No comments about Modern Lionel Trains.

1 comments about Dolls and Accessories, 1910-1930 (Schiffer Book for Collectors).

1. I own the 2 previous books written by this author, (on the subject of "DOLLS AND ACCESSORIES"). Well, the 2 previous books by Zillner were much more complete. I would, thus, rate this "Volume 3" lower than the previous Zillner volumes on this subject.
   
   WHY? ... because when the author tried to tackle the doll Eras "from 1910-1930", I think she bit off more than she could chew.
   
   In my opinion she should have broken down the doll Era (ie: 1910-1930) in two parts and thus added more information. Either that, or she could have made this "Volume 3" more complete. The doll Era from 1910-1930 simply needed more coverage than attempted by Zillner.
   
   Zillner has a great writing style. Her photos are always wonderful. So my only complaint , as stated above, is that Zillner just needed to make this book a bit longer and she should have included more dolls and especially more accessories from this doll Era.

5 comments about Les Petites Dames de Mode: An Adventure in Design.

1. I found this book very useful as a source for inspiration. Good quality pictures of very Victorian looking dresses. It is not a "how to" book, but if you have some experience in sewing, there you can find good ideas how it all must look then finished.



2. This book is a total delight for fans of couture, especially La Belle Epoch. Nothing will compare to seeing the exquisite Les Petites Dames in person, but this book comes close! I was fortunate enough to acquire some of these pictures when they were marketed in small groups, so I was thrilled to find that Mr. Burbidge had since expanded the collection and subsequently published it in its entirety (also the book goes into more detail). Just loved it!!



3. If you're into miniatures, or just fabulous seamestry, you will love this book and this man's work with textiles, and fashion of a romantic era like none you've seen. These are fashions we will never see again in our society, (thank goodness - can't imagine wearing this stuff). But at the same time, I love to see how elegant and fabulous ladies looked in these garments. This man was responsible for making some of the most fabulous wedding gowns in our country for over a decade and now has preserved for us a fashion era that won't be brought back in it's entirety ever again. A must see for those that are into preserving a culture and miniatures.



4. This book by Mr. Burbidge is a feast for the eyes. The book features dozens of 29-inch fashion dolls wearing costumes from the 1850s to around 1914. Being oversized dolls, each costume can have incredible detail. Mr. Burbidge has labored to create accurate period detail in each dress. Each doll is shown in a full-page picture with period hairstyles and accessories. Each accompanying page includes a description of the outfit, small inset pictures of close details, an interesting quote from historical sources about the time period and usually some tidbit about where the author found the material for the gown. Frequently the author will explain things about high society of the era and how certain items would be viewed - for instance, whether a gown would be considered racy because of its color or how young ladies didn't wear expensive jewelry with a gown until after they were married.
   
   There are only 2 things that I found lacking about this book and they are really trivial items in my mind. The first is that the color of the full-page images is sometimes a bit "off". The dolls often feature very soft colors and the images have a warm tone that can wash them out. The inset detail shots usually have a better color representation.
   
   The second is that the reader should not expect accurate period undergarments on the dolls. The crinolines and petticoats are fairly accurate, but there are no corsets shown.
   
   All in all, the book is beautiful and informative. If you didn't know better, you would almost think the images were of full-size mannequins dressed in real period costumes. And the accompanying text is suitable for anyone, even if they have no knowledge of the eras shown.



5. This is a wonderful book. The photography shows every detail of the exquisite designs, which are breath-taking. The commentary is very interestsing and gives an insight into life in the 1800's according to the way women dressed. I would love to be able to wear any of the fabulous dresses shown.

5 comments about Nancy Ann Storybook Dolls.

1. I agree with the reviewer who said this book was a disappointment. The editors should be smacked for including all of those horrid b&w photos. As someone who was looking for help identifying Nancy Ann dolls and could have really used this book, it was a great disappointment because of the photos.



2. I felt the book was incomplete, it only had two pages of color pictures and the description led me to believe it would have more of a complete listing and photos of the complete line.



3. Considering how long ago the dolls were produced this is a helpful book for those trying to identify their dolls. It is true that 95% of the pictures are in black & white which makes it much more difficult to recognize but it is better then no picture. Also there are several mistakes in the discriptions of some dolls and wrong accessories on some of the dolls. Lets just hope that a new and improved version (with color photos) will soon be available.



