3 comments about The Official Autograph Collector Price Guide, 4th Edition (Official Autograph Collector Price Guide).

1. Nice introductory materials, including market perspectives and a market analysis, and loaded with names of the famous and not-so-famous.
   
   Because of the layout of the chapters, however, you might have some difficulty locating a particular person in your search for an autograph value. For example, in which chapter would you hunt for Howard Hughes? Aviation? Business Leaders, Economists, Financiers, and Publishers? Newsmakers? Then again, why would I want to hunt? A purely alphabetical listing would prevent quite a few headaches, or an index would end my misery altogether.
   
   Or would it? Because unless you live and breath the autograph world, the abbreviations in this book will befuddle you. The abbreviations and what they mean should be printed on each page, even if in very small print, because locating the abbreviation keys (different in each chapter, it seems) is an exercise in utter madness.
   
   Finally, with all the advertising in this book--yes, advertising, starting with a full-page ad on the inside-front cover!--it should be priced like a large magazine at maybe $5.95 or so. The $24.95 cover price seems hard to justify with so many ads--including ads interspersed throughout the book, 24 consecutive pages at the back, and one big ad that dominates the back cover! It's a book-a-zine!
   
   I'll give Baker's book two stars out of five for its comprehensive coverage of the autograph field, but not more. I'm still trying to locate a few signatures, but with no index, I'm getting tired of hunting.



2. The author is a member of the respected Universal Autograph Collectors Club, which is a non-profit organization comprised of autograph collectors founded in 1965. The UACC gave high marks to this book, which is why I gave it a try.
   
   The author does an excellent job of providing an overview of the various markets (historical figures, presidents, celebs, etc.) and gives some solid insight into collecting and what to look for. It's obvious he knows his stuff.
   
   I'll have to agree with the first reviewer, though, in that the book is not easy to navigate. There's no comprehensive alphabetical listing of the people named in the book, so you'll have to hunt for what you're looking for, assuming what you're looking for is listed somewhere.
   
   Most annoying are the abbreviations used. I'm a long-time collector, but I found myself desperately searching for the meanings of several of the abbreviations used - and they were not easy to find. A brief table at the beginning of each chapter defining these abbreviations would be fine, or just spell them out in smaller print on each page. Not difficult.
   
   The ads in the book didn't bother me as it's a reference book, not a novel you'd sit down and read cover to cover. But what did bother me was the many typos and misspellings throughout (i.e Marrtin instead of Martin). This could have easily been avoided by having someone proofread the final draft. Easy!
   
   To Mr. Baker's credit, it is obvious he did exhaustive research for this book, and a lot of the information he shares is interesting and informative. I hope when it's time for the fifth edition that he seriously considers adding an alphabetical index and double-checking the text for misspellings. And although the author clearly states that each list is not meant to be complete (just representative, which is fair), I'd still like to see more entries in the more popular categories, such as celebrities and music.



3. It is good to have a reference, but it must be absolutely improved.
   Items like how it is organized is a critical item.
   Also it is mostly for US celebrities autographs, but if you are looking for non-US celebrities, you may be disappointed.

5 comments about The Standard Guide to Collecting Autographs: A Reference & Value Guide.

1. This book filled with facsimile signatures and finally some accurate prices for a variety of autographs. The author's analysis of the market is also included and alone worth the purchase price.Well worth purchasing by anyone who loves the hobby!



2. This huge 608 page volume is loaded to the gills with over 50,000 autograph values covering 15,000 names. More than 1,000 facsimile signatures and photos of autographed items are shown. There are numerous chapters of background information that will be of interest and value to experienced autographers as well as novices. This book covers topics including sports, entertainment, music, artists, literary, business, medicine, space, heads of state and much, much more. The index alone is over 70 pages!! It provides accurate pricing, informative insight into market trends and many current topics. A super reference book.



3. I'm not a fan of monopolies, but in this case, the Sanders Price Guide is the one and only. This book tries to be the "standard?" Sanders is the standard in the field, and while ambitious, this book simply doesn't measure up. Good for facsimilies, but that's about it.



4. Wow, after reading so many books about autographs finally a realistic book enters the market. Unlike the Sanders guide it it deals with values at a realistic level and why not Baker has written more books about the subject than any other author in this genre. Not since Charles Hamilton's books on the subject have I ever learned so much, Bravo!



5. I don't know if there are many people out there who can lay claim to a Louis XIII autograph, or even a George Washington autograph. If they did, they probably also have Jesus Christ on a baseball.

