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

1. Very detailed and accurate (save for estimated items' worth).
   
   But, the pictures, especially the ones of the vehicles, are dull. Colors, angles and light are just enough to see what's depicted, never delightful.
   
   Looking forward to a new edition with better photos!



2. My husband has collected GI Joe guys since he was a kid. He bought this book after a GI Joe collector website recommended it and when he's not poring over it, he's raving about it. It's a great book for collectors old and new and features A LOT of detailed images and good information. A must-have for any GI Joe collector.



3. 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.



4. 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.



5. 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...

5 comments about The Old Outboard Book.

1. This book is one to get for all ages.It lists all the brand motors of old. It gives the history of each motor which I found very interesting and helpful.It also gives a price guide of each motor and which I disagree with. The motor I have I would not sell for the price thats listed in the book. But it gives you the info on what you are looking for.



2. This is NOT a detailed repair manual, but rather a valuable history of outboards including many of the obscure makes such as the one you have leaning in the corner of the shed.



3. After reading the 2nd edition of Peter Hunn's The Old Outboard Book I couldn't wait to get the revised and expanded 3rd edition. I take the book with me when I go looking for old outboards and swap meets. No better reference exists in my opinion.



4. This book has become the "Bible" for most outboard collectors. It has everything in one place. The big list of almost ALL known US outboard manufacturers, The price guide which is the only published guide of its kind, developed thru consultation with a good cross section of prominent and active collectors, Great Serial number guides, Spark plug charts, and much more. Peter's style is very readable, with a "story" connected to each brand. Hundreds of outboard collectors keep a copy in their car, while touring the country looking for additions to their collections. Most helpful to identify, and value that Garage sale or Outboard meet, find. HIGHLY recommended, especially for those new to the hobby.



5. This book is stretched between a technical manual and a coffee table book way too tight. Hunn covers the larger manuf. with research that could be found on any historical website, and briefly touches on the rare and obscure in general descriptions. Do not rely on this book for technical information. Simply order specific parts lists for the motors you have. I would like to know if Hunn's other book was better as a picture book, as this one was too poorly written to be of any enjoyment.

3 comments about Cartier.

1. A history and analysis of Cartier : jewels in modern time. The world impact of Cartier's creators. Images of the best neclaces, tiaras, rings and horloges. A piece of art in itself. Very well written. manoel barros da motta



2. This is in my modest opinion the best book about Cartier. Amazing photos with fine text. Much more than the classic coffee table book. Offers insight into the most important periods of Cartier, the designs and the artistic talents of their creators. Biographies of the artists of the famous jewelry house, recent history, famous clients and how the businesses got started. The photos are wonderful; I only wish there were more of them. A MUST!



3. I think that this book is a great resource for anyone who is a jewelry student or just in love with very fine jewelry. While the book does focus more on the lives of the three Cartier brothers, there are many great pictures of their jewelry as well. I think this book is well worth the money.

5 comments about 1897 Sears Roebuck & Co. Catalogue.

1. The Sears and Roebuck catalog has been a huge help in writing my historical romance set in the 1890s. There are saddles, surreys, and patent medicines. This visual aid has made it so much easier for me to give an accurate depiction of the times.



2. Imagine having an invention which would allow you to review various products from the comfort of your own home. An invention which would enable you to purchase food, clothing, books, tools, medicines, transportation, furniture and virtually any other consumer need. An invention which would permit you to choose various delivery options which varied by cost and speed. Oh and by the way the year is 1897. After reading this book I have to say that the 1897 Sears Roebuck Catalogue was truly the Internet of its day. The book lists literally thousands of items which could all be purchased from the Sears Roebuck Company. Many of the items are farming equipment and provide a look at what was needed to raise food in the small family ran farms of the day as opposed to our world of largely corporate farming. The drawings of the home entertainment options available show how much easier we have it today. The product descriptions, especially of the medical products are eye opening (you could actually buy opium) and the overall feel is that a person in the late 1800s, even if stuck in a small rural town, truly had access to the world provided he had a copy of the Sears Roebuck Catalogue.



3. This is such a great look into turn of century catalogue shopping. You'll be shocked at cheap things like violins and three piece suits used to be. For history or shopping buffs, this is a really, really neat buy.



4. I love it! It is fun to look at the the prices of the items that were sold back at the turn of the century.



5. This book is utterly fascinating for those who hold any sort of interest in bygone times. While not a step-by-step guide, it inadvertantly thrusts the reader into the role of a home owner of limited means in the late 1800s. You find yourself shopping, suckered in by the richly worded item desciptions and enticed by the promises of "best on the market," "guaranteed for a lifetime," and "will cure all diseases of the nervous system."
   
