5 comments about Fenton Art Glass Patterns 1939-1980: Identification & Value Guide (Fenton Art Glass).

1. This is a thorough book and one that I refer to often. It helps to identify many of those pieces you find in your grandmother's china cabinet. There is a lot of information about the various designs, colors and years of production. It's one of the handbooks that I constantly look to for information.



2. I got this gift for someone else, and they LOVE IT. All the information they were seeking was there, plus it helped price and identify the Fenton items they had.
   
   The pictures in the book are beautiful, you can see every detail.



3. The lack of an index makes this book difficult to use efficiently. The only guide is the table of contents which divides the book by pattern, then color. If you want to look up a particular piece and you don't know the name of the pattern, you will have to look through the entire book to figure it out and hope the piece you have happens to be in this book. Likewise if you don't know the color name of the piece. With Fenton, what you think is pink might actually be called peach. Is what you have light blue, aqua or turquoise? You won't be able to figure it out unless you look at every possibility. If you happen to collect Fenton "Amberina" don't buy this book, there isn't any reference at all to that color.
   I find the layout too busy and hard to look out. The black type on green background for the price guide adds to the busy look.
   Yes, there are a lot of photos and info but in my opinion, the book really needs to be more well organized for me to call it a good book.



4. im a newer collector so i needed some reference guides.this book has tons of pictures, pricing and information from cover to cover..id recommend it to any fenton collector new or old



5. Book is very helpful in identifying pieces. New Fenton lovers should buy this!

1 comments about Marbles: Identification and Price Guide (Marbles).

1. Easier to use than some of the other marble "standards." It is well organized and the values, based on the condition of the marble, are with the marbles. Some of the other books have you constantly flipping from back to front to find a value. The different types of antique handmade marbles are logically grouped for the most part and the machine made marbles are divided by manufacturer.There is even a section with examples from contemporary marble artists. My one complaint would be that there should be an index to make finding of the great many types of machine made marbles easier. Until something better comes along, I carry this with me to auctions, flea markets, antique shows or anywhere else I think there might be an opportunity to buy, sell or trade marbles.

No comments about Scott 2007 Standard Postage Stamp Catalogue: Countries of the World: G-I (Scott Standard Postage Stamp Catalogue Vol 3 Countries G-I).

5 comments about Classic Wristwatches 2008/2009: The Price Guide for Vintage Watch Collectors Over 1300 Models! (Classic Wristwatches: A Catalog of Vintage Timepieces & Their Prices).

1. The 2008-2009 edition of CLASSIC WRISTWATCHES packs in features of over 1300 models, including good-sized color photos of each watch, descriptions of manufacture, case and appearance, and company histories. This blend of price guide, identification guide and watch history is outstanding for any collecting watches, and is a highly recommended pick for any library catering to collectors.
   
   Diane C. Donovan
   California Bookwatch



2. I just went over the book, and I was a bit disappointed.
   Picture for money is quite interesting, thanks to a lot of images for small bucks, but the goods of the book is just that.
   
   Interesting are the pages with the history of the maisons, that provide some useful hints about not very well known producers.
   
   Organization of the book is quite disappointing, though: the models depicted are put on paper at random, with no age or value order.
   As far as I could understand, those are the watches that were estimated by some kind of trader during the year, so no section covers completely the model range of a brand. If you need to evaluate a specific piece, most of the time you have to guess comparing it with similar age-feature watches of the same or other manifacturer.
   Some brands aren't even in the book (Breguet? Rado?) while for other you just get 6 models.
   
   The book is useful, anyway: with few dollars it can help you in identifying a particular brand that may catch your imagination, or browse through many hundreds of pictures, to find ideas for particular models, shapes, or features you may like to have in your collection.
   
   If possible get a new copy: I bouth an used one, and the binding glue went bad: pages started to part from the book.



3. Very nice and informative book. Quality is fine and price is fair. I strongly recommend it for watch enthusiasts like me.



