No comments about Outhouses.

2 comments about Billboards of the Past.

1. 
   Randy Littlefield came across this treasure trove of billboards way back in 1982 and having spent some years organizing the collection this book is the result. The 450 included certainly are colorful as you flip through the pages. The problem is that, having looked through the book several times, it very quickly gets boring. Hardly any of the billboards are of any particular design or art merit and they are all mostly presented three to a page in a very repetitive layout.
   
   Amongst all the blandly designed twelve sheets (the most common billboard ad size of 19.5 feet by 8.5 deep uses twelve pieces) there were some that caught my eye: Betty Grable for Mercury cars in 1950 with her head probably seven foot deep, a few for Richfield gas that used space theme illustrations for their slogan `Years Ahead'. There are twenty-three pages of Coke billboards which, of course, always look a treat, especially the Haddon Sundblom Santa ones.
   
   There is a rather annoying problem with so many of the billboards though, because they weren't actually photographed stuck on a billboard but unfolded and positioned on an indoor flat surface and then photographed you can see fold marks everywhere. With a bit of effort a lot of these could have been PhotoShopped out to present an almost pristine poster.
   
   The billboards capture a little bit of fifties nostalgia and the book might be of interest to model train folk who want some period posters for their town dioramas, it would be easy to photocopy and print them to the required size. For anyone else I thought this was a rather expensive look back to the past.



2. Striking billboard ads from 1945 through 1967 are presented in over four hundred color photos to celebrate all kinds of cultural memories of the past, from political ads to products ranging from Coke to cigarettes. Real billboards were stored in their boxes for decades before being assembled and photographed for Billboards of the Past: a price guide of values rounds out supporting collector's tips on assembling, displaying and storing such vintage billboards. Specialty collectors with a focus on American popular culture memorabilia must add this to their libraries!

5 comments about Benjamin Franklin (Quote/Unquote).

1. Densely-packed with primary Franklin sources. Physically hefty. Fairly transparent index, but could be somewhat more plain-spoken. Franklin might not have approved. Takes the average reader far beyond the kite-and-key story and the Franklin sexual escapades stories into the brain of a genius. Book is a best buy regardless of price.



2. Benjamin Franklin is one of the great icons of the American Founding. He is truly one of the essential men who built our nation and deserves every praise we can heap on him. When we see images of the founders, they are all shown as old men, not how old they were in 1776. Franklin was really a generation older than most of the firebrands who led the Revolution. He was seventy when he signed the Declaration of Independence (John Adams was 41, George Washington 44, and Thomas Jefferson 33 on July 4, 1776) and eighty-one when he signed our Constitution as a member of the delegation from Pennsylvania. He was an amazing man. He was a successful printer, inventor, philanthropist, revolutionary, diplomat, and all around student of the world.
   
   This fine volume from the wonderful Library of America is a collection of this great man's writings. From early articles in his brother's newspaper, to the Preface and Maxims of the Poor Richard's Almanac, essays, speeches, letters, the FOUR parts of his autobiography, and much else. You will read about his inventing the two-part spectacles and see his own diagram of his bi-focals, his views on slavery, why paper money was needed to help enliven commerce and the dangers of too much of it, his views on religion, his speech before the Constitutional Convention of the dangers of paying representatives at Congress, and so much more that is fundamental to our founding and all of it is amazingly interesting.
   
   This book is interesting to dip into and read just those portions that interest you, as well as reading its more than 1,500 pages front to back. It has great notes on the text that provide contextual and translation help as well as sources, a most interesting chronology of Franklin's long and productive life, and an index.
   
   This certainly is a must have for your shelf on the history of America's Founding.



3. This collection of Franklin's writing display his quick mind, mathematical gifts, great sense of humor, detachment in crisis, and the razor-sharp diplomatic mind which did more than supposed for the American cause (more so than than Adams and others thought). An American genius and a true seer of note. A book to be enjoyed again and again.



4. The contents are wonderful. Some are funny and yet they are true! All can be applied in today's world! Yet, the cost is bigger than the book itself! It is a small 'coffee table' book that should be at a cheaper price.



5. The Library of America should be commended for preserving the works of Benjamin Franklin. This is the finest compilation of Franklin's writings still in print.

