5 comments about Petretti's Coca-Cola Collectibles Price Guide.

1. I'm very dissapointed in this book! After waiting 3 months beyond the original publish date, I find there are no blotter pages. I understand there will be no more blotters in future books, also. As I've been buying and selling blotters based on the Petretti's prices, I feel I cannot give this book a good rating. Also, why do we now have to jump all over the place to find the trays? They used to be simplified in one area.



2. A lot of pictures. Prices that reflect nothing on reality. Not one Cleveland Electric Neon Clock. Not one American Time Clock. I have 3 originals hanging in front of me. Missing some of the major buttons. Typical collectors book. Pictures of everything that's out there, except the rare items you buy these books to find out about. Total dissapointment. I have stacks of collector books that have proven useless. There all written by the "authority" on the subject on hand. I think this explains the ... in collecting and the stacks of used books available. If you're going to make a "Know It All" book, than you better know at least %90. Monster let down.



3. Right off the bat: I agree that the omission of blotters and assorted other collectibles from this guide is a gaping omission as big as a barn. I hardly use this guide anymore for several reasons:

   1) The back index is as bad as they come. Totally incomplete.

   2) You want to find a certain tray? Be prepared to bounce from one end of the book to the other looking for what you need. There is no apparent logic to the way this guide is arranged. I'm sure the author felt it was completely logical, but his logic escapes me.

   3) The front index is just painful to figure out. There is a usability book out there called "Don't Make Me Think". The author of this Coke guide should study it.

   4) Too much rhetoric and opinion about "fantasy" items. I find this section of the guide painful to sift through. Just the facts, please. And then there's the illogical order of everything .

   The best that can be said about this guide is that it's big. It is poorly organized and has way too many omissions to be my primary guide. If a 12th edition ever comes out, I'm going to check it out before buying, to see if these problems have been fixed.

   I much prefer Wilsons' guide over this one.




4. I have owned most editions of this book, and as a resource for researching Coca Cola memorabilia, I would have to say it is unsurpassed. I haven't seen any other guides come close in the number of items shown.

   I do question the pricing of these items, however. I don't see how everything can continually increase in price from one edition to another, especially when you consider internet sales activity (a very large part of Coca Cola memorabilia sales nowadays). As a collector, I never pay at price-levels shown in this edition, and I certainly do not obtain these prices when I occasionally sell an item off on an internet auction site. I just feel that the prices are a bit inflated. No one could keep track of the huge amounts of Coca Cola memorabilia sales in all venues around the country. I tend to take pricing in guidebooks with a grain of salt, especially, as in this case, when the author is also a major collector. Just a little too much potential for conflict of interest.




5. I like the fact that the book shows so many color pictures. That is great! Unfortunately, as, with many of these types of books, it doesn't list many of the collectible coca cola items. The book could also be organised better. There are several different places to find clocks for example. If you go by the table of contents you might miss what you are looking for. When you go by the index you have to sift through different sections of the book looking for it. However, the back of the book was very helpful with the section on slogans for different years. It is a good book, but I wish it listed more of the collectibles or at least mentioned them. Still, I recently ordered a few other books on coke collectibles and this one seems to have more info than they did.

5 comments about 2006 US Specialized Catalogue (Scott Specialized Catalogue of United States Stamps) (Scott Specialized Catalogue of United States Stamps).

1. This is an excellent resource for collectors of U. S. Materials. The color illustrations are very helpful.



2. Purchase process was excellent, product new and received rapidly, so experience (seller + Amazon) for this purchase was overall a 5. [Note: Unfortunately, the printers had to give a corrective insert because they couldn't print the catalog correctly.]



3. Well presented and easy to use. Well done, highly recommend



4. Outstanding guide for US stamps- a must have. An Index would be helpful, though.
   
   Richard



5. Bought this for the love of my life
   She is checking out some stamps that I inherited
   She says it rates four stars, so I won't argue with her
   She says that it was worth the money that I spent but that it needed more pictures

4 comments about Florence's Big Book of Salt & Pepper Shakers: Identification & Value Guide.

