3 comments about Gun Trader's Guide - 30th Edition.

1. This book is of little value to the serious gun buyer/seller and gives only a rough approximation of a small number of guns in the world. I strongly suggest you instead choose the 25th edition of the Blue Book of Gun Values or the 2004 edition of the Standard Catalog of Firearms. Both have much more detailed information than Gun Trader's Guide in terms of number of guns, conditions, variants, prices, and other useful reference info. The Standard Catalog also has a lot of photos, while the Blue Book has almost none. The Standard Catalog and the Blue Book are what the dealers use in pricing used guns. Either is far better than Modern Gun Values, in my opinion, and I have been a gun hobbyuist for 40+ years.



2. Excellent book for the photos that show most of the guns listed. Price ranges given are good.



3. For at least the last five or six years I have purchased this guide. This and the Blue Book of Gun Values really work well together for me in making an educated reference point when out in the field and in the vault as well. I like this guide because of the pictures too and there's quite a bit of information and history in it too.
   jim

1 comments about 2009 Comic Book Checklist & Price Guide 1961-Present (Comic Book Checklist and Price Guide).

1. I pick up the CBG Checklist every year, and this year's edition is a real disappointment. None of the prices seem to have been updated at all, and neither have the issue counts - there are very few issues listed from 2008 at all, and most of the long running titles only have listings up to March of 2007. Many of the key series from 2008 aren't listed either (Countdown, World War Hulk, etc... Even Civil War only goes up to issue #6). If you're looking to price out your recent variants, there haven't been any updates on these either. If you're just looking for prices for your older comics, you might as well pick up the 2008 checklist for cheaper, as the 2009 edition has next to nothing new in it at all. It must have been either rushed to press or just lazily cut-and-pasted together from the last edition (to prove this, some of the same typos and misinformed data are exactly the same in this edition as in the last). I may still buy the CBG Checklist next year, but I won't pre-order it ever again - I'll want to check to make sure that the 2010 edition has at least some issues from 2008/2009 in it (and that the editors haven't just slacked off) before I buy it.

5 comments about Inside the Jewelry Box, Vol. 2: A Collector's Guide to Costume Jewelry: Identification and Values (Inside the Jewelry Box).

1. If you are a jewelry lover this is a must have book for your collection.
   Ann does a wonderful job with the pictures and the information. She is very knowledgeable in the costume jewelry field



2. Inside the Jewelry Box: A Collector's Guide to Costume Jewelry Identification and Values, Volume 2 is a full-color catalogue of an amazing array of costume jewelry pieces. Each piece is presented with one or more photographs, a recommended price, and the name of the collection from which the sample piece was selected. From charm bracelets to artful plastics to necklaces, earrings, and rings, as well as special sections dedicated to well-known brand designs such as Eisenberg and Bettina von Walhof, Inside the Jewelry Box is a singularly gorgeous compilation and a joy to page through simply to savor the photography. The text offers the occasional sprinkling of historical information, comments, or insights about costume jewelry as well. A highly recommended treasury for collectors.



3. Beautifully written and the photos are stunning! If you collect costume jewelry you won't be disappointed. Only problem is now I have many more pieces to covet!!!



4. Ooops, I meant, not your OTHER jewelry book. I liked the first Inside the Jewelry Box so much, it was worth buying what I thought was just a second edition of it. But this is an entirely new book, with all new everything: information, subjects, photos. Great job once again by the talented Ann Pitman, who covers yum-yum subjects from fruit salad to Juliana and Lily Dache ... and exotic hard to find extras such as an Italian Ornella boot and a snazzy Calvaire purse. This is one of those books that keep on giving: you keep finding wonderful things you didn't see before, no matter how many times you look. Great job ... on an all-new book!



5. This is a fabulous book on vintage costume jewelry! Beautiful colored photos, prices, loads of information and FUN. The author shares her own stories, talking with you as if you are an old friend, and by the time you finished the book you'll wish you were.
   
   Anyone who has a passion for vintage beauties will love this book. It appeals to collectors on every level. Don't hesitate to buy. You will not be disappointed.
   
   The author's first book on vintage costume jewelry is also a must have!

4 comments about Standard Catalog of Winchester Firearms.

1. The first book of this series that I bought was "The Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson", 3rd Edition, which is a well-thought-out book full of information on each model; good detail, some unique information and a gem to the collector's library. Naturally, I thought that the editors would have husbanded subsequent books in the series to be of comparable quality.
   
   Sadly, it didn't happen. The "Standard Catalog of Winchester Firearms" and its companion "The Standard Catalog of Colt Firearms" are just awful. I'm reasonably certain that they were rushed into print for Christmas and the product that went to the public shows it.
   
