5 comments about The eBay Price Guide: What Sells for What (in Every Category!).

1. Although this compilation of items is a good start, it is not so thorough as to eliminate the need to browse e-bay for a more accurate idea of pricing. But, it's a good place to start and a great gift for any e-bay aficionado!



2. Whether you're a frequent Ebay seller or only dabble from time to time, every Ebay seller knows that setting prices is central to gaining a successful bid. The Ebay Price Guide: What Sells For What (In Every Category!) is the first reference to compile an array of items and their selling prices, from rare books to video games and jewelry. While it can't possibly hold every item ever listed, it does compile the most popular collectibles, and comes form an online auctioneer whose expertise covers some of the most trafficked Ebay categories. Each category's average sales price is listed along with high and average prices. Introductions to each section include risk assessments, tips on discounting, locating items on other venues, and more. It's a 'bible' no avid Ebay seller or buyer should be without.



3. I mainly use this book for inspiration as a quick reference point for what things are worth. When I take this book into someone's house and quote off some prices...I get allot of happy screams of joy.
   
   Get this book....and get happy
   
   This is one of my favorite ebay books, just love it. A must for anyone who lives and breathes ebay 24/7



4. Handy guide to eBay prices, with useful introductions to product categories to give you a good grounding. Keep a copy in your car when searching for inventory at yard-sales and auctions.



5. I was a little bit disappointed in this book. It did not have in it what I was looking for. I guess it was a bit much of me to think that this book would be all inclusive of every item listed on eBay.

1 comments about Fashionable Clothing from the Sears Catalogs: Mid 1930s.

1. I bought this book because I deal in vintage clothing and constantly need resources to help me date pieces that i sell. I was really impressed with the pictures in this book, they are really detailed and there are tons of variations and examples of 30s styles. Everything from lengerie, to hats, gloves, shoes, jewelry, dresses, skirts, pants -- you name it, and it has men's and children's fashions as well. It also shows seasonal trends.
   Even though it's a bummer to have to buy three books just to get an idea of one decade, I think it is worth it. By breaking up the fashions into "early - mid - late" you really can see the progression of style and the subtle changes that define these decades. The book also has a lot of color pictures, which is extremely useful! I would suggest this book for anyone who loves the glamor of the 30s or is interested in this book as a reference. If you're looking for a lot of explainations and text--this isn't the book for you, it is mostly pictoral.

5 comments about The Standard Encyclopedia of American Silverplate: Flatware and Hollow Ware : Identification & Value Guide.

1. There are so many good photos, line drawings, and catalog pages. It is organized by manufacturers name,and then sub catgorized alphabetically by pattern name. No need for a contents page when you are trying to identify a piece you have.Look up your pattern by what the backstamp says on it.There are all the top collectible patterns in this book and the lesser quality patterns were left out that are of little demand. The orignal catalog pages are very informative and show the original prices for the silver. A must for the dealer, and dealer wanna-be.



2. A collection of ads and drawings of silverplate patterns. I have 5 different patterns that we collect. This book only had 2 of the five.



3. If you have an old set of silverplate or odd pieces, especially older ornate pieces of flatware,this is a good guide, well illustrated, with many reproductions of original catalogs. I found pattern names of several odd serving pieces which led to a search for matching place settings.



4. This book has lots of nice pictures and drawings that show good detail of the different patterns. There are lots of patterns to choose from including some that are very old. The only problem is that it doesn't really have a good variety of brands. Also, it took me a while to figure out where the values are. Once I figured that out, I got real tired of flipping back to the front cover over and over to see what my pieces were worth. However, if you've got the right brands this could be the perfect book for you!



5. Although this book sounded great, it was very disappointing...A very expensive book for the little knowledge in it...Lots of pages, but little information....Has many manufacturer's advertisement pictures and pages and pages of the same pattern, but not very helpful as far as identification!!! Very limited manufacturers and patterns...I wouldn't waste my time or money on purchasing this particular book, even for the novice it covers very little, unless you just like looking at pictures...

1 comments about Totems to Turquoise: Native North American Jewelry Arts of the Northwest and Southwest.

1. Totems To Turquoise: Native North American Jewelry Arts Of The Northwest And Southwest is a lavish artbook filled cover-to-cover with full-color photographs not only of beautiful Native American jewelry, but also portraits of the individual artists crafters who create it. Brief descriptions of each piece and broader essays enlighten the reader as to how and why these visually stunning articles were created, and the symbolism underlying their design. Many pieces feature short commentaries by the creators themselves. A truly well-rounded treasury and a welcome addition to contemporary Native American art shelves.

