5 comments about The Official Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide #38 (Official Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide).

1. And I rarely even look at the prices. This is THE reference book for what was published, when, the actual title, which issues feature notable artists, guest appearances, first appearances, origins, major events like weddings and deaths, etc. If you collect comics you need this.



2. I have been a comic book collector for over 50 years. During that time I've looked at every price guide ever published. While I get an occasional insight from other sources, I consistently find that the Overstreet annual guides are by far the best source. I also find that collectors of all ages and sophistications rely on this guide so it tells me what the market will be for comics I might want to buy or sell.
   
   Some people feel like they don't need to buy these every year. I disagree!
   
   Even the advertisements are valuable . . . I've found many helpful, low-cost suppliers through these pages over the years.
   
   I especially enjoyed the updated versions of articles about much older comics in this edition. Don't miss them.



3. CGC is great but this is the "bible" for the industry. Long live the King!



4. 38th edition of Overstreet is the best yet. The ads are a valuable resource for pricing and buying/selling. The top sales of CGC certified comics is handy, too. There are articles from the Overstreet team of advisors -- collectors & dealers who know the latest trends.
   
   I use this to beef up my own collection, knowing the trends and investing smartly. What are the top ten sellers? What Silver Age hero is in high demand? What's my House of Mystery lot worth? It's all here!
   
   Metropolis Comics articles on investing in comics medium is well thought out and written with the collector in mind.
   
   New section on the Golden Age and Victorian Age comics, grading definitions, business directory, photos of covers, article on Star Wars comics & George Lucas.
   
   Well worth the bucks, and Amazon makes them cheaper.



5. there is many information that you can use and know other sites that you didn't know before, so you can check prices and where to buy the best bargain.
   paper is also great. glossy.

5 comments about The DC Comics Encyclopedia.

1. This is a great product for any DC fan. The only issue that may be had is a desire for more. Many less well known and darker characters are left out, also seemingly no character within Vertigo are present. Still a great buy.



2. Book delivered the powerful punch I was expecting. Bought for my son and he loves it. It is very informative.



3. At the rate Character Bio's change within the DC Universe its amazing that an Encyclopedia can even be put together at all but since a lot of the writers now a days are referencing characters i might not be familiar with, this Book at least makes it possible to get an idea about who it is or was at one point... its only drawback is because of when it was published a small percent of the information is not canon with todays stories.



4. Loved this and being I am not a comic guy and only know story lines via cartoons and movies so this filled in the blanks and back stories, orgins and the anamation is great.



5. I am a casual DC Comics fan who was much more into comics in my youth. I bought this encyclopedia because I used to enjoy reading "Who's Who," a series in the 80's that featured biographies of DC characters. The cover art on this is striking, done beautifully by Alex Ross. The biographies have all been updated, so it was nice to hear about what my favorite (or obscure) heroes and villians have been up to the last 10-20 years. The entries are generally well-written, though I have found an error here and there. Occasionally, an entry will say deceased, but not mention how or if the character died or not say deceased, but indicate in the entry that the character died. Also, this was produced before the "Infinite Crisis" series, which changed (and in some cases killed) many of the characters in the DC universe. Overall, though, it's a pleasant read for casual fans and a way to pass time here and there. It would make a great gift for children 12 and up, I would say.

5 comments about Handbook of United States Coins 2009: The Official Blue Book (Handbook of United States Coins (Paper)) (Handbook of United States Coins (Paper)) (Handbook of United States Coins (Paper)).

1. Easy to use
   Contains all information you need to assess any coin
   A wise purchase



2. While useful and informative and, indeed, a must if you buy coins, this book is quite outdated. Since the price of gold and silver have gone up considerably and change daily, the effect on coins is intense in many cases.
   
   There are several sites online where you can get more up-to-date information. Yet having this handy is a good idea. I like having something near my work area and in my hands so I can quickly look up the information I want. Then I can follow that up by going to one of the Web sites.
   
   -Susanna K. Hutcheson



3. This book is nice to use when you are wanting to sell one of your coins. It would be a better book if it would come in spiral bound so that it is easier to use.



4. The Bluebook is an invaluable reference when you are selling coins (along with the Redbook when buying) since it tracks what coin dealers pay for coins. You need to keep in mind that in a "hot" market prices change rapidly which can make the Bluebook "dated" fairly quickly. In any case it does provide a baseline indicating what others have received for coins in specific grades over the past several months giving some indication of what you should receive from a coin dealer.
   
