5 comments about Greenberg's Guides Lionel Trains Pocket Price Guide 2008 (Greenberg's Pocket Price Guide Lionel Trains).

1. An excellent publication. I've used this book over the years and always get the latest update for the information it contains.



2. Very happy with the quick delivery, I paid for that! But disappointed in the binding of the guide. The first 57 pages were cut that you could not read the entire page. Prices were cut or model numbers.



3. The item was a gift and the receiver found it very useful for his train collection.



4. When it comes to concise and easy to use price guides to Lionel Trains I have always found Greenberg's Guides to be invaluable. It breaks the catalogue numbers down into eras or distinct ranges of years of production and lists price ranges based on condition in a very orderly fashion. If you sell or buy on eBay this is a valuable tool. Greenberg's Lionel Trains Guides and publications are all first rate and come highly recommended.



5. Greenberg's Guides Lionel Trains Pocket Price Guide 2008 (Greenberg's Pocket Price Guide Lionel Trains)
   
   This is the ultimate guide for pricing Lionel trains.

5 comments about Ultimate Guide to G.I. Joe 1982-1994.

1. As an avid childhood collector of GI Joe 3 3/4 figures and vehicles, I can certainly say that this guide seems extremely accurate. Although most of my collection sadly did not survive my childhood, this book certainly brings back some memories. It also helps to appraise some the pieces that did survive. I'm only depressed now that I didn't take better care of my original collection as it would have been worth a lot. As a GI Joe geek, it was interesting to see Larry Hama's (the original author of the Joe's Filecards) comments and thoughts on the characters. As a kid, I can certainly say I never gave the ideas behind the characters much thought. I also didn't understand half the things written on the filecards as they had more military jargon than a Tom Clancy novel. It does contain numerous references to the GI Joe cartoons and comics to help illustrate complete character biographies - which is interesting only if you were (or are) well-versed in the comics, the cartoons, and the toys. Overall, this is a great resource for serious collectors and devoted GI Joe disciples, but it's probably a bit too technical for casual fans.



2. My husband and I enjoyed this guide and found it very useful for our collection. Great pictures with accessories. Just seemed very complete for the collector. Well done in my opinion and would recommend.



3. For those of us that collect this is an excellent reference guide. It details weapons, vehicles and just about anything you can think of. The only thing I was expecting was to have pictures of the figures/vehicles..carded. And thats one thing that would have made this book perfect, that aside its a great book and I am glad I picked it up. The pictures included are crisp, clear and the information on them is detailed. Enjoy...



4. What this guide is essentially comprised of is clinical pictures, bland details and a very dry presentation. This book is entirely geared towards the Joe collector who isn't necessarily interested in the fun or cool aspect of the toy line. For the casual Joe fan or those looking for some glorious nostalgia, the book fails miserably.
   
   The promise of the immense amount of full-color pictures are what sold me on this book. What it actually delivers are unenthusiastic shots with no fun factor at all. Each figure is shown with legs and arms straight out laid on their backs on a flat white background. Each piece of personal equipment is shown beside the figure, not on it. It is all quite cold and boring to flip through.
   The vehicles and bases fare even worse in their representation. They are mostly photographed from a full-on top-down view. A small handful are shown from the side. You only get one photo per vehicle, so if the angle doesn't inspire you (and it never really does), you are out of luck.
   While there is absolutely no action to the pictures, they are very sharp in quality.
   I would have liked to have seen pictures of the cards the figures came on and the boxes the vehicles came in, since the artwork was always amazing. Since this is an aspect to some collectors, I would have assumed it to be included. You can see the actual carded figure or vehicle/playset box about 5 times throughout the whole book. What a travesty!
   
   The information presented with the photos spits out name, classification and then proceeds to take some direct quotes from the file cards. The whole file card is never printed and would have been a great inclusion. Instead you are forced to read what the author decides is important enough to document. In most listings you are given other proposed codenames for the figure, which are obscure tidbits of info I found worthless. Specific figure variants, when actually mentioned, are discussed only briefly with no accompanying pictures. Suggested prices are given but compared to actual prices at hobby shops and eBay, they are practically useless.
   Unless you are a collector looking up banal manufacturing details, there isn't much enjoyment to be gleaned from reading what is printed.
   
