Antiques Collectibles Books

Wow, this is a great one. Nice profiles of some of the best artists in the genre during the 1950's.
Excellent pictorials and the added treat of the unpublished Bill Elder Christmas tale!

Por muy buen precio me he conseguido esta belleza de la historia comiquera norteamericana (y mundial, como no). Incluye muchos dibujos y un comic inéditos. Resulta muy educativo ver la evolución que han tenido las historietas y el lenguaje tan básico y redundante que se usaba en aquel entonces.

Super book!! Brings back memories of buying those (great, dirty, violent, perverted, notorious---choose your adjective)comics.

I was and still am a fan of science-fiction and loved the art of Wally Wood in Weird Science and Weird Fantasy and their reincarnations. I never bought Superman, Batman, Archie, et al.

Everyday I mourn the fact that my mother tossed out the magazines when I was in the service. And reading these comics apparently never hurt me as I went on to garner four academic degrees.

So buy this book and relive the golden days of EC comic books.

In the 1950s, while the other kids were ooohing-and-ahhhing over Superman and the Green Lantern, we few proto-geeks were absorbed in MAD Magazine and the equally lunatic E.C. monthlies, especially Tales from the Crypt, Creepy, Haunt of Fear, Weird Science, and the SuspenStories series. Nobody could keep your eyes glued silently to the page like Jack Davis, Bill Gaines, Al Feldstein, and their cohorts. Some of the stories were original, some were adaptations of authors we also doted on. (Ray Bradbury was a favorite source, and you'll find his classic story "Touch and Go!" here, which I clearly remember reading when it appear in 1953.) This lavish volume is partly a history of that genre and partly a collection of full-length, photoreproduced stories -- plus an original, "Wanted for Murder!," written by Johnny Craig for E.C.'s "picto-fiction" magazine, Crime Illustrated! (which was actual typeset text -- no balloons -- overlaid on the black-and-white artwork). This is a great book for fans of the days when they published real comic books!

Hugely disappointed with the over-design of this book, and consider it a magnificent book criminally ruined by overly decorative backdrops to the pages of original EC stories. The biographies and text here by Geissman is simply terrific; providing a cogent, articulate, evocative context for these iconic 1950s artists - from Wally Wood, Joe Orlando, Graham "Ghastly" Ingels, to the incredibly talented cover-art genius of Johnny Craig - not to mention the epochal Krigstein and the whole range of science fiction art in this justly remembered EC period. BUT... the clutter of coloured backgrounds placed behind the reproduced pages of stories by these artists made me want to immediately consign this book to an Ingels watery grave in the bayou! It is a travesty. Unbelievably congested, busy, "wriggling amoebae" multi-coloured backgrounds to the reproduced 1950s art visually compete with it throughout. It provides the WORST "visual noise" that totally distracts and competes with the well-reproduced art; the backgrounds COMPETE for attention like trying to read a comic-book in a vast tub of spaghetti, or enlarged coloured slides of dissected innards under a microscope. It becomes visually unbearable, and TOTALLY UNDERMINES the EC art. It is one of the very worst examples of appallingly over-designed books I can think of, where some faddish photo-shop graphics moron has been allowed to run their rampantly stupid techno-boots ALL OVER the crisp, stark integrity of the original artists. Wally Wood will be rolling in his grave. Geissman should be shot for having this desecrating, congested muddle of coloured vomit over-design and compromise the VISUAL CLARITY of these great artists. A TRULY APPALLING DESIGN/BOOK LAYOUT DECISION. ALL THE EDITORS ON THIS PROJECT SHOULD ALSO BE LINED UP FOR THESE TECHNI-COLOUR CRIMES AND GIVEN A BLOODY HIDING. A great book by Grant Geissman that has become a grievous, unredeemable INSULT to the original 1950s artists it is supposed to be honouring.

I love this book because it capture real emotions. These are not stories, these are letters written to a loved one. In our modern societies of "make believe" and communication this book is eternally fresh.

I like looking at old pictures and old letters, but I thought when I bought the book that I would actually be looking in the history of someone's life with pictures to go with it but that was not the case. It is just a random bunch of pictures and a random bunch of letters put together in a book. The pictures aren't necessarily the pictures of the people who wrote the letters, so you know nothing of the authors, no explanation of the times they lived in or the place they lived in or anything. In other words, no story behind it whatsoever. Just a disappointing collection.

