3 comments about Seaman Schepps: A Century of New York Jewelry Design.

1. A great book either as a 'coffee table' book or for the professional. Beautifully photographed. A must for the 'jewelry person'



2. The book I ordered was received in a timely manner and in excellent condition. I also love the book.



3. Not only a history of an amazingly talented jeweler, but the photos are breath taking!

No comments about Artificial Gemstones.

1 comments about Beautiful Bridal Accessories You Can Make.

1. I just received this book, and upon looking it over, I'm SO excited to get started making beautiful wedding accessories. The projects look very easy and classy, while also appearing to be cost effective (to make rather than buy already made) and creative.
   
   Perhaps you won't use every craft just as it's pictured, but you'll probably either create something VERY close to it or you'll come up with something perfect for your special day by the crafts offered.
   
   If you want to add YOUR special touch to your wedding, then I recommend this book to help you achieve that goal!

2 comments about Francois Linke--Belle Epoque of French Furniture.

1. Is really a master work, an excellent and complete reference and history book of the life and the work of Fraçoise Linke. Very very satisfied.



2. This document provides an insight into life and work of Francois Linke, the most important cabinet maker of his time. His works are regarded as the top of the french decorative arts, combining the elegant Louis XV stile with art noveau influence. The combination of his ideas with skilled scultors during his lifetime procuced truly spetacular pieces of furniture. A mandatory read for any dealer or colector of french art.

2 comments about Schroeder's Collectible Toys Antique to Modern Price Guide (Schroeder's Collectible Toys).

1. THIS BOOK IS HIGHLY INFORMATIVE AND UP TO DATE WITH ITS DESCRIPTIONS AND PRICES. I USE THIS BOOK AS MY BIBLE FOR TOYS BECAUSE IT CONTAINS NOT ONLY THE EASY TO GET PRICES, BUT ALSO THE HARD TO FIND TOY PRICES. THE ONLY DRAW BACK THAT I CAN SEE IS I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE PICTURES. THIS IS A MUST FOR YOUR TOY COLLECTIBLE LIBRARY OF PRICE BOOKS.



2. Of all the books in our library ~ this one never gets 'recycled!' Wonderful souce book with excellent information. This book sells out fast in our area! Glad to know that we can now order it on line!

2 comments about NGC Grading Guide For Modern U.S. Coins: NGC Grading Guide For Modern U.S. Coins.

1. This book actually rates three stars because it is quite expensive for what you get, but it is still a really excellent resource for those who do one of three things: 1) collect Modern Commemoratives; 2) collect US Mint Bullion Coins; 3) collect Ultra Moderns (I say ultra moderns because until this book's new definition of moderns, traditional coin collectors deem all 20th century coins 'moderns'. This one begins the count from the year 1965; although interestingly it includes the Proofs, which for this particular time sequence is very important. This book is good in the sense that the Forward really makes one excited about collecting these ultras where it discusses the genre and explains that this is a legitimate area of collecting interest where one can build a substantial collection rapidly and for a relatively small cost. In this day and age of inflated coin prices for some of the rarer and more desirable coins amongst even the traditional moderns, there has to be a niche for new comers, kids, etc. and this niche is it. It is also good in the sense that it give census numbers of these coins as graded by NGC and explains how one should extrapolate certain of these numbers (for instance, that there is a great number of MS 68 Silver Eagles that go unslabbed because of the high minimum grade reqt. of submitters). The reviewer below protested that this count is too narrow, but the point is that this is a book as published by NGC and doesn't purport to have the entire census universe numbers contained in it. This is still nice because most coin collectors, such as myself, will subscribe to just one or two services and so will have access to those companies' census counts but not others. So, while I have PCGS' pop. reports and ltd. access to ICG's, this NGC count is a handy reference for me. I was especially pleased about two aspects of this book's layout. The biggest one was the 'Rarities and Notable Varieties' notes section in which the 'key' coins are highlighted. For instance, I collect Jeffersons but was not aware of the special, so-called 'specimen' coins minted in 1994 and 1997, both of which I will now look out for. The other nice thing is the 'NGC Quick Tip' which warns the reader of certain quirks that one should look out for, for instance scraping on the Eisenhower Dollar on Eagle Feathers and Obverse, just as a coincidence, I had set aside a large number of these recently wondering what was up with this. In future, I will focus in on those areas before making a purchase. Finally, this book is the only handy reference I know that devotes an entire section complete with pictures of all of the Modern Commemoratives to date. This latter sub-section of coins is one that may yet emerge as an important branch of American Numismatics. For those of you who wish to get a head start, this is a good resource to turn to for now. Oh, and finally, finally, for the very first time in a coin book an entire section is devoted to the Bullion coins that have been issued by the Mint and this area too is becoming ever more popular, and is one that I believe will get ever stronger in years to come (even stronger, in my opinion, than the Modern Commmemorative genre). Anyway, even though this book is spendy when new, I can recommend getting it, possibly discounted, if you have an interest in any of the areas above that I have mentioned.