1. The monetary valuations of Salt & Pepper Shakers in this book are virtually useless to either a collector or seller. I have never seen a book so totally unresearched on both pricing and product description. The majority of the photos of the S&P's do not describe the material utilized in their construction, so one is left wondering if they are looking at plastic, metal or other material.
   No person interested in Salt & Pepper collecting should buy this as their first book. If you do, you'll be in for a big surprise when you try to buy an S&P that has been valued in this book for $12, but is belling for $48.
   For the more seasoned collector, it does have some decent pictures, but is more or less a rehash of better produced S&P Collecting books.
   If you've been collecting S&P's for over 6 months, you'll realize that this is a piece of utter tripe; execpt for the photos of the S&P's.



2. The book has tons of pictures. Some of the sets shown are not "true" sets. It is a great book to get a general idea of all the many themes of salt and pepper collecting. High end and low end are all well represented. It was fun to see sets I never knew existed that I would like to have. It gave me more stuff to look for in auctions. It's always fun to add to collections!



3. This was the first book I bought on Salt and Pepper Shakers. I didn't find it helpful at all. Unless you just want a collection of S&P books, don't waste your money.



4. Book was a big hit with a growing collector - some shaker's categories could be expanded upon with more detail and photos - but overall a success...

5 comments about Mickey Mouse Treasures, The.

1. The Robert Tieman Disney volumes are incredible; it's like opening up somebody's personal photo album and looking at their valued treasures. I love the format of these; being able to pull out paper ephemera that is extremely well-produced. Although I would not recommend these books FOR children, I think they would make excellent books to share WITH your children. This Mickey Mouse volume is especially fascinating, as you can follow the growth of the famous cartoon character and how he has changed over the years.



2. I'm a collector of Disneyland books and postcards, so I often get Disney goodies in the mail (from eBay and Amazon, etc.). But nothing is as much fun to look at for the first time than Tieman's "Treasures" series! These books are SO unique and so well done, you have to see them for yourself to understand how cool they are.
   
   My favorite thing about the pull-out media is that they're reproduced with so much detail. With the hand-written notes from Walt Disney, for example, you really feel like you're looking at Walt Disney's actual hand writing!
   
   Robert Tieman: Please keep these books coming! How about a "Disneyland Treasures" next? :-)



3. Robert Tieman's Mickey Mouse Treasures is another winner. We all knew it would be, but the 6 pages about "the Mickey that never was" did come as a beautiful surprise.



4. If you are a Disney/Mickey fan this book is a MUST! Amazon offers (NO DOUBT) the best price you will find! You can nearly purchase two for the price of one on Amazon (at least I was fortunate to do so).
   
   If you are into memorbilia this book is a real keepsake! Nearly every other page has a sweet surprise reproduced to take you back in time.
   
   These books are an investment.



5. This is the third and final book in the series written by Robert Tieman. The first two books were fun and wonderful, but this was his best of the lot in my opinion. Of course, I am a Mickey Mouse fan and this book is all about Mickey. This book contains really wonderful reproductions of old Mickey Mouse memorabilia, the originals of which I could never afford. If you like Mickey you really must own this book!

5 comments about Classic M1 Garand: An Ongoing Legacy For Shooters And Collectors.

1. Between the covers of "The Classic M1 Garand" by Jim Thompson, lies the intertwined stories of many whose lives have been touched by the legacy of this beautiful rifle. The opening pages tell the sensitive, true story of two men touched by time and linked by family, who had lived through two different wars. They grew to discover another thing which they had in common was their respect for the M1 Garand, a weapon that for each of them served to retain the memories of a time and place too horrible to remember...... and too much a part of what they were as men, to forget.
   I am not a gun collector or a shooter. I am merely a woman who has had the incredible luck to browse through this excellently composed book which is full of history. The descriptions of the birth and re birth of the M1 are perfect in their detail and interesting in that the author weaves anecdotes and personal stories into the factual data. This is a wonderful way to keep the reader's attention riveted. It is apparant that this weapon has been around the world in it's various incarnations, each of them given ample space for photographs and exacting descriptions. And , speaking of photographs, this book is full of them. Many more so than I would have thought to find. There are photos of the various parts, markings and accessories to the gun and many pictures dedicated to the beauty of the rifle itself. Believe me, it is a wonderful machine with it's clean lines and spare design. Gorgeous wood and shining metal. This M1 Garand is a beautiful piece of art. It is no wonder that the M1 Garand is sought after by collectors the world over! The author, Jim Thompson, is credited with several of the photographs and appears in some as well. He is as capable an artist with the camera as he is with the pen. I enjoyed reading and looking through "The Classic M1 Garand", and will keep it visible to all who come to my home. It has become my newest and most treasured coffee table book. Thank you Mr. Thompson. Please write more books......for a long time to come.



