3 comments about Jewelry by Joan Rivers.

1. Joan's book has lots of beautiful photos of her classics collection jewelry from the first 5 years. Her book explains how she got started with QVC & why she decided to create the jewelry, how the jewelry is made, where she got her inspiration for her classics collection jewelry, personal stories & information about her favorite jewelry designers & stores. It's a fun book that is a very easy read with lots of beautiful photos. If you collect Joan's jewelry like I do you'll love seeing all the different pieces of jewelry she did in the early years. It's great to see jewelry pieces I have & other items from that year's collection. This book was well worth the price!



2. Joan Rivers is one of America's most successful comedians (a tough field for a woman, as being funny and being ladylike would seem to be mutually exclusive.) Ms. Rivers has always been a fan of high fashion. Her late husband Edgar indulged her love of designer jewelry such as Faberge's, but not content to merely own such works of art, Rivers started her own costume jewelry line inspired by Russian pieces, Edwardian, Victorian and modern classics.

   The book contains a section on the major designers like Faberge and Cartier, a section on the reproductions in the Rivers line compared to their original versions, and one about the process by which costume jewelry is made, from artist's model to casting pot metal, electroplating and setting rhinestones. The book is well-photographed and should be of interest to anyone who collects costume jewelry, whether from Rivers' own line or vintage pieces of other makes.




3. "Jewelry by Joan Rivers" features photography by Gordon Munro and Elizabeth Watt. The book is a celebration of jewelry from the perspective of comedian and television personality Joan Rivers. The main sections of the book are as follows: a lengthy introduction; a series of entries on great jewelry designers (Tiffany and Co., Faberge, Cartier, etc.); a chapter with advice on integrating jewelry into one's overall fashion sense; a large section on Joan Rivers' own costume jewelry line, the Classics Collection; and a chapter describing how jewelry is made. Also included are shopping tips, a bibliography and index.

   The book combines an interesting text with a wealth of clear, full-color photos that are sparkling with detail. Rivers enlivens the text with enjoyable personal anecdotes. The section on jewelry and fashion includes shots of Joan modeling different clothes-and-jewelry combos, and has an empowering message that encourages readers to create their own style without being stifled by someone else's rules.

   There are some wonderful photos of and stories about some of the fine jewelry pieces in Joan's own collection; one of the most dazzling pieces is a necklace, once owned by Queen Marie of Romania, that contains many colorful eggs and charms. The section about how jewelry is made shows, in text and photos, the process from rough design sketch all the way to finished product. It's absolutely fascinating.

   The book's largest section is devoted to photos and descriptive text about Joan's own costume jewelry line. The Classics Collection pieces profiled include necklaces, earrings, bracelets, brooches, etc. It's a rich and colorful variety of pieces. Many motifs and elements appear, and there are synthetic/faux gems of many different shapes, sizes, and colors. Some pieces are whimsical, some bold and dramatic. If you love photos of jewelry, you'll be in heaven.

   I've read many different photo books on both fine and costume jewelry, and this book really stands out in terms of beauty and educational value. And Joan River' passion for jewelry really animates the book overall.

1 comments about Showcase Presents: Metal Men, Vol. 1.

1. I guess one distinction between DC and Marvel Comics is that Marvel has been generally more successful with team comics. With the Fantastic Four, Defenders and the many incarnations of the Avengers and X-Men (including X-Force, X-Factor, etc.), Marvel has made superhero teams an essential part of its lineup. On the other hand, DC's record is a bit spottier. Sure, there is the Justice League, Justice Society and Teen Titans are notable, but even with them, a continuous run of more than a few years is rare. There are, of course, other DC teams that are truly second tier; one of my favorites of these minor league teams is the Metal Men; they may have never made a big mark, but they are still fun to read about.
   
