Antiques Collectibles Books

Hard to say anything bad about this--a great work with lots of engaging information about the history of how our coins are made at the various mints. Numerous side-bars add value, although do tend to be a little confusing somethings. Very comprehensive, belongs on every serious numistmatist's bookshelf. Great book, nice binding, great information!

The "History Of The United States Mint and Its Coinage" ia an excellent coffee table book. Good information, easy reading, and beautiful illustrations for an unbeatable price.
Recommended for kids & adults interested in learning about the US history through coinage.
Enjoy!

The book takes you through a tour of US mint & coin history. The information is more broad than deep. It provides lots of interesting information in small chunks. Each writeup is 1-6 pages in length centered around a particular mint, person, coin, or event. I really enjoyed this book.

This is a general overview of the creation and manufacture of Hot Wheels toy cars. Some rabid collectors will probably already know a lot, if not all, of the information in the book but I found it to be highly readable. There's not a lot of minute details but general information about the development and production of the early years. There is also some general information about Mattel's history.

For toy cars they put a lot of effort into creating them and to this day it still shows. They have held up well and are still like little trophies to me. There are some details that elude the end of the story, like one engineer that volunteered to work on a no salary/percentage of production basis. They never explained what the end result of that bargain was other than it worked well for him in the long run.

Other information like the development of the wire axles, Delrin bearings and the patents involved really took me by surprise. I had no idea how involved it was to create these little gems and what a chance they took in producing them. I am even more impressed with the toys after reading this book. It really was a labor of love to some extent. I also never realized that Elliot Handler's wife was the primary force behind Barbie.

Anyone with even a casual interest in the toys and persons involved would probably find the information in this book to be insightful. I enjoyed it immensely.

Hot Wheels were a major pastime for me growing up and I'm surprised this book didn't appear sooner. The wealth of information and anecdotes on how this toy came to be made the book very entertaining to read. While quite knowledgeable about his subject, the author made a number of factual errors regarding automotive history (I work in the industry) and was vague about some of the actual dates during the first few years of Hot Wheels production. Still, the good photography and artwork have made this one of my favorite books!

I bought this book for my 8 yr old that has every car I think that has ever been made by hotwheels(these include my old cars from when I was a kid). This book was wonderful. He loved seeing all the cars he has and some that he needs to get. This book was very well put together and will be an asset to any car collector or car lovers collection. Alot of information and wonderful photos inside.

This is a well organized reference to Bush-McCoy. It contains a history of Bush-McCoy; this added knowledge adds to the fun of collecting and allow you to sound more like you know what you are doing. Then there are pages on the different "marks" of the pottery. There is a dated value guide. But I find it easer to do my own comparing. The big plus is the color pictures that show what is available. For those discriminate people that do not just buy anything that says Bush-McCoy there is an index. It is also fun to see you Bush-McCoy pieces in the book.

I purchased both the first and the second of the Roseville series by Sharon and Bob Huxford, hoping that I would get a complete guide of all Roseville pottery with prices. Unfortunately the "encyclopedia" was not complete. I guess this is how the authors sell books by not putting together a definitive book on Roseville.

The Huxfords are wonderful authors that have offered, collectors of Roseville Art Pottery, a basic foundation for identifying various Roseville lines. No one author [I personally author a mid-year price guide]has all the answers, but each of us attempt to add to the ongoing data base. The Huxford volumes are an essential tool for Roseville collectors and Dealers.

This is an excellent catalogue of an extensive collection of Shaker artifacts of all kind; clothing, fabrics, furniture, tools, machines, and so much more.
The photographs exhibit the craft of the shakers in every detail. The color captured in some of the pieces provided a pleasant surprise!

It's a beautiful book.

You can hardly walk through a mall these days without hearing some form of "Simple Gifts" cycling through the soundtrack. And, the graceful yet functional lines of Shaker-designed furnishings now are mainstays in many American homes. Yet, most Americans know very little about this Utopian group that truly was among the great contributors to our national culture.