4. This book covers a very broad selection of watches and is especially strong in the major brands - Omega, Patek, JLC, IWC. Rolex, etc as well as some of the more "working class" timepieces which today are very collectible.
   
   Some of the calibre and associated information on some of the listings are not totally accurate but on balance, this soft cover resource provides a good point of reference to check value and collectability of many classic watches.



5. ...but this is not a guide you would want to use daily. This is an ok book for higher end collector watches, but very limited.
   
   I was hoping it would cover some or much more of the $200, $300 & $400 watches. Example: Only 8 models of Hamilton watches are shown.
   
   I do like pictures: very nice, color photos. Also gives some history on the manufacturers of the watches presented in the book.
   
   Nice coffee table book, but for daily reference you need a "Complete price guide to watches" by Engle/Gilbert/Shugart.

5 comments about Jan Foulke's Guide to Dolls: A Definitive Identification and Price Guide (Jan Foulke's Guide to Dolls).

1. Whether you have an antique china head doll or a vintage GI Joe, this Guide to Dolls is an identification and price guide that's worth having. It seems to replace the Blue Book of Doll Values that Jan Foulke has become known for. (Her last Blue Book was the 16th edition.)However, don't let the name of the book fool you, it is just as comprehensive as the Blue Books and is still packed with a lot of photos to help you identify your existing dolls (or those you may be considering purchasing). The first few pages cover doll collecting in general -- what to look for. Ms. Foulke then provides a few brief suggestions for buying and selling dolls at auction before getting into the meat of the book--the price guide.
   
   The book lists dolls by manufacturer and by mold number in case that's all you have to go by. Each doll or type of doll includes a reported price or price range for a doll in good condition.
   
   Whether you are an avid doll collector or someone just trying to clean out the attic, you may want Jan Foulke at your side before buying or selling your dolls.



2. 
   I was very pleased with Jan Foulk's latest book, "A Guide To Dolls", her first identification and price guide since the last Blue Book she and her husband edited. She is so talented, and our Doll Club, locally, always looked forward to the Blue Books. I have them all in my library.
   
   Also, I am so pleased we have Amazon to help in our searches on any subject.



3. Each author and each doll book has a personality of its own....... I found this specific book very helpful, very realistic, and prices and values leaning a bit towards the lower range value in many cases, which is a good thing... I recommend this book. My sister is now rapidly becoming a doll collector and has a good eye for quality dolls.. She will find this book very helpful and will be surprised at Christmas when she opens this gift......... I also found new doll makers in this book mentioned.



4. A must have for collectors. Foulke is well-known in the doll world. This latest guide is clearly organized and contains information on a variety of collectible dolls.



5. Any collector who works with dolls knows there's a wealth of guides for specific types and brands on the market and not a few general guides, but JAN FOULKE'S GUIDE TO DOLLS is better than most: it packs in one of the most comprehensive coverages we've seen, including an antique and modern section of details, covering composition and factors influencing collectible prices, and including histories and even doll clothing prices. It's billed as a 'definitive collection and price guide' and doesn't miss its mark, packing in the details essential to proper pricing and identification.
   
   Diane C. Donovan
   California Bookwatch

5 comments about Collector's Encyclopedia of Milk Glass.

1. I recently decided to delve into Milk Glass. The decision came in a round about manner: I needed a vase or two and opted to go the eBay route. Remembering a friend's milk glass vase, I decided that was what I was going to get. The variety and choices out there are phenominal. More choices that the average person can navigate. I purchased a couple just because they were there and realized that I needed to learn more about these beauties. Enter a book search at Amazon. This was the first book listed and it provided the "search inside" feature. This way, I was able to stroll through the index and find a couple of my new purchases.
   
   Well, the book arrived yesterday and it is incredible. This edition has been updated with 2005 values but it is fun being able to read about the companies and check out the pictures. Not all milk glass is pretty. Some of it is just darn disturbing and some is just plain kitchish. All in all, I am finding this to be an excellant resource especially for me the newbie collector.
   
   Why 4 stars and not 5? At the back portion of the book, some of the pictures are difficult to make out. It may be the result of copying directly from the original company catalogues.



