5 comments about Goldmine Record Album Price Guide.

1. An EXCELLENT guide for checking out prices for old LP's !
   Easy to read and find the artist you are looking for.



2. THE PRICE GUIDE IS OK BUT IT IS NOT REALLY THAT ACCURATE AS I HAVE FOUND MANY ERRORS AND THERE ARE LOTS OF ALBUMS THAT ARE NOT LISTED AT ALL.



3. All Goldmine guides are very useful in both case: 1) to determine optimal buying' and sellin' costs. Also it's exciting reading. That edition lavishly illustrated. Thanks.
   Will buy also American records 1950-1975!
   Hope, it will be great!



4. When my mom died, she left behind around 400 LPs and another 150 45s from the 1950-1960s. It was a mess of mixed genres, variety of artists, and varying conditions. Since we're a fan of CDs and MP3 players, the records took up a horribly large amount of space and we wanted them gone. After calling a dealer, who suggested pulling out the Elvis and Beatle records and tossing the rest, I decided to do some research and see what I'd need to do to sell them on EBay. During my research, I found a record guild site with an incredibly helpful forum http://www.recordcollectorsguild.org They listed several price guides, but with warnings about their pricing accuracy. Until I tried to sell the records, I didn't fully realize how inaccurate they really are. While this book was not particularly valuable when it came to pricing, it was helpful in letting me know if I had any records that were worth pursuing. However, guides in general tend to have some problems and this one is no different. Some of the problems include:
   
   1) Do NOT expect to get the list price. It is a best case scenario. The introduction to this book is very clear that these prices are mint condition prices. However, the amount suggested to deduct given their condition, is not accurate. The prices really reflect what you could expect to pay at an antique dealer's store, not what you can realistically expect to sell them for.
   
   2) The price guides do not reflect a changing market. At one time, a mint version of Chantilly Lace might have brought 500.00, but not now. The interest in this record is not as great as it once was. However, the price guide is not updated to reflect that change in market. http://www.popsike.com better reflects the current market and it's free.
   
   3) This book does not give you the knowledge you need to accurately grade records. Granted the purpose of this book is pricing, not to teach grading, but grading is integral to pricing. See, collectors want to listen to the records they're buying. So if the record pops or has any static, the record is of little to no value to them. If you're not an experienced collector, what looks minor to you, might be a huge deal to a buyer. Since the selling price of the record depends heavily on the condition of the vinyl, a book that doesn't give a proper education on condition is not too helpful for selling. Furthermore, this book suggested weighing the condition of the vinyl and jacket equally. That is not accurate. The condition of the vinyl is much more important than the jacket.
   
   Again, where this book does excel is in having a large quantity of records, with a very good description to know which pressing you have, and is easy to use. So if you have a few records and you want to know if it's even worth the effort to try to sell them, this book is very helpful. However, if you're planning to use this book to sale, first see if you can get an experienced record collector to help you out. For us, two experienced collectors were able to accomplish in 3 hours, what would have taken me probably 500 hours to do.
   
   Would I have bought this price guide again? Only if I couldn't find it at the local library. For a price guide, it's probably very good, but the main reason I wrote this review is so people won't get the idea they'll have all the information they need to sell in this book. You're really not going to be able to get the information you truly need to value records from this book or any price guide. So, you'd be better off saving your money and doing some research online.



5. this is a great book for music collectors, or someone who likes music. It's very interesting and informative

5 comments about How to Sell Antiques and Collectibles on eBay... And Make a Fortune!.

1. Like ALL of Lynn's books, this one is just excellent. It clearly explains topics and links you to other information. This book is a must for eBay selling. You won't be disappointed!



2. I have found this book extremely helpful when setting up my eBay business. I know I will refer to it for many years to come.



3. Good book with many interesting and helpful details for buying or selling on E Bay. A favorite place of mine to hang out !!!!



4. I love this book. It is a constant companion when researching items. I enjoyed reading it too. Love the way Lynn and Dennis make it so easy to understand.



5. This book contains a great variety of information about using eBay, but it is not geared to the novice eBay user. The book addresses those wishing to use eBay as an antique/collectible sales business, and for those folks, it is a good book.