   If you are interested in what you can expect to pay for a coin you want to buy then use the Redbook which tracks the amount dealers charge for coins in specific grades.
   
   The difference between the Redbook and Bluebook indicates the monies retained by dealers for the value they add to collector's trades. So, if you are trading collector-to-collector with no dealer involved, the two references can serve as the high and low bar for the negotiation process.



5. This handbook (The Blue Book)provides a good target price representing dealer's cost for all the US Coins listed in the corresponding retail value Red Book. Invaluable reference tool for quick evaluation of a seller's coin price markups for the casual collector who doesn't need up to the minute price changes. Use it with the Red Book to establish a range for buying and selling.

2 comments about 500 Plates & Chargers: Innovative Expressions of Function & Style (500 Series).

1. WONDERFUL selection of diverse styles of plates and chargers. A wonderful reference. Reproduction terrific and interesting representation of varied techniques. A MUST for all functional and sculptural potter/ceramicists.



2. I am slowly purchasing every book in this series. I am a working artist and use photos to stimulate creativity for myself and my students. All of these books have been wonderful.

5 comments about Wacky Packages.

1. Wacky Packages
   
   This is a great book. It's the next best thing to having a Wacky Packages sticker collection, the image quality is very good. Everything from the creative hardcover design to the wax paper cover and the package of rare stickers...Awesome!



2. This book may be one of the most pointless things I ever needed to have. The production is gorgeous, down to the waxy Topps paper the dustcover is printed on. If you're looking for a lot of scholarly insight it's not here. Art Speigelman's brief intro tells you everything you need to know, the rest is pictures of the stickers. For a designer, this book is pure inspiration - wacky wordplay, pastiche, essence of package design, etc. And the price is terrific.



3. I was born in Philadelphia and when I was growing up in the 60's, one of my vices was.......Wacky Packages! These fun sticker trading cards were like "crack" to kids in my neighborhood! The twisted parodies were all done by some very famous artist and today the stickers can empty your wallet faster than you can chew bubble gum!
   
   I am a collector of many things and I am also a complete-ist! Which would make collecting these stickers very expensive! I collect Monster and Super Hero statues, figures, magazines, trading cards, films, and way too much more! I also collect other items from my youth and I was going to venture into Wacky packages, but after some research, I found it would be too costly to complete the collection.
   
   There is also a lot you need to know before you start buying/collecting these cards, spotting counterfeits and re-released versions is just part of the chaos and then finding them in good condition from reputable sellers is another.
   
   This book will solve the problem for most nostalgia hunters and definitely for me! The book is laid out so that every sticker is presented on it's own page. The pictures are beautiful and clear and are in order of release separating each series with a divider page. It's a sweeeet little book that measures 7 1/2" tall and 5 3/4" wide and the dust jacket looks like a Wacky Packages wrapper to boot!
   
   This Hard cover book has very little text and only covers the first 7 series of cards, but it's well worth the price if you like these stickers. I can only hope that there will be a second volume with series 8 through 16 included! I'll buy it and I'm sure anyone who bought this volume will too!
   
   As a bonus there is a collectors pack of four classic "Wacky Packs" stickers! Very Cool!



4. This is (at least one of) the logical extensions of Warhol, to the extent that the representation and/or the "idea" of the product is theoretically no different than the product itself. Actually, it's more interesting than Warhol; it's satire that is automatic, mass produced, and not the least bit funny.
   
   Yes, the reproductions are unreasonably beautiful, and I'm not just saying that because I had a Wacky Packages fetish when I was a kid. "Hawaiian Punks" has always been my favorite. There is something about the red and green mushed-up glob of a former human being, as he seems to ooze off the sticker, that is just as transfixing to my adult eye as it was to my far less discriminating 10-year-old self.
   
   This is cultural detritus raised to an utterly undeserved level. I feel like tearing all of the pages out and framing them properly. The apocalypse will be arriving when?



5. Now I have that stupid song stuck in my head. But this little gem of a book brought back a lot of laughs long stifled since my childhood. We went nuts for Wacky Packages and we swapped and we traded and we bartered and all of that stuff. My neighbor had some real old vintage ones on her refrigerator that I would go crazy for. But it seems like they haven't included ALL of them. There has to be a sizable number of images that didn't make it into this book. Perhaps I'm mistaken and this book only offers up a few volumes in the series....I know there is stuff that I had that's missing from this book. But - anyway, if you grew up in the 60's and early 70's and you remember purchasing these things for 10 cents or so, this is a wonderful book that looks back on adolescence and hits the funny bone hard. It's short on words and descriptions, but that's fine. The laugh-out-loud images are enough. This book brought a huge smile to my face that didn't go away for a long time. It brought back a wave of great memories and for that, it's worth twice the price!!! I love it!