4. THIS IS A GREAT BOOK ON NANCY ANN DOLLS. IT HAS A LOT OF PICTURES. THE ONLY THING IS THE PICTURES ARE IN BLACK AND WHITE. IT WOULD BE A LOT BETTER IF THE PICTURES WERE IN COLOR. IT WOULD BE EASIER TO FIND THE DOLL YOU ARE LOOKING FOR. WOULD BE GREAT IF SOMEONE WOULD WRITE AND UPDATE THIS BOOK ON NANCY ANNY STORYBOOK DOLLS WITH COLOR PICTURES. SEEMS A SHAME THAT THE TOY COMPANIES CAN'T BRING THESE DOLLS BACK FOR US TO BUY. THE LITTLE GIRLS MIGHT NOT LIKE THEM, BUT I AM SURE US ADULTS WOULD LOVE TO HAVE SOME NEW NANCY ANN'S. I KNOW I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE SOME MYSELF.



5. The author (who is now deceased) wrote this book with the information she had collected. Since then, it has been further researched, new facts were collected, new pictures taken, and now Elaine Pardee's "Encyclopedia of Nancy Ann Storybook Dolls" is the result of this research. This book was wonderful when it was published, and I still love it.
   Mary

No comments about Barbie Her Life and Times.

3 comments about Collector Steiff Values, 2nd.

1. This is a great reference book for contemporay Steiff collectors. It focuses on the 1980-1990 Steiff pieces, their editions & values, photos.



2. I am fairly new to collecting Steiff and found this book was caught between the begginer and slightly more ecperienced collector. Some very good pictures and an in depth price guide which could have been just a little better organised. Several Steiff pieces that I looked for I couldn't find, I am not sure if it because they were made outside the time scale for this book. I would say a good addition and informative although I am back here at Amazon looking for something better.



3. Mr. Consalvi's book was a godsend when I first started to determine the values of my Steiff teddy bears. However, we are now in the year 2001, and the book is in danger of becoming outdated with regard to its price guides and the values of Steiff collectibles. Additionally, many new bears and animals have been made since 1990 but are not included in this edition, except for the Disney animals up to 1995.

   A new, revised and up-to-2000 or 2001 3rd edition needs to be released ASAP.

   In the meantime, puzzled Steiff collectors should look for a copy of "Steiff Sortiment 1947-1999" by Gunther Pfeiffer. ("Sortiment" here means "Assortment".) When used in conjunction with Mr. Consalvi's book, both provide a comprehensive look at Steiff's many world-famous toys, both old and new, but Pfeiffer's price guides are accurate up to 1999. Also, the new "Sortiment" has (at last!) an English translation from the German, making it much easier to locate your Steiff bear or animal.

5 comments about Gene Marshall: Girl Star.

1. This is a very entertaining and beautifully illustrated story of the rise of Gene Marshall. Anyone who has enjoyed reading Hollywood history and movie star biographies will love this. The story is told in snippets from studio memos, a gossip column, and excerpts from the biographies of Madra Lord, Trent Osborn, Eric Von Sternberg and others. It all begins with Gene's childhood and ends with the debut of her first film "Blonde Lace". There are some new characters introduced into Gene's story such as Trent Osborne, an aging actor who has dated Madra Lord and Ivy Jordan, a character actress who becomes Gene's friend. The photographs are cleverly done and the illustrations are wonderful. Anyone who has studied Hollywood lore will see the similiaries to real life stories and situations and that makes it all the more fun. The only reason I don't give the book 5 stars is because it ends too early. An entire synopsis of Gene's career would have been welcome. It really leaves you wanting more.



2. This is a terrific book. I am a big fan of Gene - as well as the way she is presented. The use of shadow and light in the wonderful photography makes her looks very real. In addition, the thing that makes Gene special is that she has a whole story - of how she was discovered and became an actress. They have interviews with various friends, enemies and family, again, making her become very real. Two thumbs up!



3. I just saw the Gene Marshall - Girl Star book at Borders. It is beautifully photographed with excellent illustrations. This book will make an excellent addition to any coffee table in any home. The story line is very well thought out and it can rival any fiction of the 1940s. Also, the book should be displayed right along with the Gene dolls that all of the collectors have, it would make a great conversation piece for visiting guests in your home.



4. I had wanted this book since I first heard about, so when I got it for my birthday, I was very pleased. The book is just beautiful, Mel Odom's illustrations are fabulous, as are the photographs which make Gene seem to come alive. After reading through the "interviews" and letters from people who worked with Gene, you almost find yourself believing that she was a real person, and want to go and rent a movie staring her, which sadly one cannot do. It is a wonderful book to add to your collection, and it makes Gene's story even more real. I highly recomend it to any Gene fan. Even if you do not collect Gene dolls, this book would make for an entertaining read.



5. For the fans of Miss Gene Marshall, this walk down Hollywood's memory lane will not be a disappointing one. Gene's early days from childhood to her initial experiences on the set of her first motion picture, Blond Lace, serve to chronicle the much anticipated story of one of the 20th centuries most beloved celebrities.

   A carousel of sweetly flavored reminisces from "those in the know" are often interwoven by the tartness of tensel town's own diva, Madra Lord.

