2 comments about Puppets and Marionettes: A Collector's Handbook & Price Guide (Schiffer Book for Collectors).

1. I completely agree with every thing the reader from central Iowa said and more. I was so incensed by the inaccuracies in this waste of paper, I wrote a scathing letter to the publishers of the book, Schiffer Publishing. You know what their "professional" response was? They sent me their new catalogue to order from. This book is a piece of #!&@. And as a reference guide, it could almost be laughable if you hadn't already spent $19.95. What will Ms. Lindenberger's next literary venture be? Perhaps a do-it-yourself home guide to at-home heart, brain and oral surgery? I'm sure she's an authority on that as well.



2. the majority of information included in this book is not accurate. many of the items listed are mis-identified. names and dates are not correct. many examples pictured are in very poor condition. as an identification or reference guide it is almost worthless.

No comments about Collectible Miniature Cars (Collectibles).

2 comments about Tomarts Encyclopedia & Price Guide to Action Figure Collectibles, Vol. 2: G.I.Joe Thru Star Trek.

1. This is a very good book. It has complete listings of american toys and pictures. The pictures are b&w and color, but NOT ALL OF THE TOYS are presented in pictures. Each listing have three prices in $, the Complet No Package (CNP), the Mint in Package (MIP), and Mint In Mint Package (MIMP).



2. Not only were the prices off, but they did not know anything about the toylines. Authors have no idea what year figures were even made. How can they possibly price them?

1 comments about Evolution of the Pedal Car Volume 5.

1. The book is wonderful. I purchased it for my husband and he is extremely pleased with it.

No comments about Christie's Toy Trains.

5 comments about Huxford's Old Book Value Guide: 25,000 Listings of Old Books With Current Values (Huxford's Old Book Value Guide, 12th ed.).

1. This guide is for the in-between books. It is for books that are not so old that they would be very hard to find. It contains 25,000 listings of old books with current values. It also lists a directory of over 200 dealers and collectors who are willing to buy the types of old books listed in the guide.
   
   Here are a few examples:
   
   John F Kennedy, Profiles In Courage, 1956 1st ed. F/NF $150.00
   Rachel Carson, Silent Spring, 1962 1st ed. F/NF $150.00
   Woody Guthrie, Bound For Glory, 1943 1st ed. G/dj $65.00



2. When I purchased Huxford's Old Book Value Guide, I imagined that the books that were covered might be older than those written by Len Deighton and Marian Zimmer Bradley. There's lots of stuff from 1970 on, but coverage of genuinely old books is very sparse. The title of this guide is extremely misleading, but if late 20th Century books are your area of interest, you might find this useful. I didn't.



3. This book does list values of 25,000 books as it claims, but it is incomplete in some very frustrating ways that have to do with how it was put together. The authors apparently contacted a number of book dealers and collected their 'inventories' into a database. These were then consolidated into the listing(s) of this book.

   But what that means is that you find an extremely unsystematic selection of titles. You may find a $500 title that someone has been trying to sell for years right above a run-of-the-mill used-bookstore title selling for $15. You could find an author's second book listed, but not the first or third. As a lookup/reference tool is is hardly useful.

   I once thought this book would be a nice supplement to the other collecting books that focus on more high-end titles... something to take along to yard sales and the like to see if the $0.25 book was 'worth' $50 or $0.50. Well, even with 25,000 titles you can imagine that many more books are not listed here. Far too often I would not find a listing but COULD NOT KNOW if the book was valuable or not... its non-existence in this book just means one of the selected sellers did not have it in stock. I also kept finding entries in the $25/$30 range - right at the point where it might be a collectable underlisted by that one store or just their overpriced junk. With only a single such listing to consider, I just couldn't know.

   The overlarge physical size of the book also seemed unwieldy to me. Combined with the sense of slap-together technique and a look at the number of other "Huxfords" listings, I frankly feel that it is just an attempt to grab a piece of the growing 'collectibles' market.




4. I am sure this book is excellent for antiquarian/rare book lovers, but I like popular authors with books 20-30 years old too, and those seem to be lacking in this guide a bit. Unless you are a professional book dealer, you will not fetch these prices on the internet, it is flooded with booksellers and the worth of a fine book seems to be waning. But all-in-all it is a good guide to go by when looking up older hardbacks.



