5 comments about Vintage Rolex Sports Models: A Complete Visual Reference & Unauthorized History.

1. Great book for watch enhusiast. Although it only takes us up to 1997, so I was dispointed, The pictures are good, the history covers the basics. I would recommend to add to the collection



2. Pictures are of good quality. A good book to add to the collection, each watch has good description and on the watch movement.
   It is a limited market, you have to remember its a book on the vintage watches and not modern Rolex watches.
   Saying that I would not be without it, But I am a watch Nut.



3. A most impressively comprehensive and finely detailed reference that will prove to be of great usefulness and interest to me when handling Rolex watches, and when talking to and advising collectors and enthusiasts.



4. This book is completely stated sports models and really can help user when buying a vintage Rolex!



5. This book only has old watches in and not all of them at that. Some details are incorrect.
   However it is just a book on Rolex sports watches, but it has nothing new, the most modern watch it has is a 1975 GMT. So if you want to know something about Rolex wathes in the last 33 years, its not alot of good,

No comments about Curiosity and Enlightenment: Collectors and Collections from the Sixteenth to Nineteenth Century.

5 comments about Blue Book Dolls and Values, 16th Edition (Blue Book Dolls and Values).

1. Although the Blue Book is the avid doll collectors' favorite price guide, it contains numerous categories that have not been updated for quite a number of years. China, parian, papier mache, and wooden, some of the earliest dolls in existence, have been gaining in popularity for several years now and the market prices, both at auction and online have been rising considerably. The Blue Book has not caught up with this trend.
   
   Also, it would be extremely helpful if there were a comprehensive section that described the methods used in compiling the information as well as the sources of this information. Some of the prices are so far off the mark in actual market prices realized, that it makes the professional wonder if the numbers are merely picked out of blue sky.
   
   The book is well structured and is the easiest to use on a daily basis, of all the price guides, however, serious updating and a description of the price compilation process, would improve it immensely.



2. THE resource for all your doll questions on values and dolls.



3. I am formilair with this book. It is a great book IF you know the name of your doll. If you don't it is not a good one for you.



4. I bought this book to help me determine the value of a collection of high quality dolls that my aunt wants to help her sell. Our of five doll designers, only one of the designers was even listed in her book. This was a waste of my money, for sure!



5. Very helpful book - have really been enjoying this book as I have wanted this book for years, finally got it!

5 comments about The Ultimate Barbie Doll Book.

1. If you're looking for help in identifying your Barbie doll and friends then this book is for you. I collect old barbies and I have found this book to be most helpful.



2. I love my new Ultimate Barbie Doll Book. I still have my first Barbie Dolls from the early 60's along with Ken, Midge & Skipper. I have over 100 dolls and found them all in this wonderful book. The photos are beautiful. The Barbie novice to enthusiast will truly enjoy this book.



3. This is the best Barbie identification book out there. It's useful to identify those thrift store and garage sale dolls and their outfits. Each item is also described with identifying marks, etc. I have owned this book since it came out and it's the one I go back to the most, for complete Barbie information.



4. I mainly purchased this book to remember some of my childhood toys- I wasn't expecting the detail and page after page of pictures that made me interested in collecting Barbie's as well-
   
   This thick hardcover book has colored photos of each Barbie both in the box and then a close up of the face. The Barbies are presented in chronological order by year by doll type- so i.e. Barbie from 1950s til 90s then Skipper from 50s-90s, then Ken, etc.
   
   The book also has friends of the infamous Barbie and Ken couple; many of which I have never seen or heard of!
   
   If you are looking for a nice photo array and price guide of Barbie and Friends. Truly the "Ultimate" Barbie book.



5. This book is NOT the Ultimate Barbie Doll Book. I could not find a single collectible Barbie Doll which I posses from the years it describes it covers when I purchased it. Description of the dolls covered should really be more detailed for collectors who are new to the industry. In addition, there is no option to select from Amazon if the item described does not meet your needs, you simply get a refund, minus shipping as a user error...Not too fair in my opinion.

3 comments about Evers' Standard Cut Glass Value Guide.

1. This book is great. I only wish the pictures were real pictures and not just drawings. I know it would be hard to find and publish all the the patterns, but in her next book, maybe she could print actual pictures of what she can find. I'd pay more for a bigger book.