5 comments about Kovels' New Dictionary of Marks: Pottery and Porcelain, 1850 to the Present.

1. If you collect this type of pottery, you will have to get this book sooner or later as it provides an outstanding reference to marks found on these items and so permits you to assess the age of the item. But the lack of any real advice, wisdom, guidance, explanations, etc. about the subject of collecting these pieces, knowing when marks are real or fake, and assessing the quality of the pieces is essentially nil. So you will have to learn pretty much everything you need to know from other sources. A real disappointment given that the authors are almost certainly know a lot more about the subject matter than they put into these books. M Pezim



2. This is a good resource book. It has it's limitations, but I use it almost daily. I look up alot of ceramics marks, and I find the large majority of them in this Kovels book. It is great if you are looking for a specific makers mark, or decoratoras mark. The limitation is that there is no way to comprehensively view all marks from one particular maker. If you have a few treasures that you want to accurately identify, then it is very good. Don't get me wrong, I haven't found every mark I look for. But I haven't found a Marks reference that I do. This book provides a good clean and easy format to locate the mark I need, and quickly.
   
   Also, if you are looking for back ground info on the company, this isn't the book for you. While the Kovel's do an excellent job of showing literal thousands of easy to find marks, thats all they show. All in all a highly recommended resource. Any serious ceramics collector, dealer, or dedicated flea market/yard saler should have a copy.



3. Bought this as a gift for my daughter and she has really enjoyed it's contents. Now she can see if the "Junk and/or Antiques" she has purchased has any real value!!



4. I haven't been happy with this book since I purchased it. Haven't found one mark from any of the pottery or china I have from this book. Only one or maybe two examples of the companies which made the pottery but not the marks. For example I can't even find the simple "Anchor" from Anchor Hawking Co.(There are plenty of other anchors). I have a very nice Blue "Old Fashion"/juice glass fron A.H. but I have never seen one in blue. Looked it up and could not find MARK in this book. I was very surprised. I've been thinking about purchasing the Second Edition of Kovels' book, but been holding back... Can anyone tell me if it is better or if it's just me, I hope..Mary, techmom@usamedia.tv (No Solicitors Please! Only those wanting to talk about this book please reply. NO SPAMMERS!!)



5. Marks on pottery have always been of interest to me. Some are obvious and well-known and others obscure. Couldn't find all the marks I was looking for. Still a good book to have.

3 comments about Antique Trader Antiques & Collectibles 2008 Price Guide (Antique Trader Antiques and Collectibles Price Guide).

1. I really liked this book. It really opened my eyes to see what treasures my antiques really are!



2. Excellent book with lots of pictures. Easy to use and the shipping time was speedy.



3. THE BOOK IS JUST WHAT WE WANTED. IT IS UP TO DATE AND EASY TO LOCATE ITEMS

5 comments about Standard Catalog of Military Firearms: The Collector's Price and Reference Guide (Standard Catalog of Military Firearms).

1. Purchased for my son, who is a U. S. Marine so I can't personally review but believe he has found this book useful.



2. This book was bought because military firearms were not includes in the regular book "Standard Catalog of Firearms" That book refers you to this book when a military firearm is encountered.
   Prices I found in this Military book were opulent at best. Most of these guns do not go for the prices listed. This book however is an asset for reference. As far as price guide, you have to start somewhere but always research what you are buying or selling.



3. As a collector of Militaria I have found this volume a great help with the addition of detail on bayonets that were supplied with the rifles.Making it twice as useful over past copies.



4. Can't do with it if you are a collector or dealer, Has the imfo that you need to price your guns, Very well written so you can understand it and get a general idea of what your items our worth in todays market.



5. This is a great reference. One of the most complete and useful volumes I have ever seen. A must for any firearms collector.

5 comments about Beckett Baseball Card Price Guide 2008 (Beckett Baseball Card Price Guide).

1. My son and the neighbors boys have not stopped looking up the
   value of their precious collectibles. It is easy to use. Some of their cards are worth 7 cents and some several hundred dollars. They are having a blast with it. My husband is enjoying it too. He is now lamenting losing one of his old Mickey Mantle cards.
   I highly recommend it for your baseball card collectors, young or old.