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 Toy Car Collector's Guide: Identification and Values for Diecast, White Metal, Other Automotive Toys & Models (Toy Car Collectors Guide).

1. A great new, year 2002 softbound 336 page volume. There are more than 800 brands of cars included, from 1910 to 2000. An interesting history is provided, as well as current values and buying and selling tips. The book covers Hot Wheels, Matchbox, Corgi, Johnny Lightning,Tomica and more. There's detailed information about scale, evaluating models, and insights into buying and selling. Comprehensive guide for the collector.



2. This book has a review on almost every kind of toy car, but leaves out the prices of a lot of them. There is almost no selection for hot-wheels, but there is a lot of selection for matchbox. My problem is that I have cars with no model numbers, which makes this book useless. I was able to find ERTL and a few others I had though.



3. The books has many companies listed and gives histories but gives a generic price range. I mainly purchased this book for 1:18 scale models and was sad to see that a roughly half of my collection is not even listed in the book.



4. I've just seen this book at a local bookstore. I was pretty excited when I found it and started to browse. But then, I became a little disappointed! The author gives a few pages to companies like Corgi and Dinky, and far too many to Majorette. I would say that the Majorette part is almost one tenth of the book! Overall the photos are pretty good and there's some good information too.
   I didn't buy it, but maybe I would later, and only if I find it at a very, VERY, low price!



5. Do not spend your money on this and all Dana books.Unless you want to see a bunch of letters and photos of listed cars that are not a collector items.Majorette items do half of the book.If you are lookin for a book on die cast models cars,buy something by an english.

5 comments about American Air Rifles.

1. I purchased this book for my husband who loves airguns(all guns), hence the title. He would not put that book down until he read the whole thing! Especially about the Benjamin 392, which is his personal favorite(if you could pin him down to choose a favorite). In his own words,"It is the best book written on American made pneumatic "pump-up" Air rifles that he has read to date. It has plenty of statistics on fps and fpe and pellet accuracy just to name a few. Also great info on small game hunting using "magnum" powered airguns". I am very pleased with my husband's pleasure with this book and I would imagine any airgun buff/collector would not be complete with a copy for his/her library.
   Sincerely,
   S.Morales-SAN JOSE,CA



2. This book is an excellent introduction to air rifles, pellets and the ballistics of air rifles. It would serve as a good guide to someone interested in purchasing an air rifle for hunting or plinking. The cover indicates that it covers target shooting, small-game hunting, complete ballistics and pellet selection. The latter three items are covered. However, there is essentially no information on target shooting or rifles designed for target shooting. I realize that the book is limited to American air rifles, but at least the Daisy Avanti models could have been included. There was also a lack of discussion of triggers, a critical rifle component for accurate shooting. I would have rated the book at least 4 stars, if it had not given the impression on the front cover that it included target shooting and target rifles, which was the reason that I bought it.



3. The information in this book is now 5-6 years old and, in this age of product volatility, a lot of the mentioned rifles are no longer available. There's more here than you probably want to know when it comes to ballistics--I just skip the technical parts. As a casual airgun shooter, I'm really not too interested in the finer points involving physics. What House did in this book was to investigate a subject that is mostly ignored. He reviewed relatively inexpensive American multi-pump air rifles in the context of how they perform in relation to the more sophisticated, expensive--and decidedly less shooter-friendly--European rifles. His conclusion is somewhat astonishing in finding that the American rifles offer a lot of accuracy and utility for a reasonable price.
   
   After reading this book, I felt obliged to dust off my old Daisy and give it a try at 10 meters. Unfortunately, it's been abused and neglected for well over 10 years and the whole barrel assembly was too loose to even attempt to use it again. I again consulted House and went out and picked up a Benjamin 392 that has proven to be a real joy. Every pellet I've tried gives substantially less than .5" groups at 10 meters even in my fairly unsteady hands and with my aging eyes.
   
   The Crosmans, Daisies, Benjamins and Sheridans will never have the following or accolades of the finely crafted spring-piston European models but this book goes a long way in giving them the respect they deserve.



4. I've been an avid airgunner since the '70s and now own between 40 and 50 different airguns to include many that are discussed in this book...
   
