1 comments about The Official Price Guide to Mint Errors, 7th Edition (Official Price Guide to Mint Errors).

1. Somewhat disappointing at first. I expected a "formal" price guide like a Red Book or Blue Book but instead, the pricing is very generic. It lists a type of mint error and gives it "from" pricing such as "from $50 and up". The guide is excellent at explaining the minting process and how errors occur.

2 comments about U.S. Stamp 2008 Pocket Catalogue (Scott U S Pocket Stamp Catalogue) (Scott U S Pocket Stamp Catalogue).

1. This book has some really nice color photos and is very organized. As it is a "Scott" product, it uses the Scott numbers and is easy to use. My only concern is that it does not picture every stamp and that the pictures are sometimes 10-15 pages away from where the stamp is actually listed in the book. Still, that not-withstanding, it was well worth the money.



2. This book has just about everything you need to know about stamps. It's easy to find what you want and the illustrations are well done. For the novice, some things are not explained, such as "imperf." Don't think you could find a better one though.

1 comments about Thomas Jefferson's Monticello: An Intimate Portrait.

1. Photographer Robert Lautman has taken and assembled a remarkable set of photographs depicting scenes which a visitor would see upon touring the wonder that is called Monticello. Near the beginning of this book are two architectural drawings showing the first floor room layouts. Numbers appear on these drawings and they indicate the approximate camera positions for each black and white photographic plate.This is an outstanding photo-tour of Jefferson's custom built mansion. I would have given it a 10 rating had it not been for a few little features and omissions which detracted from the work. The major distraction centered on an obviously retouched photograph showing the surrounding hills as seen from Monticello. The photographer, in an attempt to show what the view might have looked like for Jefferson, had to manipulate the photograph to remove or minimize modern distractions such as houses, roads and other man-made edifices. While the intent to recapture a lost vision is a good one the execution wanting. It would have been nice to see more than one photograph of the second floor rooms.

5 comments about The History of Beads: From 30,000 B.C. to the Present.

1. I was expecting a huge book full of pictures and information, and while there are pictures and good information, it's rather sparse. I'm surprised at how few books are available on the subject of jewelry in history, considering it's nearly the only thing we have left of many cultures. If you are desperate for any information on beads in history, this is a good starting place, but I was left wanting more.



2. This book covered all about beads. I bought it for a presentation my daughter was doing for her 6th grade class. It was very helpful.



3. This book was fine if you wanted information regarding beads up until the 1940's, but the information on beads after that period is very very slim. The words "to the present" is very misleading.



4. Highly detailed, technical and descriptive ... outstanding for the "advanced", but over-whelming and a bit complex for the novice (as I am).
   
   Overall, a book that one can acclimate to and find valuable and well worth the investment in time and practical use.



5. A beader was looking for the history of beads, their origins and the processes used to produce beads. Specifically, those topics for modern day beads. Too little detail on modern beads for the purpose the book was purchased.

No comments about Fill 'er Up!: The Great American Gas Station.

5 comments about Pokemon Collector's Value Guide: Secondary Market Price Guide and Collector Handbook (Collector's Value Guides).

1. IF you can't under stand you japanies cards fear no more. This book tells you what it says.



2. This book is a really good source if you want to know how much your pokemon cards are worth. This book has the values of rares, commons, and uncommons. And it even has the values of japanese cards. If you want to get a pokemon price guide, i suggest you buy this one.



3. i bought this book because it looked cool. but i read some of it there was alot of misprints!



4. I am pleased to say that this excellent guide has brought much information about the incredibly popular Pokémon trading card game, and much knowledge about the Pokémon merchandise. Checkerbee Publishing has made a incredible value guide, considering that they included transalations for the Japanese poket monster trading card game, pictures of the cards, and such information is included in American Pokémon card game which is also featured in this book. Though this book has it's pros, it also has cons. No estimated prices are given about the American Fossil Cards, and few people are sure that the Japanese transalations are 100% accurate. Though, that should not stop you from buying this stupendous guide. I am very sure this will satisfy thous who are in need of Pokémon information.



5. Just like the title for this review. No more, no less.

1 comments about Antique & Collectible Buttons: Identification & Values.

1. While I'm sure this is a helpful book for the serious and advanced collector, it isn't for the beginner, which I am. I didn't see anything in it's description that would have let me know that, so I wasted my money. I am not a collector and never will be; I'm just a beginner button sorter, breaking up big collections and selling individual buttons, pairs or sets.

2 comments about Tomarts Encyclopedia & Price Guide to Action Figure Collectibles, Vol. 3: Star Wars-Zybots.

1. This book surprised me in beeing very fresh and uptodate even though it was written 4 years ago, it feels as if it is truely is timeless and contains a wide range of toys even though I must admit that I for one thought that it would contain more info on the specific toylines instead it contained general information on the toys in general, which is a shame realy - there are some mistakes made in this book they are not everywhere but they are not hard to find either - recomended to toy dealers in generall but if you are looking for info on one particular series then you'd better pass this one by and look for a book on the topic in question



2. i have not bought the book yet, but i have had books like those, there good books all i am gonna say is try it, cause i am going to buy it when i get back from vacation, if u collect old action figures u know why i rate this book good, i will write a nother review after i get it. anyways give the book a chance its better than the Unoffical guide to Transformers,(dont get that one)its not worth it, so try this book out.i am sure u will enjoy it.

