5 comments about Complete M1 Garand.

1. From the introductory pages, through to the list of resources, "The Classic M1 Garand" held my complete interest. Beginning with Jim Thompson's moving dedication to his friend, this book is written straight from the heart.
   As a newcomer to the world of classic rifles and firearms,a female neophyte, I was happily surprised that the information within was compiled in an efficient way. The descriptions of various types of guns and their proper care and preservation, is explained in finite detail. Mr. Thompson leaves no stone unturned covering the past 60or so years in the life of this beautiful treasure. The accompanying photographs of the author field testing his rifles, and photos of various guns and accessories are well described and captioned.
   War (and Peace) stories are spun through tbe context of the book.I love Jim Thompson's personalized style of writing, I seemed to flow with him from one chapter to the next eager to learn more. Definately an excellent choice for the gun collector and the merely curious as well. I highly recommend it. Thank You.



2. "Garanditus" is a dreadful malady, contracted by the unsuspecting interested in either shooting or World War II collecting. The consequences are terrible: drained financial resources, incessant internet searches for M1s, parts, and attendant paraphernalia. You find yourself attending meetings, standing, and reciting the familiar phrase, "Hello, my name is B--- and I am a Garandoholic."
   
   Along the way, to really appreciate this hobby (whether shooting or collecting), it is required that you build up a library and along side of Duff, Canfield, and the others are the books by Jim Thompson. None of the books written by *any* authors, by themselves, will provide a complete and total compendium of knowledge about Mr. J. C. Garand's wonderful rifle. All of them do provide essential information, making the practitioner more appreciative of the M1.
   
   Some of the other reviewers have objected to Mr. Thompson's rants about gang bangers, the criminal element, gun confiscation, Arizona local government, etc. are a bit tiresome. I do not share that view. On the contrary, I found Mr. Duff's books to be chocked full of facts and history, but a bit dry and too much a relation of the history of the Springfield armory. Consequently, Mr. Thompson's opinions provided interesting counterpoint. I value *both* the books that I have by Duff and Thompson as valuable components in a necessary reference library.
   
   To be sure, Mr. Thompson does provide a great deal of his personal knowledge to his works and does so in a very literate manner. I mean, a gun book whose author uses the words "calumny" and "denouement"?
   
   The only reason I gave it a 4 is because I wish it were longer.



3. JUST THE THING FOR OLD GUYS TO USE WHEN TAKING APART A GARAND & PUTTING
   SAME BACK TOGETHER.



4. If you collect or are interested in the Garand rifle, this is written for you. Easy to follow and packed with facts and pictures. I refer to my copy regularly. I would buy it again.



5. Very good book for Garand collectors.
   
   Good illustrations and pictorials as well as useful information.

4 comments about Masterpieces of Art Nouveau Stained Glass Design: 91 Motifs in Full Color (Dover Pictorial Archive Series).

1. Nice plates with dimensions. Good for projects and for idea's. I highly reccomend it.



2. Though some of the designs are nice, most are way too busy for my taste, and I wouldn't really call them Art Nouveau. Quite a few of them look more like Renaissance style stained glass, and some of them look modern (like the sailboat patterns?). It is in color, though, which is nice. Very complicated - definately not for beginning stained glass crafters.



3. Originally, this was a pair of portfolios of designs in the Art Nouveau period. Art Nouveau was not just twisty flowers, though some people like to stereotype it into those narrow parameters. This is not a how-to book with cutting patterns. It has only the paintings with suggested scale. On a few pages, motifs overlap each other, so you can't just scan and go: you have to build up your idea of the covered areas. One pictorial arched piece is missing the right third, again a challenge to finish it yourself.

   The designs range from splendidly romantic conceptions of floral forms to windows a-scamper with squirrels or lizards to some that are distinctly eerie. Bats fly across the moon amidst dead trees. A woman combs her hair before a volcano flowing lava. An octopus and a sea-weed maiden struggle underwater--in combat? in love? Several have fishes and there are even cat designs.

   You don't have to see these only as windows. I've converted two to rug designs by taking out the excess black lines of supports or piecing necessary to glass work. You may want to take only one area out of an entire design to render in wood, or do a mosaic version of the whole thing. This is a starting point for the competent craftsman who loves the Art Nouveau energy, not an end product.




4. If you can't find a design you can use for inspiration, you're just not looking hard enough. Not for beginners since the designs are incredibly intricate, but your creativity will wake up and take notice.

5 comments about Turn-of-the-Century Fashion Patterns and Tailoring Techniques.

1. In case you're wondering which turn of the century the title refers to, it's the 20th, not the 21st. This is a reprint of the 1901 edition of _The "Standard" Work on Cutting Ladies' Tailor-Made Garments_, by the Jno. J. Mitchell Co. It is a drafting manual and pattern book for women's tailored garments, such as suits and coats. Like most such tailor's drafting books (they were published into the 1940s but died out along with custom tailoring), it gives the most basic patterns for conservative styles. The garment maker was expected to vary the patterns to provide styles beyond the basics and/or update the basics to the season's trends; to provide his/her own trim ideas; and to draft/grade the correct size for the wearer.