5 comments about Fifty State Commemorative Quarter Folder: Deluxe Edition 1999-2008.

1. 
   This book cost me 10 dollars including shipping and I must say it is absolutely worth it! As another review said, the coins do show up a dent on the back of the book but then hey.. what did you expect for 6 bucks???? and that's why I give it a 5 star instead of 4... great product... my husband absolutely loved it!!



2. This is a well made product but I didn't realize that it was for the state quarters that come from BOTH mints. I would have been happy with one that held only one set of coins but that is my fault for not reviewing the product details closely enough. If you want to collect the coins from both mints (Philadelphia and Denver respectively) this is a good product. I am new to this so I don't know if there are other folders that allow you to get the coins out or to adjust them once they are in the slots, but this one makes it very difficult to adjust the coins once they are in.



3. This has to be my favorite coin folder yet. It has a slot for both P and D mintages and the coins fit into the slots perfectly (unlike the presidential coin folder by whitman.) I highly recommend it. :)



4. I really liked this product. It is nicely made, and provides a lot of interesting information about each state. Some of the quarters were hard to get in, but if you push against them with your thumb, it works well. And once the quarters are in, they don't fall out, unlike with other folders. I would definitely recommend it to others.



5. This isn't fancy, but it works quite well for holding our collection. It has places for quarters from the Philadelphia mint as well as the Denver mint. Sure makes you pay a bit more attention to your change!

5 comments about Blue Book of Gun Values: 29th Edition (Blue Book of Gun Values).

1. Great reference document but prices are not near up to date. Book contains about everything in Rifles and Pistols..Recommended for the Hunter or Collector.



2. For good or for bad "The Blue Book of Gun Values" still is and will continue to be the bible in the used gun business. They do their best to take as much of the subjectivity as they can out of the grading process, but one person's 98% may still be anothers 90%. Small differences in percentage can mean a big difference in values.
   
   That said it is still "THE" book most used in the business. The reader also needs to be cautioned that prices listed are RETAIL prices and not what you can expect to get from a dealer if you are selling a used firearm. Also understand that while this may be a "National" standard, real values can be dramaticly different for the same gun from one part of the country to the next. Sometimes as little as 50 miles can make a significant difference.
   
   Overall it is a great book with tons of useful information. A must for every gun collector and dealer. Just take the prices with a grain of salt.



3. Was able to find just about everything I wanted to look up. Loads of info and pictures!



4. I use this book for reference to find gun values and information on makes and models. This one was not packaged properly and the front cover and first dozen pages were damaged in shipment. Wish you had been more careful in your packaging!!!!!!!



5. Book received fast and as described !! Saved a lot on a brand new book !
   Excellent transaction, don't get any better !!

5 comments about State Series Quarters Collector Map (State Series).

1. The State Series Quarters Collector Map is just the product I had been looking for. The quarters do not fall out of the holder as they do in some of the other products. The map folds and secures with a velcro closure which is nice. Each quarter is easily removed to view a picture of that state's seal which is an additional educational benefit. My son and daughter are both elementary school teachers (with lots of teacher friends) so I have now collected many sets of the state quarters and have used this product for all of them.



2. I purchased a few of these folders for my kids' quarter collections based on all the positive reviews it was getting. The folder offers a tidbit of information from each state, such as when they became a state, the capital, nicknames, mottoes, state flower and state bird. It also has a big map in which you place your quarters directly into a color-coded state, which helps you see when that quarter was released. Underneath the quarter is a picture of that state's seal. It is educational and a great place for kids to keep their quarters as well as a way for them to learn a little about each state.
   
   There are a few things that I didn't like about the folder. First off, it's size. It does state the dimensions but I neglected to pay attention to that. It is rather large when I was hoping to get something more along the size of a large book. The other thing I didn't like are the 4 extra little spaces at the bottom of the map for you to put extra coins in. At first I was excited, thinking it was a spot to put the 4 new nickels that have recently been released. I thought that was such an ingenious idea to include that so the coin collection could all be in one place. Upon further inspection, I noticed that the holes were too large for nickels to fit. At that point, I was very confused as to what those holes were for so I went to the internet to find my answer. The 4 spaces along the bottom are there for you to put your favorite state quarters in. So you would have one state quarter in the actual state map and an extra on the bottom. I didn't like this, especially after my excitment about thinking they were for the nickels! Plus, how can I select my favorite state quarter when I liked them all just the same?!
   