   My point is, there are listings for hundreds if not thousands of people whose autographs probably don't even exist. The book is good for referencing celebrities and sports stars, but there are far too many pages dedicated to the various types of William Henry Harrison signatures, and other topics we need not explore.

   If this is the "standard guide" it should be a little more up to date. I would rather see five facimilies of a Robert De Niro or a Mickey Mantle autograph than of somebody who has been dead for 500 years, because you know what-- chances are I won't be getting their signature any time soon, so I won't need to compare it to a facimile.

   This book is a very comprehensive price guide for today's celebrities and sports stars, which is why I give it a four star rating. But if the book spent less time dealing with signatures from centuries ago, and more time dealing with the stars of today and tommorow (I got Heidi Klum's sig the other day, and she isn't listed-- she is probably one of the most famous models in the world), it would truly be the best autograph guide out there.

5 comments about The Celebrity Address Directory & Autograph Collector's Guide with 30,000 Entries.

1. I just heard that this book received the No. 1 rating from Autograph Magazine, Congratulations!



2. When I received my copy of this book I was surprised. It has many top name celebrities and a lot more! I like the lists he has in this book - celebrity birthdays, celebrity charities, celebrity hobbies, top paid entertainers, Rock' Roll Hall of Famers, Nobel Prize winners, places to get in person autographs and via venues -places to send a request where a celebrity is performing. I haven't seen these features in any other celebrity book. Got to go, I have letters to write.



3. I like the way this book gives background information on celebrities. I can always use some useful facts about celebrities when I write to them. I use the celebrity birthday list a lot. It is a good way to break the ice in writing to a celebrity. I usually write to all the celebrities that have the same birthday as me. Other times I just write to the celebrity wishing them a happy birthday. I have had good success this way. Some of the celebrities that have replied to me are Mohammed Ali, Bill Gates, Bill Clinton and Ron Howard.



4. I live in a small town in North Dakota and writing to celebrities is the only way I have to contact them. I have used the "The Celebrity Address Directory" and I am getting fantastic results. I had a couple of return to sender and used the satisfaction guarantee form in the back of the book. I got answers to my requests right away. I contacted the publisher by e-mail and the publisher had the new addresses within minutes! I will stay with this book forever, it is the only one I will ever need.



5. I received my copy of the January issue of Autograph Collector Magazine and read the review on "The Address Directory & Autograph Collector's Guide" (which I own and use a lot). It received rave reviews as "refreshing, rich in data and this book will keep autograph collectors busy for a long time." Since I have used this book I have been getting better than average responses.

No comments about 2006 Topps St. Louis Cardinals Baseball Cards Complete Team Set (24 cards) - Includes Albert Pujols, Scott Rolen, and more!.

3 comments about The Adirondack Cabin.

1. I feel that Robin Obomsawin did a much better job with her previous books by adding alot more pictures of the insides of the homes she wrote about. I was sadly disappointed that there were not more pictures of Adirondack homes. I have been very happy with her other books because of the beautiful pictures taken on the interiors, but this book was lacking in pictures of just that- interiors. I really looked forward to this book being released and bought it "sight unseen" and was deeply let down that inside the book, it lacked more pictures of cozy cabin retreats, showcasing all the rooms and decorating where I get my inspirations and ideas from. The author was very clear and informative on the adirondack history though and the building materials used on these types of houses.



2. I mostly buy more practical Adk books, but I thought it would be nice to have something more glossy ... a coffee-table type book for fun. I have to give the author major praise for including a great variety of camps/cabins, all the way from big, million-dollar homes down to tiny one-roomers. (There is even a section called "Small Gems," which is what I want to build, so I was very happy.) It is, I should also say, a beautiful book. Fabulous photos. I got lots of ideas about authentic Adk architectural touches, types of siding, interior ideas, etc. And I really appreciated that I didn't feel "outclassed," that it wasn't a book full of mansions. The text is pretty random, but all the same, I'm glad I bought it.



3. In the late 19th century, the wealthy men who wanted to impress poured some of their money into large mansions like Biltmore Estate in Asheville, N.C., only in New York they opted for the "Adirondack style" with a rustic flavor. Floor plans for the cabins are included in this picture book complete with the history of this area. Later they were turned into camps for rich kids. Some of these camps such as Santanoni were operating for one hundred years, from 1850 to 1950. Only a few survive today.
   