2. The thing that troubles me most about this book is that it's description leads the prospective reader to believe that it is about grading coins. It is not. The book description implies that it provides a grade-dependent population census of modern coins. It does not (imho). The description implies that the book provides tendencies in the appearances of various coins. This it does do to a degree (These paragraphs in the book are the source of the two lonely stars characterizing my review) .
   There is but one page in this entire book on grading - even then just definitions. (I don't count the advertisements that tout the care with which the Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC) "objectively" grades and certifies coins (conveniently, NGC is one of the publishers of the book). There are neither examples nor guidelines to DIY grading of coins.
   Then there is the census. The population numbers provided in the book consist only of those coins certified by the NGC, and the NGC alone. The census does not include coins certified by other third party grading agencies such as PCGS, ICG or ANACS. Furthermore, the book also does not acknowledge that most purchases of modern commemorative coins, mint sets and proof sets do not get certified. So what, you say? The point, I believe, of providing a grade-dependent census is to establish the relative rarity of a given coin at a given grade. As rarity and grade together are the dominant determiners of value, an NGC-only census is of no value.
   The truly sad thing is that the topic of the bulk of material in the book would be warmly welcomed by the numismatic community - both beginners and advanced collectors -- if done well. This book deserves a second edition, maybe not the same authors or same publisher (no conflict of interest there!) to create a reference book on modern coins that actually has utility to coin collectors. The genius in marketing at NGC who thought it would be a good idea to push out a less than mediocre book allegedly on grading modern coins just leads me to recommend the VASTLY superior book on grading coins put out by PCGS - their biggest competitor! Doh!

No comments about Shamelessly, Jewelry from Kenneth Jay Lane.

No comments about Gun Trader's Guide: Complete Fully Illustrated Guide to Modern Firearms with Current Market Values (Gun Trader's Guide).

5 comments about All Aboard : The Story of Joshua Lionel Cowen & His Lionel Train Company.

1. My grand-uncle, Mario Caruso, was the co-owner and co-founder of Lionel Trains along with Joshua "Lionel" Cohen.
   
   Frank Pettit, chief designer for Lionel Trains and my uncle, had over 100 patents for designs and innovations he created for toys, expecially trains, including the smoke tablet, cattle car, news-stand, a transformer, etc. Amazon lists his biography "It Comes From Within: The Frank Pettit Story." This is an accurate story of the Lionel Trains Corp.
   
   My entire family; mother, father, uncles, aunts, from the Caruso/Pagano family worked at Lionel Trains, located in Irvington, New Jersey during the 1950's, which was the largest toy company in the world. During World War II, Lionel Corp. developed and manufactured instruments for the navy.
   
   The company was bought by the lawyer, Roy Cohn, grandson of Lionel Trains founder Lionel Cowen (Cowen & Cohn are very similar names). Roy Cohn immediately fired everyone and stated that "We are out of the toy business." To this day, nobody knows where the pension fund went. All the money was taken out of the company. My mom and dad, my relatives and others never received a penny of their pension that they worked so hard for.
   
   Read this fascinating history of what was once the largest toy manufacturing company in the world.



2. Simply put, Hollander has written and compiled the highest quality, most comprehensive, and most readable book about the history of the Lionel electric train company that has ever been done. I make that claim while scanning my bookcase holding 45 books on electric toy trains, the majority of them dealing with Lionel, indisputably the penultimate brand name in America, at least where toy trains are concerned.