5. If you know your books fairly well to begin with, then this book will be at times, helpful. If you are looking for a way to bone up on collectibles, you may just be discouraged. A lot of very noteworthy books are left out, which leaves the reader to wonder if a little favoritism may be going on with the Author. Overall, I still had to rate a solid 4 for good effort in organizing a generally helpful refference guide to the new and seasoned book hound. For the money, it's a go.

1 comments about Greenburgs American Flyer Pocket Price Guide 1946 2005.

1. This is a good starter book that gives you an idea of what your old American Flyer Trains are worth. Personally I would just keep them because they do not make these trains any more.

3 comments about More Smurf Collectibles: An Unauthorized Handbook & Price Guide (Schiffer Book for Collectors).

1. El libro comienza nuevamente con muñecos de pvc; esta vez con una disposicion organizada. Las fotos no son de un tamaño en donde solo se pretenda ocupar espacio, como parecio ser el caso del libro anterior, y la variedad de articulos es aceptable.
   Un libro bueno. Ni mas ni menos...



2. This is the long anticipated sequel to Smurf Collectibles. You must have it. It has more items to look for, and you need it if you plan on going smurfing for Smurf stuff. You will not be disappointed. Like I said, this one is better than the first, but don't think you won't need the first one anymore. It is just as important, and it is imperative that you carry both books with you at all times. You never know it: The Smurf collectible that you want could be right under your nose, and you could miss it!!!! Don't let that happen, fellow Smurffans!

   Smurf it on!




3. Lots of pictures. Lots of unusual items.
   A great investment for any Smurf collector.

4 comments about Francie & Her Mod, Mod, Mod World of Fashion.

1. This book is as close to being perfect as any can get in the Barbie world. Not only is it informative and well-written, it's fun too!

   Each outfit is explained in detail, with each part listed, along with what parts may be more difficult to find, any variations in the outfit, etc. All of these items, where possible, are photographed flat and clearly so you can see each item separately and know what each thing is. Then, another photograph is taken on the doll, in a fun setting that usually goes with the name of the outfit somehow, so you can actually see how the outfit looks on a doll, something which I think is really important.

   The photographs are great pretty much right across the board. The book is well-written, with a great sense of humour. All in all, you can't go wrong if you're into Francie and buy this book!




2. Finally, a book with color pics of Francie dolls & fashions! I own Joe's "Vive La Francie" book and was disappointed the pics were not in color. This one is much better! Makes identifying and looking for items simpler. THANK YOU MR. BLITMAN FOR A WONDERFUL AND FUN TO READ GUIDE! :)



3. The book was great, just think that it would have been better if there had been some of the Prototype out-fits in it. I wanted the book to see the out-fits that Francie had. Now I want to see the prototypes, because some of the clothes where a nice style, but fabric was ugly. Maybe Joe Blitman will do another book with all of Francies things in it.



4. Blitman's book is drool-worthy. He has photographed Francie in every outfit she ever had, including the hard-to-find early seventies packs, and set the doll in cute scenes full of props and humor. I could pore over this book for hours enjoying the panache and verve Blitman conveys with his clever photos of Francie. But its not just eye candy -- each outfit is carefully modelled, on the doll and off the doll, and prices are listed. Invaluable. Thank you, Joe Blitman, thank you.

2 comments about Kaleidoscope Renaissance.

1. What a waste of my money. I did return this for a full refund. (...) Doesn't say much about how they work. The people who are in this book aren't all the artists. It sells the Brewster Society. I agree with everyone else on this person's other books...propaganda!!!!! Avoid this group and anything written by this person.



2. I own this book. I also own the other books by this author. After doing some research on the author and this group, I am very sorry I spent any money. All kaleidoscope books by this author are just propaganda for the author and her business...the Brewster Society. The books leave many talented, and in some cases very influential, artists out. It is rare if anyone represented in her books doesn't belong to her group (there are exceptions, but only because they already had a reputation before Cozy wrote about them). A lot of good dealers are left out (on purpose), and a lot of great kaleidoscope photographers are left out. This is Mrs. Baker's idea of what the kaleidoscope world should be and not a true representation of the real kaleidoscope world at all! Save your money!