2. While the M1 Garand is certainly a classic american rifle this book hardly rates in the same catagory.

   As a new M1 owner I was looking for a book full of technical information on operation and maintenance along with some history. This book is short on all of the above but very long on attitude. Mr. Thompson makes his opinions clear on everything from his local police department to the general state of world affairs. I do not dispute the validity, or factuality, of Mr. Thompsons statements. I would be more than willing to sit down and discuss them. I do not, however, enjoy spending my hard earned money on a book entitled "The Classic M1 Garand" which is overly rife with page upon page of geo-political posturing.

   The book is actually pretty scant on technical data and most of the photos are too dark and unfocused to be of any real value. This book is simply too full of useless information. I had intended to purchase Mr. Thompsons previous book, The Complete M1 Garand. Since I don't believe in throwing good money after bad I think I'll pass.

   I suggest that you do the same.




3. The COMPLETE M1 GARAND and THE CLASSIC M1 GARAND are a pair of the most practical and straightforward firearms books I have ever read or seen. Most important, they saved me money, trouble, and thumbs. This writer does not fool around! Rather than elaborate charts of which 99% are useless to the typical gunnie, this guy gets to the meat, and in a hurry. And yet, the material is easy to handle.

   He even covers and shows fake and real and rare and common parts, the way they ACTUALLY look, instead of all fancified and restored. I had lots of trouble with other books, where the parts arrays were new or better-than-new, and didn't seem even similar to mine.

   I invested, I think, %45.00 in these books. Dollarwise, I have saved maybe $2000 or more, and a lot of problems. This guy knows the gun, knows the market, knows the parts, and tells you what you need to know, in practical, plain English, not mumbo-jumbo garbage.

   I got all the M1 books. This one is the easiest to use, and makes more sense than all the others together.




4. These are the best of the M1 books, the easiest to read and
   understand, with the detail laid out in a way that anybody can
   understand. And the guns he shows look like the real thing.

   The notes on the gun confiscation movement and local politics bring this World War II veteran rifle into modern context, and make it very obvious what the motiviations of the antigunners really are.

   Scholarly without being pretentious, I found myself absorbing techniques and information without even noticing it.
   And I did most of his maintenance stuff, and it all worked. With the trouble shooting information in Thompson's other book, THE COMPLETE M1 GARAND, the books have saved me thousands of dollars and lots of hours.

   He goes beyond other researchers, who seem to dig up all their stuff at the armories, the factories, and from dry delivery records, and who pay no attention to the reports of veterans and actual units in the field. This makes his work very practical. He also puts holes in some of the "stand operating b.s." and lies of the past, which someone out there is surely going to find troubling, but what he says, I found out, works, makes sense, and is the truth. He has spent a lot of time getting this stuff from gunsmiths and armorers, and a lot of it I had heard previously but discarded because it wasn't in the dry books of other authors. It seems he is right on virtually every score, and much of the "official" stuff is smokescreen. My gunsmith (who built M1's during World War II, and wound up carrying one in Korea) loves the M1, and says Thompson obviously listened to "the right guys"... He also affirms Thompson's data and analysis of the gas traps and their performance, and that everything else in the book is obviously the way it really was.




5. These books are way better than Canfield's, and
   have way less errors. And they include the Italian
   rifles and the ones a guy is likely to actually GET,
   too, and in MUCH MORE detail.

2 comments about Legendary Farm Tractors: A Photographic History.

1. This book has lots of pictures which is what I wanted. So for us this book was exactly what we needed.



2. This book is beautiful. It is hardback and visually very appealing for any tractor enthusiast. I bought this as a Christmas gift, and I would buy it again!