   Hollander writes of the origin and the evolution of Lionel trains from their beginning around 1900 through their status at the commencement of the 21st century, including their near death in 1969 and their miraculous resuscitation by the General Mills cereal company in 1970. Don't be alienated by the earlier statement that this is a history book. It is in no way a dry rehashing of facts, dates and dollars such as comprise boring histories. On the contrary, "All Aboard!" is more of a love story, for Hollander is truly in love with his subject, and his excitement in telling us about the Lionel legend carries the reader through the book on wings of delight.

   Highly descriptive text leaves us with a wonderful acquaintanceship with Lionel's parent, Joshua Lionel Cohen (who "Americanized" his name to Cowen), shows us the birth of his baby, draws us word pictures of that baby's successes and failures, its grand leaps of inventiveness and its faltering steps of failure in the changing business and economic climate of a century of American enterprise. Along the way, we are presented with copious visual reinforcement (both in color and in black and white) of the story that the text is weaving for us. We see photographs of the movers and shakers of this great company, some of the wondrous trains that they produced, and some of the expert art work that marketed those trains to the boys and fathers (and girls and mothers, too) of 20th century America. That art work, in annual catalogs and in magazine and newspaper advertisements, forged an emotional bond between American youth and the Lionel Corporation that endures today despite changing fortunes and changing ownership. Its effect on our culture has been phenomenal and is clearly addressed in Hollander's book.

   I can levy only two criticisms against "All Aboard!" The first is that I sometimes find the page layout annoying in that many sidebars and notes are included to give us insights into Lionel's executives, competitors, and plans. These are valuable and interesting, but they do interrupt the flow of the main text. The reader must either pause to read the sidebars or else ignore them at first and then return to them later. The second criticism is that the final chapter, which is the only "revised and updated" part of the book since its original release in 1981, lacks the intimate, revealing analysis that gives the rest of the book its finesse. The first eight chapters read as though Hollander had been an insider at the Lionel Corporation for its eighty-one years of birth, growth and turmoil, whereas the ninth chapter, which looks at the technological advances in toy trains from 1982 to 2000, is told by an outside observer who is no more privy to corporate thoughts than are the rest of us.

   If one has already enjoyed the 1981 edition of "All Aboard!", I cannot recommend purchasing the current edition just to have the new chapter. On the other hand, if one has never seen either edition of "All Aboard!", then, no matter what other books he may have read on Lionel trains, he has missed the most definitive and enjoyable book of all, and I cannot recommend Hollander's book too highly.




3. This is one of my best books about Lionel trains. Profusely illustrated with photos of Joshua Lionel Cohen and the people that helped make Lionel a giagantic toy train builder. This is a book you're sure to read over and over.



4. All Aboard! The Story Of Joshua Lionel Cowen & His Lionel Train Company is the fascinating story of the man who made the electric toy train one of the most popular toys for boys and hobbies for grown men in the last century. Published in part to celebrate the Lionel Train Company's 100th Anniversary, All Aboard! is also a testament to how this producer of toy trains dealt with the competition of electronic games at the end of the 20th century and is experiencing a surge of popularity at the beginning of the 21st Century. Original published in 1981, this new, revised and updated celebratory edition of All Aboard! is welcome and highly recommended reading for toy train enthusiasts in general, and Lionel Train collectors in particular!



5. I have had several copies of the previous edition of this book but kept giving them away to neighbors of mine. It is a wonderful look at one of the oldest and most successful toy companies in the world: Lionel Trains. This book covers everything: humble beginnings, postwar boom, near destruction at the hands of famed veteran of the "Red Scare" Roy Cohn to it's present day owners. If you had Lionel trains as a child or have always loved them from afar I cannot tell you how much fun this book is. With stories on all of the most famous cars and the people behind the genius it's an engrossing read.

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

1. I came into the Mego world a bit late as a wee lad in the early 1980s. But I still remember having the Batman, Stretch Spidey, Dukes of Hazzard, and Incredible Hulk Mego action figures. This book really takes me back to those glory days!
   
   This book is a Mego collector's dream guide! Full of charts, checklists, rare photos and more. Extremely thorough and well researched, if you are a Mego fan, THIS BOOK IS FOR YOU!



2. A good looking and very informative book full of great photos of the Mego super-hero figure toy line. It's a must for any Mego toy collector and well worth the price of admission!



3. 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.



4. 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!!!



5. 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.