   The illustrations are of good quality, but who cares? One normally expects that firearms books be organized chronologically, and that they actually contain information that comes from other than the company advertising brochures. The thing makes no sense to me and is a total waste of money. I'm not even going to try to resell it; I wouldn't wish it on anyone.
   
   If you want a book on Winchester, there is only one available and always has been: The Winchester Book by George Madis. Sure, the photos are not in color but what the hey...it's CRAMMED with the information the collector needs to help make his decisions. The only way to fly.



2. Standard Catalog of Winchester Firearms
   
   Great Book! Very informative. Could not be more pleased.



3. Fantastic. Excellent value for money. Beautifully illustrated with all colour photos. Brilliantly detailed. An absolute must for the Winchester collector.



4. In chronological order all the Winchester guns are mentioned.
   Not just a catalog, but also some back ground information of the models.
   Nice photography. A high quality book for the person who is interested in Winchester arms.

5 comments about Sneakers: The Complete Collectors' Guide.

1. this book is awesome is very informative, and if you know anything about the hip hop era then this book should be added to a persons collections.



2. This book is great to look at even if you're not into sneakers. Beautifully presented design and layout, and great history details. A good oversight of all the significant brands and their best creations.



3. A great look at most of the shoes in each of the major companies respective ranges. While the descriptions and info on the shoes are pretty scant, the pictures more than make up for that. The best part of running through this book is getting hit with the nostalgia that comes with seeing so many products from the not-so-distant past. A nice modern coffee table (or ottoman, I suppose) book. Air Max 1s are the best shoes ever.



4. This is a great compilation of the shoes that make up the ever expanding sneaker culture. But it is by no means the COMPLETE guide. Lots of great shoes that didn't make it into the book and some that should have been left out. All in all, it should definitley be in your collection.



5. Bought this for my boyfriend (who is a sneakerhead) and he loves it. High quality print, bright pages, covers many of the classic brands and at an excellent price - best price I've seen for this book and I've looked for it elsewhere. Definetly recommended.

5 comments about Collecting Contemporary.

1. Starting with the positives: you can read the entire book in about 15 minutes.
   Here's the bottom line: buy what you like and can afford.
   Dealers and critics try to make artists famous because that is how they make their money.
   If you buy something from a dealer and later decide that you don't like it, it is considered hoyle (by dealers) to give the dealer first dibs on the re-sale.
   Instead of buying this book, save your money and buy a work from a local artist you like - all will be better served.



2. Adam Lindemann, is an art collector who has written a book, Collecting Contemporary. It is a good reference material and serves as a basic road map for the burgeoning art collector - and possibly an even better one for emerging artists.
   
   Since I am founding a new theory of art (UnGraven Image), which includes a written manifesto booklet on the theory, I am exceptionally interested in reaching other artists with what will help them. This book will.
   
   I appreciated the information I found within so much I devoted a whole weekly blog to it (and longer review) at my web site. Other reviews here and in the press have dealt with the information for collectors -- and it is useful for them. However, emerging artists get a good overview of the gatekeepers and movers and shakers in the art world. What motivates a collector -- a curator -- or a gallerist to select the work of an artist?
   Read this book to learn more!
   -- Judy Rey Wasserman, Founder & Artist, UnGraven Image
   
   



3. Excellent book. Gives inside information on how the whole contemporary art market system works. Very helpful for emerging contemporary artists. Good buy.



4. Great book, well worth the read. I liked all the interviews with the dealers and collectors and every art lover who is thinking about starting a collection should ready this book first.



5. I loved this book! Nicely written, easy to refer to, good mixture of examples. If you're going to buy a work of art because you like it, or because you hope it'll grow in value have a read. No book will change the colour of your wall-paper, or give you prophetic foresight into the future value of the art market, but this book will give you valuable insights to deal with the main players (artists, dealers,etc), & understand the mechanisms that move the market.

5 comments about Gun Digest Book of SIG-Sauer: A Complete Look at SIG-Sauer Pistols.

1. (I'm writing this after a quick first read-through of the book, so please forgive any error I may unintentionally inject.)
   
   I'm a pretty solid "gun nut," with an excellent and diverse gun book library. I always feel ambivalent about these books that purport to give an overview of a gun company and its product line. While I'm interested in learning stuff that I don't already know (bring on the minutiae!), many of these books (those of one particular coffee table author come to mind) turn out to contain little more than a few beautiful photos with a ton of incredibly dull rah-rah copy: recitations of annual production numbers for various models are a highlight. However, Ayoob's GUN DIGEST BOOK OF SIG-SAUER is a good example of what can be done RIGHT with this type of book.
   
   Ayoob, love him or hate him, is a major gunwriter for a reason. He can write (unlike some) and he's smart. One may disagree with some of his theories (I do, personally) and one may question whether he is right or has experience on a given legal or tactical issue, but the man knows how to write interesting articles about guns.
   
