3 comments about Kovels' Antiques & Collectibles Price List 2001 33rd Edition (Kovels' Antiques & Collectibles Price List).

1. I have to say, I actually get a better feel for prices just by going on ebay and searching through completed and current items. That will tell you what people are really paying for things today. The problem I had with this guide is that it hardly ever had the item I was looking up. It had similar items but in many cases, the specifics really matter if you want a real price. I also don't know who pays some of the prices listed in there. It is an interesting check though if you're able to hit on something you're actually interested in finding in there



2. If you're an avid garage sale goer, this is a good piece of reference to keep in your car before you spend too much for an item that really may not be worth as much as you are hoping.

   The "Antiques Roadshow" mentality has everyone thinking that they have treasures when they really have just a bunch of very old junk. On the flip-side, some things you might just think are junk could really be treasures after all.

   Readers should keep in mind that this is a price guide, not a price rule. In other words, an item is only worth what people are willing to pay for it. An item may be listed as having a value of $400 (for example), but you may be hard-pressed to find a buyer (even on an on-line auction) who is willing to pay more than $50.

   Kovel's is a pretty awesome guide as long as you keep that in mind. A price guide is also no replacement for real-world experience, training and study. Memorizing the contents of this book will not make you a candidate to be an appraiser for Christie's or Sotheby's... but if you are an amateur collector or have been collecting for years, it's a great reference to have at your fingertips.




3. This was one of the first books I bought when I started collecting and flea marketing. Turned out to be a great investment, one that I update with every new edition by the Kovels.

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4 comments about Collectible Costume Jewelry: ID and Value Guide.

1. This book provides nice color pictures with a fair variety. However, I found that some of the values seem inaccurate, usually too high.



2. I found this to be such a useless guide to collecting costume jewelry that it astounds me that this book is currently in its third edition. The only positive is that the photos are in full color. However, only a very limited range of pieces is illustrated. I found the selected pieces to be mediocre and totally uninteresting examples considering the range of vintage jewelry now available on the internet. Harrice Simons Miller's guide has mostly black-and-white photos but is a far more useful tool to the serious collector and a far better value for the money.



3. There was nothing in this book but pictures and values of those pictures. The chances of having those exact pieces I would feel are about zero to zip. I thought this book would give you some idea what to look for and the value of collecting costume jewelry. I put it up for resale as soon as it arrived. I only wish I would of taken the time to read the other responses and then I would not of lost my money on this item.



4. Going into the business as a dealer with vintage/antique jewelry, this was my first book of my now extensive library. It was extremely helpful in giving ball park information and pricing on a large quantity of pieces without being overwhelming to a beginner. Some of the photos are dark and hard to see, but still a winner in my opinion. I wish Sylvia would come out with another.