2 comments about The Collector's Encyclopedia of Barbie Dolls and Collectibles.

1. This is a must for anyone who collects vintage Barbies and related items. It contains information and prices from the first Barbie starting with 1957 to 1976. It has all marks from those times. Also, pictures with information each year, which dolls were released and what clothes they were wearing. They have a year by year section, with information on other Mattel dolls, Ken, Midge and other rare ones. This is the most informative Barbie book I've read.



2. I have a substantial collection of reference books about Barbie doll and her world, but I simply COULD NOT do without this book! It is the most complete, chronological breakdown of Barbie & family dolls and that I have found. This book, in combination with Marcie Melillo's "The Barbie Book", will help the beginner and even the advanced collector to identify just about any Barbie family doll from any early (60's & 70's, primarily) era. It even goes into detail about dolls offered in successive years, and the differences in their manufacture, so that, for one example, you can tell to WHICH year your specific Growin' Pretty Hair Francie, a doll offered over a few years in the early 70's, belongs. The text accompanying the many, many photos is succinct and easy to understand, and while many photos are in black-and-white, there are quite a few pages of color photos as well, which detail much of Barbie's clothing across those early years. Well-executed, altogether. One might expect just such an excellent guide from Sibyl DeWein, who was a major player in the Barbie collectibles world until her death just a few years ago. I bought the book because she was a name of such renown & had written it (with a co-author/collector), and I was and am pleased to have it.

5 comments about Vintage Clothing 1880-1980: Identification and Value Guide.

1. I have just started studying and researching vintage clothing. I did not find this book to be all that helpful. The value guide seems to be very high. Some of the pictures are interesting and the summaries at the beginning of the chapters are somewhat helpful, however, I feel there are better books available for research.



2. If you are looking for information on clothing between 1880 and about 1919, by all means, this is the book for you. But, if you're like me and you are looking for a book on clothing from 1930 on, pass this one up. More than 3/4 of this book is dedicated to victorian clothing. You can also tell which decades this author favors. While pictures of models (if you can really call these women models) in victorian clothing are carefully posed and accessorized, the more current clothing is slapped on just about anyone who would stand still long enough to have their picture taken. Example - the 60+ year old woman in the WEDDING DRESS. There are really no clothing from the 70s or 80s in this book and the 50s and 60s are very sparse. The prices are also unreasonably high for the average collector. I was EXTREMELY disappointed with this book. But I do have to admit I did get a couple of giggles from some of the pitiful pictures.



3. I have a number of vintage clothing books in my library and have been collecting vintage clothing and accessories for almost 20 years. This book is the only one I have regretted buying. Many of the "illustrations" are black and white drawings that explain color and cut. The descriptions are not adequate-there are few if any makers names listed and there's no index to help in the process of looking up an item. Many of the models that are used do not carry the clothing well and since the photographs are in black and white you cannot see the pieces properly. The one thing that I can say that's positive is that she does list the time periods for the items she shows, and she does pack many plates into her book.



4. This book deserves better reviews than it has received here. First of all, it was one of the very first "guides" written for vintage clothing collectors, and I still appreciate and value the nearly 300 pages of fashion images both illustrative and photographic.

   As for the "value" guide; we know, or should know, that prices of vintage clothing can vary wildly depending on where you live, what is hot and what is not, if the seller wants to sell low and if the buyer wants to buy high. I think the prices indicated in this guide, though nearly ten years old, are still fairly accurate, adding 30 to 40 percent to the higher-end, rarer pieces and giving or taking 10 to 20 percent on the low end.

   I believe Maryanne Dolan knows vintage clothing, and knows the field well. Her historical research is good, and her appreciation and passion for costume is inspiring. Her overviews of the periods at the beginning of each chapter are well-written, clear and easy to read.

   It is true, however, that the book needs an index, some copy editing and perhaps a more sophisticated design layout for today's collectors. All seriously considered books need an index; just a fact of life in a costume or fashion researcher's world. Perhaps in a next edition?

   It is wise to note that one isn't going to get rich buying and selling vintage clothing today -- a nice living perhaps, if you have a decent collection already established -- but a fantastic hobby is always a possibility.

   An update is in order, but all in all, this is a good book worth having in your fashion history, vintage clothing or collecting library. Besides, when you can get 300 pages of pretty decent material for less than $10, how can you go wrong?




5. I generally highly value my books on vintage clothing, however I gladly got rid of this book several years ago. It has some good basic information, but the values are very high and far too many of the illustrations are of items in period catalogs and magazines and not of actual garments. This may have been one of the first books on vintage clothing but it certainly is not one of the better ones.