3 comments about The Official Price Guide to Disney Collectibles, Second Edition (Official Price Guide to Disney Collectibles).

1. Ted Hake, the King of Collectibles, has issued a book on Disneyana. I am very excited that this book is on the market. For novice collectors there are lengthy features regarding the history of different aspects of Disney collecting that will bring you up to speed. The articles also work for advanced collectors for detail reminders and a quick, all-in-one reference for those pesky details that will clear that bet you made. This book is hefty, and I know if Ted could have included even more he would have. Each inclusion features a very handy full color photo, detailed description, and a price break-down for varying conditions and parts (i.e. box value AND item value). The book is divided into sections for each character(s) or particular items (posters, four-color comics, Walt Disney, etc.)and items are listed in chronological order making the tome extremely easy to reference. Each section begins with a history of the characters or items, making dating items particularly easy. Prices listed are realistic, fair market value; however you have to make up your own mind what you would sell/pay for any item. I am a Disneyland collector so I especially appreciate the sections on Disney Park items. Perhaps in the future the Disney Parks sections can grow...or perhaps a book only on Disneyland collectibles...! But that is only my own desire, not a complaint. This is the first reference book I reach for these days. Every good Disneyana fan or collector should own it!



2. This has good information for current sales, it does not include all Disney collectibles however.



3. Ted Hake has dealt in Disney collectibles for 40 years, and he has turned his experience into a true collector's companion. This book is a must for both the novice and advanced collector of (early) Disneyana. The selection of items is excellent, discussing great pieces not only from the US but from the entire world.

1 comments about Howie Monroe and the Doghouse of Doom (Tales from the House of Bunnicula).

1. I read Tales From The House Of Bunnicula
   I thought it was a good book because it gets exciting at the end. I think a lot of other kids would read it. Kids and adults would like it. I think ages 8-30 mostly would like it. I recommend reading this book as soon as possible.

4 comments about Collecting Victorian Jewelry: Identification and Price Guide.

1. Gemologist C. Jeanenne Bell presents Collecting Victorian Jewelry: Identification And Price Guide, a full-color showcase of the distinctive jewelry of the Victorian era. Vintage photographs and artwork as well as close-up detailed of pieces, extensive price information, tips on discerning real pieces from imitation and general background information on gemstones and fashion of the time fill this lavish volume. A "must-have" for antique jewelry collectors, and recommended for anyone interested in seeing these wondrous works of art and adornment up close.



2. It was intersting reading. More on style, than on collecting. Interesting if you like history. Lots to learn. And a true collector neds to learn alot.



3. Yet another book by prolific jewellery writer C. Jeanenne Bell. In this book, Bell deals exclusively with Victorian jewellery, that is jewellery produced in England, America and France during the period from 1837 to 1901. This book is primarily a catalogue of Victorian jewellery, with full color photos and prices at the time of publication, interspersed with text that attempts to place the jewellery in a historical context with respect to events and fashions. Unlike some books, which only show the jewelley of royalty, this book shows items which would suit a range of budgets.
   
   This book is primarily aimed at dealers and those wishing to collect jewellery from the Victorian era. However, with over 700 full colour photos (according to the back cover), this is also a great coffee table book for those wanting to look at beautiful things and dream.



4. The 'historical' background is at elementary school level. Many of the photos are in poor quality, with no zoom in whatsoever. The index is basic and lacking and as the book is chronologically arranged, that's unhelpful.
   It can give a very basic and limited idea about the subject but nothing more.

5 comments about Warman's Hot Wheels Field Guide: Values and Identification (Warman's Field Guide).

1. It is not clear in the description of this book that only a relatively small sample of Hot Wheels are featured and the only values listed are for "mint packaged vehicles". Because of these limitations, this book was of little value to me.



2. This book has some good information, but is very incomplete. It does not even contain the deora car that is on the front cover and title page of the book!!! This book only lists mint in package prices and many cars have been left out. It also contains very little variations. If you are looking for a complete price guide, look somewhere else.



3. This little book fits right into your pocket. You can take it with you when you go on your "treasure hunts"



4. When I bought this book I was IN heaven It had all of the pictures I wanted to see except for the cover car.It hardly had any of my cars but Im okay with IT.



5. This small but concise volume is Warman's Hot Wheels Field Guide: Values and Identification (2nd edition), which was released on October 30, 2007. It was purchased as a gift for an avid Hot Wheels collector, shortly after he had noted that it would be good to have a small and simple book to keep in the car as a quick reference book when casually shopping for cars for his collection.
   
   This new edition should not be confused with Warman's Hot Wheels Field Guide, which was published in May 2003. That older version features a Deora on the front cover.
   