   Unconsciously, you create your own little shopping list and envision a home where the husband builds everything from the buggy to the bathrooms while the wife prepares all the meals and pretties herself with skin whiteners and hair lotions.
   
   I am so glad to have bought this catalogue. I use it as a writing prompt for my high school students, to encourage creative and analytical thought, and they delight in it. I implore everyone to investigate this book.

5 comments about Automata and Mechanical Toys.

1. If you like this kind of thing - then you are going to love this book! The range of different toys is amazing and seeing them in a historical perspective is fascinating. It really shows that simple machines can be beautiful and amazing.



2. The book certainly has nice and inspiring pictures of great automata. To a certain extent, some of the concepts of automata are defined. But largely, the chapters are devoted to eccentric and creative automata artists who inspire more by examples than theories.



3. This is the best book on automata since Flying Pig opened it's doors. Peppe shows how to build your own test board of mechanical movement and provides examples of the best current automata for inspiration. The "test board" is finely crafted, covers a wide range of movements and it's fun to play with too.



4. Depending on what your interests are, this can be a valuable addition to your library. It is not for collectors, in my opinion, and most of the examples are on the "folk art" side: crude, kitschy, and sometimes even made of junk. There are profiles of a few builders who make complex automata demonstrating fine craftsmanship, such as the wonderful Keith Newstead and John Grayson. I would have preferred to have some detailed explanations of how some of their automata work, though. The REAL strength of this book is if you are beginning to make your own automata and would like to have a "kit" to experiment with. The book contains full sized plans for an experimenter's "kit" which is really nice. I have Robert Addam's "How to Design and Make Automata" and CMT's book, but they both only have crude drawings with no dimensions. I made photocopies of the parts and then used Xylene to transfer directly onto plywood and cut the parts out on a scroll saw, saving a great deal of time and giving me a nice litte platform for experimenting. This alone makes the book a must have for the beginning builder.



5. This has got to be one of the best books on the subject of automata and mechanical theatre. There are lots of great color pictures and diagrams to build your own automata. Worth the money!

1 comments about Washington Quarters : Collection 1988-2000, Number Four.

1. The Whitman brand name has been a icon in coin collecting for years. When I started collecting in the early 90s, I used their folders, including this one. So what's the problem with this folder? The folder goes up to the year 2000. In 1999, a 10 year series of quarters was started to honor each state. That means as of 1998, there will be no eagle reverse Washington quarters until the year 2009, if at all. In other words, If you want to keep your Washington quarter current, you WILL NEED one of Whitman's statehood quarter folders. If you want to wait until 2009 for an eagle reverse Washington quarter, then stick with this folder.

2 comments about New Inspirations in Wedding Florals.

1. This book was fantastic! It helped beginners create beautiful bouquets, corsages and table arrangements. Great results! It saved us a great deal of money!



2. This is one of the best books I bought when I decided to do my own flowers for my wedding.
   This is not a book for a pro though. It works best for a beginner like me. It explains nicely step by step how to make the arrangements. It could give more information but even still, there is no better book. There is a first version that I bought and together I got some great ideas.

2 comments about Washington Quarter Folder 1965-1987 (Official Whitman Coin Folder).

1. A great way to keep your collection of change in a handy thin book.Your coins stay in place, and are not easily lost. Most have dates and mint marks, that way you can see what you have or still need. Some books even give a little information on the coins you have. Great for the beginner or exp. person.



2. WOW! this hold all your quarters. Its great. I bought it today and its so fun to save your quarters and display them. Its a good investment! §§§Thanks§§§

5 comments about The Expert's Guide to Collecting & Investing in Rare Coins: Secrets Of Success.

1. I could have done without this book. Its design is flawed, and the binding is stiff and brittle. I prefer the Redbook or Bluebook.



2. This book is EXTREMELY thorough. However, as a newcomer to the field, it was a tough one for me, as it seems the author already presupposes a fair amount of knowledge of coin-collecting jargon on the part of the reader (to be fair, perhaps it's my fault for not taking the "EXPERT'S" part of the title literally.)
   
   I highly recommend this book if you already have some basic knowledge in the field. However, for genuine neophytes like myself, it would be better to get the basics from a source geared to beginners first (maybe COIN COLLECTING FOR DUMMIES.) I think this book would then be much more understandable and enjoyable.



3. --
   "The Expert's Guide to Collecting & Investing in Rare Coins" is definitely worth reading. It is autobiographical and contains the secrets of his 60 years of success as collector, investor, numismatist, grader, dealer, auctioneer, ANA board member, and author.
   
