1 comments about The Cultures of Collecting (Critical Views).

1. There are a number of essays in this book that makes it worth reading. My favorites are:
   1. The System of Collecting by Jean Baudrillard - " (collections) constitute themselves as a system, on the basis of which the subject seeks to piece together his world . . ."
   2. Collecting and Collage-making: The Case of Kurt Schwitters by Roger Cardinal
   3. A Collector's Model of Desire: The House and Museum of Sir John Soane by John Elsner. If you are a rabid collector of anything, you will delight in this ULTIMATE collection in which a man turned everything he did and his very house into a museum. He made multiple catalogs of his "collection" throughout his life and arranged and rearranged until his death. It's an amazing story.
   There are 12 essays in all, including one on Freud's statue collection, Cook's collection from his Pacific voyages, and collections of the Austrian Habsburgs. I found it a fascinating read.

3 comments about Baseball as America : Seeing Ourselves Through Our National Game.

1. Book is very nicely presented with many great illustrations, pictures, and excerpts from notable authors. Great book for the casual or diehard baseball fan. This book covers the terrific exhibit now showing at New York City's Museum of American History. Check it out. It's very worthwhile.



2. From the eye catching cover to the inspired essays and beautiful photographs inside, this book is a delight. All that was missing was the hot dog and beer. A great gift for fellow baseball fanatics! Go White Sox!



3. "Baseball as America: Seeing Ourselves Through Our National Game" was the companion volume the landmark traveling exhibition from the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, New York. As its thesis this book takes Jacques Barzun's declaration "Who ever wants to know the heart and mind of American had better learn baseball." Within these 320 pages you will find yourself exploring every aspect of the American pastime lavishly illustrated and even long time baseball fans will be surprised at how much they will read and see that is new to them.

   After an introduction by Jules Tygiel, which features a 1860 Currier and Ives lithograph showing Lincoln and his opponents for the presidency describing their platforms in baseball terms, "Baseball as America" is divided into seven units: Our National Spirit, Ideals and Injustices, Rooting for the Team, Enterprise and Opportunity, Sharing a Common Culture, Invention and Ingenuity, and Weaving Myths. Within these pages you will find Robert K. Adair explaining the science of the curve ball invented by Candy Cummings but first explained by a 23 year old Isaac Newton and Paul Simon explaining to Joe DiMaggio his use of Joltin' Joe's name as an emblematic icon in the song "Mrs. Robinson." There is Dan Shaughnessy's "Obituary of Elizabeth Dooley" the legendary Boston Red Sox fan and Buck O'Neil explaining how the Chicago Cubs traded away future Hall of Famer Lou Brock because the team already had three black outfielders. Then there are the letters Curt Flood and Bowie Kuhn exchanged when the outfielder refused to be traded from the Cardinals to the Phillies. You might remember Flood's letter from Ken Burns' documentary "Baseball," but here we have Kuhn's response.

   Of course Ernest L. Thayer's ballad of the republic "Casey at the Bat" will be found here, along with a Charles Schulz "Peanuts" cartoon of Charlie Brown praying to catch a baseball, Bob Newhart's "Nobody Will Every Play Baseball" routine, and excerpts from W.P. Kinsella's "Shoeless Joe." There are photographs of the famous Honus Wagner T206 1909 baseball card, Eddie Gaedel's 1/8 St. Louis Browns jersey, Shoeless Joe Jackson's shoes, Lou Gehrig on the cover of a program from the American baseball tour of Japan in 1931, "Babe Ruth Underwear," and the patent and model for F.W. Thayer's 1878 catcher's mask. Then there is the poster of the elephants playing baseball for the Barnum & Bailey Circus.

   Then there is the juxtaposition of words and images: Joe Raposos's lyrics to the Frank Sinatra song "There Used to Be a Ballpark" with a photograph of the demolition of the Polo Grounds. There is an excerpt from Bernard Malamud's "The Natural" with the cowbell Hilda Chester used at Ebbets Field and a photograph of Andre Dawson's final visit to Wrigley Field. A photo of Satchel Paige of the Kansas City Monarchs warming up at Yankee Stadium and Ted Williams' 1966 induction speech at the Hall of Fame where he surprised the crowd with his call to honor the stars of the Negro Leagues. A letter from Fiorello LaGuardia in 1945 about a committee formed to end segregation in baseball opposite a pair of photographs showing black kids and white kids clutching Walter Johnson board games and waiting to meet their favorite baseball star.