   After a couple of weeks worth of use, he commented that its 500+ pages are chock full of good information. Though it's not the ultimate resource on HotWheels cars, it's perfect as a handy quick reference when shopping at the local chain and toy stores for that occasional rare car that does slip through. There's good info on Blackwalls, Redlines and the Number Pack details, and has over 500 color photos of some of the highly prized Hot Wheels cars, along with a decent "Wheel Guide" for easy identification of some of the rarities that pop up on the racks.
   
   If you're looking for something larger and more detailed, you might wish to look into Hot Wheels Variations: The Ultimate Guide (3rd edition), also by Michael Zarnock, and published July 6, 2007.
   
   All in all, this compact volume is perfect for what has been described by the publisher, and a good handy reference for the hobbyist, casual collector or avid Hot Wheels fan. Add to that, it's a great gift.

4 comments about The Fit or Fat Target Diet: The Easiest Plan for Your Best Diet.

1. Great principles. No one cares about Bailey units, however. The book has been superceded by Smart Eating by Bailey and his associate, health promotion educator, Ronda Gates. In addition to an update of Target Diet Principles Smart Eating includes 200 quick-to-fix great tasting recipes that are keyed to the Smart Eating Target concept



2. At first I didn't get this book because of another reviewer's comments. But, I like Covert Bailey's books so much that I decided to go for it. I'm glad I did. There's different material here than in Smart Eating -- greater depth. The prior reviewer mentioned "Bailey units," which is not a concept in the book. I suspect the reviewer was referring to the target units used to analyze food for serving size, calories, and nutritional value. It's similar to other units, points, or exchange models. I found the target unit analysis very useful as a tool for checking up on how I'm doing. I've been very successful eating low fat and have lost 46 pounds, but a recent analysis of my eating using the concepts in this book revealed some room for improving the nutritional quality of my food. Someone new to the target concept might need to do more analysis at first to get used to the model. The circular target chart is a bit clearer in Smart Eating, but The Fit or Fat Target Diet doesn't have all those recipes. Great stuff for analyzing food quality.



3. Sometime in the late 70s to early 80s an anti-fat movement began to gain momentum, to the complete detriment of American health. Mr. Bailey along with Nathan Pritikin, Jane Brody, Dean Ornish, and many others (including that hyperactive woman who kept screaming: "Stop the insanity) became the gurus who have helped lead Americans into the state of health we are in today. Ladies and gentlemen, please read the statistics - Americans have never been so obese, not to mention the fact that type 2 diabetes, heart disease, cancer, etc. are increasing in this country. The "eat all you want", high carb/no fat/low fat solution may work (at best) if you workout maniacally, to the extreme on a daily basis (stop or reduce your daily workout and the weight comes back with a vengeance - EVEN IF - you are still following your no fat/high carb plan! Since the mid 80s I had tried to lose weight and keep it off by following this philosophy and I experienced short periods of weight reduction at best (it was always an unrelenting struggle). I would always gain the weight back faster than ever before - that is - until I got off the "fat free/low carb merry-go-round" and switched to the "Protein Power Program". I've lost the weight painlessly, gained energy, and only have to workout 3 to 4 days a week to maintain (I include free weights, and Pilates). It's hard to believe that after all these years the philosophy behind books such as this one continues to prevail. I only wish I could give this book 0 stars. Please check out the books by Drs. Michael & Mary Dan Eades, Dr. Atkins, and Dana Carpenter, and Dr. Diana Schwarzbein.



4. I'm not sure where I should put this book in terms of how good it is. Undoubtedly, it has some good advice and I would be lying if I said otherwise. At the same time, Bailey is off the deep end, which is fine if you too are off the deep end. But if you're only starting to get into a pattern of weight loss and healthy eating, this book is probably going to turn you away from that.

   The fact of the matter is that Bailey has some good advice shrouded in inanity. If you eat cheese and crackers, chips, cookies, and honey roasted peanuts every night, you're not going to stop that completely and eat non-fat yogurt, non-fat cottage cheese, and ice cream once a year. It's just not going to happen. To think as much is pure folly.

   The problem with this book, and every other diet book out there, is that they all say to do it now. Now now now. This makes little sense, since we have to consider the fact that any change is something we want to maintain for the rest of our lives. So, while yogurt and cottage cheese might be the ultimate goal, I think it's more effective to start with one small change at a time.

   If you're not starting from scratch, but are trying to get a feel for how to hone your current healthy eating habits, this book is for you. This is precisely where I found myself and I think it did open my eyes to a few things. For instance, I think the anti-fat bandwagon is way, way overblown. But in this book, Bailey does make a good point that many of the foods that are high in fat are also very low in nutrition density. This is by far the best argument yet for avoiding things like cheese and honey.

   Still, I think eating 1 bowl of ice cream a year is well into fanaticism. As is his obsession with fat. Cutting down is good. Avoiding it like it's evil is another thing entirely. In fact, it bothers me that Bailey seems to suggest that chemical substitutes are an acceptable way to avoid fat. That's a bothersome notion.