The beauty of this book, beyond the romantic nostalgia inspired by vintage photographs and handwritten letters, is that it is a collection created from discarded or "lost" memorabilia. The images and letters were once, we can reasonably believe, very important to the anonymous beholder before they were set adrift in estate sales, flea markets, and junk stores. The author performs a service of social research and cultural reclamation by taking these things in, preserving them, and creating an outlet for them to be rediscovered by other people. I highly recommend this book for anyone at all interested in being part of that process or anyone who is moved by the sentimentality of others.

So I received this book as a gift, and so I can't hate it too much. I did not know that I could collect a bunch of nostalgia, throw it all in a messy anthology with some random pictures of old couples and make some money. Maybe I should try it. I wouldn't consider these 'love letters' per say, because most of them are just from ordinary people chronicling their mundane lives to someone who will listen. When you buy this book you turn into that someone.

Lesson is that nothing's changed over the years. There's no magic in this collection, just a bunch of hodge podge. Cute though. Some are a bit witty, some whiny, most just plain BORING. A sweet little novelty, nothing great.

Another beautiful contribution by this author. Love letters to make you weep, smile, laugh and imagine . . . or remember . . . how it feels to love and be loved.

a lovely book to keep at the bedside, exceptional photographs and a must for big game rifle enthusiasts

In brief.

Horrible translation.
Lost parts of sentences. Some are repeated.
Spelling errors.
Sometimes - incorrect information.
Almost nothing new.
Some nice photos.

So, let me advise to look for some other source of the information.

Books about Double Rifles are usually expensive and difficult to obtain. This book is neither. I found it to be a beautifully illustrated book and clearly the author has researched his subject.
My one critisism of this volume is, I feel, that much has been lost in the translation from the original German to English. Some of the terminology has been simplified and it shows. Perhaps a proof reader with a knowledge of firearms and whose native tongue is english could have corrected passages which have been over simplified.
If you are looking for a more detailed overview of double rifles and their quirks, actions and history then Christopher Austyns trilogy is probably already in your bookcase.
This is a minor quibble, if you like Double Rifles then this book is a worthwhile purchase even if only for the wonderful photos.

This book is quite a good read, though I felt it was missing some information in certain areas, it seemed to cover a great deal of important material. Perhaps I am just expecting too much. As books on the subject of double rifles go, this one is right up there... top shelf.
Cheers,
Dr. Stephen W. Templar, Author: rexGun

I suppose I'm being a little unfair to write a three-star review of this volume, seeing as I only collect Griswold and only purchased this book for that section alone. A person shouldn't berate a screwdriver, for instance, because it makes a poor hammer, and when you get right down to it, the red book is primarely a Wagner price guide, not a Griswold one. But still, in their zeal to write a second guide with a low percentage of repeats from the first, the authors have presented a Griswold section that feels more like a collection of leftover snippets from the blue book than like an independant guide of its own. One of its most serious flaws in my opinion is its lack of complete price lists for referenced series. The authors show a picture of an unlabled p/n 755 size 8 skillet, for instance (and then incorrectly attribute it to the Iron Mountain series in the caption,) but they neglect to give any pricing information for the size 9 and size 7 skillets in the same series. In the blue book, whenever they showed one size, they were pretty consistant with listing pricing for all sizes of that type. Here, they mostly just price exactly what is pictured. Being partial to the non-Griswold logo products, I'm glad that they included more pictures of Best Made, or Merit, or Good Health products, but I wish that they had included more price ranges on those products, rather than only pricing the size that they show in that particular picture. For instance, a picture of a #10 Merit skillet is shown without giving any pricing for #s 3-9 of the same series. (Ironically enough on that note, even though Merit and Puritan skillets have the same p/n and are essentially identical skillets, his price for the Merit #10 is only about 60% of his blue book price for the same Puritan skillet. That, I don't understand - it indicates that Merit and Puritan skillets don't share common prices, but fails to fill the rift in with a complete Merit price range.) Another issue with the Griswold section is that many of the pictures shown are cast aluminum products -- again, while it's true that they aren't duplicates from the blue book, they aren't necessarily what I was expecting to compose about a third or half of the material in a Griswold price guide. I might have liked to have seen more pricing information on pre-1957 small logo cast iron, too. I realize a lot of collectors avoid it, but it's nice to know how much less it's worth than its large logo elder siblings. And, a little more editing of captions would have been nice. Here and there they call something by the wrong name (for instance, a skillet cover is called a skillet, and so on.)

