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

1. Folks, let's make this nice and simple, Beckett Price Guides are the most accepted price guides in the world PERIOD No other racing price guide even comes close to the popularity of Beckett. Collectors the WORLD over look enthusiastically for each new Beckett release. As for this book, I dare say you will not find another publication that covers its listings in greater detail. This book lists thousands of cards and hundreds of die-cast car values. With the card listings, many sets are given a value along with vital information about each one. Then many sets are broken down into listings for each individual card and a value placed on each card. There's listings for vintage sets as well as some of the more popular ones. Photos are included as well as special notations about things like error cards, rare subsets and the like. This guide will be a big help to anyone interested in the racing hobby. Beckett guides are the ONLY ones I currently use.



2. Soon after the release of the Beckett Racing Price Guide, the Beckett Racing & Motorsports Marketplace monthly magazine drastically reduced the book value of most trading cards. In doing so, Beckett rendered their own Beckett Racing Price Guide useless. The racing trading card enthusiast would be better off subscribing to the monthly magazine.



3. Beckett Price Guides have been around forever. With only the third edition printed specifically for auto racing cards, this has quickly become the only guide you'll need to evaluate your entire collection!



4. Dr. Beckett has done it again! The Beckett Racing Guide #3 is a must for all Racing and Die-cast collectors. The book has listings by card and die-cast manufactors, by years and has a alphbetical listing for all of the drivers. As a card collector I rate this book very high because it is very imporant to know the card number, year printed and it gives two price listings on the condition of the card. A+++

2 comments about The Fishing Lure Collector's Bible: The Most Comprehensive Antique Fishing Lure Identification & Value Guide Available.

1. The "Bible" was the first book that I knew of, that gave collector's information on fishing Lure collecting. Originally the bible came in a three ring binder. This book, while not in the same format of the current books, carries forth the original ideas and information of the author and gives the readers some idea of how much work went into being the first book on collecting. This book is still valid today with information on obscure manufacture's that are not listed in some of the other reference's. Always a good read, but not to be confused with the coffee table reference books that are also available.



2. I was disappointed. To begin, this book is a very difficult read. The 'Color Gallery' is beautiful but the picture captions give little or no information and refer the reader to the 'Value Guide'. Here is the problem. The 'Guide' appears to be nothing more than a collection of 400+ pages of poor b&w photocopies of old magazine ads! The copy consists of small, hard to read newsprint; tiny, type-written 'values'; hand-lettered, cartoonish descriptions and comments and some 'hand-drawn' depictions of various lures. The rest of the lure pictures range from coarse 'line-drawings', to 'blotchy', to totally black silhouettes. All told, it is difficult to judge the content due to the lack of detail, which should be the priority here. Perhaps I have been spoiled. My first book on this subject was Carl F. Luckey's "Old Fishing Lures & Tackle", a totally classy and professionally done work. It is everything the 'Collector's Bible' is not. Mr. Luckey's publication is done, and done well. Mr. Streater's publication looks like a second or third draft, not yet ready to go to the printer.

5 comments about Sign This.

1. This was a fascinating book to read as it is a sports book about the real personalities of sports personalities. Specifically, how a collection of professional athletes behaves when asked to make paid personal appearances and autograph material. How they react to unscheduled requests for autographs is also included in the analysis. There is a top ten good guy's list:
   
   *) Brooks Robinson
   *) Harmon Killebrew
   *) Lee Roy Selmon
   *) Otto Graham
   *) The Famous Chicken
   *) Monte Irvin
   *) Billy Williams
   *) Muhammad Ali
   *) Alan Trammell
   *) Dale Murphy
   
   They are people who always go out of their way to be polite and helpful. The only name on the list that surprised me was Ali, it appears that the loud mouth attitude that he projected was an artificial one. There is a companion top ten jerks list:
   
   *) Willie Mays
   *) Rickey Henderson
   *) Errict Rhett
   *) Mike Schmidt
   *) Darryl Strawberry
   *) Reggie Jackson
   *) Joe Dimaggio
   *) Pete Rose
   *) Gaylord Perry
   *) Denny McLain
   
   I cannot say that there were any surprises in this list.
   One hundred other sports celebrities are also ranked and there is a chapter devoted to Mickey Mantle, the most popular athlete. The author organizes sports celebrity appearances, so nearly all of the commentary is based on the author's personal experiences. It is indexed based on the athletes' name, so if you are interested in a particular figure, then this book will provide you with accurate information.