2. I collected baseball cards in the late 1960s and early 1970s as a kid, mostly Topps. I re-opened my card collection in March 2008 after 35 years in the attic. The book doesn't doesn't have any logic or organization to it, and makes no sense. For example, if you're looking to price your Topps cards (as I suspect most people are), 1973, for example, you have to look under "1951 Topps Blue Backs" in the table of contents - bizarre. And good luck finding the table of contents sandwiched between more than 10 pages of advertisements. in the "How to Use this Book" section it starts "isn't this great" then continues, "every year this book gets better." Almost nothing on how to use the book.



3. This is a good product for the collector or dealer that that is interested in mainstream issues and the more widely known limited distribution sets.However if your interests are more ecclectic and you like the more obscure and less traded or sold products....forget it. For those people I suggest Sports Collectors Digest Standard Catalog of Baseball Cards.This is equally true of Becketts Price Guides for Football and Basketball.In short if you stick with Topps and the other nationally distributed sets Beckett is OK.If you are looking for regional or otherwise limited production products your wasting your time; SCD is MY choice.



4. I have bought Becket Guides before and this has information that you get for free. There is no pricing for Classic, Collectors or another words 1/2 the companies out there. Then in the companies that they show 1/2 the subset are missing A GREAT BIG RIP OFF!!!!!!!!!!!



5. This book essentially is a Beckett PLUS (which comes out every 2 months) with more details (such as every card in each set is listed). There aren't really any oddball sets priced, which I guess is what the Beckett Baseball Almanac is for. Overall the book is very useful since it gives complete checklists and some extra details about each set. I just wish more oddball sets were listed so I wouldn't have to buy the Almanac book as well.

5 comments about Kovels' Antiques & Collectibles Price List 2008: The Bestselling Price Guide in America- 40th Anniversary Edition (Kovels' Antiques and Collectibles Price List).

1. Thick book, good intro to antiques presenting a smattering of what's considered collectable but spreads itself too thin with some categories and is short on depth. Lots of pics but not the ones I was looking for.



2. Really enjoyed thumbing through this book. Helped answer questions I've had for years regarding potential "treasures". Easy to use with lots of pictures.



3. This is a nice reference book. Not as complete as I wished. Sometimes difficult to find specific items. However, it is solid and full of information. A nice reference to add to your collection.



4. For information on a wide variety of antiques or collectibles, it's almost as good as Warman's. But, really, I like having both books available for use. I've found, however, that if I know what I'm interested in, I'm better off spending the money and getting a book specific to that antique or collectible (if there's one available.) Nevertheless, a good reference book to get someone started in collecting. Prices listed vary greatly from what one finds on internet market; you need to be aware of this with some antiques or collectibles.



5. The Kovel's book is by far the most detailed, entertaining and informative price book I have ever owned. It helps us sellers and buyers and on line shoppers understand real-time market values. I like that it is based on ACTUAL prices. ( after all things are really only worth what someone will pay). It helped me identify things that I was unsure of with some really clear four-color photographs.
   The book is packed with TONS of pictures! It also is easy to find things and the Kovel's seem to have a knack to know how to organize such a large group of potential categories. Overall, this book was worth every penny in terms of showing me what things are worth and what they are. No other place I have found that can do both so well.

5 comments about Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson (Standard Catalog of Smith and Wesson).

1. If you have any interest in Smith & Wesson firearms, this is a must have. Tons of information on pistols, rifles, shotguns and other items made by S&W.



2. Excellent resource for the S&W collector. Very comprehensive, quality pictures, great read. The type of book you get lost in for a few hours!



3. This is a great book to get familiar with all the different models of S&W revolvers. I needed a book that would help me identify different revolvers and this book is the one. I believe this book will help anyone looking to broaden their knowledge of S&W firearms. What I like about this book is the color photos and detailed descriptions of each model. This book should be in every gun enthusiast's library.



4. As a firearms dealer there is a need for referenca materials that I can use & depend on, both for my business & as a service to my customers. This is the BEST S&W book I have come across.