Maybe I'm just being picky, or maybe I was expecting too much Griswold information from a book that was published primarely as a Wagner price guide. But, speaking for the Griswold portion only, I was hoping for something a little more useful. What I got just felt like a loose grouping of everything that was left over from the first time out. It felt like the "deleted scenes" section on some DVD movies. I was expecting an out-and-out sequal.

Having said that, what I've glanced at of the Wagner portion looks good. I don't collect Wagner, so it doesn't really interest me. The same is true for the other non-Griswold brands covered in this book: I can't really rate them, because I haven't really tried to use them. Overall, I'd say that this is probably an excellent guide for Wagner collectors, and an interesting if not entirely useful guide for Griswold collectors such as myself.

Both this book and the "blue" book mislead readers by listing "price values" that are blatently low,-on the very uncommon items listed, even though the pricing errors were brought to both author's attention years ago. Many revisions later, they remain for the most part unchanged.
Shame on them.

If you like collections of photos, this book is great ... Hollow.

Unlike steve (ca) review, this book is considered the second book that all cast iron collectors must have. While some discrepancy on some values in the book may be present, values on most items are completely accurate. It is unfortunate that the other review destroys the credibility of this fine book. The "RED" book is the most complete and accurate book on the market for Wagner Ware collectors. This book and the "BLUE" book should be in every serious cast iron collector's resource library.

This is the second book you should buy if you have any interest in collecting classic American cast iron goods. Collectors call this the "Red Book". The first book, "The Book of Griswold & Wagner", is called the "Blue Book", although it looks kind of turquoise to me, and is by the same authors. This edition, with a copyright of 2001, is getting a little out of date for catalog values, but still is a good indicator of relative value. It covers Wagner, Griswold, Martin, Lodge, Vollrath, and Excelsior. There is little duplication between the Red and Blue books, but together they are just a treasure chest of good clear photogrpahs and information that is not available anywhere else. The author is active in the major collecting societies and solicits information, including photographs and corrections, as each edition is prepared. (As an aside, it's hard to comprehend how someone could be critical of a book full of pictures and descriptions of collectable iron.)

It is really unfair to be critical of the catalogs values in such a work. They are useful in determining relative value and rarity, but the current marketplace must looked at to get the best indicators of value.

This is a charming collection that invokes memories of a gentler time. The postcards feature holiday themes, most with sweet faced children and soft, cuddly animals. The patriotic cards (Memorial Day, President's Day, Fourth of July)are rousing and powerful. This is a delightful collection that will charm the recipient.

This is an excellent A-Z book on everything you would want to know about carousels. It's very well presented and very informative and makes a great coffee table book. Highly recommended if you're interested in the subject.

This book is a must have for any carousel enthusiast or anyone interested in the art of wood carving. All major carvers/manufacturers of the golden age of carousel building are covered. The photography is wonderful and there is a census of operating carousels in the back of the book. Since the book is written in 1986, many of the carousels that are listed have dissappeared. Check National Carousel Association for an updated list.

OK I gotta give the book a great review as one of the authors is a very dear friend. (Marianne Stevens) I love the photos of the carousel that she purchased from my cousins!

Seriously though this book is an absolute must have for anybody not only interested in Carousels but also in amusement park history. It's a wonderful coffe table book with to die for color photographs and fascinating information.

Even children will love this book! It's beautifully done with glossy photos. Absolutely super.

Warren Crandall

Awesome book! An absolute must for anyone interested in American Carousel Art! Loaded with close up photos of all the love of labor that went into these beautiful animals! Brings back many memories of the Great Danbury Fair in Danbury, CT which now unfortunately is a shopping mall.

This an excellent book giving a good insight into the history of carousels from their early beginnings. Crammed with beautiful photographs of the various animals and some rare photographs of the carvers and their workshops. A must reference book if you are into carousels.