   The back of the book includes a list of the selections from the collection broken down into baseballs (handmade ball made by Babe Ruth at school), baseball cards (1952 Topps Mickey Mantle), bats (George Brett's "pine tar" bat), books, booklets, and periodicals (comic book "Roy Campanella Baseball Hero"), broadsides, handbills, and posters (handbill urging integration of the New York Yankees), caps (Hideo Nomos no-hitter cap), cartoons ("Base Ball as Viewed by a Muffin" from 1867), communications equipment (Red Barber's first microphone), decorative art (theater lobby card for "The Jackie Robinson Story"), fan art and fine art ("Tom Seaver" by Andy Warhol), games and toys ("darktown battery" cast iron mechanical bank from 1888), gloves and mitts (Yogi Berra's mitt from Don Larsen's perfect World Series game), jerseys and uniforms (1976 Chicago White Sox Bermuda shorts), jewelry (charm bracelet made from championship jewelry given by Lou Gehrig to his wife), letters and documents (All-Star ballot filled out by Casel Stengel), medical-related items (ethyl chloride numbing spray), merchandise (Reggie Bar wrapper), miscellaneous equipment (prototype JUGS Speed Gun), programs and scorecards (program for first Colored World Series), sheet music and records (1908 Edison Wax cylinder record of "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" and magic lantern slide), shoes (worn by Ty Cobb), souvenirs (1961 button, "I'm for Maris--60 in '61), stadium equipment/artifacts (turnstile from the Polo Grounds), tickets and season passes (ticket to Lou Gehrig Day), and trophies and awards (Cy Young Award given to Sandy Koufax).

   So you can get a very good idea of what you missed out from the traveling exhibit. Of course this is a fraction of what was on the tour and while less than half of what is included on these six pages makes its way into "Baseball as America" just looking over the list can be fun. The tour, of course, is long over, but if you have never been to Cooperstown, or if it has been a while since you have been to the Baseball Hall of Fame, then be forewarned because this book will make you want to go and visit all of the baseball treasures on display.

5 comments about Kovels' Antiques & Collectibles Price List, 39th Edition, 2007 (Kovels' Antiques and Collectibles Price List).

1. This book keeps antiquers up to date with the latest in hot finds. My step-father uses it as a guide to what to look for when he scouts the local auctions.



2. Bought this book for my wife who is into "junk." As anyone in the collecting business already knows, Kovels' is the bible. I am sure my wife will get a few years of enjoyment from this publication.



3. Although this book had a lot of information to offer,I found it quite hard to find things under certain category's. For instance, I was trying to find a price for a plastic bank. First I checked banks,had many kinds listed,plastic,mechanical,etc but I couldn't find the one I had. I checked the index and found banks listed on about 20 different pages under different materials,eras,made by etc...way to confusing for us regular folk who just want to see if they've found a bargin or own something of great value.Unless you are an advid Antique Collector,I wouldn't recommend this book.



4. The last two Kovels' I purchased were the 1996 and 1998 editions. The 2007 edition in no way compares to the "older" ones; information is not as easy to find, is "scattered," and not as meaningful. The older editions seemed more comprehensive and informative, in a similar-sized book.



5. This is and has been a standard in the antiques price guide field for years. While not as exciting a format as Schroeder's or Antique Trader's Guides, Kovels' is a basic value guide useful to compare prices found in other guides. Also, Kovel's lists some popular collectibles not easily found elsewhere.

5 comments about Age of the Gunfighter: Men and Weapons on the Frontier 1840-1900.

1. ...between the vast number of personalities discussed, and the quality & quantity of the photos included; this is the ultimate reference on the good guys, and the bad guys of the Wild West... the gear they wore, the guns they used, the circumstances surrounding what each gunfight was really about, and the ultimate fate of each legend.