   The Metal Men are a group of six robots built by Will Magnus, each representing a different metal and able to reshape itself to adapt to various situations. Each has a "responsometer" that gives it intelligence and a personality. Gold is the most intelligent and the natural leader when Magnus is not around. Lead is somewhat dense, both literally and figuratively; he's good-hearted but not all that bright. Iron is the reliable strong-man of the group. Mercury is, well, mercurial. Tin stutters and has an inferiority complex. Finally, there is Platinum, the one "female" robot who is in love with Magnus.
   
   The issues within Showcase Volume 1 introduce the team and highlight their first battles. Typically, they are opposed by other robots, either from outer space or built on Earth. Most signicant is Chemo, a giant toxic robot and various "relatives" of the Metal Men, including the ill-fated Uranium and the Gas Gang. Generally, Gold, Iron and Lead are the less interesting characters, with Mercury and Tin standing out more, and Platinum standing out most of all.
   
   In fact, the Platinum/Magnus relationship shows the weakness of reading these issues in a Showcase format rather than reading the comics in the original bi-monthly format. Every issue seems to have Platinum declaring her love and Magnus saying insisting she's merely a robot with a defective responsometer (although it's clear he secretly has affection for her too). On an every-other-month basis, this might not be bad, but if you read several issues at a time, it can come off repetitive.
   
   That, however, is a criticism of the Showcase format (which nonethless, I like overall), not a criticism of the individual stories within. The Metal Men may not be the most popular team, but they are an entertaining example of what mid-1960's DC had to offer.

No comments about The History of Watches.

3 comments about The Postcard Price Guide, 4th Ed., A Comprehensive Reference (Postcard Price Guide).

1. This guide provides prices for over 10,000 cards and will be useful for collectors, dealers, and novices. The book highlights the most collected categories, and the artist-signed chapter covers over 250 pages. The 900 postcard images, though reduced and in black and white, are useful; my favorites included the Krampus cards, Alligator border card, and the Halloween cards are a real treat. Mashburn provides short biographies of some of the artists and publishers (and even an introduction to Krampus). Although Mashburn does present some useful guidelines on topical, views, and roadside America I thought those chapters were too short in light of the vast number of cards available. Mashburn also includes references for more specific topics also.



2. This book gives you a good feel for the value of postcards. Beginners will definitely get their money's worth from this guide before buying from a dealer or an online auction.
   
   Keep in mind that Mashburn is a dealer as well as a collector and author. He devotes way too much space to the categories he collects and sells...origional art. I estimate that he devotes a measley 25% of the book to photographic postcards.



3. It's been over 7 years since this has been updated, and a lot has happened in the world of postcards. I'd say that the vast majority of prices quoted in this book are much higher than prices realized at traditional and online auctions, and many retail sales. So, if you just found a shoebox of postcards in your grandmother's attic and are planning on selling them, don't expect to realize prices anywhere near most of the prices you see in this book. That said, there are exceptions - and condition really does play an important part in pricing, but as the Internet opens up dealers to a worldwide audence it appears that many cards that were in demand 10 years ago are no longer that scarce.

No comments about Beaded Jewelry Kit: 101 Tips & Techniques: Discover Clever Tricks and Handy Hints for Stringing Your Own Stylish Jewelry.

3 comments about The Big Book of Vaseline Glass (Schiffer Book for Collectors.).

1. This is an excellent book for anyone that wishes to learn more about Vaseline glass. I already had some knowledge of the glass, but was very pleased w/ alll the information in the book. It has helped me w/ future decisions on glass purchases. I highly recommend this book!!



2. Very good overview of Vaseline/Uranium glass throughout it's history. It could definitely use more photographic examples but the verbage is worthwhile.



3. This is a book on Vaseline glass, but a lot of the pieces in the book are from Europe, not the U.S. If that is what you are looking for, then this is the book for you. The book has great pictures and good info on the chemical makeup of the glass and it's history.

3 comments about Arrowheads and Spear Points in the Prehistoric Southeast: A Guide to Understanding Cultural Aritifacts.