   That's what he does here. The GUN DIGEST BOOK OF SIG-SAUER has a chapter for each model of Sig-Sauer's pistols, from the P-220 through the GSR 1911 (nothing on the new 250s, alas). Ayoob covers each model in detail (you'd think this would get boring with the overall similarity of the Sig-Sauer pistols, but it doesn't) offering insights as to each model's pluses and minuses, as well as intelligent commentary on the sociological niche each model fills. There are chapters on the Sig-Sauer in training, in competition, and on the various custom options available. There are chapters on SIG handguns like the P-210 and on the SIG-H?mmerli target series. There's a chapter on tactics featuring a bunch of goofy photos showing folks performing drawstroke techniques taught by Ayoob's LFI. It's an amazingly thorough book (the NH-based Ayoob's physical proximity to SIGARMS might have helped here): well-written and informative.
   
   The book serves up hundreds of well-done photos to illuminate the text. They're not always placed right next to the text they're illminating, but that's okay. (They're not always of Ayoob, and that's great, too.) Ayoob provides photos of interesting points (e.g., comparisons between the stamped steel slide of a 220 and the milled steel slide of a 220 ST, old grip styles, comparisons of the short and long trigger styles) that fulfill the reason to have a book like this one. I know that Gun Digest books are usually full of good photos, but this one is better than most.
   
   Because of the photos and the nicely delineated text, this is a book that one can read for a couple of hours or just pick up for a couple of minutes (I foresee a lot of copies camped out in the bathrooms of their new owners) to read an article or check out some different photos. Ayoob's writing on each topic is insightful and well-reasoned, and I learned a fair amount in my first run-through.
   
   If you're a "gun nut" (or if you're shopping for one), I don't think you'll be disappointed with this book. Given my aforementioned ambivalence about these "overview" books, I thought long an hard before I bought this one. Now that I've read through it, however, I'm planning to buy another copy for a friend! (By the way, Amazon is offering a great price on the GUN DIGEST BOOK OF SIG-SAUER, which runs $28 at the retail outlets where I've seen it.) Ayoob did a great job with this one!



2. If you want to know about Sig products and how to effectively use them this is a great book. It is well written and covers basics to more advanced items. I really enjoyed it. Recommended.



3. I purchased this for my husband, and he's ecstatic. Over the last month he's shown me every picture, and read me something from nearly every page. I can only assume he's pretty happy with it, since I can't pry it out of his hands!!



4. Excellent and comprehensive review of Sig Sauer pistols. Unfortunately does not include the new Sig R-DAK models with their unique and butter smooth trigger systems, recently adopted by the Coast Guard and some other more secretive Federal agencies.
   
   Could stand an updated edition, but still well worth the money.



5. I did not know what to expect of this book as I had the Gun Digest Book on the Glock and while that book was OK, this book is much more interesting. Massad Ayoob keeps things very interesting and detailed regarding each model. If you are in the market for a Sig like I was, it pretty much answers most questions you may have about the guns.
   
   I constantly refer to it for info on cleaning or just trying to figure out what my next Sig is going to be. Very well written with nice pictures. I would highly recommend this book whether you're looking to purchase a new Sig or just into guns and want to increase your knowledge of one of the best firearms available.

5 comments about The Seasons of America Past.

1. No truer words were ever spoken when it comes to summarizing the content of this magnificent book. Eric Sloane describes the seasons of the early American way of life in a most revealing and splendid fashion. Beginning with the month of March: spring - the New Year according to the seasons; Sloane takes the reader through a year full of the sowing and reaping of the harvest in its season.



2. "Possibly as a result of long dependence upon strong electric lighting, we seem to have much poorer night vision today than the average man had a century or two ago."
   It's this sort of historical information that brings the past to life. As a social historian (not accredited, mind you, but I'll go against most any so-called history major), I spend much time and money searching out tid-bits of this type to help give me the understanding of the ways and lives of times past. Seasons of America Past by Eric Sloane is an excellent source of American life in the late 18th and 19th centuries. Taking the reader through a full year of everyday life - month by month - Mr. Sloane shows through his many sketches and fluid writing so many aspects of the lives of our ancestors (including what was most likely considered mundane by those who lived it!) that most supposed historians do not even touch upon. Put into a seasonal order, one will see how each of our four seasons affected the lives of our long past relatives.
   Here are a few more bits of information strewn throughout this book:
   "May was once the season for sending May baskets, now a forgotten custom. The first spring flowers were gathered by young girls and left in baskets on the doorsteps for their parents..."
   "The American farmer...drank cider daily at his table instead of water or milk..."
   "Plow Monday was the first day after the end of Christmas festivities, when the back-to-work spirit started with getting all farm equipment in shape."
   "Stump pulling was one of the few cash businesses, and at twenty five cents a stump - the standard price in 1850 - a man could pull twenty to fifty stumps a day and make a most exceptional living."
   "Independence Day...was first ushered in by bell-ringing and shooting. When Chinese firecrackers entered the scene of Independence Day (in the early 1800's), bell-ringing vanished."
   "Today the word PICKLE brings to mind a prepared cucumber, but pickle in the old days was a verb that referred to the...process and not to the actual product."
   149 pages filled with everyday life of times gone by. Winter clothing, ice houses, broom making, sugaring time, seasonal cooking, wells, farm sleds and sleighs, spinning wheels, gathering of splint wood for baskets, herb dyes and the colors they made, and so much more packed into an easy to read format.
   With this and other books by Eric Sloane, as well as the wonderful 'Everyday Life' books (such as 'Expansion of Everyday Life') one can almost feel as if they can live in a different time.