   Nearly a full third of the guide covers the 90s era Joes, which many agree are easy to dismiss as part of the Joe universe. Again, only the most avid collector would care for this much info. The guide even goes so far as to cover the Street Fighter series of figures put out by Hasbro in 93. That has so little to do with actual Joes it's not funny.
   
   I had an enormous GI Joe colelction up until my teens and I still love the Joes to this day. I am not a rabid collector. I am a nostalgic fan. For me, this book was a waste of money. No cool photos of the Joe figures with their gear on and no fun displays of the vehicles and such. I read the comics and watched the shows. For me, there was nothing worth reading into here. No interesting information or exhilerating facts.
   Before you go out and get a copy of this guide, ask yourself if you are a general fan or a collector. If you answer fan, pass on this book. It is strictly for the OCD collector.



5. GI Joe toys of the 80's were some of the most fun and exciting ever seen, and this book chronicles them with brilliant excellence! A must have for any fan of the toys!

5 comments about Collector's Encyclopedia of Barbie Doll 2008: Identification & Values (Collector's Encyclopedia of Barbie Doll Collector's Editions).

1. I just love this book! everything is great....
   I love looking at all the dolls.......



2. I found this book to be very helpful in that I have a BARBIE COLLECTION and needed to find out the value of my 200+ collection for insurance. Although not all of my dolls were in this book I still found many of the values that I needed.
   Great value for the money spent



3. J. Michael Augustyniak's COLLECTOR'S ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BARBIE DOLL COLLECTOR'S EDITIONS 2008 is a 'must' for any Barbie collector or any collection catering to doll collectors. It packs its pages with the latest values and updated color photos, including descriptions, notes on special collections and Barbie attributes, and more. If only one Barbie doll collector's comprehensive reference were acquired for a general lending library, it should be this one.



4. This is a collector only. Its not a price guide for all Barbie's ever made, like it makes you think.



5. This was a gift for my wife who collects Barbies not to sell but to enjoy displaying them. The book doesn't mean anything to me but to her she is like a small child reading or just looking through it anticipating every turn of a page. It made her happy and that what rates this a 5 star in my book anyday.

2 comments about Beckett Price Guide to Hot Wheels, 2008 Edition.

1. I purchased this book thinking that it was a collection of all the hot wheels from the beginning. The fine print of 2006-2008 was difficult to see on the cover.For those who are only interested in those years the book was filled with great pictures and information,but for the vintage collector, this is not helpful!



2. It's good if you started collect in the last few years, If you have older cars I would recommend Lee's Toy Review. Lee's put's out Toy price guide every month.

5 comments about Breyer Animal Collector's Guide: Identification and Values (Breyer Animal Collector's Guide).

1. Describes everything I needed to find out about the Breyers. Sometimes it was a little difficult since I had the horses and had to search individual pages until found... no ID no. on horse, or some other method



2. There is a wealth of information on the various types of Breyers and great descriptions. However, many of the color photos are off, with a lot of orange tinting. You need to go by the written description rather than the actual photo. Also, I was extremely disappointed in the pricing. As an avid collector and owner of over 180 traditional Breyers, the prices are rather low. You could not use this book for insurance purposes or buying prices. I have seen many of the Breyers listed in the book go for much higher prices than what is quoted in this 5th edition. It is still a good reference book.



3. This goldmine of information is necessary for both the serious collector and for anyone with interest in the Breyer collectables. It's straightforward pictoral guide is easy to use and the fair market values are just that...fair. Don't shop for a Breyer without it!



4. Lots of great pictures, but values are off. I would not use this to determine the value of what I'm selling. The values are often less than what the going price is, and occasionally more than they're worth. Great pics and book to see what is out there nonetheless.



5. As someone who has collected model horses for years and is trying to brush up on my Breyer horse knowledge, this book has been an informative guide. The pictures are clear and it is easy to see the models. Very well written and nice layout!

3 comments about Ty Beanies Tracker Third Edition.