1. This is a very short read. Not including the preface, introduction and appendices in the back (most of which is a list of museums in various states with collections or information you can look at), the content of the book barely takes up 59 pages. And the information is very, very general. She describes the major periods of North American Indian occupation from Paleo to Archaic, Mississipian, Woodland, etc. Each description takes up about 5-8 pages and includes hand-drawn images of a few projectile points, pottery styles, drills, or axe heads associated with that time frame. Frankly, I found the information to be at the level of a freshman 100 level Archaeology research paper. It's good information for a beginner level but hardly worth paying full book price for. It could benefit from maps showing locations of known archaeological sites representative of the times discussed, sketches of dig sites that might show how burial sites were arranged, housing styles and locations and discuss one or two major archaelogical digs for each time period. As it is, I found the information too general and would suggest that someone interested check out your local library for a book that provides more information (and is free). Or continue your search on Amazon!



2. People who only want to collect artifacts might not like this book since it is not a complete identification guide and does not put monetary values on projectile points. However, if you wish to learn the basic information about what scientific archaeologists have discovered this is a well-written introduction.



3. This is a very helpful reference book to Indian Points. This is a detailed work on how the points were made, what designs were from what region, and dating. This book is recomended for beginners and the experienced collector and a good companion book to "Overstreets Indian Projectile Point Price Guide".

5 comments about The History of Smith & Wesson Firearms.

1. this book, long awaited, is full of errors and mislabelings.. Contains very little useful collector infomrmation. A coffee table book for casual interest.
   No addition whatever to knowledge of this field.
   Best done without.



2. As a collector AND afficionado, this book and the Standard Catalog of Smith and Wesson will get me what I need. One size seldom fits all, and I believe it is unfair to expect such from a single book. This attactive edition provides interesting information, very nice photographs, and (particularly neat) two pages devoted to pictures of the TWELVE REVOLVERS and their engraving, AND an explanatory drawing of the triple lock system. There are other books for the deadly serious collectors; this is simply a nice overview with a lot of good stuff.



3. Of all of the Smith & Wesson books on the market and I own them all, this is the poorest excuse I have ever seen. The text is not only juvenile in content but inaccurate as well. There are some excellent photographs, and as a picture book it's not bad. Just don't read it.



4. There are some nice pictures in this book, and some interesting stories. If you can find it at a discount store, then it may be worth the purchase price.
   
   The writing style leaves a lot to be desired. It's as if the author did not know anything about firearms, and was writing the book using interviews and publications. The inaccuracies are plentiful (almost every paragraph), and some of them are amusing (ever hear of a .99mm?). Entire chapters are nothing more than a description of what is in the S&W catalog.
   
   Reminds me of a travel book I purchased in Prague about 15 years ago. Has great pictures, but it was translated into English by somebody who did not speak English. The words may be English, but you can't read it because it makes absolutely no sense.



5. This book has been pretty roundly panned by reviewers on this forum, and it's true, this book coulda been, shoulda been better, but it's not entirely without merit.
   
   It seems that Dean K. Boorman is more of a historian writing about guns than a pure "gun-guy," and some of the errors in this book seem attributable to poor editing rather than poor research, but then on page 24, for example, he refers to a model being introduced in June, 1861, two months "before" the firing on Fort Sumter to begin the Civil War. Many readers will catch this rather egregious error right away (the event was in April, 1861).
   
   On page 45 he refers to the .32 S&W Long cartridge as being a half-inch longer than the .32 S&W. Actually, the case is .32 longer, and the factory loaded cartridge is .35 longer. There just doesn't seem to be any good excuse for errors such as these (but ".99mm caliber" on page 73 is so idiotic that this just had to be inserted by someone other than the author, right?)
   
   Also, he habitually refers to guns as ".32in caliber" for example. This is at least an odd way to express caliber, and maybe even a little annoying. Using .32 in or .32 caliber makes perfect sense and is in line with convention, but .32 in caliber is a tautology and diminishes the sense that the writer is truly expert.
   