5 comments about The Big Book of Pokemon: The Ultimate Player and Collector's Guide.

1. I have many books that have old cards and not current info. but this book as I all all the all the cards ,I say this is the best pokemon price book ever!



2. I think this is a very good book which gives you information about the trading card game and prices(the important things) the only thing which prevents it from getting 5 stars is that new sets are going to come out and this book won't be able to cover them all but it's the best book about the cards which are out there right now



3. This review is being typed on behalf of my 9 year old daughter! She says very informative and a great book for a Pokemon lover!



4. When this book was written, Pokemon was the biggest thing on the planet. The book serves primarily as a history book in my opinion. The book is definitely "big" as the cover says. 300 pages!

   There's full color images of the original 151 Pokemon with their stats. There images of the main characters and Bios. There's images of all the U.S. & Japanese Pokemon cards that existed back then. All the Burger King toys & cards are displayed. And there's Killer Decks for those that want to look back at the theory behind the Power decks.

   If you or your kids are just getting into Pokemon, this will keep them entertained for hours. If you've been into Pokemon since 1998 ... then you'll have fun looking back on the good times. ;-)

   Updated - "Make sure to pick up Pojo's Total Pokemon, as it picks up where this book left off, and was updated for 2004!"




5. Surely outdated by now. I'm slow on giving reviews. But the kids enjoyed it. My son just recently gave it away to someone on the secret santa list at school. He was ecstatic. Of course, my son also gave him over 1000 pokemon cards too. LOL

5 comments about How to Talk So Kids Will Listen and Listen So Kids Will Talk.

1. This book follows the same vein of empathic parenting as Alfie Kohn's book Unconditional Parenting; Kids, Parents & Power Struggles (Kurcinka); and Kids Are Worth It! (Coloroso). The difference with this book is that it's less about theory and more about the practical application of those empathic principles. I haven't read Alfie Kohn's book but I've seen one of his lectures so I'm familiar with his ideas, and I understand the criticism that Kohn's work is light on examples. Sure, you may agree with him (or not), but how do you apply those ideas in real life when your child is defying you?
   
   That's where "How to Talk So Kids Will Listen..." comes in. It provides all kinds of examples, some in comics form, to give you ideas for reacting constructively to various situations. The book is somewhat dated having been written almost 30 years ago, but it's still helpful stuff. You may not agree with every example, but you probably don't agree with everything you've read in other parenting books either. Take what works for you and discard what doesn't.
   
   Of the other books I mentioned above, I recommend Kids, Parents & Power Struggles as the book to read before this one. Kids, Parents & Power Struggles will give you a good foundation for understanding empathic parenting without making you feel inadequate or guilty.



2. Gently and easily teach your children to become self-monitoring and self-disciplined (so you can stop nagging)!
   
   This little gem is a great stress reliever, for parents as well as children.
   
   Faber and Mazlish provide reliable information to help us re-think what discipline is and how to teach it. The sample scripts are very helpful. Using this little book, you will find effective strategies to
   -- set and enforce limits
   -- enable your children to become self-monitoring and self-disciplined
   -- enable your children to be responsible for their decisions and consequences
   -- strengthen your relationship with your children
   
   Who wouldn't want these results?
   
   While the book is a quick and easy read, the principles are ones you will return to and will rely on. This is one to own.
   
   Don't miss it!



3. This is an invaluable book for every parent. Raising children these days calls for open communication and creating that environment where children can flourish. This hits the mark.I just finished another book that should be read also by every parent and teacher.Bully-Proofing Children: A Practical, Hands-On Guide to Stop Bullying is really about empowering children from day one so they don't become bullies or victims.



4. This audio tape made me realize why I wasn't getting anywhere with my lengthy lectures as to why we don't do this or that. So far this has proved to work. I will recommend to others.



5. when you start using the methods your life changes! I did it with my 6 year old and so far it changed our lives! a must read!

5 comments about In Flagrante Collecto (Caught in the Act of Collecting).