   This edition is very similar to the 1908 edition of _The "Standard" Work on Cutting Ladies' Tailor-Made Garments_, which also has been reprinted and is available under the title, _Ladies' Tailor-Made Garments 1908_, by S. S. Gordon. The 1908 edition contains many of the same patterns, but was reorganized and enlarged.




2. I thought the patterns came with it, and the book was on techniques for the manufacturing. But you have to enlarge the patterns yourself. Other than that, its a good book if you have the time.



3. If you really like the Edwardian period, this is a good addition to your costuming library. But if you're a beginner I wouldn't recommend it.
   
   Instead of giving you the pattern and the picture of what the pattern will make, it gives you a pattern and a few examples of the kind of garment the pattern will make. For example: it gives lots of pictures of tight fitting jackets, and somewhere later in the book it gives lots of patterns for "tight-fitting jackets"). This means that for each pattern you much have knowledge of the style, tailoring techniques, and most importantly, alteration. This is why it isn't for beginners.
   
   I would first suggest a more straightforward book like The Voice of Fashion: 79 Turn-Of-The Century Patterns By Frances Grimble or The Edwardian Modiste: 85 Authentic Patterns By Frances Grimble. But if you can't get books on Edwardian fashions and patterns, go for it.
   
   I would buy Turn-of-the-Century Fashion Patterns and Tailoring Techniques for three reasons:
   1. The clothes in it are really cute
   2. it can act as a source book
   3. it's great for people who are absolutely IN LOVE with Edwardian clothing, like I am.



4. I was looking for patterns for victorian costumes and this book more than fit the bill. You must have more than average knowledge of sewing though.



5. It is a very good book but I missed that in the same page one could find the pattern and the final drawing of the respective dress.

No comments about Miller's Care & Repair of Antiques & Collectibles: A Step-by-Step Guide (Miller's Collector's Guides).

4 comments about Inventing Christmas: How Our Holiday Came to Be.

1. This book is such an amazing find! It tells the whole celebration of the Christmas holiday, from it's pre-Christian pagan celebrations, through the 20th century. Particularly interesting is how it became a Christian Holiday a few hundred years after the birth of Christ. But the book also covers how Santa Claus came to be, the history of the Christmas Tree, carols, and a pretty extensive article on Charles Dickens 'A Christmas Carol.'
   The author, Jock Elliott, is probably the foremost collector of Christmas memorabelia, and through many color photos has shared some of his extensive collection with us. The man even has his letters to Santa from the 1920's! But, most impressive of all (to me!) is his 'A Christmas Carol' collection. He has a copy of the original first edition from 1843, as well as the original newspaper advertisement for the book from that same year! And, yes, Mr. Elliott shares this with us, too.
   I've compared his history of the holiday with other books I own and I feel I can safely say that Mr. Elliott has done his research. His writing style is very entertaining and easy to follow, so the younger set can enjoy this book, too.
   All in all, this is one of the most entertaining books I've read on the Christmas holiday. I guess if I had one complaint it would be for Mr. Elliott to maybe add a bit about the Reason for the Season - Jesus Christ.
   Very highly recommended.



2. Almost all Americans celebrate Christmas but so few of us really know its deep-rooted and ancient origins as well as the origins of so many of the traditions we hold so dear.
   
   In his wonderful book called, Jock Elliott has charted all of this story (and more) with care and good cheer. He reminds us of how recent the Christmas "tradition" is, and how ancient. He tells us, for example, that the Christmas tree is basically a product of the second half of the American 19th century, and can be traced to England. The British royal family - themselves imports from Germany - first pitched such trees in their palatial homes. But the trees, and the rituals of winter celebrations, could themselves be traced all the way back to pagan times and the celebrations of the winter solstice.
   
   We learn about the men who defined Santa claus Including Clement Moore who wrote the "Night Before Christmas", and Thomas nast. Nast was the greatest political cartoonist of the 19th century, perhaps of any American century. During the holiday season of 1862-63, Nast put visual flesh on the poetic bones provided by Moore. In the Jan. 3, 1863, issue of Harper's Weekly, he showed Santa Claus cheering up the battered Union troops. He's wearing striped pants and a shirt spangled with stars. Nast would do a year-end drawing of Santa Claus for each of the following 25 years.
   
   From giving gifts to misletoe, Elliots great book fills us in on the origins of Everything Christmas. Highly Recommended



3. Saw this book when it was listed with a book I wanted to buy about Christmas and the history of our American traditions. It is a beautiful book with lots of pictures- not alot of written information. Still find it interesting and informative.



4. Jock Elliott captures and relates all of the building blocks that went into making our Christmas holiday what it is--in terms of the way in which we celebrate.
   
   As an ad man, he's got a unique perspective.
   
   Fascinating reading.

4 comments about Warman's Roseville Pottery: Identification and Price Guide (Warman's Roseville Pottery: Identification & Price Guide).