   That being said, I would still purchase this product. It is a great value for a spot to stick your quarter collection. I would never want to spend more than this ($7.99) for a quarter folder/book, especially when they are for my kids and I needed to buy multiple ones. This price was just right and it is a great tool and quarter holder for the kids.



3. We loved the quarters collector map. Bought it for a gift and it was nicer than I even expected.



4. This one is a good one. Put the quarter into its state. Cool.... But I thought the cover is harder.



5. I bought two of these maps for my 9 & 8 yr. old sons who just recently started collecting the state quarters. This map is a perfect way of displaying the quarters and it looks great.
   There is a slot in each state for its quarter (or next to it for the smaller NE states), there are facts about each state, it is pretty durable and it folds for easy storage.
   My boys both love their maps. I could not be happier with my purchase.

5 comments about The Official Red Book: A Guide Book of United States Coins 2009 (Guide Book of United States Coins (Spiral)) (Guide Book of United States Coins (Spiral)) (Guide Book of United States Coins (Spiral)).

1. I was having a hard time getting this book till I came here. my husband gets the new one every year will come here next year. thanks so much. !!!!



2. #1 Best Selling Price Guide is a MUST:
   
   The official RED BOOK a guide book to United States Coins R.S.Yeoman ed. Kenneth Bressett, 61th edition, Whitman, 2009.
   
   Best in organization, easy of use, pictures, illustrations, & data, also the most popular. Whitman's RED BOOK is an essential guide, indispensable requisite and required handbook with up-to-date numismatic information.
   
   Best of the best in the area of numismatics have contributed to this volume, the most notable, respected, knowledgeable and distinguished numismatist were consulted for the 61th edition.
   
   165 plus prominent coin collectors auctioneers, and museums contributed directly to the 2009 Red Book Guide, Bressett, Jeff Garrett, Tom Hallenbeck, Steve Contursi, Ira & Larry Goldberg, Bill Fivaz, David Akers, Silvano DiGenova, the Smithsonian Institution, Heritage Galleries, the ANA money museum, Stack's Rare Coins, Superior Galleries, the United States Mint, and several dozens more.
   
   The guide has some problems, notable some errors occurred and as I mentioned earlier "All" prices guides without exception are outdated by the time is printed, mainly due to market conditions, collector interest, commodities volatility, speculators, currency value, supply & demand, among others.
   
   Numismatics is a hobby as any other do not expect a handsome return on your investment, at least not a monetary one. Have fun. Good luck.



3. My husband has bought this book for years. He particularly likes the ring binder. Your service was excellent.



4. This price guide covers a lot of coins that aren't covered in coin price magazines. It provides more detail about each coin series in general. It is also a numismatic reference with a wealth of background knowledge and details on many die varieties. Here is some of what you'll find inside:
   
   - High-quality color photos of all coins
   - Background info on each coin series
   - Prices by grade (although prices aren't shown for the scarcer grades)
   - Mintage figures
   - Metal composition for each coin variety
   - Closeup photos of many major die varieties, especially bust halves
   
   Included are photos, background data, and prices for many coins you won't likely find in other price guides, including:
   
   - Colonial issues
   - Post-colonial issues
   - Pattern coins
   - Commemoratives
   - Proof and mint sets
   - Bullion coins
   - Private and territorial gold
   - Private tokens (including Civil War and Hard Times tokens)
   - Confederate coins
   - Hawaiian coins and tokens
   - Philippine issues
   - Alaskan tokens
   - Mis-strikes and error coins
   
   In addition to the coin listings, there is a wealth of information in the front of the book, including:
   
   - Description of coin grades (no grading photos, though)
   - Introduction to, and history of United States Coins
   - Checking coins for authenticity
   - Famous coin hoards
   - Sunken coin treasures
   
   Some of the negatives are as follows:
   
   - Prices for uncommon but certainly not rare coin grades are not included (example: AU and mint state draped bust large cents)
   - Intermediate coin grades (example; AU-58, MS-66) are not shown (Coin Values magazine shows these, but Coin Prices magazine does not)
   - The coverage of Hard Times tokens, a popular series, is very inadequate



5. This book was just what I was looking for. I have a coin collection that I want to sell and needed to find out the current market value. Easy to read, nice spiral binding.