5. Best, most useful reference text I've seen on the subject. A very valuable reference for the collector. Very well done. Couldn't be more pleased.

5 comments about Collector's Encyclopedia of Depression Glass.

1. I have really enjoyed this book. I work in a consignment shop and we get a lot of antique glass - It has helped us a lot with pricing it too!



2. VERY HAPPY WITH THE DETAILS AND INFORMATION ABOUT DEPRESSION GLASS. I HAVE ABOUT 300 PIECES AND AM NOW ABLE TO IDENTIFY MORE OF MY COLLECTION.



3. anyone interested in finding out what they have or what to look for, as far as depression glass or collectible glass, Gene Florance is the person to look for. I've got most editions of his books. and my parents also swore by his books. every edition has a little something extra, different or new. easy to follow and excellent pictures!



4. A must have book for begining collectors of depression glass -- good pricing - if you don't buy on e-bay - if you go to the glass shows gives you fair prices for most items -- e-bay buyers - GOOD LUCK, most everything is WAY, way over the value of the item you want.



5. Best book out there for dealers of depression glass, but they forgot a usable index or table of contents. To make matters worse, some patterns are alphabetized as No. ###. No index of alternate names (some patterns have 3 or 4 commonly used names). The table of contents is the same as the alphabetical listing by page, totally useless. The official company name is the pattern name it is ordered under, regardless of the popularity of other names.
   
   Pictures are great. Many prices have been reduced in this 2007 version, bringing pricing into line with what you should pay/charge. Common pieces (cups, small plates, etc.) can be got on eBay for about 1/2, but more in demand pieces (cereal bowls, dinner plates, serving pieces, tumblers) go for just about what is in the book. Verbiage for patterns normally indicates the marketability of the pattern, but wish there was a prominent "popularity score" above each color the pattern comes in. Some colors in some patterns have absolutely no buyers, which is an extremely valuable piece of information. Would recommend using --,-,+,++.
   
   They use a purist definition of depression, so you'll have to also buy the 40s 50s 60s book to complete your reference of what is commonly known as depression glass. There are pictures for about 1/2 of the pieces available, and generally a larger closeup for pattern identification. Success of pattern identification is probably 95% (best we've seen).

5 comments about Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900 (Standard Catalog of World Coins 19th Century Edition 1801-1900).

1. If you collect Modern Foreign this book is a MUST HAVE, I have looked up 100 or more coins and have yet not to locate the coin I am looking for. It is comprehensive, has good pictures most of the Obverse and Reverse some just of the Obverse.
   I highly recommend this book, its great.
   David Jackson



2. This is a book that every collector whose interests exceed his backyard and go beyond his birthdate must have at home. There is no better help to start expanding your collection beyond 1901.
   There is no better does not mean that there cannot be a better one. Some remarks must be taken into consideration
   - this is an American catalog so prices in your country (if you're not American that is) are most certainly different and there is no point to waste your time to prove Krause wrong. E.g. prices of German states' coins in Germany are 50 to 100% higher than in Krause. They are which means that if you are looking for them you move to eBay and look for them elsewhere but not in Germany. Foreign dealers treat Krause prices of foreign coins seriously.
   - this is an American catalog which has a soft spot for American coins. Most foreign readers will be mildly amused by eighteen pages of remarkably uninspired designs of the US patterns (fortunately most of them are not shown) or twelve pages of "territorial gold".
   - this is an American catalog so you may find some of coins from your country missing completely or missing a picture.
   If you can accept all this, you will be happy with your purchase. If you can't, you should think if you won't be much happier with a more specific coin catalog but be sure that no other can give the kind of general view you find in this one.



3. This publication is essential for anyone buying, selling or evaluating coins.



4. This is the most comprehensive coin catalogue and when put together with Catalogue of World Coins 1901 - 2006, it really gives you an accurate picture and value report of what you have in your collection or are thinking about adding to it.



5. Material is horribly dated. Publication date apparently 2004, using 2001-2003 price date. Effectively useless.
   
   You MUST show date of publication in description of item.
   
   Not likely to buy again.