1. Though by no means a complete showing of every shape made for each design, it IS a very generous sampling of each design, with beautiful studio photographs cover to cover. That makes it a must-have for any Roseville lover- none of the ugly black and white catalogue page reprints. NOT so great for pricing information. The pieces are priced with their existing blemishes, which would make a perfect piece of the same design worth ?? how much ?? Also has price listed for the whole set, if the photo includes more than one piece. That is just not helpful when you want to put a value on one piece.
   If not for the vague pricing information, I would rate this 5 stars- especially compared to other Roseville guides. Very helpful visuals in this one!



2. Great book for a quick overview on Roseville pottery, the different patterns and price ranges. Not a complete book but a good quick reference for those just starting to collect.



3. I am not happy with my recent purchase of Warman's Roseville book. It does not provide a complete listing of suggested prices and many of the pictured pieces are described with damage along with a price. For example, hanging basket with "chip on handle." For a serious collector the book is not of much use and for the inexperienced collector the book is misleading--damaged pieces do not sell for anything close to what mint pieces sell for.



4. The book states it is a price guide. The author had pictures of as many as 9 pieces being auctioned and vague discriptions of some with chips. Another example is a Donatello jardiniere (with chip repair) & pedestal $180-$220. A picture of a Donatello bud vase on the same page just over 6" is listed at $180-$220.Yet another jardinier on the same page (smaller than the one that includes the pedestal with a rim chip is $200-$250.Auction prices for multiple pieces & damaged items need to be kept separate.

2 comments about Standard Catalog Of Ducati Motorcycles 1946-2005.

1. Very well written; I have several books by Falloon and enjoy them all. Great pictures and interesting data. Some of the tables are a little hard to decipher, but with time and patience it can be done. I would recommend this book to any Ducatisti or Ducatista and any follower of Falloon. Great service from the Book Rack also.



2. This book is full of information and is a great reference for anyone who loves Ducati or restores them. All bikes to 2005 are covered. Great pictures! Would love a hard cover edition.

4 comments about Everyday Dress of Rural America, 1783-1800: With Instructions and Patterns (Dover Books on Costume).

1. I ordered this book a few weeks ago. I have been looking for books to help make costumes to take my grandchildren to reenactments, which has stimulated their intrest in history. This book is the most balanced book I have seen-in that it tells you what you want to know, why it was what it was, and it is easy to read and understand. It covers men and women's clothing, with illustrations and graft patterns, along with fabrics and sewing techniques. I find this book delightful with information put in a fun and usable way. There are not enough book's that I have found on everyday dress, so this is a great and much needed addition.



2. This is a great book for those looking to get basic knowledge of late 18th century clothing. It has clear illustrations of the everyday garments worn by men, women, and children. It shows layer by layer the many garments being used at this time. I have seen other "beginner" costume books leave the reader baffled as to how and when a garment was used; that isn't a problem with this book. One thing to remember is that fashion was in transition at this point in history so the patterns are really only good if you are trying to reproduce dress specific to that time frame. I have been studying this field for over ten years so this book was not of much use to me, but I would definately recommend it as a good foundation for a beginner.



3. This book was not what I expected. it had basic drawings of a few garments from colonial america and showed some native american garments. I wish it had more in it. It was very short and I expected it to have more pictures of the clothing in it.



4. Was shipped timely. Book was still in good condition but was exactly what I had expected...

2 comments about Kovels' Know Your Collectibles.

1. The Kovels are well known in the antiquing and collectible field for their annual price guides. In this book they present an introduction to the world of collectibles including chapters on recognizing furniture styles and periods, pottery, dinnerware, glassware, porcelains, jewelry, lamps, clocks, toys, as well as other miscellaneous items. This is a good generalized grounding in all of these topics, although I felt the book concentrated a little on pottery and porcelains. The book occasionally uses terms before defining them, and as an introductory text could have benefited from the presence of a glossary. However, it has a fairly comprehensive index and the reader is able to find the required definition if they are willing to do a little extra page turning. Manufacturers marks are excellently documented making it a useful reference even beyond the first read-through. The photographs are profuse and of good quality, although all are in black and white and a couple would have done well to have been in color. Over-all this is in my view the best introductory text on modern collectibles (collectibles less than 100 years old) and makes and excellent companion to "Kovels known your antiques".



2. I just ordered another copy of this book for a friend who keeps borrowing mine. Well read, and well liked, especially by our friends who are just starting to collect and furnish thier own homes.

3 comments about Tiffany Stained Glass Windows: in Full-Color (Post) Cards: 24 Cards (Card Books).

1. It isn't at first apparent from the listing that this is a book of postcards. I found it very valuable because I also bought Eaton's "Tiffany Windows: Stained Glass Pattern Book". Although colored examples were given for them, the Tiffany designs are complicated. 15 or 16 of the postcards were duplicate designs that were in the Eaton book. I use the images for computer application and they helped me a lot to choose the right colors.



2. This is a companion book, as it's glossy postcards. I spent an afternoon at my local frame shop & framed 6 of the cards, they are very attractive as smaller framed images. The images are sharp (although small) & the colors seem to be pretty true to what the windows would actually look like. I'm pleased with the results of my afternoon & glad I had a chance to read the previous review to know these were postcards.



3. Was looking for good color photos of some of Tiffany's work. This book did not disappoint. The illustrations here have excellent detail that I didn't see for some of the works published elsewhere.