2. This book is a must have for anyone who spends Mondays cleaning black sharpie marker off their hands. You definately have to check out the Jerks and Good Guys lists to see if your favorite signers are there, and who you should not even try to get (unless you want to get yelled at).



3. I'm not a sports fan in the least, but I enjoyed Sign This immensely. Tom's stories about hundreds of his experiences are placed in an editorial column format, giving you just the information you need to know and usually containing a witty side note. If you ever wanted to know how our sports heroes from the last 4 decades really act, this book is a must read.



4. "Sign This" is a must read for any true sports fan. Unlike other books about sports personalities, Tom Bunevich cuts the fluff and tells it as it is when your heros are behind closed doors. I'm the kind of guy who needs to hear it straight from the horses mouth and in "Sign This," Bunevich seems to be the perfect horse. I don't think you could ask for a more fair and honest appraisal of sports personalities than from an author who has obviously danced with the greatest names. If you want to find out if the personality of your hero dims as the camera lights fade away - read "Sign This."

   The stories are fair to all. If a guy's a jerk, Bunevich lays it on the line and says so. But in fairness, "Sign This" certainly acknowledges those stars whose personalities off the field shine as brightly as their accomplishments on the field. Find the story on Dale Murphy and see if that still happens in todays era of autograph collecting!

   Bunevich also provides a great history from when autographs were just a hobby to the indusrty it is now. Check out Bunevich's first autograph guest in the mid 80's - a young New York flamethrower named Dwight Gooden - and see what an autograph ticket cost back then. You also might want to get a calculator to check what you could have saved by reading what Mickey Mantle charged for an autograph 15-20 years ago.

   Raed "Sign This"- I hope Bunevich's next project will be as honest and insightful as this one!!!




5. A really great book. I bought one for my brother who has always been a sports nut. I remember him following the careers of many of the people mentioned in the book. The stories about the players were interesting and enlightening. Most of the stories about the 10 bad guys confirmed my opionion. Same for the 10 good guys. You don't really have to be interested in collecting sports memorabilia to enjoy this book. I am sure everyone will find the stories interesting and enjoyable. It is definitely a book you will want to read and share with friends. Better yet, buy two, one to keep and one to give away.

No comments about The Vintage Era of Golf Club Collectibles Collector's Log.

1 comments about The Official Price Guide to Golf Collectibles.

1. When a book to bills itself as the "Official Price Guide" I would expect more. Over the years others have attempted to produce a price guide and due to the vast array of golf collectibles it is a daunting task. Unfortunately, this was one of the weakest eforts to date. The author merely skims over categories and quotes auction results for select items which is hardly what one expect from "The Official Price Guide of Golf Collectibles". The photos are small and poor quality which does not help either. All golf collectors will probably buy it to have in their library but it is definitely not a reference guide.

No comments about Baseball Treasures: Memorabilia from the National Pastime.

1 comments about Collector's Encyclopedia of Creek Chub: Lures & Collectibles : Identification and Values (Collectors Encyclopedia to Creek Chub Lures and Collectibles).

1. Excellent insight into the start-up, success, and demise of a wonderful lure manufacturer.A "must have" for Creek Chub lure collectors, or anyone interested in the company.I have used this book for reference many times while purchasing lures. Although the reference prices for various lures are not up to date (and of course they can't be, since value constantly changes, as is indicated by the author) they still give you a basis for determining the approximate value of lures.I'm glad I purchased it, as it is a tremendous asset for lure collectors

No comments about Tuff Stuff's Baseball Memorabilia Price Guide (Tuff Stuff's Baseball Memorabilia, 2nd Ed).

1 comments about Complete Guide to Baseball Memorabilia (3rd ed).

1. Has been improved to be more in alphabetical order. User friendly. Has a wide variety of oddball items and their values besides the standard collectibles. Super reference book.

No comments about Collecting Baseball Memorabilia.