produce, in many cases, barely acceptable illustrations or examples of the pattern.
   If you know the name of the company you will be able to find the name of the pattern, the date of issue and an approximate price for four components. Not necessarily the basic four components of a place setting, as I understand it to be, i.e. a Dinner Knife, Dinner Fork, Dessert/Salad Fork and Tea Spoon. One also has access to a list of pieces that were originally produced. Here again, the guide could offer so much more. It does not provide insight into the difference between a Master Butter Knife and a Butter Knife nor does it include the measurements of different pieces, which I would have found invaluable. It is very useful to know that a Place fork or Luncheon Fork might be slightly less than 7 inches in length and that a Dinner Fork may be 7 ½ inches. And just what does an Orange Knife look like, or Strawberry Spoon an as compared to an Almond Spoon. More importantly, how does a Five Oclock Spoon differ from the more Basic Tea Spoon and those, which are mentioned as Full Size Trade Tea Spoon, Full Size Regular Tea Spoon, Full Size Heavy Tea Spoon, or Full Size Massive Tea Spoon. Again, the weight of different items would have been useful. While this book is a very valuable guide to American Silver Pattern, which does have a place in a collectors basic library, I feel it falls short of its possibilities as an Identification and Value guide.



3. I was simply much too impatient for quick and easy answers the last time I wrote a review for this book, and I am a bit ashamed of myself for having been so negative and hypercritical. After much more time and education on the subject of American Sterling flatware, I realized that Ms. Dolan's approach is actually rather pragmatic and useful (organized alphabetically, by manufacturer, with hallmarks being displayed before each section). I would have appreciated an entire section devoted solely to identifying hallmarks, a wider range of American manufacturers, and an index, but this book has indeed proven useful for me, regardless (even though I am only able to reference between 50 to 60% of the patterns in any given pile of mixed antique American Sterling flatware, using solely this book - but still). Though by no means a complete reference in itself, Ms. Dolan's book should indeed be included in any collection of American Sterling flatware reference material, and seems to fill some of the gaps in other existing reference guides.



4. This book purports to be for the identification and value of American silver flatware. It is woefully incomplete. Where is Tiffany & Co.? Where are all the patterns that I would like to identify? Why is the layout so reader-unfriendly? And who cares that "Baltimore City lies 200 miles from the Atlantic Ocean..."?



5. As a collector, I have some sterling flatware purchased for daily use. However, I was unable to find one pattern in this book that matched the 50+ pieces I have. The photos and drawerings, however, are clear and detailed. Hopefully, someday I will be able to match a piece with the book!

5 comments about Alex Stewart: Portrait of a Pioneer.

1. This was of special interest to me since I live near the location of this book. I simply could not put it down until I read it cover to cover.
   
   A fascinating look at our early pioneer families, the hardships they endured, and the genius of their innovations.
   
   A great read.



2. This is an amazing book about Alex Stewart, an Appalachian survivor. It is told from an interview style where Alex explains how he learned to make different utilitarian items that his family and community needed to survive. He also tells stories of how he learned what plants healed people from illnesses, learned the skills to survive the harsh locations of the Appalachian mountains and loved life with every ounce of his body.
   My Appalachian born grandparents read it cover to cover over and over and then had to travel to the Museum of Appalachia in Norris, Tenn to see the common items they remembered with Alex throughout the book. John Rice Irwin, the founder of the Museum of Appalachia is a gifted historian and this shines through in any of his books, written to remember the people of Appalachia. He also seeks to capture this throughout his living Appalachian village, the Museum of Appalachia. A MUST visit and A MUST read for any Appalachian native.



3. i recently read the book about alex stewart and i have to say that it was so good. i loved it. alex was so talented and as the book stated "he was a national treasure." i would liked to have met him. any craft the author asked him about, he responded that he could make it. what a unique human being. he was warm, endearing, and a very kind and gentle man. he told completely the life of the pioneer to john brice irwin and the book is so well written. it was a joy to read and told in detail of the hardships the people of that era had to indure. i felt by the end of the book the sadness of alex stewart's death and that i had gotten to know him well.



4. I bought this book at the Museum of Appalachia (also founded by the author) on my first visit to Tennessee. The book is almost entirely a transcript of a dialogue/interview between the author and Alex Stewart. At first, I thought this would be a strange format, but as I read on, I discovered that this would be the only way to authentically capture the mind and spirit of Alex on paper.

   If you're not from the South, you might find Alex's dialect charminging unusual. A few times I had to read a passage over and over again to fully understand what words Alex was saying. Here is an example where it took me a while to realize that Alex meant "Lord" when kept saying "Law":

   "They didn't have no men folks, but they had several children. Making liquor was the only way they had of making a living. Law, they had it hard."

   The author cleverly asks questions to get Alex to reveal his pioneer wisdom. More than that, though, the author's selections and chapter arrangements helped to organize the sprawling encyclopedia of Alex's mind.

   By the time I reached the end, I was sad to have the "conversation" over. I felt I had known Alex a bit personally, and I mourned at his passing. It was joyous reading while it lasted and my heart ached to know more of Alex.

   This is a fabulous book I can't recommend enough. 10 STARS.