3. This is the second Sloane book I've had the unique pleasure to read and I liked it every bit as well as the first. Mr. Sloane is as learned in his subject matter---daily life in the rural American past---as any professor. I love the illustrations and the attention to tiny detail. Truly these books are treasures that preserve information about our past that is so in danger of being lost in the hectic pace of twenty-first-century life. To read this book is to place one's mindset in another era and circumstance. Yes, existence in the past was more physically difficult compared to today but in their own way our forebears lived richly in a world that was every bit as complex and rewarding as our own. This is a book for children, for adults, for anyone open-minded enough to look backward without condescension. I think any thinking person will be greatly impressed.



4. Another one of Eric Sloane's great historical narratives on the development of America with this book focusing on the seasonal nature of farming.
   
   Thankfully most of Sloane's books are available as reprints as anyone interested in learning about the American way of life, from 1650 to 1900, will find these books real treasures. The text is straight forward, very informative and shows a reverence for all aspects of American farming, craftsmanship, invention and "common sense". The book is illustrated with great sketches and shows the modern urbanite how the rural Americans survived, thrived and prospered.
   
   Any Sloane book is an essential part of a library for those individuals who are feed-up with the urban ratrace and are seeking a simpler, self-supporting, rewarding experience.



5. All of the Sloane books are worth reading and owning. As a boy in the 1960s I was very impressed with the pen and ink drawings, more impressed than with the color paintings. (I still am.) I even built models of some of the buildings for grammar school dioramas. In the 1980s, I bought all the titles that were still in print (or remaindered). Buy the Dover reprints and any other editions you can find before they disappear again. Abebooks.com is a good source for OOP books.

5 comments about The Arts of the Sailor: Knotting, Splicing and Ropework.

1. This is an excellent resource book and we will use it a lot....



2. A great book chock full of interesting ideas to make your boat more seamanlike. The definative rope working book.



3. This book has some of the most clearly articulated and illustrated instructions I have ever encountered.



4. A generally informative book, but.....
   some of the directions refer to diagrams with arrows showing the direction of the rope. No such arrows!
   Overall fair to good diagrams and interesting history, but I think I would have bought a different book had I known what was missing.



5. I bought this for my son - he just purchased his first sailboat. He loved the info and that it is such a compact size - he can keep it on the boat for quick reference. Though not as complete as "The Ashley Book of Knots" it does cover the basics. Great for beginners!

4 comments about Standard Guide to American Muscle Cars: A Supercar Source Book 1960-2005 (Standard Guide to American Muscle Cars).

1. This book really rocks! They've got A TON of cars in here, great photos, cool writing by John Gunnell. I really like his writing style. Lots of cool information and period reviews of the coolest cars Detroit ever produced.
   
   I had a copy of the previous editon of this book, and the 4th Edition is a great improvement. 400 pages! This is a great bargain on a really well-done book.



2. This is a big book.Its mostly color photos throughout.Each car has 1 page devoted to it,1 color photo (sometimes 2 photos)and plenty of information.Its a great book.
   
   The standard of these books from this publisher has improved over their former black and white photos and low quality paper.Now these books are printed on very high quality paper and plenty of color photos.
   
   This book is an overview of American muscle cars.It helps knowing whats out there.If you wanted specific and detailed information on your favourite model you should consider looking at books that cater for specific models.This book is a gem and an ideal book to start with.



3. Just a great book all around. So may great cars to look at and read about. If you want detailed information on a single car or generation of a car then look elsewhere, but for pretty good commentary and loads of pictures, this book is an excellent read, and reference.



4. Hi there,
   
   for me i have more expected...to much text, less datas and pictures. But overall there were shown a lot of cars from the muscle car area and intersting news, which i don't know before. 3 stars for me..