5 comments about Beckett Baseball Card Price Guide 2008 (Beckett Baseball Card Price Guide).

1. I collected baseball cards in the late 1960s and early 1970s as a kid, mostly Topps. I re-opened my card collection in March 2008 after 35 years in the attic. The book doesn't doesn't have any logic or organization to it, and makes no sense. For example, if you're looking to price your Topps cards (as I suspect most people are), 1973, for example, you have to look under "1951 Topps Blue Backs" in the table of contents - bizarre. And good luck finding the table of contents sandwiched between more than 10 pages of advertisements. in the "How to Use this Book" section it starts "isn't this great" then continues, "every year this book gets better." Almost nothing on how to use the book.



2. This is a good product for the collector or dealer that that is interested in mainstream issues and the more widely known limited distribution sets.However if your interests are more ecclectic and you like the more obscure and less traded or sold products....forget it. For those people I suggest Sports Collectors Digest Standard Catalog of Baseball Cards.This is equally true of Becketts Price Guides for Football and Basketball.In short if you stick with Topps and the other nationally distributed sets Beckett is OK.If you are looking for regional or otherwise limited production products your wasting your time; SCD is MY choice.



3. I have bought Becket Guides before and this has information that you get for free. There is no pricing for Classic, Collectors or another words 1/2 the companies out there. Then in the companies that they show 1/2 the subset are missing A GREAT BIG RIP OFF!!!!!!!!!!!



4. This book essentially is a Beckett PLUS (which comes out every 2 months) with more details (such as every card in each set is listed). There aren't really any oddball sets priced, which I guess is what the Beckett Baseball Almanac is for. Overall the book is very useful since it gives complete checklists and some extra details about each set. I just wish more oddball sets were listed so I wouldn't have to buy the Almanac book as well.



5. This was received in a very timely fashion and when it was suppose to arrive. Amazon is a great company. This is not the first item ordered from Amazon and it will NOT be the last.

4 comments about Beckett Racing Collectibles Price Guide 2008 (Beckett Racing Collectibles and Die-Cast Price Guide).

1. Very pleased with purchase. Arrived in a timely fashion and in excellent condition. Just what we were looking for.



2. First of all, I HATE the BIG UGLY picture of American Car Racer...do not know his name, on the cover of the book. Second, I hate NASCAR and Cheap political HOT WHEEL junk I do not even care for looking at. The book should focus on HIGH QUALITY COLLECTIBLE BRANDS ONLY. What a waste of paper~!!!



3. The 2005 price guide Beckett Racing Collectibles Price Guide features more cars, more checklists, and more die-cast replica models from 1910 to modern times, and is a pick whether you're a NASCAR, Indy or Formula One fan - or love sprints, drags or dirt cars. The staff of the professional Beckett Racing compile a pricing source which includes a checklist for all cards issues, values for both individual cards and sets, front and back photos of a sample card from most sets, and more.



4. Excellent Price Guide, Great detail on all Racing Collectibles.
   
   Can't wait for the next edition.

5 comments about Smithsonian Baseball: Inside the World's Finest Private Collections.

1. I purchased this as a gift and the recipient was thrilled with it. I did sneak a peak before giving it away and enjoyed it immencely.



2. A very well done book. Big glossy pictures of some of the greatest Baseball artifacts in America. Probably the closest I will get to seeing these in person.



3. As a lover of the old days of baseball (prior to the 1970's) , and with an interest in various types of artifacts pertaining to the old days, this book wonderfully broadened my horizons. The sections on baseball cards was especially fascinating for me as i do some collecting to add to some as i had as a kid (50's-60's).
   would recommend this book to anyone remotely interested in the old days of baseball or collects baseball memorabilia.



4. Stephen Wong has created a drop-dead gorgeous look at some of the game's great artifacts, and many will be surprised to learn that they are not at the Baseball Hall of Fame nor even at the Smithsonian (despite the book's title). The game's artifacts extend way beyond the cards and gimcrack collectibles sold at the ballpark, and Wong has deftly toggled his focus from collectible to collector and back again, providing a memorable prose portrait of the lively game played off the field. I cannot recommend this brilliantly conceived book highly enough.



5. This beautiful book belongs in every baseball enthusiast's library, but it would be a mistake to keep it on the shelves. Author Stephen Wong has partnered with the Smithsonian to publish the most stunning book on baseball on the market. It deserves to be on your coffee table not only because of its wonderful photographs but also due to the wonderfully rich way he presents the history of the game. Wong gained remarkable access to the sport's foremost collectors, combing through hundreds of images and memorabilia items. The payoff is tremendous for anyone with an interest in baseball or, for that matter, in American history and culture. Readers will learn the essential facts about the game, and the fascinating tidbits, such as the origins of the curve ball. They then get to see remarkable shots, some most unusual - from folk art statues to Don Larsen's enshrined shoes from his perfect game to the bricks of former stadiums. In fact, this book should be placed in the Hall of Fame!

