3 comments about Boyds Tracker Resin, Vol. 2: Value Guide Second Edition.

1. I thought the guide was pretty good but had missed some items. The pictures were not real clear or true color to the real item.



2. I have a Yesterday's Child (Dollstone) figurine collection and had been looking for a book to tell me how many figurines there actually are in this series and THIS IS IT. It is a fantastic book. It has everything that a collector would like to have and I highly recommend it. There are even logs in the book you can record your figurines. Thank you so much for your informative pages that led me to this book. ITS A MUST AND A KEEPER!!!



3. Have you ever wondered how much your Boyds bearstones are worth? Have you asked how many pieces are actually in the Boyds village? How many Uncle Beans Treasure boxes? Did you even know Boyds made collectible dolls too? This book explains it all!
   
   Much more than any previous value guide that came before... the 2nd edition of the Boyds Tracker Resin is your complete reference guide. Use the Tracker to inventory your treasures or just spend hours drooling over all the pieces you didn't even know existed.
   
   The editorials are a valuable teaching tool for the new collector:
   Boyds 101
   The Heart of Boyds
   Those Elusive Exclusives
   Boyds Alphabet Soup
   The Gnomes Homes
   ... and more!
   
   A true Boyds encyclopedia for every resin collector.

1 comments about Roseville Pottery: Warman's Companion (Warman's Companion: Roseville Pottery).

1. Looks like they took the larger Warman's (2004)(which I have and like a little) and republished much of the same info in a smaller version. I was expecting a significant addition of material. If you need Roseville books: Bassett's Introducing (2001), Bassett's Understanding (2002), Bassett's Prices (2005), Jack and Nancy Bomm - Roseville in all its Splendor (2004). Bassett's prices are close to reality. The Warman's (2004) book has some prices that are low and some that are right on. Many of Huxford's (2001) prices seem to be way too high. If you get the 3 Bassett books and the Bomm book, you have a good core set to use.
   
   UPDATE: The New MOLLRING book, "Roseville Pottery" 11th Ed., copyright 2006, is really good for collectors. Cons: Black and White Pictures. Pros: Updated Prices, concise reference, very comprehensive. A must have book for Roseville collectors. Dave.

1 comments about Santa Clara Pottery Today (Monograph Series - School of American Research, No. 29).

1. The beautiful polished black and polychrome pottery of Santa Clara Pueblo is rivaled in design and execution only by that of its neighbor, San Ildefonso, among the Pueblo Indians of New Mexico. In recent years it has been sought by growing numbers of collectors and investors. Details entire process with many photos and illustrations. -submitted by BooksDealer = Alex Silverman [taken fronm the back cover]

No comments about Mid-century Modern Dinnerware: A Pictorial Guide, Redwing to Winfield (Schiffer Book for Collectors).

1 comments about Collectible Vernon Kilns: Identification and Value Guide (Collectible Vernon Kilns).

1. This book is a must have for anyone interested in collecting any of the numerous shapes and/or patterns of pottery made by Vernon Kilns. I won't repeat what's said above in the book description or product details, but I will add that many years of obvious painstaking research has culminated in Maxine Nelson's 4th book on the subject.
   
   I had no idea what a challenge it would be to complete a collection of dinnerware in just ONE of the patterns ("Gingham", a green and yellow plaid design) that was made. Even with this book in hand you will never be 100% sure of all the pieces that exist in whatever pattern you're attempting to collect. In my opinion, the "not knowing" is part of the challenge that only serves to make collecting this truly versatile line of wares that much more fun, interesting, and rewarding.
   
   By the way, this book has 320 pages, not 192 as listed above. Sadly, this book is already out of print. However, at the time of this writing quite a few copies are still available.
   
   If you're a fanatic, you'll want to find copies of the newsletter "Vernon Views" printed from 1981 through 2003 by Pat Faux and Nancy Scadeberg, but we'll save that for another time...

No comments about The Complete Book of Florence Ceramics.

2 comments about Alabama Folk Pottery.

1. This book was marvelous. The information contained within was well researched and very thorough. I immensely enjoyed every page, every article, every entry well, you get the picture. It was just what I was hoping for and very good.



