4 comments about Who Goes There?: 1950'S Horror & Sci-Fi Movie Posters & Lobby Cards.

1. A collection of movie posters for the well-remembered science
   fiction films of 1950 - 1964? And sets of lobby cards to
   sweeten the pot? Well, the problem is that most of the
   science fiction films from this period were ultra-low budget,
   which translates as to "no money for art for posters," and
   "no colorizing of stills used as lobby cards." And that
   translates further to, "of very little visual interest."

   Not that there are not some good posters, but the good ones
   are all familiar. THE THING (7) features giant letters carved
   apparently out of gobbets of raw flesh! INVASION OF THE BODY
   SNATCHERS (38) features tiny images of running pairs of
   people on a half-red, half-yellow background with a
   superimposed hand print. The beautifully painted poster for
   ATTACK OF THE 50 FOOT WOMAN is not only a fine portrait of the
   sultry Allison Hayes, but depicts the largest "squirrel shot"
   in the history of urban civilization! But you've seen 'em.

   There is so little of real interest here that you'll find
   yourself killing time by counting the number of posters that
   feature monsters or robots carrying girls in a scandalous state
   of undress. Having done that you may find yourself reduced
   to looking for posters in which the monsters or robots carry
   (or sort of brandish!) boys and adult males (all fully clothed,
   I am happy to say).

   If none of this sounds appealing, I suggest you save your money,
   and I wish that I had.




2. I guess the other reviewer has no concept of art, or probably has no idea these posters are worth thousands of dollars each, at least. If you don't believe me, check out the author's background, as he used to run Christies auctions, as well as his own eBay auctions, to the tune of a lot of money since 1989. So, if you're a movie buff, have an appreciation for this art, and can afford it, then great! If not, go whine somewhere else!



3. I used this book for a slightly different use: I cut out the pictures to use for decoupaging a table. It served its purpose excellently as the pictures were just the right size. My one complaint is that there were too many instances in which the same movie had quite a few posters, each one looking just barely different.



4. All of Bruce Hershenon's books are worth a dozen times what he sells them for; flawless, stunning reproductions of great movie posters. Buy them ALL!
   
   The one star setback is the tininess of the lobby cards; they deserved better treatment.

3 comments about American Silversmiths and Their Marks: The Definitive (1948) Edition (1948 Edition).

1. Not until you open the book to the first chapter do you find out that the marks are limited to the period 1650--1850. No marks after 1850.



2. For the time period covered (1650-1850) this is a very useful, almost exhaustive reference. I turn to it when I need to identify a hallmark, and find the illustrations to be very helpful. I thought it was a good buy.



3. Although limited in periods covered (stops at 1850), this is a handy, easy to carry reference. Kovel's may be more extensive, but the additional info is often not what you need in the middle of the antique mall checking out a possible purchase. I find I use both, write notes in both, and have many pieces I know are American and I can't find the marks in either. So, what the heck, for ten bucks it's worth having with you BEFORE you buy.

No comments about Spanish Decorative Ironwork (Dover Pictorial Archive Series).

5 comments about Tall, Dark & Dead (Garnet Lacey, Book 1).

1. This book I bought on a whim.
   This book features Garnet - a witch that has a goddess living within her.
   Parrish an ex-boyfriend thats return
   And Sebastian whom is Tall, Dark .. & Dead :)
   
   There is always something going on and its quite action filled, never a dull moment and the chars are rather wonderful - I liked William, which I think many people can relate too, just trying to find the right belief thats suits him.
   
   Now this book can get confusing quite easily if you skip parts, which I love in a book that every moment is important and never dull.
   
   I gave this book 3 stars for 1 reason ... I could not at all get into Sebastian. He was suppose to be Tall, Dark, which he was and sounded quite wonderful but he was cold and quite unlikable. He never showed much affection towards Garnet, except for occasional jealousy.
   Actually half way thru the book he was romancing and hung up more on his dead wife then Garnet herself.
   
   This is a good book to read and all but it really has no real passion and romance in it that I found, although it is a wonderful book and lots of action and never a dull moment, it is not a book to close your eyes and sigh over a truly romantic novel.



2. I checked this book out from the local library; thankfully that means that I don't have to worry about lost money. I enjoyed reading about the idea of a different source for "vampirism" than a soul doomed or the devil. I also enjoyed a book that brought magic into the mix. I thought there were a couple of good ideas for the platform/reality of the world created within the book.
   Unfortunately I could not buy into what was created. I believe this is because the writing did not effectively create the world in a believable way for me: more specifically the main character, Garnet, never felt fully fleshed out to me. She seemed opaque and insubstantial. The original vampire was more solid of a character than she was. None of the side characters really felt substantial either. So much time was spent explaining Wicca and astrology that could have been spent making the books world believable and solid in its creation, that I found my mind wondering and almost falling asleep at times. The primary challenge to overcome was not delved into as much as it could have been and the climax was anti-climactic. It seemed more contrived; to what end, I know not. I think the end could have been wrapped up much more effectively then it was, and that's what disappoints me so much.
   I picked this book up looking for a comedy based on the supernatural. What I found was a piece that I felt belonged in a creative writing workshop in high school. With some rewriting, this could have been great. As to laughs..I found none. I think I smiled once or twice; not even a chuckle. I wish I could say more positive.
   If you want something like what I was looking for...read Bitten and Smitten by Michelle Rowen. I laughed hard and out loud a lot over that book.