2. This is the best book I've ever found that extensively shows what the Old West of the Gunfighter was really like.Rosa has done a supurb job of defining all aspects of this intriguing period,roughly from 1840 till the end of the century.
   Rosa covers all the Gunfighters whose names and faces who have become legends. He also shows us many of the less known and less written about. He has included some of the best pictures of these people you can find ,and all in one volume. Here we are shown how they dressed,and the guns,rifles and tools and equipment they used. We also get wonderful photographs of the towns they inhabited,both inside views and street scenes.There are concise and factual write-ups on many of the characters and their claims to fame.
   Rosa has been consistant in providing the dates of most of the photographs.I am not sure when the photography technology was first developed that allowed such a great record;but it was around the time of the early years of this period.Just imagine,what a true representation of these days would have been impossible without this invention.
   If you read many westerns or much history of this era ,you will be forever running into the types of weapons used.You are often left with wondering what they looked like. Well,wonder no more;just pull out this book and you will see excellent photographs and descriptions of these firearms,cartridges,cleaning tools,pistol and rifle cases,watches,holsters,belts,playing cards documents,swords, knives,badges,hats,saddle bags and countless other artifacts of the time.The author also shows the musemms where these artifacts are retained.
   Also scattered through the book are beautiful examples of artwork done by famous painters of the period.Several maps are included that make stories and history of the Old West very easy to follow.Anyone who has tried to locate events of this period by using present day highway atlass will appreciate them.
   You will also be amazed with the detail that Rosa has collected,obviously verified and included in the book.Not only that,he does it in a manner that doesn't get the reader bogged down in detail. What I really mean to say is that the information is there in great detail;but the reader is able to skip over or delve into;the choice is his.
   Another aspect of this book that is also noteworthy is its high quality of construction,binding,paper stock,printing and color rendition makes this a reference book that will stand up to years of use.
   This book was first published ic 1993 and again in 2000 and as you can see,it still commands a good price.That certainly proves how good and popular this book is, and would be a very often referred to and treasured book for anyone interested in the Gunfighters and any other History of the Old West.I can tell you it is certainly a favorite of mine.
   
   
   



3. I received "Age of the Gunfighter" last night and have only been able to glance through it's pages a few times.
   
   On the positive side, my initial impression is that the book is a gorgeous encyclopedia of photographs of famous people, towns and firearms.
   
   On the negative side, my cursory glances through the book have shown some significant historical errors. The only sub-section of the book I have any real knowledge about is the Lincoln County War and Billy the Kid. The book contains some glaring errors in this section.
   
   In a photo, the author mixes up the identities of John Poe and James Brent and states that Brent accompanied Poe and Pat Garrett to Fort Sumner when in fact, it was Tip McKinney who accompanied them, not James Brent.
   
   The author correctly identifies a photo of Bob Beckwith but states that he was a follower of Billy the Kid who died when he and McSween tried to escape McSween's burning house. The fact is that Beckwith was a member of the Murphy-Dolan faction and fighting on the opposite side of Billy and McSween that night. Billy and several "Regulators" had already escaped when Beckwith called for McSween's surrender. Something went wrong and after the smoke cleared from the resulting shootout, both McSween and Beckwith were dead.
   
   Finally, the author states that Pat Garrett killed Billy the Kid with a Colt Single-Action .45 when Garrett actually used a Colt Single-Action .44.
   
   I haven't had a chance to read much of the author's narrative so possibly these errors are due to someone else editing the descriptions of the photographs.
   
   For the photos alone, this book is a definite must-have for the Frontier enthusiast and based on this alone should rate the book five stars. However, the questionable historical accuracy of some of it's narrative requires me to downgrade my rating to four stars.



4. Joseph Rosa presents us with a stunning visual collection of photographs, mainly featuring fine specimens of mid to late 19th century firearms, and vintage photos of emminent gun-fighters of the era. There are several interesting nostalgic paintings displayed as well, by artists such as N.C. Wyeth. Although the illustrations are the most striking feature of this book by far, there is plenty of interesting text as well. The chapters within cover these topics: The Violent West, Feuds and Range Wars, Cowboys and Cowtown Chaos, Law and Order: From Gun to Gavel. In general, this book is an enthralling visual catalog of the firearms, both famous and obscure, that were utilized in the American West during the years 1840 to 1900. Within you will see collections of rifles, pistols, shotguns, and miscellenous historical relics, all arranged in vivid color layouts.



5. If you are as into the guns as you are the stories, this is particularly good book. Every few pages is a full color spread of authentic Old west shotguns, lever actions, pistol, and single shots. They are pictures of the actual guns used by famous outlaws, law men, and others from various western history museums - very cool! The text is good but not great. it is wirtten more from a historical perspective than a story telling one. Still a book you should own if you like anything about the old West.