2. Evidenced by twenty years of research, Alabama Folk Pottery introduces the reader to the pottery of the state. Joey Brackner's production of a well organized and beautifully presented piece of scholarship helps the reader to see and understand the potters, the craft and its history. Due to his thorough researcch and effective presentation, this book is well worth the price tag.

5 comments about Oaxacan Ceramics: Traditional Folk Art by Oaxacan Women.

1. I know little about Oaxacan ceramics but was immediately drawn to this book by the unbelievably beautiful photos. many of the shots are done outside using natural lighting and it gives the pieces a lifelike feel that I find wonderful. And the creativity of the pieces themselves! A wonderful introduction to one type of Mexican craft.



2. This is a fantastically colourful & inspiring book...and of the many, many ceramic books I own this is definitely in my Top 5. Lots of beautiful & detailed photos and interesting text. The only downside is that there isn't really any "how to" section in the book to show you how to make the wonderful folk art featured.



3. I love this book. I have been to Oaxaca several times and have visited most of the potters in the book. On my last trip, I asked each of the women to sign my book near her picture. This is now one of my most treasured posessions along with my memories of Oaxaca. The photographs are great and the stories are beautiful.



4. Born and raised in México and having a deep appreciation of its diverse and rich folk arts traditions, and guided by the reviews, I bought this book. What others say is true- this softbound book is lavishly illustrated and is a wonderful introduction to the contemporary ceramics covered, as well as the six women potters dealt with. Thise with a love of Oaxacan ceramics will likely love this book as well.

   There is but one, very significant problem: the title is, to me, completely misleading. The book actually covers two villages- Octolán de Morelos, and the reigning family of potters, as well as Santa María Atzompa and two of the many potters who work there. San Bartolo Coyotepec and the creator of world-renown black pottery, Doña Rosa Real de Nieto, and her descendants, for example, have no coverage in this book, nor do older more traditional forms.

   Oaxaca is an incredibly beutiful state, with many traditions and crafts. This book covers a small fraction of them- and in my opinion misleads with a title implying it covers all the ceramics of Oaxaca. With that caveat, I highly recommend (and give a restrained five stars to) this book, within the scope of its limitations.




5. Having been to Oaxaca approximately ten times in the past 20 years, I can appreciate the quality and beauty of this fine book. The reasonable price of this "paperback" belies its perfect format/size and its gorgeous photography, text and printing quality.

   I've rarely been satisfied with "crafts" books, but this one has been so perfectly written and executed, that it makes me want to jump on a plane and immediately fly to Oaxaca, to find and meet the fantastic artists presented here.

   I met one of these women several years ago (Angelica Vasquez), and this glorious book will create an urge in many of its readers to meet her and the other artists that are included here.

3 comments about What Every Potter Should Know: Answers and Solutions to Common Pottery Problems.

1. A wealth of solid advice on how to prevent (or solve) a wide variety of ceramics problems. Well-written and easy to read. A unique collection of topics, but well-organized, making it easy to find what you're looking for. Includes details about clays and glazes, buying materials, firing, safety, and even business considerations. The title is accurate: you really should know what's in this book, and much of it you won't find elsewhere.



2. I am a self taught potter. This is one of the first books I bought on the subject and I still find it very valuable. It gets to the point and addresses practical problems in clear and specific ways. The glaze recipes that are given work, however it helps to have a bit of knowledge first. (I didn't understand about the thermal expansion of lithium and one of the base glazes give is overloaded with it. It broke my clay body apart completely, not surprising from its chemistry. On the proper clay body it would have been fine.) The solutions to the problems work well. I am using, with good results, a clay body that uses advise from this book. It doesn't have every solution to problems, but I haven't seen any book that does. It is interesting and covers a wide range of important issues for the potter, issues that are often left out of other books. I highly recommend it for anybody who works in clay, specifically those who mix their own clay and glazes.



3. As a beginner in the world of pottery, I found this book to be useful in a language that is easy to follow and understand.

No comments about The Official Price Guide to Pottery and Porcelain, 9th Edition (Official Price Guide to Pottery and Porcelain).