1 comments about The Art of Skiing: Vintage Posters from the Golden Age of Winter Sport.

1. This book has great visuals, from all different countries, and is a perfect gift for the skier you know who likes old-school stuff. I actually bought this for someone who doesn't understand English, but the artwork stands on its own.

5 comments about Percussion Pistols And Revolvers: History, Performance and Practical Use.

1. Well-written, lots of information about caplocks during their brief but important period of use. I was not disappointed in the reason for purchase which was the honest reviews of modern replicas. The only reason for 4 instead of 5 stars are the pictures and awful Old English font used. A 19th century one would have been better. Maybe in the 2nd edition they will make some changes.



2. This is a fun little book, obviously a labor of love by the authors. The coverage of performance is not all-inclusive, but the historical information is interesting and you can infer the authors' preferences for certain brands of reproductions. They missed the Rogers & Spencer revolver, though there aren't many of them around. I like the R&S grip and it's a solid design, so too bad they didn't cover it. The book does cover the Colts and the Remington New Army pretty thoroughly, along with a few others that were of less interest to me. It steered me away from the Walker and Dragoon Colts and convinced me I had to have an 1851 Navy Colt, though I bought a .44-cal version that's compatible with my other cap-and-ball revolvers. The authors didn't test the .44-cal, only the more-common .36-cal.
   
   What this book needs more than anything else is copy editing. There are many consistent misspellings, which detract from the pleasure of reading it. That's why I gave it only 4 stars. Perhaps the authors can find a friendly local English teacher to clean up the manuscript before the next edition.



3. Nice little book, full of information about various types of handguns. I liked the opinion bits about various gun makers, the load charts for each gun, nice amount of information (including history)- even for a novice to the sport. I like the range test details and comparisons to modern weapons too.
   At least one reviewer mentioned the poor photographs, I don't remember the technical term but they're printed newspaper style (too hard to look at) and would be helped if they were larger. The old English script(why use that?)on these pictures is very hard to read at this scale, in one instance it's impossible. Fortunately the real information is in each chapter instead of the pictures.
   My biggest complaint is that while various gunmakers/ dealers/ parts suppliers are mentioned you don't get an address or website for any of them. Many of the readers of this book will already have these bits but they should be provided for the novice as well.



4. I had purchased this book to help provide information about shooting cap and ball revolvers but had the additional pleasure of finding excellent information on care, cleaning, tuning and background as well. While it does not cover all available reproduced models it is very informative, helpful and humorous about the models it does cover. The only negative I have is that the captioned photos are in very small print and difficult to read. I intend to buy a second copy for my reference library and use my 1st copy as a range and bench reference. I hope that Bates and Cumpston continue with another book covering other cap and ball pistols not covered in this work. A very useful book for Remington and Colt cap and ball shooters.



5. This is a great book, from a historical reading standpoint. It puts the technological progression of the percussion handgun in historical context.
   
   I thoroughly enjoyed the practical information on how to use the various antique versions and modern replicas of these old guns. I also appreciated the candid assesment of build quality, parts availability and customer service from the various importers and manufacturers of replica black powder percussion guns.
   
   My only suggestion is that the book be larger, with more pages, with lots of color and black & white photos, with more history, more gunsmithing how-to's, more custom black powder revolver modifications, more gun leather, and more field testing and hunting tales. The only regret I had on finishing this book was that there is not yet a sequel.
   
   Buy this book, but be warned -
   
   . . . upon reading this book you will find yourself awaiting shipment of an 1851 Colt Navy black powder revolver, along with a small box of shooting supplies. (make sure you try real black powder!)

5 comments about Antique Golf Collectibles: A Price and Reference Guide (Antique Golf Collectibles).

1. The book was as represented and came within a week.
   I would not hesitate to do business with this seller in the future.



2. The most comprehensive (individual) price guide for golf collectibles.



3. Now in a thoroughly updated and expanded second edition, Chuck Furjanic's Antique Golf Collectibles is the definitive, authoritative, and reliable price and reference guide for dealers and collectors of golf memorabilia and collectibles. This new edition is highly recommended for personal, professional, and community library antique/collectibles reference sections, and features detailed photos of all golf collectibles, a new sixteen page color section, updated prices for thousands of specific items, and new chapters on golf bags, auctions and more. If you are thinking of buying, selling, collecting or swapping golf related materials, begin with browsing through the pages of Chuck Furjanic's Antique Golf Collectibles.