This is the book to have if you are identifing US Commerative Stamps. It has a "lay flat" coil plastic spine, and large colorful pictures with full item details. I've had the other books with the glued spine, and this is the best improvement I've seen. Amazon has the right products for all your needs, and at great affordable prices.

This book is a necessity to the serious stamp collector. Its ease of use when trying to identify stamps makes identification quick. The colors are bright and images are clear. This is my third year purchasing this item. A certain must!

When I first started looking for The Postal Service Guide to U.S. Stamps.
I found that there were a lot of choices to choose from. However this is complete with all the information needed for a Stamp Collector.

The 'historical' background is at elementary school level. Many of the photos are in poor quality, with no zoom in whatsoever. The index is basic and lacking and as the book is chronologically arranged, that's unhelpful.
It can give a very basic and limited idea about the subject but nothing more.

Gemologist C. Jeanenne Bell presents Collecting Victorian Jewelry: Identification And Price Guide, a full-color showcase of the distinctive jewelry of the Victorian era. Vintage photographs and artwork as well as close-up detailed of pieces, extensive price information, tips on discerning real pieces from imitation and general background information on gemstones and fashion of the time fill this lavish volume. A "must-have" for antique jewelry collectors, and recommended for anyone interested in seeing these wondrous works of art and adornment up close.

It was intersting reading. More on style, than on collecting. Interesting if you like history. Lots to learn. And a true collector neds to learn alot.

Yet another book by prolific jewellery writer C. Jeanenne Bell. In this book, Bell deals exclusively with Victorian jewellery, that is jewellery produced in England, America and France during the period from 1837 to 1901. This book is primarily a catalogue of Victorian jewellery, with full color photos and prices at the time of publication, interspersed with text that attempts to place the jewellery in a historical context with respect to events and fashions. Unlike some books, which only show the jewelley of royalty, this book shows items which would suit a range of budgets.

This book is primarily aimed at dealers and those wishing to collect jewellery from the Victorian era. However, with over 700 full colour photos (according to the back cover), this is also a great coffee table book for those wanting to look at beautiful things and dream.

Collecting post cards has been a beloved hobby and pastime from the very beginning of the American postal system and their 19th century introduction to an eager public. THE GOLDEN AGE OF POSTCARD'S identification and values for postcards from the early 1900s will prove an invaluable pick for any interested in pricing or acquiring such postcards, and is a recommendation for any library strong in collector's price guides. Color photos of cards are arranged by season and provide quick look-ups of prices and makers.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

"I don't know of any country that has successfully introduced the equivalent of a dollar coin without getting rid of the corresponding paper unit," said Douglas Mudd, author of a new book on the history of money, "All the Money in the World." Also quoted my local newspaper, Palm Beach Post.

I lived in Germany 10 years and for most of those years used 5 DM coins and 5 DM notes. My wife is from Hong Kong and we visit frequently, using the 10 HK$ coin and the 10 HK$ bill among other matching HK$ coin and bills.

While some of the "reviews" here do not even really review the book, here is the real story. This is a beautiful collection of illustrations of coins and currency from all over the world. I obviously could not afford to include some of the items illustrated here in my own collection -- they are just too expensive. But owning this book is a great substitute.

This is a wonderful overview of the world's money, written in a concise, knowledgeable manner. The illustrations a magnificent and I would recommend it to anyone with any interest in the subject. But then isn't everyone interested in money? If you read this and remember half of it, you will be an expert of the highest order.

As a historian (former corporate historian for Grumman Aerospace) and an educator, I found Mr. Mudds book informative, insightful and entertaining! It is especially useful to educators as an introduction to the amazing world of money. The author has a wonderful way of presenting historial events and anecdotes that is compelling to all age groups. The illustrations and photographs are especially striking. My students are actually vying for the privelege of borrowing it. If you are a history or business teacher it is sure to become a classroom favorite!

I noted in some previous reviews that the author, Mr. Mudd, has been misunderstood in regards to his comments on the introduction of new dollar coins. If one were to take the effort to review his original quote, it is clear that he was not saying the dollar coin has never been successful, but rather, for it to be successful, the existing paper notes must first be withdrawn. It is understandable for children to misread data but it is sad when adults do so.