2. Of all the books on cut glass this is about the worst. The only good thing about it is the pieces are ordered by style (bowl, goblet, plate, etc.). The line drawings are only mediocre. There are very, very few pieces and manufacturers in it (a couple hundred).
   
   Save your money, look elsewhere.



3. I wasnt really impressed with this book.
   
   I was because I am an amature when it comes to cut glass. I was disapointed because the pictures are like drawings, not actual pictures.
   
   I am happy however, because there is such a book on the market. the patterns are easy to compare and see whats what.

5 comments about The Medici Conspiracy: The Illicit Journey of Looted Antiquities-- From Italy's Tomb Raiders to the World's Greatest Museums.

1. The Medici Conspiracy by Peter Watson is an amazing account, thoroughly researched, beautifully written, with marvelous photographs. It is literally a fascinating mystery, revealed and solved. I applaud the Italians and commend Oscar White Muscarella for his life-long good fight.



2. Have been waiting for some time to read this book, and I really enjoyed it. Of course I like art-related mysteries and other stories anyway. I'll be looking for other titles by this author.



3. I give this book a definite four stars because it is a worthy representation of the story and gives the account of what happened with great zeal. The topic itself is fascinating. In my opinion, various Federal Art/Cultural Property Crime units would be well served by making this book mandatory reading for their agents. It stands as a clear insight into the dark realm of unlawful antiquities excavation, illicit smuggling and clandestine sale- an increasingly important issue in our "global economy" world where buyers and sellers can come together across oceans with little effort, and without regard to laws that may govern certain antiquities transactions.
   
   At times, it reads a bit choppy. A lot of this has to do with the fact that the authors were careful to include all pertinent data, instead of sacrificing the volume of fact for the sake of the story. I almost feel bad detracting a star for this, but if you're going to sell a book as a story rather than an academic study, I do believe certain concessions should be made for ease of reading.
   
   Nevertheless, still a great book, well worth purchasing. This book will probably become one of the classics on the topic of art smuggling and the attendant markets.



4. This book is a well written, well researched book about looted antiquities. I recommend it to anyone who is interested in the subject, or anyone interested in looted art in general. If I have any complaint, it is that the book at times gives too much information, which slows down the pace of the narrative as the author reveals how the investigation of Medici, Robert Hecht, Robin Symes, Marion True, and others came to pass.



5. This book is fascinating and important reading for anyone interested in the intersections of the art world, commerce and crime. The Medici Conspiracy is not the most deftly written, and at times seems more like a very, very, very long newspaper story than a book. Yet in the end the sheer force of the information it compiles, with detail and comprehension of the larger picture, leads to confidence in its conclusion: It is impossible to build, in modern times, a great collection of quality antiquities without relying chiefly on, and feeding and sustaining, unlawful traffic in looted items. The archeological countries also are at fault: If you leave hugely valuable items in the ground, and don't invest in excavating them under secure, academically and legally sound conditions, it is inevitable that illicit looters will do it for you.

5 comments about Collector's Encyclopedia Of Fiesta: Other Colored Dinnerware, Post86 Fiesta, Laughlin Art China (Collector's Encyclopedia of Fiesta).

1. The title of this book "Fiesta" can be a little misleading to the novice or seasoned collector. Beyond actual Fiesta and Fiestaware by Homer Laughlin the author's detail company history by delving into Harhequin, Riviera, Mexican lines, Kitchen Kraft, even promotional items and advertising.
   
   For Fiesta identification pieces the pictures and Plate descriptions are very good. Pictures, specifically are very clear and concise while the page quality is excellent. In particular, this book will provide a very wide range of history and the wide variety of products offered by Homer Laughlin Co. over many years. Although the title suggests a book on Fiesta, this portion is limited.
   
   If your looking for price comparisons or rule of thumb the book is weak in this department, it does not effectively handle all colors preferring to provide information strictly on the "hot" collector pieces such as 'medium green.' Of course, prices quoted in books are strictly "guides" as the internet, antique malls and live auctions mix up values on a weekly basis. Current research and personal perspective will be the true guides for market value at any given time.
   
   Fiesta is covered in the first 73 pages of this book (pre/post 1986) and then moves on other topics or products produced. This book would be a fine starter for the novice but additional resources will need to be added for a complete library on Fiesta and Fiestaware.