   And really, why on earth would you be against pancakes? I eat buckwheat pancakes with fresh fruit and no syrup. Please explain to me why this is bad. Our psychotic fixation with directing unnecessary derision against one food is clinical sometimes. This book provides some serious examples of that.

   Another thing I do not like is that portion control is not a goal in this book. He essentially admits that it's fine to eat like a slathering hog, just so long as you eat healthy food. I could not agree with that less. One of the problems we have in this society is that we cannot and will not control the amount of food we eat. If we ate reasonable amounts, there would be less of a need to consume 3 pounds of lettuce every night.

   Having said that, I will reiterate that the content of the book is solid, in terms of what should and should not be eaten. Hey, let's face it, 24 ounces of steak every few days is going to kill us. Period. Eating foods high in calories and low in nutrition will fatten us, and leave us unhealthy, yearning for the nutrition our bodies require.

   The concept of nutrition density is one that people should take from the book. We need nutrition, not calories. If we get ample nutrition then we're all set. If, however, we pile on the calories and lack the nutrition, our bodies cry for more food. And we give it more food, usually bad stuff.

   So take the idea of nutrition density from this book. But leave the artificial substitutes there. And leave the notion that you can stuff yourself at every meal. Those are bad ideas, period. Eat a nutritious diet, learn portion control, and keep it natural and you'll do fine, even if you do eat ice cream (small portions) every night.

   Worth the read, but beware of neurotic & poorly thought out advice.

5 comments about Warman's Costume Jewelry Figurals: Identification and Price Guide (Warman's).

1. I knew this book would be good because the author is so knowledgeable about the stories behind the companies and designers. Her photos are great, with a large size that are perfect for checking out the detail in the jewelry. I have been a collector for over 20 years and yet I had never seen most of the pins in this book. The information and the jewelry are "fresh" and I really love this book. I can't recommend it highly enough, make sure you add it to your collection.



2. As a novice collector I really enjoyed this very well written and informative new book. The outstanding colored photographs are large enough to show details in the wonderful selection of jewelry represented.
   
   And now the hunt begins with this book as my invaluable guide.
   
   IT'S A WINNER *****



3. What you spend on this non-fiction work can come back to you a thousand fold because it is a great guide to making money in the big, broad world of costume jewelry. I see it as a must for anyone of any age who wants to collect or sell jewelry, especially figurals.



4. If you love vintage costume jewelry, you are going to love this book. There are excellent pictures and descriptions not seen in prior jewelry books.



5. Before purchasing this book I had heard from others about its contents and it did not disappoint. There is a lot of information and a whole lot of wonderful costume jewelry ---- wide range of subjects and makers. All in all a very good book if you like figural jewelry.

5 comments about McKeown's Price Guide To Antique & Classic Cameras 2005-2006 (Price Guide to Antique and Classic Cameras).

1. i was really pleased, excellent book, fast service and no problems,
   every photographer would love this book, great photos and lots of interesting imfo. thanks donna pryor



2. Although ostensively a price guide to cameras and other photo-related equipment "McKeown's" is much more. Over the years this volume has grown to encyclopedic proportions as it updates and adds to its huge inventory. In fact, I find the price quotes to be the least important of its features. Here in one giant volume we get a vast array of great illustrations, camera histories, and specifications. This is the kind of volume that won't let go once a photography enthusiast flips through its pages. Pretty soon he/she will jump to another section, as each entry induces one to look up something else. As the "Guide" takes pains to suggest, prices quoted here are not carved in stone, and various factors ultimately determine the price one pays for such photographic treasures.
   I only hope the publishers will avoid the temptation of printing future releases in color, as the black and whites add to the antique "feel" of the book. Though a bit pricey, it's undeniable how much work goes into producing this comprehensive book, and for all the pleasures that this book delivers the price is well worth it!



3. McKeown's Price Guide To Antique & Classic Cameras 2005-2006 (Price Guide to Antique and Classic Cameras)
   If you buy and sell classic cameras, you need this book. MUCH easier to find exactly what you have and way more info than the "Blue Book". A real wealth of information. Covers almost all camera body and lens made. Includes all special releases including "dummy" bodies. Info on some movie cameras and camera collectibles. Not much info on accessories for "system" cameras, however has listings for major stuff. Very good index. This book is the best there is out there for camera collectors. And a very good value to boot.



4. McKeowan's Guide since its first issue has been, and still is, a fantastic tome which is a must for every camera collector. I was astounded many years ago when visiting Leningrad to see that a camera vendor selling old Russian cameras from a small table on the pavement had made a full photocopy for his use! To me it is the best catalogue of cameras ever published and I will continue to buy each update as they become available.