   This book is (I believe), the 6th airgunning book that I've bought for my personal library and is at least as enjoyable to read as any of the others.
   
   Many studies on the airgun tend to dwell overmuch on the more expensive, European offerings and dismiss inexpensive, domestic pneaumatics as little more than toys. Knowledgeable airgunners know better!
   
   As a teenager, I bagged a truckload of small game with an old Crosman 766 "American Classic" here in central Texas... this book took me straight back to simpler times.
   
   Finally, American made 'pumpers' are getting the thoughtful examination that they deserve!
   
   I found the book to be very informative and find myself referencing the chapters and tables over and over again.
   
   I have two of John Walter's excellent, if out-of-print airgun books as well as all three issues of "The Airgun Digest", and find Mr. House's book to be easily as indespensible a reference tool as all of the others.
   
   Every airgunner should have this book in his/her library. Well worth the price!



5. This is an unusual book due to its narrow focus; low cost pneumatic air-rifles. Mr. House has provided a thoughtful well presented analysis. I particularly appreciate his discussion of ballistics and pellet comparisons. This information alone was worth the price of the book, since I use it for reference information. He also did a great job of methodically testing the power and accuracy of the air rifles he surveyed, and compared their performance to that of more costly break-barrel and PCP rifles. Nice work!
   
   My only criticism is that his bias toward inexpensive air guns does tend to cloud his analysis a bit. But, that said, he's written a very useful book on a topic about which not much is written.

5 comments about Star Wars Rebel Storm Booster Pack (7 Random Miniatures).

1. Tough rugged pre-painted pieces that mimic the Star wars characters from the original movie.
   
   Easy to learn, fast to play, great for 9 year olds on up. Easy to mod and make your own scenarios.
   
   Great game



2. Star Wars is a great setting for a miniatures game, and this miniatures game system from Wizards does a pretty good job of exploiting that possibility. Now you can fight out some of those skirmishes from the movies and catch all that action with Luke, Leia, Han, Vader with some decently sculpted and painted plastic miniatures. The game system is good - solid and easy enough that you can get playing fairly quickly - if a tad simplistic.
   
   Now available again, these boosters will let you flesh out your Rebellion Era armies. You'll need several (along with the starter set) in order to play, and many more in order to play more interesting games. In each booster you will get seven figures: one rare/very rare, two uncommons and four commons. Unfortunately, you won't know what figures you'll be getting, making it harder to build those stormtrooper squads or get the named characters you are most interested in having. That's the real problem with the Star Wars miniatures line - the collectible format for purchasing the figures. It a word, it stinks. It's certainly no help that all of the unique, named characters from the movies, the figures you would most want to play with, are all rare or very rare, and thus acquired slowly and randomly, one per booster. It doesn't help that with the Rebel Storm set, Wizards divided the 60 figure set equally between the Imperial, Rebel and Fringe factions. The latter really has only a few figures of interest, so your booster may well include a mini or two that you won't recognize from the movies.
   
   These boosters are not a standalone game - you'll need a Rebel Storm starter for the rules and a map in order to play. The "Rebel Storm Ultimate Missions" book helps, too, by providing scenarios from the movies and a double-sided map.



3. A really fun game. Short of like playing Dungeons and Dragons, but with pre-made Star Wars Characters with special abilities. The more you collect, the more you can combine them into special teams for special operations. "Rebel Storm" is just one of the many expansion modules available. You have other that are still in print like, "Champions of the Force", "Endor", and "Universe" Others that are out of print "Revenge of the Sith", and "Clone Strike". Soon to be released in September 2006 is "Bounty Hunters". Have fun!



4. Star Wars "Rebel Storm" is the very first set for the Star Wars miniatures game. There are 60 different pre-painted figures in the set, and each booster includes seven random figures (including one rare OR very rare figure). The best thing about this set is that it the figures are based almost exclusively on the original trilogy. Thus, you will have seen all but a couple of them in those movies.
   
   The game itself very fun (definitely one of my favorites). It is similar to the D&D minis game in many ways, so if you like that game, you are sure to also like this game as well. But there are also enough differences to the two games to keep it interesting. Further, there are enough different figures in this set (each with its own stats, special abilities, commander effects, and/or force points) that you will never have to play the same game twice. Several expansion sets have also been released to add even more variety to the game. Finally, the minis can also be used with the Star Wars RPG (though Unlike the D&D minis game, the stats cards for the Star Wars minis game do not include info for the RPG version of the game -- but many of these stats are available elsewhere).
   