   Resort hotels sprang up during that era as retreats to nature from the environs of New York City. Hotel Champlain and Sagamore resorts for the luxury and culture of a period in U. S. history of radical change, are still operating. In Giles County in Middle Tennessee, we have such a place called the Milky Way Farm. Not much of the farm is intact, as parcels were sold to people who desired to live there, not to investors. However, the intriguing home built in the center of the property by the Mars family used local labor and is still open and splendid, inside and out. It has passed from mostly spectulators trying for a bed and breakfast or some such money-making operation. Some rooms are decorated in the style of the times using the original furnishings. The outside stone horse barns ahve disappeared, but the stone fences surrounding the fields leading up to the house which were built by the WPA workers, are still visible. The dining room used for special events has a round table built in that room, as it is too large to get through any of the doors. I ate there when Vo-Tech hosted a supper for public officials and the school's teachers and staff. I was part of the staff at that time. In New York, they are seen as relics of a bygone world of the super-rich. Built by and for the Rockefellers, Astors, Roosevelts, Vanderbilts, etc. who needed to escape the industrial city life and reconnect with nature. Now, there are million dollar homes there.
   
   Santanoni is located hihg up in the peaks of the Adirondacks Mountains. The expanse is impressive and includes 12,500 acres in Newcomb. The main lodge build with a Japanese temple effect still shows the grandeur of the past as lived by the rich and famous.

4 comments about Collecting Baseball Memorabilia: A Handbook.

1. Since collecting baseball cards many years ago I have always been an admirer of Baseball memorabilia collections. I never started on because it always seemed too difficult. This book makes it easy. From the aficionado to the novice,from the young to the old,this book encompasses all aspects for starting,adding to, or preserving a baseball collection. Amazing insight into the collecting world it gives great advice and tips that are so valuable to a new or even seasoned collector. This book is the "Ball Four" for collectors as it gives an insiders view from someone did it. It has interesting comments and synopsis of Hall of Famers and baseball park and team information. Concise and easy to read with great photos and a foreword by the "Duke of Flatbush",my hero. A must read for anyone into collecting or who enjoys baseball memories.



2. After 5 years of struggling collecting baseball memorabilia, I've finally found the magna carta for this fascinating hobby. Attempting to collect the key signatures for this hobby is the ultimate goal. Collecting Baseball Memorabilia A Handbook makes it easy, enjoyable and is a great investment. Lastly, since I've purchased this book, I've added 5 Hall of Famers to my collection without the stress because of the knowldedge found in this book.



3. I received this book as a gift and was very impressed with the suggestions and the history it gave. I have since begun creating my own Baseball Memorabilia Room and I have even gotten a few Hall of Famer autographs. I find this book extremely helpful for any collectors, experienced or new to the hobby. I think this book is fantastic and it is the "BIBLE" of any collecting manual. With the upcoming baseball season, it really makes a great read especially if you're interested in starting a memorabilia room. The forward to the book is written by one of my all time favorites, Duke Snider -- very impressive! Also, I love the pictures that are included! I highly recommend this book!



4. This book is great for anybody that has an interest in collecting baseball memorablia. Mr. Zachofsky has unique suggestions for collecting autographs and how to display them.

1 comments about The Artist-Signed Postcard Price Guide, Second Edition: A Comprehensive Reference.

1. Mashburn writes terrific books. His Postcard Guide is the best general book out there. He also does specialized postcard books such as this one. Anyone who collects artist-signed postcards will want this book, no question about it.

   It is filled with hundreds of pages and pictures of all our favorite artists, like Harrison Fisher, Philip Boileau, Earl Christy, as well as the more obscure yet fabulous artists like Lupiac and others. He covers a variety of categories, like Beautiful Ladies, Beautiful Children, Nudes, Blacks, Sports, and Comics. He includes a reference section in the front which goes over important information such as how to determine the age of a card, grade a card's condition, and so on. My only quibble with this book is that all the inside images are in black and white, and I would have loved to see some in color. Perhaps in the next edition.

   If you're looking for a comprehensive reference on Artist-Signed postcards, this is the book to buy.

5 comments about Operation Bullpen.

1. Operation Bullpen illustrates in riveting detail just how a bunch of average schmoes stepped onto the slippery slope of crime, got hooked hard, and were never able to get out of it until the FBI managed to push them out. The portrayal of the FBI operation is facinating in its depiction of the agents as just regular working guys with the liabilities and weaknesses that most of us are prone to. One of the great episode sequences in the book is when the FBI agents begin to meet and interact with the forgery ring members. It's better than watching a nature show -- you get a perspective of human nature at work in the contest between good vs. bad, or at least in society's struggle between doing the right thing and doing the wrong thing, and it makes for an highly engrossing study.