5. This book has awesome coverage of makes and models although the amount of information given of a particular classic (e.g., Hasselblad) seems thin. I guess I'm saying an encyclopedia is needed.

4 comments about 60 Great Sci-Fi Movie Posters (Illustrated History of Movies Through Posters, Volume 20).

1. This is a TERRIFIC book, at a terrific price, filled with - you guessed it - terrific, clean, sharp, colorful images of some of the best science fiction and fantasy movie posters ever created. In that respect, it meets and exceeds a five-star rating.
   
   Alas... I'm still disappointed by it. Here's why. I already have a lot of the Bruce Hershenson books, as well as a number of other movie poster books. This book is Volume 20 in Hershenson's series, yet to those who have earlier volumes, it's a bit misleading to call it that. For earlier volumes, Hershenson took care to try not to duplicate images that had already appeared in the volumes that preceded it. There were occasional duplications, but even those were sometimes welcome to get the images in various sizes (for earlier volumes, the reproduction size would vary from 1 poster on a page to as many as 9 posters on a page). One of the great advantages of this volume is that ALL the posters are presented at full page size, 1 per page. There's even a wide margin at the spine side of the page so you don't have to force the book open wider to see the inside edge of the poster art. (Two thumbs up for that design feature!) My complaint is that the selection in this book - 60 posters - is almost entirely duplicated from earlier Hershenson volumes, AND are generally the same posters for the same movies that all the other poster books have printed ad nauseum over the years.
   
   In that respect, the "60 Great" movie poster books are really "Best Of" collections, which is why I think they should not have been numbered as part of the continuing series. Like a "Greatest Hits" collection from a band, these are spectacular collections, just don't be expecting anything other than the most familiar titles.
   
   Bottom line - it's unquestionably well worth having, but if you're an old hand at movie poster books, don't expect anything out of the ordinary.



2. All of Bruce Henderon's books are worth a dozen times what he sells them for; flawless, stunning reproductions of great movie posters. Buy them ALL! this is my favorite, though.



3. With the exception of the more recent movie posters, I thought it was a fairly good collection of 54 classic science fiction posters.



4. War of the worlds, This Island Earth and Star Wars! Every big name movie or B-movie poster you could think of. And a few I've never heard of. Only one point away because some of the posters look like they were unfolded after being left in somebody's basement for a dozen years. Surly they could have found better copies or used computers to take out the flaws. But still, its cheap and holds a lot of poster images, so I really should not complain. Can't help but love the half naked women. Many of which were not in any of the films. Just there to hook the people.

5 comments about Stereo Views: An Illustrated History & Price Guide (Stereo Views).

1. This is a brand new, year 2002, 336 page book with over 3,000 detailed listings of stereo view collectibles. It has more than 500 black and white photos with a wealth of useful and interesting text on this popular collectible. Chapters include care, condition, and dates of views, evaluating views, leading photographers and publishers and much information on modern era 3-D visual collectibles, including Tru-Vue, Novelviews, View-Master, GAF and more. The volume is completely indexed for easy location of items. Very comprehensive updated value guide. This updated edition is a must for stereo view enthusiasts. Add it to your library.



2. There are prices listed, as well as tips about how to grade collectibles. While prices are always debatable, it is still a great reference. With more than 300 photos on a total 336 pages it is also a wonderful book to browse.

   A true "must have" book for any stereo collector!




3. The revised edition is excellent, apart from forming a useful catalogue of stereographs to seek out, it is also a wonderful history of the many subjects photographed in 3-D over the years. I rated it at 4 stars rather than 5 because I consider the reduced content of the index to be a retrograde step. Having said that it is a 'must have' for all stereographers.



4. This is an excellent history of the 19th and early 20th century phenomeon "stereo views" in which two copies of a photograph were produced on a letter-sized card and viewed through a hand-held viewer to see the picture in 3-D effect. You still see these old photo cards occasionally at flea markets and antique shops and they have been avidly collected for generations although this form of entertainment died out around the 1920's. Mr. Waldsmith gives us detailed listings of many of the stereo view cards, price value, and information on many photographers. A wonderful bonus for the baby boom generation is the inclusion of the history of Viewmasters, the "updated" version of SVs a fond memory for children for over 50 years and still being issued today. Waldsmith includes a complete list of Viewmaster photo reels and packets issued up through the book's publication as well as the less popular rivals of Viewmaster in the past. Highly recommended even if you don't collect either stereo views or viewmaster reels and invaluable if you do.



5. This is a "must-have" book for the serious collector of stereo views and those just now getting interested in this fascinating subject. Waldsmith really knows his stuff. Highly recommended.
   
   -David Burkhart, author of Earthquake Days: The 1906 San Francisco Earthquake & Fire in 3-D.

No comments about Warman's Rookwood Pottery: Identification and Price Guide (Warmans).