1. Few 20th century collectibles have had as huge a success in the popular culture as those small plush toys known as Beanie Babies -- as well as Punkies, Pinkys, Girtz, and more!. Now in an expanded and fully updated third edition, "Ty Beanies Tracker" under the deft editorship of Beanie Baby expert Karen Holmes provides collectors, dealers, and the general public with a unique, comprehensive, illustrated reference and price guide for these popular toy collectibles. Featuring more than 4,000 color pictures comprising the complete Ty product lines (including variations and rare items), "Ty Beanies Tracker", with its Note Pages, Daffynitions, Attic Treasures, and NASCAR Beanies, is a simply indispensable addition to personal, professional, and community library Antiques & Collectibles reference shelves.



2. This new edition of Ty Beanies is a complete, very informative source for all "Beanie" collectors, old or new, excellent reference!



3. Beanie Babies were one of the truly remarkable pop culture phenomena of the last 15 years. I can still remember the first time McDonald's offered the Teenie Beanies and my wife and I spent the better part of the weekend trying to track down as many of the little critters for our son as we could. Beanies, however, suffered the same fate as many other collectibles such as comic books and sports cards, two hobbies I was very familiar with. First, it quickly became driven by speculators trying to make a quick buck. Next, corporate greed too over as Ty began churning out more and more product and started to try and manufacture collectibles with special releases. Today, we go to garage sales and Flea Markets and see people dumping their Beanies, often for as little as a buck each.
   
   Yet for its core collectors, those who got into it for the love, and not necessarily the promise of future value, Beanies are still around and viable. If you don't think there is still an active market out there for trading Beanies, just check out eBay. As I write this review there are over 21,000 auctions underway in the Ty category. The speculators have long since dropped out, prices have righted themselves, and Bangzoom has released the 2nd edition of their indispensable guide. The guide covers the Beanie scene right up through the beginning of 2006 and in its review of the marketplace it makes no bones about it...now is a great time to buy, but not such a great time to sell.
   
   The book provides a history of Beanies and their hang tags. A picture of generation's unique tag is included in the book with notes on variations and changes. The book also lists several different Beanie related websites that feature news, accessory sales, trading posts, and other information. The book lists Beanies alphabetically, and lists their birth date, introduction date, retirement date (if applicable) and their hang tag poems. The generation(s) is also listed as well as a current price. But you'll find more than just Beanie Babies In the guide...it also covers Beanie Buddies, Kids, Boppers, Teenie Beanies, Jingle Beanies, Pluffies, Punkies, and more, over 1500 different TY items. The back provides a handy index and checklist.
   
   While the craze of the mid-90's may be over, there are still millions of Beanie collectors and lovers out there and there is simply no better book on the Market than the Ty Beanies Tracker from Bangzoom.
   
   Reviewed by Tim Janson

5 comments about Mego 8" Super-Heroes: World's Greatest Toys!.

1. This book does not cover everything Mego, but its a wonderful collection of photos and important information. I recommend the book for any Mego collector.



2. Simply put this is a fantastic book. It is a walk down memory lane for Mego fans who had the pleasure to grow up with these wonderful action figures in the 1970s. The photographs are splendid and bring to life Mego's WGSH line. The author's attention to detail cannot be matched by any other book out there that purports to touch upon this fine line of Mego action figures. If you are debating between Mego books to buy, please don't pass this book up. It is a decision you will regret a year or so from now when you are trying to track down this book from online auction sites, etc. For anyone looking for a wonderful trip into the past, jump on and enjoy the ride!!!



3. I had all of the items shown in the book as a kid so paging through it was a big trip down memory lane. It reminded me of a lot of fun times.



4. No complaints here! Excatly as a MEGO book should be done with lots of color pics!



5. Very nice history of the Mego Company. Mego was one of the premier toy manufacturers in the Seventies. If you had any of these toys as a child this book will bring back memories. The book is also very detailed in which figures were released when and with what accesories which should satisfy any collectors. Be advised this book covers ONLY Greatest Super Heroes, just as the title suggest. For some reason I had expected the Star Trek and Planet of the Apes line would be included. My fault. Never the less, this book more than made up for it. Great for the avid collector or the person who wants to relive his or her childhood.

5 comments about I Am Plastic: The Designer Toy Explosion.