2. Operation Bullpen is the true story of the high-flying national crime ring that forged the autographs of sports stars and celebrities and ripped off American consumers for more than $100 million, before being busted by a dramatic three-year FBI undercover investigation. Nelson conducted exclusive interviews with forgers, counterfeit dealers, and the FBI to piece together both sides of the drama. This is an often unbelievable, sometimes funny, and always interesting book about autographs and forgery.
   
   I was particularly fascinated by the story of Greg Marino, master forger. In order to get into the signing zone he'd smoke pot and often sit in front of the TV to work. Marino would consult real exemplar autographs that he and his cohorts had collected and carefully cataloged in a series of binders.
   
   After many years and hundreds of thousands of autographs, I was amazed that Marino could forge any sig just by looking once at the exemplar. The stories of Marino sitting in a comfortable chair with his signing arm propped up on pillows, stoned to the bone, and polishing off 400 sigs while watching a Yankees game on TV made my draw drop.
   
   The inside account of the three year undercover FBI sting operation brought the book together, making it feel like a thriller. We experience the ups and downs of individual agents assigned to the case, learn about wiretaps and hidden recording devices, and sit at the edge of our seat as the busts come down. Every serious autograph collector and dealer needs to read and understand the story of how the biggest forgery scam in American history.



3. Operation Bullpen is a great book for anyone who is interested in the collectables field. As a former card dealer I was even familiar with a few of the people involved.
   
   The author understand the collecting world. He talks about cards and autographs as an expert which is refreshing. All too often people write about the hobby but make glaring errors showing they really dont understand what they are writing about. This book is right on! This guy knows the hobby and it's players.
   
   It's a book that I so enjoyed reading that I rationed myself 25 pages here and 50 pages there. I stopped only because I wanted the experience to last and not be over too soon.
   
   It's all about fake autograph conartists and how they were captured . It's a must read for anyone who has purchased autographed items or is planning to in the future. Know your seller and the "how" or "where" your item was aquired!



4. This is an excellent book and one of those that you can devour in a single sitting. The author uses a nice style - switching back and forth from the good guys to the bad guys - and does a great job of character development (not that these characters needed much development!). You're left feeling a bit sorry for the bad guys and a little frustrated with the federales (for making so many mistakes and taking so long) - a nice balance. The interesting thing about this book is that it's not perfectly written from a technical sense - there are a number of obvious errors (names of famous people misspelled or wrong, facts that are off), but given the amateur nature of the whole operation, in the end, it actually ADDS to the experience. The criminals are VERY imperfect people doing a perfect con job, and the FBI and law enforcement types are "supposed to be perfect" but are far from it... so the somewhat crude nature of the writing absolutely fits. I collect sports memorabilia, mostly baseball cards, and I'll be taking extra caution after reading this. And I'll NEVER buy a third-party autograph, "certified" or not! Here's one reader hoping there's a "Bullpen 2" that tells us what happened to these people 5 years out or so...



5. This is a terrific story, chockful of Big Money and colorful characters. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

5 comments about The Address Directory of Celebrities in Entertainment, Sports, Business & Politics, Second Edition.

1. I am an autograph collector and I was happy to see how complete this book is. I collect astronauts who have walked on the moon, hi-tech business people such as Bill Gates, movie actors like Tom Hanks and baseball sluggers like Sammy Sousa and Mark McGuire. They are in this books with thousands more. It is well organized and I liked the extra features of sample letters and questions & answers about autograph collecting. It is a very good reference for autograph collectors.



2. The reader and reviewer who wrote this book is the ULTIMATE has it right. This book is everything an autograph collector needs. Besides the thousands of celebrity addresses, this book backs up the names with celebrity facts. If you want a complete history of actors it is there under the website named in the book, if you want other facts to write to the celebrity about it is there. (the book has celebrity hobbies, celebrity charities, celebrity birthdays, celebrity hangouts and a lot of useful facts about celebrities)This is the only celebrity directory I will ever need. The price of this book is well worth it!!



3. After I purchased this book I contacted the author, Mr. Moore to ask him about collecting autographs by index cards or by photographs. He was prompt and very informative with his reply. If you want questions answered about auotgraph collecting, get in touch with him, you will be happy you did.



4. I have known David Moore for many years and he is the only author of celebrity directories that uses and updates his address list on daily basis. For me, here is a list of celebrities who I have contacted and received autographs through the mail. They are: Sarah Jessica Parker, Bill Gates, Roy Clark, Gillian Anderson, Nicholas Cage, Bill Cosby, James Garner, Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, Gary Trudeau, Olivia Newton-John, Brandi Chastain, James Watson, Sandra Day O'Connor, Harmon Killebrew, George Bush, Betty Ford, Jimmy Carter, Leann Rhimes, Muhammad Ali, Angela Landsbury, Reba McEntire, Jay Leno, Faith Hill, Tommy John, Tom Hanks, Michael Eisner, Nolan Ryan, Tony Bennet, Colin Powell, Robert Duvall, John Mellencamp, Whoopi Goldberg and many others. If you want excellent results and great customer service, I highly recommend David Moore's book.