2. I needed a picture book with decriptions. I got that and a history on each kind of milk glass. I think I'll keep this one.



3. Good resource for exceptional pieces, but it's not organized well, and does not cover most everyday pieces. Values are over-inflated, especially for what milk glass is selling for online.



4. I pick up a lot of milk glass in thrift stores and was hoping this book would help me identify some of the pieces. Unfortunately, most of the items in this book have long been unattainable to the casual collector. The informational section was too short and poorly researched, and the author virtually ignored contemporary milk glass from makers like E.O. Brody, Anchor Hocking and Avon (only a few of Avon's dozens of milk glass pieces were featured).
   
   If you want a book about milk glass from 1950 to present, this isn't it. Hopefully someone will realize the need for a book that covers "common" milk glass, which is getting harder to find and will ultimately be tomorrow's collectibles.



5. This book helped me identify unmarked pieces of milk glass with its extensive display of pictures and patterns. The book is fairly organized and covers many manufacturers that are not so well known.

   The only drawback was some pictures were not clear enough to carefully identify a pattern. This is only constructive criticism and should not keep you from using this book as part of a reference and identification guide for fine pieces of milk glass.

5 comments about Lehner's Encyclopedia of U.S. Marks on Pottery, Porcelain and Clay.

1. The book arrived on time and the condition was as described (new). The secondary packaging could use improvement as the box had broken and opened at the bottom. The primary packaging was excellent and prevented the book from damage when the box broke.



2. This book is a definite 'must have' for anyone dealing in or buying collectible ceramics. I have just started selling glasswares and have come across a lot of different pottery marks. Without a reference book, you cannot determine an items' real worth.
   This book has thousands of different marks and artists' marks! This book is by my side when trying to determine the ceramic items' origin and age.



3. This book is about U.S. marks.
   
   .... So, if you need a piece of U.S.A pottery identified, then this book probably has the mark. (Please note that this book is not about finding markings of European pieces. As stated on the cover, this book is strictly about U.S. marks).
   
   P.S.: This book also includes all the U.S. RESTAURANT-WARE markings. Very helpful if you collect "RESTAURANT-WARE", along with other American pottery and china.



4. This book is prodigious in scope: the pottery marks (with huge varieties within each company) and historical information are both invaluable and interesting. However, the indexing is weak, which leads one to thumbing through pages trying to find an elusive mark. This is such a well-researched, vast collection of marks, however, that laborious searches are rewarded.



5. This book is jam packed with pottery marks, a great value for the price. I had no idea that there were so many. It is extremely informative, giving a brief history, manufacture dates and much more information for each company listed. I would definately recommend this to anyone with an interest in collecting or selling pottery.

1 comments about Schroeder's Collectible Toys, Antique to Modern Price Guide - 2008: Identification & Values of over 20,000 Collectible Toys (Schroeder's Collectible Toys).

1. I have found this book to be very helpful in my study of toys. I am a novice and have learned what to look for in buying a modern or antique toy. This book has saved me from buying reproductions and how to guage a price for the real thing. I also just like looking thourgh it, takes me back to my childhood and revist Christmas past. Nice reference or just fun reading. Recommend.

5 comments about Standard Catalog of World Coins 1701-1800.

1. I recently received my copy of the new 4th edition of the Krause-Mishler (KM) 18th century catalog. Here are my impressions of the book, with some emphasis on the changes from the 3rd edition. The photographs are definitely much better than in the last edition. Unfortunately, that may be the only improvement over the last edition I can think of.
   
   Some countries have been moved around - Vietnam is under "V" instead of "A" for Annam, Salzburg is back where it started under Austrian states, early Burma coins are no longer listed under Myanmar, and there's a new listing called "Central Asia" for Bukhara (formerly listed under Uzbekistan) and Janid Khanate (new?). Within several countries, the coins are no longer listed in the same order, and early Austrian coins have new KM numbers yet again. The editors have spent a lot of time on the notes for each listing, with more information about what's on the coin, including legends.
   