   In sum, I love this game, and if you love Star Wars and/or gaming, I think it's definitely worth a try. Hope this helps!
   
   ADDENDUM: (Please note that I include this addendum at the end of all my Star Wars minis reviews, so if you've read it before, there is no need to read it again.) If you want to play the Star Wars minis game as it was designed to be played, it is best to have at least one starter (each starter comes with game instructions, a map, a D20, terrain tiles that are very helpful and add great variety to the game, and more). I like the Rebel Storm Starter the best because it's from the classic era/trilogy, but the Clone Strike and Revenge of the Sith starters from the newer movies will also work. If you don't want to invest in a starter, you can also get one of the three "Ultimate Missions" books, as each comes with a double sided map and a few smaller terrain tiles (again, I like the Rebel Strom Ultimate Missions book the best because it is also from the classic era/trilogy). Or, you can buy the "Attack on Endor" scenario pack, which comes with TWO double sided maps (in addition to a scaled AT-ST that is fully usable in play). The main point here is that you'll need some type of map/grid. If you don't want to buy a Star Wars one, generic ones are also available at most gaming stores (you can use your imagination to set the scene, or draw terrain with an erasable marker right on the grid). Of course, the minis are also useful for the roleplaying game (RPG) -- in which case you may not need a starter or map, but will likely need the "Core Rulebook" instead (for those interested in the Star Wars RPG Core Rulebook, please see my review of the recently released "Saga Edition"). Finally, the minis are just fun to collect for those who like all things Star Wars!



5. This is my favorite set in the Star Wars miniature series because it contains only figures from the original trilogy. You don't have to worry about getting expanded universe fluff. You'll know every one of the characters you'll pull out of this box. If you'd like to play a Star Wars miniatures game with characters you'll actually recognize, this is the set to invest in.

5 comments about Gun Digest 2006 (Gun Digest).

1. The tag line for the Gun Digest is "The World's Greatest Gun Book" and that pretty well sums it up. This is the bible of the gun hobby. It has a series of articles that range from an analysis of the 400 Whelan, to a major article on the Bowie knife. As usual, it has a summary of what's new in handguns, rifles, shotguns and accessory items, and finally it has a complete catalog of all of the offerings of all the gun companies. I have each annual volume of Gun Digest in my library going back more than 50 years. I can't imagine doing without them.
   
   One really big change in this year's edition is that the front half of the book with the articles is printed on slick paper and in color. This really improves the appearance.
   
   As for changes in the guns themselves for this year, the big news is the sunset laws that removed the Assault Weapons Ban. This means that large (or as the Gun Digest says) full capacity magazines can now be sold again, and the evil appearing nasty looking rifles can be sold again.
   
   The one complaint that I might voice is that in the pistol section there appears to be nothing but 1911's shown. Regardless of the manufacturer, these all look the same. I'd like to see some of the more unusual guns pictures. For instance: the Olympic Arms .223 pistol, the Steyr, the Wilkinson Sherry and Linda. I guess what I'm really saying is that we need another hundred pages or so.



2. If you have a copy of the 2004 or 2005 editions of Gun Digest, definitely don't bother with GD 2006. If you have none at all and need to browse the market for guns, the 2006 edition is a start -- but be aware, it's a limited one. The cover states; "Since 1944, GD has delivered the very latest in firearms product information..." Well, GD may try, but it simply doesn't (any more!). Mainly, it is incomplete, but it also contains errors.
   
   I was really disappointed to have spent money on this book. I usually buy the year's GD every two years, to keep up with what's going on. But browsing the lists of available rifles, shotguns, handguns etc in the 2006 edition it felt, this time, as if I was still reading the 2004 edition -- the one that has had to suffice this past two years. It read like the same data, the same guns with, often, the same prices. It's as if the editors added a few color-paged articles and photos at the front, and then just hit the "Print 2004 edition" button on their printing press. They certainly haven't reviewed their old data this year.
   
   Several of the latest (and existing) guns are unmentioned, to my knowledge, and probably more that I don't know of are also overlooked. I needed the spec's and prices of, for example:
   -- the new Beretta Cx4 Storm rifle
   -- the Blaser K95 single shot rifle
   -- the new Sako Quad rimfire with interchangeable barrels
   -- the full line of Hammerli target pistols (only two shown)
   -- the Kimber Tactical 1911 handgun
   -- the Anschutz 1720 in WMR
   -- the new Remington bolt action in 22LR
   -- etc., etc., etc. They don't exist in GD 2006.
   