   But I do have some positive things to say about this work. First of all, the many pictures in this book are more than just "coffee-table-book" dress-up; they represent a really fruitful search, and their diversity and quality is admirable. There are interesting pictures in this book, especially those of historical nature, you won't likely see elsewhere.
   
   Another good thing about the pictures included is that there are many photos of representative production guns. This sounds normal enough, but in my opinion some books by collectors go overboard on exceedingly rare and highly embellished pieces that are so far from the mainstream as to be of minimal interest to a reader who is not a millionaire specialist collector, which would include 99.99% of all readers, including me.
   
   A reader who is a beginner on the subject, having read this book cover to cover, would come away with a good working knowledge of the subject -- there is some exceedingly elementary content here. He or she can then unlearn the mistakes and overcome the errata. But there are also tidbits here and there for the more advanced reader. Whether or not such tidbits are worth the price of admission is up to the individual purchaser. The answer is not a flat "no."

2 comments about Mucha's Figures Decoratives.

1. Mucha I love. His art is still very unique even today. It never seems old. This book is a good Dover book to see 40 plates by Mucha. They are presented in their original color. But I wouldn't recommend buying it because Dover has another book on Mucha which has 70 plates in original color. The 70 plates book is excellent and I recommend highly on getting it before it goes out of print.

   The works presented in this book aren't too diverse. They are mostly tinted in either red or blue.




2. This book is a reproduction of Alphonse Mucha's second commissioned portfolio that was published in 1905. It's main use was and continues to be to help artists with composing the body within unusual and interesting shapes. The bulk of the drawings are, as would be expected with Mucha, of women in various dress or in the nude. There are also a few examples of younger children. I found this book to be useful for practice as copying the various figures has helped me gain a better grasp of anatomy. My only complaint would be that there are no studies of men in the plates.

2 comments about Matchbox Labels: Over 2,000 Elegant Examples from All Over the World.

1. Well designed and printed on quality paper, this well-stocked archive is a decent production for collectors, fans, and graphic designers. It's organization is clear and the color labels easily identified.
   
   However, the most obvious shortcoming, and one that I found frustrating, was the amazing lack of North American selections. Nearly the entire 2,000 examples showcased are from former Soviet Union satellites and Asia. This isn't necessarily a bad thing - as you get a very good sense of Soviet-era constructivism and wonderful Asian simplicity & beauty. But the lack of labels from the United States, Canada and Mexico is sorely missed.
   
   Although unbalanced - I would recommend this to devotees of the genre - if only to expose them to labels that aren't often seen. However, for graphic designers and fans of Americana, I would recommend focusing on selections by Chronicle Books.



2. I bought this as I'm interested in popular graphics and the two thousand samples included certainly capture the flavor of this tiny corner of the printed ephemera market.
   
   The book is very well designed and printed but ultimately I was rather disappointed with the contents. There is a sameness about so many of these labels. The huge number from the old Soviet Union and the Eastern Block certainly look similar, only to be expected I guess but other nations output also seem bland and unimaginative. Perhaps the reason is that most of the labels included are brands rather than advertising labels that are so common today. Strangely none of the labels are dated but I would guess that most of them were produced several decades ago and the cheapness of liquid lighters now has reduced match output.
   
   As another reviewer has commented the absence of North American product maybe also explains the lack of pizzazz and color. The matchbook was the flame of choice for Americans and there are no examples of these included.
   
   This will probably be the standard book about matchbox labels because it is so comprehensive. The American matchbook is another story; their colorful design and huge output over the years will still produce occasional new titles. The one I like best is:Close Cover Before Striking: The Golden Age of Matchcover Art (Recollectibles) with several hundred matchbook covers in an attractively designed book.
   
   ***FOR AN INSIDE LOOK click 'customer images' under the cover.