1. one of the best toy art books around, lots of designs, this book is a must have



2. This is one of those books that simply has to be seen to be believed - who would have thought that toys (yes, toys) could become a new artistic medium? Within "I Am Plastic" you'll find a wild and wonderful selection of toys from creators from across the globe, everything from evil cartoon characters and superdeformed abstractions to fantastically detailed and realized robots, gorillas, and others. Browsing through this volume I was reminded of the art in the book "The Art of Modern Rock: The Poster Explosion" - the artists and their art in each of these books seem to have the same feel, the same vibe and life to them: definitely non-conformist, and definitely imaginative, as though pop culture was put in a blender and the results painted on canvas or molded into plastic toys. Anyone interested in modern art would do well to give this book a look.



3. This book has great images of toys from around the world. I bought it for a friend who is a graphic designer and she plans to use it as a visual reference for a childrens book she is illustrating.



4. You couldn't ask for anything more from a toy review. Beautifully presented and with enough info to get what you want.



5. I bought this book without really knowing it, trusting the reviews and the intriguing cover. I was not disappointed. (Except by Amazon's delivery- the book was torn and not clean). This book shows a lot of funny toys. No words, only nice funny pictures. I would recommend this for anyone who likes toys and action figures.

5 comments about Hot Wheels Variations: The Ultimate Guide (Hot Wheels (Krause Publications)).

1. This was purchased for our 4 year old who is a major Hot Wheels fan. He and dad pour through the colorful photographs and line up all their cars that match those found in the book. I am sure from a collectors point the information of the value along with the detailed picture would be very useful. It is a nice thick, heavy paged book that will be around this house for a long time.



2. I find this book extremely helpful in listing a very large percentage of the current (1989 onwards) Hot Wheels variations. The book follows on from the earlier editions and I find it a very useful refererence source.



3. Awesome very fast shipping. Arrived in excellent condition. Will buy from again. Thanks so much.



4. If you collect variations of Hot Wheels, you have probably heard of the Godfather of Variations, Michael Zarnock. This guy is nuts about variations and has put together one of the top 3 Hot Wheels collector books ever published. I love the book and have loved it since volume 1 because it has fantastic Blue Card identification pictures and very accurate price guide. If you don't know if a variation is real or fake, just check the Grail, it will let you know if you are dealing with fraud or not. In other words, if it is not in this book you are probably not dealing with a variation. Indispensible to a serious Hot Wheel collector. Gratzi, Don Zarnock.



5. I just got got this book today and It was more than I expected there were tons and tons of pictures, mr. zarnock give yourself a pat on the back because you did one heke of a job.

5 comments about How to Draw Cars the Hot Wheels Way.

1. I bought this book solely because Scott Robertson wrote it. Normally I would have passed this book by thinking it was a children's book on drawing hotwheels. Boy was I surprised when I received it.
   
   This is not as much a book on drawing cars but a book explaining how to use perspective when drawing vehicles which could be used for all types of vehicles. I've read many books on perspective and this one has been the most well developed instruction on vehicle perspective. His instructions are very detailed with great illustrations for each step. And we're not talking about glossed over quick 3 step instructions, most instructions are over 10 steps. So he goes slow with enough detail to not miss anything necessary to truly understand this topic.
   
   Another bonus, is that he explains in detail how to render with various art media and also step by step how to render in Photoshop. These instructions are as detailed as that for drawing in perspective.
   
   This book was a Great Surprise! I wish I had found it earlier. I probably could have forgone many books for what I've found in this one. Don't let the name fool you, pick this book up no matter what level of artist, illustrator, cartoonist or designer you are. Great book!!! 5 Stars.



2. Purchased for a 7.75 year old boy who loves to draw. He likes it but not as well as the drawing book by Hart.



3. Great Value - My son just keeps using this. For the enjoyment he receives from this guide, it is worth twice as much to me.



4. this book is probably one of the best books on drawing cars. lots of great pictures. and really great art of street rod cars. much better than How to Draw Cars like a Pro. everything you'll need on drawing cars is in here!



5. The minute this book arrived and I saw how great it was I realized that I would need to give it as a gift to a designer friend. Then I needed to order another copy to keep for myself. If you are a designer, want to draw cars, or are just a fan of Hot Wheels cars, Scott Robertson's book is a wonderful insight into the world of unlimited transportation imagination. Kids of ALL AGES would love this book!