1. The first thing to hit me was how beautiful this book is. The photographs of the thousands of collectibles are delectable. It made me want to run out and find some of this stuff, or find new things to start collecting. The author unfolds her theories about why people collect, and describes many wonderful childhood scenes of Bronx life and early collections of marbles, baseball cards, sewing kits, you name it. Adult adventures collecting all over the world, and the collecting adventures of her friends and family, are included, and make for a wonderful warm biography of a collection of collectors. The descriptions of the original uses and methods of manufacturing of various collectibles is fascinating, and it's lovely to see simple and sometimes disposable things treated with such interest and respect. The history and character of our country shine through in the old graphics and designs of postcards, matchbooks, lawn sprinklers, and countless other items, and after spending time with them in this book, I can feel more deeply what's been lost to more efficient means of production. I'll never browse a flea market or garage sale quite the same way again. It's a wonderful conversation piece, a fun book to have around for guests to peruse. It gives you permission to bring out those old shoeboxes of stuff from under your bed and show them to your pals, even though you're not a kid any more. I loved this book, it was part anthropology, part history of design, part memoir, part encyclopedia, part travelogue, all work of endearing art.



2. I have purchased at least seven copies of this fascinating book to give as gifts to a wide variety of friends. For those interested in collecting, the book offers fresh insights into the forces that motivate people to acquire, while illustrating a remarkable diversity of eccentric collections that surprise and delight. For the novice or general reader, the breadth and types of collections are amazing. The book is superbly designed and the objects beautifully photographed and presented. The author is a farsighted collector with an awesome range of historical knowledge and an accessible, highly informative writing style. I highly recommend this book for readers of all persuasions who simply enjoy being intellectually and visually stimulated.



3. This is a beautifully produced look book. The unusual and very particular collecting subject matter is very personal. Quirky, wonderfully photographed and of superior quality.



4. Reading this book was like day at my favorite swap meet, antique collective or a random search on eBay. I visually recognize the material but appreciate it more for being brought together in groups. The collector's mind automatically seeks groupings and hierarchies of individual examples and this book plays to that weakness easily. The little stories are at times educational and fascinating and at other times too personal and esoteric. My only problem is that after reading this book, I tend to want to own too many of the objects featured.



5. This is the best book I have found on Collecting. The writer gets into the state of mind of a collector, then presents profusely illustrated collections of an almost unbelievable scope. Like - you mean people really collect THIS? Yes they do and it's there. COOL book that will broaden your horizon - and you'll never throw anything away again because someone out there collects it.

5 comments about How to Be a Jewelry Detective (Antiques Detectives How to Series).

1. As a vintage jewelry dealer at Atlanta Vintage Jewelry dot com and one who is always in need of information to further advance my knowledge, this little book by Jeaneanne Bell fits the bill nicely.
   
   The tests she gives the reader are invaluable. Not just 'how' to test, but she actually 'tests' the reader to see how we're absorbing and retaining the information in the book. If you don't know the answers to her questions, you can always go back and review. This is an excellent method for teaching us how to identify materials, marks, and substances in old jewelry to discover their origin or value.
   
   This little book has big rewards.
   
   Gail Gupton, Author: The 31-Day Diet of Spiritual Enlightenment and Seekers of Truth.



2. I found this book to be invaluable as both a collector and jewelry dealer on Trocadero. I write my jewelry descriptions every day with this book sitting at my side. A very good idea to carry it with you while going shopping for your treasures. If you are a beginner putting a collection together, it is a must have.



3. This book has most of the basic information that you need in order to identify metals and stones as well as other valuable information. Written in clear,easy to understand language. This is one that you need to read over and over again . It has already paid for itself.



4. This book has NOT been shipped at all, so I cannot in any way honestly review this book.
   Amazon keeps promising this book to ship and it never does.
   I am looking forward to it and to check it out.



5. I love this guide! I actually picked it up in a antique store but I decided not to buy it that day because I had too much already to buy. I regretted that from the moment I left the store. I then spent the next three months trying to remember what the name of it was. I happened onto it while searching for jewelry on the internet. If you collect costume jewelry, then you must get this guide because she teaches you all about how to tell the difference in Bakelite, pearls, etc., vs. fake/faux stones or materials. A must-have for the serious collector who will refer to it again and again.