   There are a few more photos than in the last edition (18,000 instead of 17,900, according to the book covers). For some reason, maybe to save space, several photos from the previous edition have been deleted. On two successive pages, 29 of the 35 photos in the previous edition for Courland, Crimea, and Curacao were deleted. Space did seem to be at a premium, with one country's listings beginning immediately after the last one ends, even if it's in the middle of a column.
   
   It always seemed odd to me that KM had separate catalog numbers for the different mints under France. Now they've done the same thing for Iran. The Korea section is much shorter, reorganized, and easier to use. The last edition had separate listings and catalog numbers for Series 1, Series 2, Series 3, etc. Now they've combined these into one listing with a note "Series 1-10." I guess that's another good thing.
   
   I hoped I would find many price corrections, because it has been 5 years since the 3rd edition was published. The market has been very strong in many European countries, and the euro is worth about 50% more than it was 5 years ago. However, the vast majority of coin prices are exactly the same as they were in the 3rd edition. Half the book is devoted to Germany, India, and Italy, and those countries' listings are virtually unchanged. My one-per-country collection includes 85 German state coins from the 18th century. The prices of 4 of them went up, very slightly (why those 4?). The largest change was in the opposite direction: my Nassau-Weilburg 4 kreuzer (VF) went down from $45 to $35, and Schön lists the coin at 120 euros. And prices in Italy are way up.
   
   The only relatively large section with extensive price changes was the Swiss cantons, where someone adjusted many of the values to reflect those in the new HMZ Swiss catalog. I noticed that in some cases where HMZ did not price certain coins in higher grades, the KM values for the higher grades were not changed. That created situations where the higher grade is said to be worth less than a lower grade. For example, the catalog shows many of the Chur KM-263 bluzgers with higher values in VF than in XF. The catalog says the Reichenau-Tamins 2 kreuzer is worth $4,750 in VF but only $1,600 in XF.
   
   Here are the other countries I saw with the most price increases: Denmark - many values up; Dominica - very few types, but the prices are higher; Ethiopia-Harrar - prices twice what they were; Great Britain - prices up only slightly, despite large increases in the British catalogs; Ireland - mostly up; Luxembourg - many prices up; Malta - prices generally higher; Portugal - prices higher, as they should be; Sierra Leone Company - prices up quite a bit. The common penny went up from $20 to $100 in fine, $50 to $200 in VF, and $80 to $400 in XF; early US coins - prices up. The values for most Russian coins didn't change, but I noticed that some of the large rubles were way up. The KM-149 1714 ruble in XF increased from $3,500 to $70,000.
   
   For several countries, prices for the first type went up, but none of the others did. It's almost as if someone changed the first prices to indicate the country needed to be changed, but nobody finished the job. I realize the incredible amount of work it would take to really update a catalog of this magnitude, and I know KM does not have the staff to keep up with it. They may be putting more of their resources into numismaster, the online listing - at least one of my coins that's missing from the catalog is listed there. I would have thought that numismaster updates should find their way into the printed catalog. Nearly all of the 18th century coins in my collection that were missing from the previous edition are still missing from the current edition.
   
   Under Netherlands, just about all the coins are now priced in uncirculated. And for the silver Batavian Republic coins, there are also values for BU. I can't imagine that there would be too many of those available to buy. Under Netherlands East Indies, there are no longer separate listings for Holland, Gelderland, Overyssel, and other provinces. These coins are all listed under United East India Company, with descriptions like "crowned Holland arms" or "crowned Gelderland arms" for the provincial coins.
   
   I noticed quite a few mistakes in the catalog - probably the biggest one I found was a listing under Hejaz/Mecca of all the Hejaz coins from KM's 20th century catalog. I wonder how that happened. Another odd one is the photo for a Peru a gold 8 escudos (KM-82.1) - the photo is a 1951 Mauritius rupee.
   