   This well written text left this particular reader wanting more, more, MORE!

5 comments about Girls' Toys of the Fifties and Sixties: Memorable Catalog Pages from the Legendary Sears Christmas Wishbooks 1950-1969.

1. Thomas Holland's book Girls' Toys of the fifties and sixties is a faithful reproduction of the fantastic Sears Christmas catalog toy pages from 1950 to 1969. The large 8 1/2 x 11 inch format of the book allows it to show close ups of the popular toys from each of these years. These pictures are an invaluable resource to help collectors of toys from this era decide what pieces actually came with the toys. As a collector of tin dollhouses, I found the pictures a huge help in identifying the furniture and tiny accessories for each of my houses. The only drawback to the book is the fact that it is in black and white. I enjoyed this book immensely, it was like being a kid again, devouring each page of toys and memories.



2. This is really a great book for the Baby Boomer Generation! I have a super time just looking at all the childhood toys that I had totally forgotten existed. My Favorites are from the 1960's! If you are a Chatty Cathy collecctor then this is a Must Have book....Her Sears ads are in here!



3. As a collector of hard plastic dolls, I'd hoped that this would be a helpful guide to identifying dolls of the 1950s and determining their original accessories. But there are very few dolls depicted and the coverage is inconsistent. There are no dolls in the first selection (for 1950), 2 pages for 1951, none for 1952, none for 1953, 2 pages for 1954, 5 pages for 1955, 1/2 page for 1956, none for 1957, none for 1958, none for 1959, 5 pages for 1960 (that year's excerpt from the Wish Book is all dolls), 1/2 page for 1962, 1 page for 1963, none for 1965, 2 pages for 1966, none for 1967, 2 pages for 1968, and 2 pages for 1969.

   The explanation for this cursory treatment of dolls in a book titled "Girls' Toys"? The author evidently was reserving them for another compilation, advertised in this volume, titled _Doll and Teddy Bear Department_. That book showcases the doll and bear pages from the _Sears WishBooks_ from 1950-69. (...)

   Aside from silently restricting the doll-coverage in order to produce a further volume, the author has selected for some years pictures of exactly the same toys (the electric piano, the tea sets, the toy kitchens), so the coverage is repetitive.

   I was led to buy this book by the recommendations of the other reviewers, but if, like me, your primary interest is in the 1950s and in doll collecting, I would advise you to save your money.




4. Every page you go "oh yeah" I remember that one ..



5. Don't pay $175 for this, as I have seen listed. You can find this book for $20 if you shop around.

3 comments about The Collectible Barbie Doll: An Illustrated Guide to Her Dreamy World.

1. "The Collectible Barbie Doll" is a fascinating read about the world's most-loved doll. From her early beginnings in 1959, through the sixties, right up to now, Barbie has been everything from Ken's girlfriend right through to an astronaut, covers every race from Caucasian to Japanese, and the hair to match. Fennick's book captures all of this, whether the reader wants an unabridged history of the world's most famous doll or just wants to see the wardrobe! This is THE book for the Barbie fan, and it is definitely one for the collector.



2. And illustrated it certainly is! This is the first Barbie doll book I had read and now I am hooked on her world. It tells her story from the beginning and brings it to the present day, all the while illustrating it with dolls from all eras. Although the 2nd edition (which is the one I read) is expanded, I would like to have seen a little more of the late 1980's-present. Overall, if you don't know much about Barbie and would like to find a place to start this book is it!



3. I have looked through this book and also bought another in the series.It is fantastic,and anyone who is still interested in Barbie at all should not hesitate-buy it today!!!! It reveals hundreds of Barbies from the beginning of her existence,and is so fascinating and you might even see one that you once owned.

2 comments about Dollhouses, Miniature Kitchens, and Shops from the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Center.

1. I consider this book to be one of the best dollhouse references out there. Every page has color photos. Many of the furniture pieces are photographed individually. Each photograph is clear and detailed. The author is careful to note when a piece is original, antique, or modern. Everything in this book is well-researched and documented. You could carve replica furniture pieces from the photographs in here, they are that good!

   Needless to say, the houses featured in here are gorgeous in their own right. My favorite part of this book are the great photos of the Grodnertal peg-wooden dolls. This book contains some of the best Grodnertal photos I've ever seen!




2. This book presents a charming look at some important historical dollhouses in the Rockefeller Folk Art Center. Good pictures and texts. Not useful if you are looking for realistic projects for your own dollhouse crafting hobby, but for the historian, this is a wonderful look at historical dolls, dollhouses, and furnishings that were used over generations as toys and learning devices for girls. For extravagant historical dollhouse rooms created by and for an adult collector (that you would perhaps want to emulate in your own hobby), see another book, Miniature Rooms, about the Thorne Rooms at the Art Institute of Chicago.