   The book is organized and presented in chronological order. The first section contains Franklin's writings between 1722-1726. This section contains the famous "Silence Dogood" works. The second section consists of writings between 1726-1757. This section contains the "Busy Body" pieces and the writings from the Philadelphia Gazette, amongst other works. The third section consists of writings which date between 1757-1775. The fourth section consists of writings between 1776-1785. The fifth section consists of writings between 1785-1790. And the final two sections are "Poor Richard's Almanack" and "The Autobiography."

   Moreover, the sections contain personal letters between Franklin and other notable men such as David Hume, Lord Kames, John Pringle, Benjamin Rush, etc. Also, religious writings, philosophy, political writings and the like are present in this single volume. In fact, there is about 1500 pages of just Franklin's writings. Additionally, in the back of the book, there is a very detailed chronology of Franklin's life describing notable things which occurred between his birth and death.

   This is a great text for those who are wanting a very detailed volume of Franklin's writings. However, it is also a great compilation for those who simply want to sit down and get a sample of the works of Franklin to find out what type of man he was, what he believed, what he taught, his sense of humor and the like.

   This book has been one of the best investments that I have made in my collection of American Revolutionary (Founders) history. I highly recommend this work.

1 comments about Nineteenth Century Lighting: Candle-Powered Devices : 1783-1883.

1. I am disappointed that all the pictures in this book are black and white. Other than that, it's a good book for someone who are interested in the art of lightings.

3 comments about The Vernor's Story: From Gnomes to Now.

1. This unique and eye opening saga into the history of Vernor's, reveals a facinating evolution from a doctor prescribed tummy soother, to "Detroit's Drink". Lawerence L. Rouch is an increadible writer who brings to life the colorful and amazing history of more than just a soft drink, but of the city of Detroit itself. From "The Original Ginger Ale's" post civil war beginings to its current position in the highly competive soft drink market of today, the Vernor story truly is one of a kind.



2. This is a super book, intelligent and attractive as well. As a child, I loved Vernor's Ginger Ale, and I enjoyed reading this book tremendously! The history of the company is well written and interesting, and the numerous illustrations are varied and delightful. I especially appreciated the chronology and bibliography that balance the cool graphics with authoritative research. Well done!!



3. Wow! This book takes me back to my childhood in MI. It's so richly illustrated & so fun to read! I love it. I am going to buy it for all my friends and family for XMAS. What a great Michigan read!

1 comments about Knowles, Taylor and Knowles: American Bone China : With Price Guide (Schiffer Book for Collectors).

1. This book is an excellent adjunct to the more commonly seenMary Frank Gaston's Encyclopedia. Kearn's book contains over 150photos of Knowles, Taylor, Knowles pottery, with a strong focus on the famous Lotus Ware (sometimes referred to as American Belleek), and Meredith and other jugs.

   Kearns went straight to the source, the Ohio Ceramics Museum in East Liverpool, Ohio, for information about this pottery's wares. He gives us a history of the company and the different types of pottery it created when it ran, and tonnes of photos of the various pieces still available to the collector today. His prices do not reflect the impact that online auctions have had on the collectables market, but that is a common problem with reference works today, and should not deter you from buying this book.

No comments about Bits & Spurs: Motifs, Techniques and Modern Makers.

5 comments about McDonald's Collectibles: Happy Meal Toys and Memorabilia 1970 to 1997.

1. I purchased this book in hopes of finding many of the toys that I collected when I was a child. Many of the toys I have are from the early 1980's. A cursory glance did not show many toys before 1988. Astrosniks weren't even included, and they were quite popular! I'll be searching for a book that focuses on toys from the 1980's. If you're looking for a book that has toys from the early days, this is not the book for you.



2. This is one of the best McDonald's collectibles books I've seen! This book includes detailed color pictures, very accurate descriptions, release dates, and an estimated value for a wide variety of McDonald's figures including premuims released in the United States and Internationally. A very thorough and informative guide to McDonald's fast food toys!



3. I love this book. I looked at this book in a bookstore. This books has all the toys from 1970 to 1997. I aslo love eating at McDonalds.



4. Good book, although they could devote a whole volume to Grimace



5. This book is for all, not just those who collect McDonald's memorabilia. My son loves to look at all the pictures and it is excellent to see all the different sets of toys, cause you can never usually get all the happy meal toys of a series. I highly recommend it!!!

No comments about Pennsylvania Curiosities, 3rd: Quirky Characters, Roadside Oddities & Other Offbeat Stuff (Curiosities Series).

No comments about Warman's Tobacco Collectibles: An Identification and Price Guide.