3. "The line between magic and sanity is very thin. That's part of why I, Garnet Lacey, quit cold turkey. Never touch the stuff. No exceptions."
   
   That's kind of hard to do when you have the Goddess Lilith inhabiting your body. Garnet called her down when she walked in on the Vatican Witch hunters finishing up the last rites on the bodies of her coven. She would have been one of the bodies there if she hadn't been running late. Soon afterwards she runs and now lives in Madison, Wisconsin hiding in plain sight, running an occult bookshop.
   
   To shake things up a bit she run into a vampire named Sebastian Von Traum who needs a mandrake root to be able to complete the formula that lets him walk around in the daylight. The two of them end up getting together and that comes with its own set of problems, namely a son and a not quite possibly dead wife. The two of them get pulled together when the Vatican begins hunting them both and intend to kill them.
   
   I thought this book and its sequel Dead Sexy were alright when I read them the first time, but after re reading Tall, Dark and Dead, neither of them will be staying on my shelves. They're both good for a first read, but after that, there's really nothing that pulls you back into the book and makes you want to read it again. I've toyed with the idea of getting the third book, Romancing the Dead, but Garnet just comes across as too possessive and jealous of Sebastian and the fact that she has to share him with others for him to eat, because she doesn't want him to bite her, according to her she is his lover not his food. And while that does kind of make sense, at the same time that is life for a vampire; they need to eat from multiple sources so they don't leave a trail of bodies behind them. If you can't handle that fact, then don't date vamps, think she would of learned that the first time around with her ex lover Parrish.



4. Such an amazing book! I love Garnet's character and her hectic love life. Enthralling and a magnificent read!



5. Apart from the main character's extreme horniness from the beginning of the book up until the point she actually got sex, this book was good. Garnet's character seemed very eager for intimacy when she met vampire Sebastian. It seemed like every other sentence she was thinking about touching Sebastian or making love to him or picturing him naked. However, after she finally did the deed with him, the story grew into quite a good read. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading the next two books in the Garnet Lacey series.

3 comments about Daimler & Benz: The Complete History: The Birth and Evolution of the Mercedes-Benz.

1. After being disappointed by Adler's Duesenberg book, I approached this book with some trepidation. In the Duesenberg book,the one redeeming factor was the excellent photos. This book, Mercedes-Benz, not only exhibits worthless and erroneous history and information, the photos are a huge disappointment. Poorly cropped, over or under-developed and poorly printed, this book will become the first automobile title that I will actually return for a refund; it will not find its way onto my bookshelf!



2. Adler has done it again with a sumptious book showing the true evolution of the marque. Original photogaphy of very rare cars is complimented by museum archive shots, most of which I've never seen elsewhere. What amazed me was the 1930's poster art as well... Stuttgart clearly gave him total access!
   No stone unturned, here are the cars we all love (and sometimes drive - or dream we could drive).



3. JUST RECEIVED THIS BOOK AND AM WELL PLEASED. I'VE BEEN A LONG TIME FAN OF MR. ADLER'S BOOKS AND MUST SAY I WAS VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH HIS MERCEDES BENZ SILVER STAR CENTURY BOOK. THE NEW BOOK IS MUCH MORE OF WHAT I'VE COME TO EXPECT FROM MR. ADLER. ENTHUSIASTICALLY WRITTEN, MUCH MORE DEPTH OF MODEL COVERAGE, EXCELLANT PHOTOGRAPHS, ETC. I RECENTLY PURCHASED MY 1ST MERCEDES, A 1993 600 SEC. AFTER HAVING OWNED VARIOUS ENGLISH CARS, LOTUS, JENSEN ET AL. I NOW KNOW WHAT THE FUSS IS ALL ABOUT. A BEAUTIFUL CAR THAT WILL ACTUALLY GET YOU TO WHERE YOU WANT TO GO. THIS BOOK FROM MR. ADLER IS A GREAT WAY TO GAIN A SENSE OF WHAT MERCEDES BENZ IS ALL ABOUT FROM THE COMFORT OF YOUR HOME. THANK YOU MR. ADLER

5 comments about Duveen: The Story of the Most Spectacular Art Dealer of All Time.

1. Excellent biography of a forgotten man and his times - a man that changed the way Americans collected European art. Funny, witty and appallingly honest. A must read for anyone serious about art buying.



