2 comments about Sterling Silver, Silverplate and Souvenir Spoons With Prices.

1. This would be a very informative and valuabe addition to any ones library of silver reseach. The book has crisp and accurate black and white drawings of many hard to find patterns with a fair market value for the date published. The text is readable,the size is portable and easy to carry along on antiquing trips.



2. The book is a lot of fun to look through. If you have already purchased several books on Victorian sterling and plate this would be an interesting addition to your library. If this is the only book you will be buying on the subject your needs would be better served by another book. This book conisists of turn of the century catalog reprints. The reprints are sharp and they are interesting to look at but there is not a whole lot of information.

3 comments about Beads on Bags:1800's to 2000 (Schiffer Book for Collectors).

1. iT WILL GIVE YOU A GOOD IDEA ON WHAT YOU SHOULD BE PAYING OR SELLING A BEADED BAGS FOR. IF YOU HAVE ONE, YOU CAN FIND THE TYPE IT IS AND DETERMINE THE AGE, CONDITION AND THE VALUE. IT IS EASY TO READ, WITH LOTS OF PHOTOS. THERE ARE SO MANY DIFFERENT PURSES PICTURED, THE PHOTOS ARE ENOUGH TO ENTERTAIN ME FOR HOURS-WISHING I COULD FIND ALL OF THE ITEMS I SEE.



2. I am the founder of the Antique Purse Collectors Society and am so glad I found this book!



3. I continually sit and just look through this book, I love the pictures and the variety.

1 comments about Gems and Jewelry: All Color Guide.

1. There are an awful lot of fantasy writers who would benefit in reading, if not this book, then one very like it. But that's not a recommendation.

   I had the first edition, lost it, discovered the 2nd edition, was happy. Even if you're not a gem-shopper (I'm not), the book's worth it for the zillions of full-color photographs alone: you can *see* what all these gemstones look like.

   Arem discusses carats vs. karats, gem-cutting, mining, trivia and lore on various gemstones...a lot. There are other books on the same subject, of course, but this one's a decent survey.

No comments about William De Morgan Tiles.

4 comments about Antique Silver (Starting to Collect Series).

1. Pickford's Starting to Collect Antique Silver is splendidly innlustrated, clearly and entertainly, not to say gracefuly, written (with just a touch of irony in a few spots!), well laid-out, and very useful and informative.
   
   Pickford includes short chapters on the history of silver and its production, the history of hallmarks, a discusion of how silveware is made, and one of the most useful and well-presented tables of date and place marks I have seen. There are generous color and B&W plates illustrating different kinds of silverware and the evolution of each type. Pickford gives valuable hints as to how to begin collecting (and what is collectable) as well as very useful information about the care and cleaning of old silver.
   
   The book does not include a list of silversmiths and their marks, for which the interested reader must go elsewhere, but these are perhaps beyond the intended scope of the book. Make no mistake, this is a splendid achievement and a very valuable book, and no one with an interest in the subject should hesitate to buy it.
   
   Highly recommended.



2. This book has the same faults as similiar books on furniture,
   china, etc, in that it assumes you are a new collector of
   moderate means, say, $250,000. Most of the material is 18th century or earlier, and it should have gone to the end of the 19th, if the title of the book means anything. The people who write these books are used to dealing with museums, well-heeled collectors and high-profile dealers, people with whom I rarely come into contact in my modest collecting experiences. I do not question the knowledge imparted by Mr. Pickford, merely the usefulness of it. "Only rarely will a rococo salver of asymmetric shape be found". Thank you, Ian, I will keep that in mind.



3. Ian Pickford is my kind of writer! He approaches the stuffiest of subjects with a down-to-earth style that fascinates his reader with neat silver facts beginning on Page 1! For example, did you know that pure silver is self-sterilizing (bacteria cannot live on its surface) or that silver is so malleable that one Troy Ounce can be made into a wire 40 miles long? The book also contains a clear and concise explanation of hallmarking systems and how silver is made as well as good examples of the types of items a new collector is likely to encounter. Unlike some other books on the subject, his explanations are not limited to a specific piece but cover things to look for within a category, such as candlesticks, coffee pots, or cigarette boxes, to name just a few. Other chapters cover the subjects of silver plate, fakes & forgeries, and how to care for fine silver. This is my favorite book on facts about silver (not just the antique variety) and I'd highly recommend it to anyone interested in the subject.



4. a fundamental guide to evaluate antique silver

No comments about Ikora Metalwork by WMF: from the 1920s to the 1960s.

1 comments about Figurative Cast Iron: A Collector's Guide (A Schiffer Book for Collectors).

1. A useful book because it covers both doorstops *and* doorknockers, bookends, banks and other cast iron ephemera. The photographs are dark and the pricing is out of date, but there are very few books on cast iron collectibles, making this a valuable addition.

No comments about English Silver in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Vol. 2: Silver From 1697.

1 comments about Gold Coins of the New Orleans Mint: 1839-1909.

1. This is the 3rd of Doug Winter's books that I have bought and it is the best by far. I have already commented on his work on Dahlonega gold and I stand behind my critical comments on the photos. Whether the original pictures were good is beside the point. We can only judge the work we have in front of us and that work had lousy quality pictures regardless of who was responsible. Intent is nothing in this regard; finished product is everything. His work on CC gold was much better, for although again no pictures were in color, nevertheless the quality of them was good. Here, however, all things come together to produce an excellent work. The population analysis, the discussion on strike, luster, etc. are everything we have come to expect from the foremost expert on gold coins. I consider this book invaluable whenever I consider buying New Orleans gold and consult it religiously before making a purchase. The photos are excellent, are all in color, and provide a succulent icing on an already delectable cake. I hope he publishes an update on Charlotte gold soon with the same results.

2 comments about The Chase Era: 1933 & 1942 Catalogs of the Chase Brass & Copper Co..

1. In this concluding book in a series of four about the history and products of the Chase Copper and Brass Co., the authors present the first (1933) and last (1942) catalogs of Chase's consumer products...and a wonderful surprise. The catalog pictures are crisp and clear, and the contrast between the early and last product offerings can be easily compared. But the first publishing of a series of pre-1933 "flyers" that were Chase's first "catalog" make this a must-have reference for collectors. Nine new pieces are shown, and new, additional information is provided about several other items previously attributed to Chase. Definite 5 star kudos to the the authors, Don Johnson and Leslie Pena, for this wonderful resource.



2. This book is the final of four outstanding books by these two accomplished authors. Any Chase collector or deco enthusiast should have them in their reference library. This book features reprints of original 1933 and 1942 Chase catalogs, factory information, and pre-1933 reprints of Chase Specialty flyers, some of which have never been published before. Pictures of newly discovered Chase products will be a great help to Chase collectors in identification of their wares. This book is a must for all those who appreciate the fine craftsmanship that came from the Chase factories. Donald-Brian Johnson and Leslie Pina should be commended for putting together this four part Chase reference set, this book being the final one of the four. Highly recommend!