2. I just received the 10th edition copy of Collector's Encyclopedia of Fiesta, and other related items. The new layout and design are exactly what this edition needed to set it out above the previous ones. It seems the forward is a bit lengthy. Each page is framed in the turquoise color. The new pictures are numerous!! And for those who collect New Fiesta (produced since 1986, the pages for this are expanded to include up thru Scarlet and quite a few of the pieces produced thus far in color pictures. I rate this book at 4 stars for one reason. I feel the prices are inflated and out of line. Yes, there will always be some "rare" items at high prices. There are a fair share of pictures that are the same as previous books as well.



3. One of worst of the newer "collector" books out there. There isn't even a color chart with the names, you need to deduce them by flipping through all the pages and guessing at collections of variuos colors and doing a process of elimination. Fakes are mentioned, and the author says "you'll know them when you see them". Thanks alot! All the marks aren't even listed. What about newer peices versus old?
   
   Some Encyclopedia, more like ramblings of a collector. The medium green issue is already covered by others, the book mentions it everywhere but gives very little evidence of it (maybe the author has medium green envy?).
   
   Not worth the bargain price spent on it. Certainly not a reference book.
   
   p.s. I give other collector books 5 stars, so I'm not just a grump.



4. This is the third book in this series I have purchased by these authors. I like the book a lot.



5. I am brand new at collecting Fiesta Ware. I really enjoyed this book. Great pics. It has been a wealth of info for someone new like me.

No comments about The Cone Sisters of Baltimore: Collecting at Full Tilt.

3 comments about Antique Trader Bottles Identification & Price Guide.

1. Excellent resource with good photos in color! Antique Trader is always a good purchase decision.



2. I bought this book for my husband and if you have a generic looking bottle and want to find out information this is not the book for you. If you have visible writing on it, this would be a great find. I'm not the bottle collector in the family and although this was listed as the "bottle bible" I expected more out of it. My husband is pleased with the book. In other words, he gets to do more collecting and I get to run out of cabinet space!



3. I know bottles...I dig them and I sell them at all the bottle shows in NY,NJ,PA,CT area. I am a professional and am very knowlegable on bottle collecting and appraisals of all kinds. DON'T be fooled by the fancy pictures and the fact it is endorced by Antique Trader. They trusted that he knew what he was talking about when they printed 15,000 copies. They were wrong!
   THERE ARE SO MANY MISTAKEs IN THIS BOOK ON IDENTIFICATION AND PRICING THAT ANYONE IN THE BOTTLE COLLECTING SELLING BUSINESS WILL NOT BUY THE BOOK. I spoke with the author at a recent bottle show where he was selling his book and he refused to acknowlege his own blatent and foolist mistakes through the ENTIRE BOOK which is down right embarassing if you ask me. DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY!

4 comments about Collecting Victorian Jewelry: Identification and Price Guide.

1. Gemologist C. Jeanenne Bell presents Collecting Victorian Jewelry: Identification And Price Guide, a full-color showcase of the distinctive jewelry of the Victorian era. Vintage photographs and artwork as well as close-up detailed of pieces, extensive price information, tips on discerning real pieces from imitation and general background information on gemstones and fashion of the time fill this lavish volume. A "must-have" for antique jewelry collectors, and recommended for anyone interested in seeing these wondrous works of art and adornment up close.



2. It was intersting reading. More on style, than on collecting. Interesting if you like history. Lots to learn. And a true collector neds to learn alot.



3. Yet another book by prolific jewellery writer C. Jeanenne Bell. In this book, Bell deals exclusively with Victorian jewellery, that is jewellery produced in England, America and France during the period from 1837 to 1901. This book is primarily a catalogue of Victorian jewellery, with full color photos and prices at the time of publication, interspersed with text that attempts to place the jewellery in a historical context with respect to events and fashions. Unlike some books, which only show the jewelley of royalty, this book shows items which would suit a range of budgets.
   
   This book is primarily aimed at dealers and those wishing to collect jewellery from the Victorian era. However, with over 700 full colour photos (according to the back cover), this is also a great coffee table book for those wanting to look at beautiful things and dream.



4. The 'historical' background is at elementary school level. Many of the photos are in poor quality, with no zoom in whatsoever. The index is basic and lacking and as the book is chronologically arranged, that's unhelpful.
   It can give a very basic and limited idea about the subject but nothing more.