4 comments about Fashions and Costumes from Godey's Lady's Book: Including 8 Plates in Full Color.

1. A delightful book to page through. Lots of black & white line drawings and several color plates. This must have been where Scarlett O'Hara got her inspirations!



2. This is an excellent reference guide for Lady Civil War Reenactors who want to create beautiful day dresses and ball gowns. The book has detailed descriptions of each dress. A true Godey's dress was for the lady of wealth, however many women of average means subscribed to Godey's to get ideas for the dresses they wore. Each page will give you an idea of colors, styles and types of fabrics used. This book is a must along with "Who Wore What" for a true insight into women's fashions of the 1860's



3. This book is beautiful. It is a very helpful reference and it is just fun to look at. It was also great to have the description of each of the outfits. This book is much more detailed than the "80 Godey's Full-Color Fashion Plates (1838-1880)" by JoAnne Olian, but then I liked all the full -colored as well.



4. Great book for finding out what they really wore for dressy occasions during the Civil War Era and just prior. Afterwards they did not have the money or the material to do this, but it is lovely to see what they did before the war. Reenacter's who do not wish to spend a lot of money on a gown from the wrong era need to see what is correct before some dressmaker puts them into whatever pattern that SHE likes to make! RESEARCH is the key.

5 comments about Collectible Beads: A Universal Aesthetic (Beadwork Books).

1. This is a work of immense proportions. Robert Liu is both a scholar and an artist. This is a work which draws on both sets of skills, and the result is wonderful. For bead lovers it's a definative work. As a scholarly piece, it likely has material of interest to those interested in art history and world culture as well. It's an important book and one that would be sorely missed if it ever went out of print--I say this as one who's passed on books like this, only to search the world over for them when they were no longer available...get this one now. You won't regret it.



2. This is a beautifully written, beautifully illustrated book, however, it is definitely for the advanced bead collector. Its main focus is on beads the average person could not find or afford. I am a beginner in the bead collecting world and needed a book that was more of an identifying guide. The chances of me running across a bead that was illegally excavated from an archeological dig in a foreign country are slim..and I wouldn't know what to do with it anyway. I'm returning the book and continuing the search.



3. Although the photos of beads are excellent, I found this book far too much like a PhD dissertation, with the feel of a synthesis, having substance but written in a format which was difficult to read. Bibliographic references imbedded in the text just add to the unreadable style. The text is painfully lacking in the kind of information I appreciate, such as dating, geography, and clear references to the individual beads presented in the photos. And references to values of beads in dollars has no relevant meaning unless there is a time reference. As a reference book I would rate it of minimal worth. As a coffee table amusement it is acceptable, but would need far more photos to make it useful for that purpose.



4. A wonderful and very desciptive history of beads. Excellent quality photos, this book can used to help the novice or the serious bead collector.



5. This book is really great, I enjoy each page of it. It is informative, and contents breathtaking photos. I love beads and want to learn more about my hobby, this book is a great resource, for interested people like me, jewelry making persons and the collector. I would buy it again. Together with "The History of Beads" I have a complete guide and learned a lot.

1 comments about Cloth Dolls, from Ancient to Modern: A Collector's Guide.

1. No matter if your interest is in the history of dolls or in collecting, this is the book for you! The photographs are very good and the text is thorough and interesting. The early primitive (and not so primitive) dolls show the reader the type of dolls made in colonial times. The later cottage industry types show early innovation. Even contemporary art dolls are covered. I have read and reread this book a number of times and it has a permanent place on my bedside table. If you love cloth dolls, you must buy this book!

No comments about The Stamp of Fantasy.

3 comments about O'Brien's Collecting Toy Cars & Trucks 4th Edition (Paperback) (Collecting Toy Cars & Trucks).

1. I've found most everything I was looking for all in one source! If you like collecting cars and trucks, you must have this book!



2. Information seems to be well organized and spelled out, but was disappointed that there were so few color pictures.



3. For Matchboxes, very difficult to find and reasearch based on a proprietary numbering system. Numbering system not clearly articulated in overview. I had to purchase a new "Matchbox specific" guide from another publisher.

1 comments about The Dolls Clothes Collection: Complete Outfits for You to Make.

1. I have been very happy to discover this book. It gives lots of ideas and the models can be used as base for new creations ! A little girl's dream becomes reality...Many thanks.