   If you collection 18th century coins and do not have a catalog, you should definitely have this book. It's by far the best comprehensive 18th century catalog available. But if you already have the 3rd edition, about the only good reason I can think of that you'd need to buy the new one would be that your old one is falling apart, like mine was. Or, if you're a dealer you might want to check out the countries I mentioned where the prices are up. The book is $47.25 with free shipping from Amazon.



2. It's a complete and very informative book about world coins. I used it everyday as a price reference and getting the right description of old coins.



3. My collection of 18th century coins is virtually non-existent and their value is so low that this catalog cost me much more than they are all worth. But I did not buy it to see how rich I am or how wisely I invested my money. I treat this book as a very special history book. I read it every now and then, starting from a state I have never heard of to discover some new information from the past. This is the imperfect but only source to dig into the history of minute Italian, German or Indian states which often had nothing but minting rights which they excercised profusely. About sovereigns who believed themselves mighty enough to have their profiles struck on multiple thalers only to disappear from annals of History within just a few years. About political plans, expectations and pretences of which we can't remember anymore but they were all detailed on coins.
   Coin-collecting is not a way of investing money (it well may be though in most cases it is rather by luck than wise planning), it is a life-time of studies. You have to invest your time, and coins will start speaking to you. Half-worn faces will become flesh and blood individuals from the past. Strange letters will mean their might and their dreams. You will probably never have too many of these coins (even if you have the money, actually) but this is the kind of book which can give you knowledge. And knowledge, in time, may turn into wisdom.



4. Certainly this is the book for 18th century coins, unless you are mainly interested in one country like the UK or France -- in that case you would find more information more attractively laid out, along with other centuries, elsewhere, usually more cheaply too. But for its coverage of the world, including hugely complicated countries like Gemany, Italy and India, it is unbeatable. This 3rd edition is an improvement over earlier editions, because more pictures (especially of the smaller coins) and more obscurities have been included.
   
   For users in countries which do not speak English, the conversions such as VF = TTB = BB =MBC are very useful !
   The book is not difficult for foreigners to use.



5. I need a guide so I just do not blindly pay big bucks for cute pictures. There are a lot of good guides and some more specific on particular eras and locations such as Westphalia. But as you do a coin search you are bound to run across something you are not familiar with and need a guide. This guide is a great place to start; it is easy to navigate and gives cursory information on particular locations and times surrounding the coin's production.
   
   Keeping in mind that this is just a guide, there are holes and the coins are not displayed in color. On the other hand the coins shown are in actual size; size is hard to translate form internet pictures.
   
   With all the electronic references today it is nice to have something tactile, static and transportable. This book meet al those needs.

5 comments about Collectible Glassware from the 40s, 50s and 60s (Collectible Glassware from the Forties, Fifties, and Sixties).

1. I found the book to be very informative about the collectibles I have interest in collecting. It even gave me insight on others that I have seen and may consider collecting. Great, Great book!!!



2. This guide was great if you don't have any other volumes. The pricing so far seems to be very accurate to the market. If you have another earlier edition of 40's 50's 60's there are not very many new patterns in the book. Great photo reference.



3. Gene Florance is, I think, the best person to go by, when it comes to depression glass and collectible glassware. his books are like the bible to me.
   one of the best things about Gene's books, they are easy to follow and the pictures are AWESOME! I'm a better person to compare pictures than try to read what someone is telling me. so thats why, I dont leave home without him/it!



4. I always find gene florence book the most helpful for research. I did find somethings that where discontinued I would have liked referenced. I still rely on his resources.



5. This is another important addition to my library of collectible, kitchenware and depression glass books.

   More than 40 new patterns are included and pricing and many pictures have been updated. I like the alphabetical listing because it is easy to find the patterns I'm looking for.

   As an avid collector, I find this book invaluable in helping me pay reasonable prices for my collectible glassware.

   I would give this book a 5 star rating if it had more information on Fenton's Hobnail pattern. This pattern is often wrongly identified with other similar hobnail glass pieces and it would help me immensely if the pictured pieces showed the manufacturer's number.

   I heartily recommend this book to collectors and dealers.