3 comments about Toys With Nine Lives: A Social History of American Toys.

1. While serious toy collectors may wish for more detail on the individual toys themselves, the book is nonetheless a well crafted look at the social history of toys. The book allows the reader to reflect on the important role that toys have played throughout history. Everyone has at some point played and owned toys of some sort, but how many of us have ever stopped to think about the social constructions of the toys themselves? Well researched and interesting throughout, McClary's book presents the reader with the opportunity to examine the social influences that impacted the toys loved by our parents, our kids and even ourselves.



2. I found the book to lack a great deal in scholarship. Toys which were illustrated were often not identified by name or manufacturer where such are well known. It is the manufactured toys that are of greatest interest to collectors. The American heyday of toys starts after the Civil War and continues to WWII. European toys enjoy their greatest success during the same time period although automata were made much earlier. Japanese toys gain their popularity after WWII. The book falls outside of the main stream as far as serious toy collectors are concerned. Tops and stick toys have their place but do not compare with the wonderful cast iron toys made in the US by Hubley, Stevens or Gong Bell or the celebration of tin toys of Germany made by Lehmann or Gunthermann to name just a few of the toy manufacturers.



3. The book turns out to be less than the scholarly tome I was expecting. This is due much to the fact that the footnote references while numbered are missing. It is also difficult to determine which references are relevant to what is being talked about. Major toy manufacturers are not identified for mass produced toys and their names are not given. As an example take the "Landing of Columbus" mechanical bank. It is called the Columbus bank and the manufacturer is not given. These oversights are serious enough to greatly diminish the works value for the serious and advanced collector.

2 comments about 2003 Video Game Price Guide.

1. As a list of what carts were made, it's ok. As a price guide this book is complete garbage. The prices it lists are guaranteed to get you laughed at and chased out of every video game store in America, if not the entire world.



2. this book rocks! i've always wondered what the value of my video game collection was... and now i know! this book has caused me to start collecting again and now i know what fair prices are to pay for video games. i won't be ripped off again!

4 comments about The Penny Bank Book: Collecting Still Banks : Through the Penny Door (Schiffer Book for Collectors).

1. While I mostly collect mechanical banks I do have some interest in still banks. This is the book most often referred to by collectors and sellers alike on E-bay or other auction sites regarding size, rarity, and price. The first sections deal with care and reproductions, followed by illustrations of still banks from manufacturers catalogs. Then comes a color section on banks followed by an appendix. There are several drawbacks to this book. The $49.95 price for a book published in 2000 is high in my opinion. Secondly, many of the banks are photographed together rather than individually so you really don't get that much detail. You also do not get too much information on each bank.



2. Great book for the collector. Better than the earlier editions in that it has the prices listed with the pictures instead of in the back of the book.
   Still the same banks that were in the earlier editions though.



3. I was at an auction and five out of the six banks there were listed in the book.



4. The Penny Bank Book is a pictorial and value guide to collecting banks. Containing both good pictures and approximate values, it is the most comprehensive bank collecting book available at this time. It is a must for any serious collector. This is the guide I keep in my car to advise me.

1 comments about Greenberg's Guides Lionel Trains: Pocket Price Guide 2003 " 1901-2003 (Greenberg's Pocket Price Guide Lionel Trains).

1. Greenberg's Price Guides are easy to use and provide current values for all Lionel trains and accessories. A must for anyone that has Lionel trains.

No comments about Toy Autos 1890-1939.

No comments about Wheels: The Magical World of Automotive Toys.

2 comments about Matchbox Toys 1947 to 1996: Identification & Value Guide.

1. This book helped me greatly



2. Of all of the reference guides I own, I use two. This is one of those two. This book is an invaluable resource for identifying Matchbox models. It has several indexes to use--chronological, by name and by issue number. I would recommend that any Matchbox collector add this book to their reference library.

5 comments about Pressland's Great Book of Tin Toys.

1. Time for a reality check, folks. I tracked this book down because I'm a tin toy freak, and I read all kinds of glowing words about the book itself, re: production, photography, etc. Turns out it's a treat for tin toys up till WWII, but almost laughable in its coverage of post war pieces. Also, the production isn't all that great -- nice tin piece attached to the cover, but on my new copy the red cover was bubbled in one spot, and there were pages stuck together with glue. The photography is okay, but not spectacular, and the production values are pretty much routine for a picture/text book like this. The slipcase is boring in design -- in short, I've had coffee tables that looked more spectacular than this coffee table book.

   Don't get me wrong:it's a valuable and often beautiful book, and Mr. Pressland should be congratulated on his work, but it just isn't worth this kind of money.




2. When I first considered spending this kind of money for a book I was convinced that I had surely lost my mind. Now that I've had it for quite some time I can say that I would have paid more. It is a gorgeous book with beautiful pictures of rarely seen tin toys. If you're a collector this is absolutely a "must have"! It, along with Pressland's "Art of the Tin Toy" have been our prominently displayed coffee table books for months and guests, who may know nothing about tin toys, thoroughly enjoy the book as well.



3. I can sum it up with one word "Excellent"



4. My Signed book Presslands Great Book Of Tin Toys was the topic at a Toy get together. I was offered 3 times the Amazon.com price for this book. People who look this book over are Taken back by the Photography. Get yours before they are all gone.



5. A must for the serious Toy collector. Excellent photography and plenty of it.

No comments about Fashionable Terri Lee Dolls.

No comments about Encyclopedia of Small-Scale Diecast Motor Vehicle Manufacturers.