2. This is one of the most fabulous books that you will ever read. At about 100 pages it is a fast read. Too fast. Duveen is the most amazing art dealer that the world will ever see and Behrman tells the life story of this undeniably interesting man with quick wit.



3. This book was horrible! There was no logical order to the book because it is just a bunch of stories put together about Duveen. It is so boring, all the book does is talk about how dumb millionares were and how they were stupid enough to buy from Duveen and his crazy ways. This book was so bad, please save yourself the time and money and not buy this book.



4. While this book is enormously entertaining, it's value is limited as a serious work of history. The reality is; Lord Duveen, grandson of a blacksmith from Delft, who went on to be an English Baron, was much more of a hustler than this 1950's era fantasy makes him out to be. For a more modern take on Lord Duveen try: Artful Partners: Bernard Berenson and Joseph Duveen by Colin Simpson.



5. This amusing read, describes Duveen's single-handed effort in creating America's most serious art collectors. Laying-out the process of cultivating a deep desire for the very best in fine art from Europe in America's richest, most insecure industrial giants. Duveen's plan unfolds; culminating in fantastically expensive, name-brand, catalogs and the pinnacle of his career, an art Museum in Washington, in which his clients, the industrial giants of the early 1900's, would achieve victory in their quest for immortality. All art sales associates and those considering art buying should read this book first.

1 comments about Historic Flash.

1. Although this compilation of tattoo designs was interesting, it was , for me, limited as to the variety of designs pictured. I would still recommend it to anyone who is new to the area of tattoing as a form of art, or wants to get started on deciding what to get permanently decorated with. I think the more you see before getting "inked" the better - it's hard to get it removed once it's there - so take a look at as many designs as you can, maybe even including this book.

5 comments about The Gun Digest Book of Smith & Wesson.

1. I am a novice S&W collector and was hoping for more of a reference work covering specific models and variations of Smith & Wesson handguns. This book is biased towards current models, both revolvers and semi-autos. The material that is covered is well written, interesting, and timely. Sections are devoted to a sampling of current models, company history, accessories, proper disassembly and maintenance, etc. However, if you are a collector looking for wider coverage of specific models this book may dissappoint. The book is better suited to people who are interested in what S&W is currently offering or how to care for their S&W guns.



2. Patrick Sweeney has taken on the task of giving an extensive review of the available handguns of Smith & Wesson. He goes into considerable depth on the practical use of the various models and what can be expected on the range, in competion and for the very serious job of Concealed Weapons Carry. Chapters on History, Ammunition, Buying Used, and Competion round this fine effort out.



3. Not quite what I was expecting in this book,but is very informative on later model handguns from this great gunmaker.
   Will have to look further for a book with models and serial numbers.



4. This book provides an excellent survey of handguns currently offered by Smith and Wesson. The writer has extensive pratical experience and has been assisted with test firing by a group of friends. Very readable and lots of good photos. I would strongly recommend this book to anyone thinking of purchasing a new or near new S&W.



5. The book is built around several "tests" of different S&W handguns, and it also gives some historical- and tech info.

No comments about Beckett Hockey Price Guide #17 (Beckett Hockey Card Price Guide and Alphabetical Checklist).

5 comments about The Collector's Encyclopedia of American Art Glass: Identification And Values (American Art Glass Identification and Values).

1. This hardcover book shows colored examples with prices and an informative text on each type of antique American Art Glass. Logos used by a variety of companies on their glass and quadruple plate holders are also shown. Numerous other sections provide information on the following: tools, chemical formulas, and early catalogue/newspaper ads. A book worth owning and enjoying!



2. This book displays an illustrative and educational summary on may forms of American art glass. Beautifully done with colorful photographs and a large variety of glass. Improvement could be done in value and time periods, however and excellent book.



3. The second updated edition of Collector's Encyclopedia of American Art Glass is a winner: it packs in full pages of color photos on each and every page, pairs these with written descriptions, and includes the latest updated values. Pieces come from a range of collections, so they aren't limited by collection or ownership, and glass examples were chosen with readers' interests in mind. From glassmaking tools and their history to logos and design insights, this is an outstanding survey and a 'must' for any serious collector.
   
   Diane C. Donovan
   California Bookwatch



4. This is an excellent piece of work. It will be of much interest to any serious collector of American glass. The photographs are very good, the historical perspective is to be commended, and the pricing of pieces seems to be well researched. Of course, the focus is on high end items and categories of glass so that it is not a stand alone reference for all "art glass" produced in the United States. Nor should it be. It is a fine book to be part of a collector's resources on the subject.



5. Definitely some great pieces of glass in this book. However, I found the printing of the images rather dark and sometimes lacking clarity....the pictures are a little fuzzy or out of focus on some pages. Some pages were much better than others for photo detail. In addition, there was a large section devoted to pictures of stained glass catalogs and glass factory postcards that I didn't find particularly useful...I guess I'm a little disappointed in the book overall, despite it still being a good reference for American art glass.