5. One reason I bought this book is because my Greatgrandmother was Alex's Aunt. I visited Alex as a child with my Parents and Grandmother. Alex was always sending my Grandmother items , such as walking canes. He made my mother a rolling pin, which she still has. Most of all the book gave me many names of my relatives that ive been searhing for.

2 comments about Collecting Blue Willow: Identification & Value Guide.

1. My biggest complaint abt this book is that the photos in the Picture Gallery are not separated into categories. Everytime I want to identify some item, I have to page through most of the Picture Gallery photos b/4 I find it. Very frustrating. If you don't mind spending time looking at every page, you will love this book.



2. M.A. Harman's Collecting Blue Willow is packed with color photos of blue willow ware. From brown and green patterns to the well-known blue, this packs in values, photos, and an exceptionally handy list of marks in back.

1 comments about Made in China: Export Porcelain from the Leo and Doris Hodroff Collection at Winterthur (Winterthur Book).

1. This is a wonderful book, cataloging an amazing exhibit. The writing is clear, informative and interesting and the images are beautifully photographed. Anyone interested in porcelain or even decorative arts more generally should certainly buy this book, written by an up and coming curator and the leading expert in the field. This book would make a great gift.

4 comments about Antiquing Weekends: 52 Excursions across America.

1. Please note that to post this notice I had to review my own book. As the author, I naturally feel it warrants five stars, but I awarded it three, so my rating wouldn't change the overall average received from Amazon's customers. I want to thank the reviewers for their comments about Antiquing Weekends. While I was writing it, space constraints demanded some destinations be dropped; in that process a clerical error placed the Kane County Flea Market in the wrong chapter; this mistake was not caught in the editing process. I apologize to the reviewers for any inconvenience and angst this mistake caused them. Authors and publishers take considerable pains to ensure accuracy, and authors lose sleep over mistakes like this one. While researching and editing this book, a colleague and I contacted the shops, shows, and lodgings to verify the information about the places it lists. Unfortunately, mistakes occur in books despite everyone's best efforts. I want the reviewers to know that I have crossed out the mention of the Kane County Flea Market in every copy of Antiquing Weekends at every book signing I've done, so that other readers aren't misled. I hope that book buyers, noting the Amazon reviews, will do the same. Please use the discussion thread I've started (see below) to alert me to any corrections that are needed or any changes that occurred since its publication. As readers, we are accustomed to seeing corrections run regularly in newspapers and other periodicals. Generally speaking, books can only be corrected in subsequent editions.



2. I've seen better "Antique Weekend" books and better places to stay. Like one of the other reviewers said, watch out for her recommendations on the Midwest for St. Charles. It is NOT missouri...it's St. Charles, Illinois. Skip this book and find another one.



3. I read this book wearing two hats.I am an antique junky and have traveled the country, always searching for antiques.I spent 25 years in the San Francisco area and am quite familar with all signifcant dealers , up and down the West Coast. GLADYS MONTGOMERY, you were on target and hit the high spots, both to stay and shop, like no other book i have read.
   If you are addicted to antiques, like i am, this is quite a book for you to read.I am now an antique dealer,and would be more critical of content, than i would be as a tourist and i agree with almost all the content in this book. I dont know how she did it, but it would be a big mistake , not to read and enjoy and trust the content in this book. I thoroghly enjoyed every aspect of the authors style, knowledge and taste level. Hooray for you GLADYS MONTGOMERY. When is your next book coming out?



4. I've just returned from one of the weekend excursions in this book and wonder where the author did her research. In the midwest section Ms. Montgomery writes about Alton, IL & St, Charles, MO as antiquing destinations. She specifically lists the "Kane County Flea Market" held in St. Charles, MO. I planned a trip to St Louis to line up with this event about an hour outside of the city. Imagine my suprise to learn that the Flea Market is actually held in St. Charles, IL about an hour outside Chicago (and nearly five hours from St Louis). If you decide to buy this book be sure check the actual facts before embarking on any travels.

2 comments about Teddy Bears and Steiff Animals: First Series.

1. This is a nicely organized book chock-full of great pictures. It begins with a brief history of the teddy bear, conservation tips, and guidelines on what to look for when investing in a bear. It moves on to discuss Steiff dolls and animals with guidelines for evaluating Steiff dolls/animals for purchase or sale. The book covers miniature bears, Teddy Bears before 1940, Teddy Bears from 1940-1980, contemporary Teddy Bears (as of 1984), artist bears, Teddy Bear related items, Steiff Dolls, Steiff Animals before 1940, and Steiff Animals from 1940-1984.

   Hundreds of items are photographed and described in detail with notations on what adds value and/or is rare. Even though the first edition came out eighteen years ago, it still remains a classic reference/guide and it is updated every few years.




2. Firstly are you a Steiff or TeddyBear in general collector. If the answer is Steiff this book will have no use to you. The first seven pages are informative but after that it is packed full of colour pictures obtained from peoples personal collectons. It is more like a photo album of bears, although saying this, the pictures are of excellent quality. If you want to check the value of a bear pictured you have to look up the page number at the back of the book and find the relevant item. I have 15 Steiff Bears and not one of them were listed, I have looked through this book 3-4 times and all in all I am dissapointed in it. I will place it in the book cabinet and probably never look at it again.