4. Latest 400 page encyclopedia of golf collectibles contains over 500 large, sharp, black and white photos and more than 50 in full color. Not just a picture and price guide. Full text is provided for the major topics ranging from: Collecting Antique Golf, Collecting Societies, Antique Golf Clubs, to Signature Balls, Golf Tees, Golf Art, Medals and Trophies, and Trading Cards. A comprehensive index is included to facilitate item selection. New chapters include Golf Bags and even Auctions. Collectors will enjoy the "paper items" included. A great reference.



5. Have collected putters and was looking for documentation as to the values and was never able to get get a good feel until I found this reference guide. If you collect old golf clubs, or golf balls and tees this guide is a must.

2 comments about Fishing Lure Collectibles: An Encyclopedia of the Modern Era, 1940 To Present (Fishing Lure Collectibles).

1. I am very happy with this book and another companion book by the same author. This book is a very useful reference to the range of lures manufactured through recent times. I refer to it all the time when I am buying fishing lures on ebay etc. I can't compare it to other books as these are the only lure collecting books that I own. Great photos too.



2. Fishing Lure Collectibles: An Encyclopedia Of The Modern Era, 1940 To Present by Dudley and Deanie Murphy is an in-depth illustrated compendium showcasing the great variety of fishing lures which have been developed from 1940 to the present time. Featuring the many intricate details and specifics which characterizes each of the presented lures, Fishing Lure Collectibles introduces the reader to literally hundreds of lures along with such details as their name, date released, length, a color photograph, short notes, and a price value, Fishing Lure Collectibles really delves into an unknown analysis of the world of fishing lures and their historical background. From the Glitter Bug released in 1944 to the Redhorse Spearing Decoy in 2003, Fishing Lure Collectibles truly is the ultimate guide and encyclopedia of fishing lures since the year 1940, and is very strongly recommended to all collectors of lures, as well as general fishermen.

2 comments about The Surfboard: Art, Style, Stoke.

1. Phenomenal. Photos are awesome and the story carries through. A must have for groms and old guys alike.



2. It is obvious that surf style is not one of the authors' biggest attributes. This is an unknown. Surf books are hot, you don't have to be a hot surfer to put one together. This is a prime example. Posers looking back for coin. Coffee table book for flatlanders.

4 comments about The Encyclopedia of Professional Wrestling: 100 Years of History, Headlines & Hitmakers (Encyclopedia of Professional Wrestling).

1. For all the wrestling fans out there, this book is awesome! great facts and details.



2. I was looking for a book that would be a complete history of wrestling, but there doesn't seem to be one out there. This book has lots of good photos, including memorabilia such as ads & publicity photos, but there's a lot missing here. Only the briefest of bios are provided (I wish it included at least year of birth, height, weight), some major wrestlers are omitted entirely, & there's no index. Unlike a "real" encyclopedia, most of the book is not arranged alphabetically (only the "Slamographies" section is alphabetized), so an index would be useful. I'm mostly a fan of 1950s - 1960s wrestlers, so I wanted to find information on the old stars, but this book misses some of the biggest attractions of that era (like Haystacks Calhoun). A worthy addition to your wrestling reference library, but will somebody please write a definitive encyclopedia on this subject?



3. This book is pretty good. It has a lot of really neat picture and tons of good facts and stories. Any wrestling fan should own it. There are several spelling mistakes, however, which make the bok seem like an amateur effort. Overall, still worth reading and owning



4. The authors of "Professional Wrestling", Kristian Pope and Ray Whebbe have outdone themselves with this one. If you are a wrestling fan, young or old, long time or new, there is something in this book (actually a whole lot of things), to keep you interested for a long time to come. My favorite chapters were the "Ring Beauties" and "Slamographies", the former because there is not a lot of press about the ladies around and over the years they have had a profound influence on the "sport" both in the ring and behind the scenes. The last chapter "Slamographies" tells you every thing you ever wanted to know about every wrestler that has made some sort of impact on the sport. I am going to test my wrestling fan friends with the info presented here and maybe pick up a few bucks in the process. Great Stuff - Thank you Kris & Ray

2 comments about Fishing Lure Collectibles: An Encyclopedia of the Early Years, 1840 to 1940.

1. Another lure book, if you like fishing (or even better if you are an addict like me) you will find this book interesting. It will send you to sleep if you don't like fishing or the history associated with the ways and means of catching fish. Like other companion books, these are beautifully presented with nice photo's and informative text. Sorry I haven't done a book review since high school.



2. Any collector interested in antique fishing lures and the history of fishing lure production will find all the answers in Fishing Lure Collectibles, a clear guide to a notoriously difficult collecting hobby focus. Two experts provide clear details in Fishing Lure Collectibles: An Encyclopedia of the Early Years, 1840 to 1940. Each manufacturer's items are surveyed along with history, individuals who purchased patent rights from companies, changes in bait quality and production standards, and more. Not to be missed.
   
   Diane C. Donovan
   California Bookwatch