   Cramming six decades of numismatic life experiences into a single book is tough, requiring mental and spiritual strength. Doing this in a comprehensive, coherent and organized manner is unquestionably a laborious, taxing, onerous, and difficult task. Such a demanding project could only be achieved by the formidable Q. David Bower.
   
   Mr. Bower is one of the most prolific numismatic writers of all time, he has written over 30 books and numerous articles and columns.This is by far the most important of his works and possibly the best ever, the quality of information & wide-ranging content makes it the cream of the crop, flower of the flock, pick of the bunch --whatever you want to call it.
   
   It is full of valuable expertise, candid story telling, dealer & auctioneer trade secrets, smart buying and selling techniques and recommendations, and detailed descriptions of every US coin by type, complete with a close focus on: Rarity, Grading, Quality, and Value of coins. It also includes his recommendations and insights on Conferences, Life & Internet Auctions, Library, Protection and Conservation of Coins, Tokens, Medals, and Paper Money.
   
   Hope you enjoy it as much as I did. I Recommend this Book.
   
   See my other reviews.
   
   
   
   Official A.N.A. Grading Standards for United States Coins
   High Profits from Rare Coin Investment
   A California Gold Rush history: Featuring the treasure from the S.S. Central America : a source book for the Gold Rush historian and numismatist
   A Guide Book Of Us Morgan Silver Dollars: A Complete History and Price Guide (Official Red Book) (Official Red Book)
   The History of United States Coinage
   The United States Gold Coin Collection
   Silver Dollars and Trade Dollars of the United States: A Complete Encyclopedia
   The Numismatist's Bedside Companion (The Numismatist's Companion Series)
   A Guide Book of Modern United States Proof Coin Sets: A Complete History and Price Guide (Official Red Book)
   The Inside Story Of The State Quarters (Official Whitman Guidebook)
   A Guide Book of U.S. Commemorative Coins (The Official Red Book)
   Coin Dealer Newsletter: A Study in Rare Coin Price Performances
   American Coin Treasures & Hoards
   Recollections of a Mint Director



4. I read "Gold Rush: How to Collect, Invest & Profit With Gold Coins" by Mitch Battino and Arlyn Sieber (see my review of that book) prior to reading this book by Q. David Bowers. I'm glad I did because while the Gold Rush book was a very big disappointment, it made me realize just how truly good Mr. Bowers book is.
   
   I have to be honest, coin books are generally NOT books that you read from beginning to end and find that you can't put down. This book is an exception - I couldn't put it down and I read the entire book from beginning to end.
   
   Although I've been collecting for years, one thing I enjoyed about this book was that some of those obscure numismatic terms that other authors assume you know, Mr. Bowers will stop and take a sentence or two to explain the term. I really appreciated that.
   
   Plus, where the Gold Rush book failed in the "How to Collect, Invest, and Profit," this book did an excellent job of showing how to do just that. It is not a price guide with outdated prices. It is an excellent reference guide with information that will never get old. This book will still be great 10 years from now.
   
   This book has excellent chapters with hands-on advise and great stories to help explain coin market cycles, determining coin prices and value (not a list of coin prices like other books but goes into things like grading, rarity, and demand), history of the coin market and predicting the rare coin market, techniques for buying and selling, and chapters on collecting advise for everything from gold coins, commemorative coins, to paper money and tokens and medals. The only thing I would point out as that this book sticks to the U.S. rare coin market and does not discuss World coins.
   
   I own more than a few coin books and this book has shot up to the top of my list as the "must have" book. Whether you are a new or experienced collector or investor (aren't we all really both), you will enjoy and profit from this book.
   
   In the future, when I'm asked by new collectors what is a good book to get, this will be the book I recommend.



5. Very informative, well written guide in investing in coins. The author possesses unquestionable authority on the subject and has a remarkably well-honed ability to write on an academic topic in an exciting manner. He is sharp-witted and enjoyable. The book is very complete and most importantly - relevant and timely. If you wish to invest and collect coins this is a must have guide.

4 comments about 2008 Official Gun Digest Book of Guns & Prices (Official Gun Digest Book of Guns and Prices).

1. This product was for my husband. He found most of his guns listed in the book. It was harder to find the older guns, though. All in all, we are pleased with the book.



2. The information in this book helps us collectors, traders, and shooters compare relative values and learn some of the history of what we own and are considering owning.



3. Excellent resource for the price. No pictures and limited descriptions, but the purpose of this book is only to provide prices of firearms and it accomplishes that very well.



4. Comapred to what is avaialble, save your $$$$ on this one.....too limited and not informative al all.....get more info on, off the Web and best to wait until Midway Arms has the Blue Book on sale around April....