   And there are errors: the Kimber Super Match II is shown as having a "7-shot magazine" when it is an 8-shot, or a 10-shot with the relevant mag. The so-called "Reports from the Field" which are intended as a rundown of what's new this year, are a once-over-lightly, incomplete reviews, that at times are just vehicles for the reviewer to show several shots of himself on his latest safari beside dead animals plus the rifles he used -- even though they often have little or nothing to do with the new products of that year!!
   
   The glossy pages are fine, but only if they're filled with something valid. Most articles cover mainly arcane topics -- interesting to some no doubt -- but frankly, I am not that interested in the 400 Brown Whelen "maverick" rifle, or the Remington 700 in 8mm Mauser. I thought the articles on 60 years of ammo development, and the one on custom engraving were interesting but could have done with a mainstream article or two as well.
   
   One final grouch! Seems the publisher doesn't use his own books after they are published. If he did, he'd notice that the plastic glazing on the front and back covers shrinks once in use, hand warmth causing the covers to curl up in the most annoying fashion. This is not the first year of this problem. If you do buy this year's GD, keep a heavy weight on the cover to keep it flat -- temporarily. But it'll curl up again soon enough.



3. As a very long-time GD reader, I have seen good issues and fair issues. This is the first issue that I would consider poor. Editorial content is weak to the extreme, and there is little of interest for the gun enthusiast beyond updates of what's new on the market. The first article is about the .400 Brown Whelan (Why should anyone care?) The second is about modification of a Ruger #1 to .32-40. This is a pure vanity piece, of no interest unless for some strange reason you want to do the same. The third article is entitled "The Automatic Question," which sort of covers the development of semi-automatic sporting arms, touching on the question of advantages over other types of arms over the years. It's only mildly interesting. The next is a long story about the Bowie Knife. Maybe I'm mistaken, but this is not the "Knife Digest." Following is a story about "Premium Bullet Performance." The conclusion is simply that they are all pretty good. Ho-Hum. Next is a long picture piece on engraved weapons. Fine if you like pretty pictures, otherwise, a yawner. Next is a very long article covering the last 60 years of revolver development. It's moderately interesting. I think you get the idea. Anyway, it seems the effort was more on publishing a lot of slick pages in full color than in offering interesting articles that used to be GD's stock in trade. If I could return my copy to Amazon for a refund, I would. My assessment is simple - donate the cost of a copy of GD 2006 to the NRA. Your money will be much better spent.



4. This book is very informative. Information is easy to find on the subjects. Well worth the time to look it over.



5. Every year the new owners of Gun Digest put fewer and fewer articles in the book. 2007 seems to be the new low. Mostly it is now just a collection of canned catalog specs with many editing errors. After all, they don't have to pay anyone for that. The articles they do have are major boring. Nothing like the pre-2000 Gun Digest when Ken Warner was still the editor.

3 comments about Collec and Investing Strategies for United States Gold Coins.

1. You would be better off buying the Encyclopedia of U.S. Gold Coins. It gives much more information in much greater detail. If you already own the Encyclopedia of U.S. Gold Coins or a similar book, you definately don't need this one, as it contains only redundant information.



2. I found this book to offer all of the basic information on coins without being overly dry and dull, as often books of this type can be. The format is easy to follow and skim. Overall a good book worth the money.



3. The price of gold just hit $1,000 an ounce. With the decreasing value of the dollar, the emergence of significant inflation, the unpredictability of the stock market, and the expanding recession within the general American economy, gold and precious metals has resumed its traditional role as a place that capital is being invested to protect it from the instability of the national and global economies. Part of the Zyrus Press 'Official Strategy Guide Series', Jeff Ambio's "Collecting And Investing Strategies For U.S. Gold Coins" is a premier instruction guide to understanding the specialty investments in, and collections of, rare American gold coins. From gold dollars, quarter eagles, gold pieces, gold stellas, half eagles, and double eagles, each variety and sub-variety of gold coin is identified, illustrated, described, backgrounded, and provided with investment tips. An indispensable manual, "Collecting And Investing Strategies For U.S. Gold Coins" is a core and essential addition to personal, professional, academic, and community library gold coin collection and investment reference shelves.