5. I e-mailed the publisher to ask for an update of a celebrity address. He was fast with an answer. He also mentioned he has started a new service to autograph collectors. He will answer any question on the subject of autoghaph collecting for FREE!
   I will use the e-mail address for finding out autograph prices, how and where to buy and sell autographs plus anything else I can think of. A great offer!

5 comments about The Celebrity Black Book 2008: Over 55,000 Accurate Celebrity Addresses (Celebrity Black Book).

1. FANS FANS FANS
   I am a H U G E FAN of THE CELEBRITY BLACK BOOK, also of their amazing website. It has so much to offer the possibilities are truely amazing.
   It's a free trail offer so...How can you miss at that? Then a small monthly fee "if" you desire after your free trail is over the site and the information is valid changing and so worth the advantage it provides people not involved in their industry. However whom do you trust but need their help or voice or whatever? Well you found it this is the best path to take to find it and rely that the information that you get from them. I have been in marketing a long time and am familiar with many books like The Celebrity Black Book and they do NOT comapre first off they are a quarter the size and the information is so out-dated it is not worth the paper it is prnted on. You will find that Contact any Celebrity will make sure you get what you are looking for, as they are committed!!!
   Seriously by just exploring their website your marketing plans may even take a new turn. You will find ideas galore, amazing free offers, and million dollar ideas, ideas you have or have had and not know exactly how to accomplish it...Well some of those answers may just be here for you give you answer's or even a new idea. By just taking the time to investigate other peoples idea's, challenges, and success stories will give one an amazing insight into what you can hope to expect and or not expect.
   
   "You may learn a whole new idea that changes all your plans but makes all the difference in the world."
   
   [...]
   
   Happy hunting and best wishes. I had written one letter as a sample to see what kind of result I may expect and I was emailing back and forth within a half hour of my original email to this very HIGH profile singer from Ca. Now living overseas most of the time. I was amzzed. IT was my first attempt and I got results that told me be EXAXTLY sure what you are planning and have all decisons made before you make any contacts they can happen faster then you can imagine. This was a trail, and I made that clear to my party so luckily with the skills I have developed over the years I now know and have built a relationship with someone so I can go back to them again later when I am more prepared because I explained it was just a trail.
   I am lucky I have the gull and marketing experience of how to react and not knee jerk react or it could have gone really badly for me so my advise is to be prepared!!! You willbe amazed at how quickly it happens sometimes depending on their schedule's. It can be same day or overnight and sometimes take months to a year before you hear anything!
   So be prepared "Study success to be successfull"(C) 2000 TES
   
   H.A.R.P. Healing Arts Research for Pain, Inc.
   The Why Not Foundation
   
   Sincerely,
   Trudy Schwartz-Burrill
   President and CEO



2. Well, just knowing how difficult it is to find an address, at least the most current, makes this book worth the investment. Even though I was even able to find Stephen King's home address quickly using only Google, finding celebs isn't always that easy. Having said that, probably the best buy, if you're going to be needing addresses to the rich and famous over a lengthy period of time, is the online membership which you can cancel any time. However, if your need is temporary, get the book. Also, for you naysayers, this is a book of addresses, not guarantee contacts. To actually get in touch with the celebs takes certain protocols and persistence. Don't expect a letter and response, you're in. These people are busy and get a lot of mail from a lot of people. If you're serious, be a persistent, benevolent pest and you'll get results. Many letters are returned unanswered, but you've got to learn what to say and how to send your letters of inquiry. Good luck.



3. I got this book for my birthday. It's great for sending letters, but addresses are all it lists. There aren't any phone numbers or email addresses in this book, contrary to what I thought.
   
   I haven't tried sending anyone a letter yet, but I'll update my review with the results once I do.
   
   PS. This book really increased in price! I got it at like $40 (forty American greenbacks, in case the censor blocks it).



4. Having a non-profit foundation, this book has been a great asset. It has allowed me to contact celebrities that would have been difficult for me to contact.



5. I can't see inside this piece of garbage to see if it's more accurate than the 2007 edition which had a twelve-year-out-of-date address for me. But don't waste your money on either. There is this new-fangled thing called the internet.