5 comments about Books: A Memoir.

1. Larry McMurtry writes of his long career as a bookman. He loves his personal library, the feel of hardbacks, and the small independent bookstores that dot the land. (There being fewer of these dots of late.)
   
   Having wanted to read at least one book by this noted author, I bought and enjoyed this one. While it is well written, its limited story line does jump around at the obvious whim of the author.
   
   I do not share Mr. McMurtry's dark concern that the common reader may just be fading away or his view that, somehow, small bookstores are central to the reading experience. So long as good books are written, I am confident there will be readers. Where they should choose to grab hold of a book is of little matter.



2. I just finished reading this book and I come away disappointed. While there are a few semi-interesting anecdotes, in total they do not make for much of a book. There are so many better books about bookselling and bibliophiles. Nicholas Basbanes is the master of this subject. I'm surprised this book was even published but I guess the publisher decided they could play off the McMurtry "brand" to an admiring but unsuspecting public. Larry McMurtry should have followed his own advice about writers writing past their prime.



3. I love almost all of McMurtry's work as well as books about books, so I was eagerly anticipating loving this book. It was a smooth and somewhat entertaining read, but I have to admit feeling a little let down.
   
   It is not a memoir in almost any sense of the word, but more of a collection of war stories about the buying and selling of books. There was some autobiographical material in the book, but not enough to satisfy me. The book seemed to peter out near the end and ended a little abruptly for me. The final chapter almost seemed like an after-thought.
   
   Still, McMurtry is an accomplished author and I'd probably read his grocery list if he published it. It was an enjoyable read that left me vaguely dissatisfied.



4. If one of the purposes of a book is to leave an impression of one kind or another, McMurtry's "Books" accomplished just that. I found this book to be a satisfying and influential read that left me curious and desiring to be a book collector. The stories are entertaining, educational, vividly portrayed, and descriptive. Like most of his books, I felt drawn into the world of which he was writing and wanted to be a part of that world.
   
   This is a typical reaction to the writing of Larry McMurtry. Having met Mr. McMurty and experienced a conversation about books with him, I enjoyed hearing his voice in my head as he described the years of book collecting, buying and selling, and the multiple encounters with various characters. Without being preachy or philosophical, McMurtry tends to make the reader draw his own conclusions or judgments about people's actions and behavior. His objective and almost random interjections of difficulties and successes in book trading make "Books" a fascinating study in development of this admirable profession. Added to this study is a smooth prose with an eclectic and seamless blend of common and academic style--making it appropriate for all kinds of people.
   
   I found this book to be a fascinating look at book collecting with an obvious love of books shining forth from beginning to end. Although I did find the ending to be rather anticlimactic, typical of McMurtry's style incidentally, throughout the book I found myself wanting to be there and experience similar events.
   
   I am giving this book 4 stars due to the tendency to have too many names and events that didn't always add to the overall direction of the book. Overall, a worthwhile reading experience and I have yet to be disappointed with a McMurtry book.



5. Larry McMurtry (now age 72) has a long-established and well-honored career as an author and Hollywood screenwriter (including winning an Oscar for "Brokeback Mountain"), but for some reason it had never occurred to him that people might want to read about his joy of and for books, and collecting them. That has finally corrected with this book.
   
   In "Books: A Memoir" (259 pages), McMurtry brings his tales of how he fell in love reading books, growing up in Archer City, TX, and how that love eventually lead to becoming a book scout, dealer and eventually book store owner, Booked Up in Georgetown, in DC, starting in the early 70s. The book is a delight to read from start to finish, bringing out his love for reading (and writing) but just as importantly collecting. In that sense, this could be applied to many other fields (as I love scouring used vinyl and CD bins for that rare album find). The book is made up of 108 chapters, which fly by mostly in a couple of pages. His memories of what it was like to scout for books in the 60s and 70s are just a delight.
   
   McMurtry and his business partner eventually established the Booked Up store in Washington, more specifically on 31th & M in Georgetown. What memories this brings back to me. I was a grad student in Washington in the mid-80s, and remember going there, not buying much, but simply amazed at the wealth of books in the store. As McMurthy describes in the book, Booked Up left Georgetown (due primarily to rising lease expenses) and is now in his home town of Archer City, TX. Not sure that I will make it out there anytime soon. That said, "Books: A Memoir" is a fantastic read. Highly recommended!