If you visit one of the restored historical sites that once housed Shaker families, you're likely to walk away with a paperback like "The People Called Shakers," by Edward Andrews. But, even after reading the paperback, you won't know the larger and far more dramatic story of Andrews' (and his wife Faith Andrews') passion for preserving the art and spiritual message of the United Society of Believers in Christ's Second Appearing, as the Shakers formally called themselves.

This coffee-table-style book, lavishly illustrated with color photographs, presents that larger story. It's part of a traveling exhibit, drawn from the Andrews collection, which will visit various historical sites over the next couple of years.

The key to the Andrews' contribution really couldn't be properly evaluated until now, I think. As a journalist myself who has specialized in reporting on American religious life for more than 20 years - with a special focus on Shakers through most of those years - I think it's only in this era of "spiritual rebirth" in America that the Andrews' passion and achievements can properly be understood and appreciated.

First of all, "Ted" Andrews began collecting and preserving endangered Shaker pieces in an era when they were considered "low" art at best. So-called experts, when he began to build his collection before World War II, regarded such hand-made, functional items as historical artifacts perhaps worth documenting. The art world was an entire conceptual universe away from its current fascination with such fusions of handicrafts and spiritual insight.

What's more, "Ted" Andrews staunchly believed - in sharp contrast to most developers of historical sites in the mid-20th Century -- that Shaker sites should be preserved primarily for their spiritual value. At least, spiritual themes should be presented on par with gee-whiz exhibitions of artifacts. Initially, this seemed like a crazy notion to many experts and Andrews seemed like a rather bull-headed fellow. But, in today's cultural light, Andrews now appears to have been the prophetic visionary.

If you care about this chapter of American history and this niche within global spirituality, this new Yale University book is a must-own volume on our collective Shaker legacy.

On the level of moral philosophy, Bessie Head's tales examine the development of a civilization and the ethical views established throughout their expansion. Her accounts institute lessons about love and romance, rituals, new religion, law, and material wealth. Bessie brilliantly sets the foundation of her collection with an extraordinary account of the origin of the Botswana village. The advancement of Christianity within the rural community sets the stage for divided beliefs and practices. Wealth and materialism create stratification and the villagers strive to reach and maintain the status quo.

Ethical relativism and the problems associated with the majority rule theory come into play throughout the progression of this civilization. With the group's morality being determined by the majority male population, the women are left to decide for themselves, whether the morals are merely professed values established to accommodate and maintain the dominant male role or actual ethical values instituted for the good of all the inhabitants of the village. There are many heroines throughout Head's sagas that determine that the rules are unjust. These female protagonists bravely stand their ground refusing to be mistreated and abused any longer.

My daughter loves this book, and we are on our 3rd copy because she has worn it out taking it on trips, in the car, etc. Her favorite part is the international dolls section, where she enjoys looking at national costumes from around the world. The layout and photos are very well-done, and it brings me back to my childhood as well!

This beautiful book is a must-have for any girl who loves Barbies. It is a children's book and is a visual delight...not a dry guide for adult collectors. The pictures are crisp and labeled, as the other DK books are; "corduroy hat" and "red patent leather pumps," etc. A huge hit with my 9-year old niece.

I love this book. This is the neatest book in the world. It has almost every Barbie I have in there. My favorite Barbie was the Olympic P.J. I use it to help me surf on Ebay. If you like Barbies, get this book now!

This book is really nice, the pictures are gorgeous, and it has some index on Barbie dolls by year, also Barbie's friends. Not so much on collectible dolls, but there are some dolls with gorgeous pics, some are different from the publish pics and a few are the same. Nice information for dolls and furniture. Great book! The cover is stunning!!!!

My kids like it. It's got excellent layout, clear crisp pics, but isn't comprehensive. Great to look through, and point to - look, I had that one when I was a kid..... (YOU were a KID?) I don't use it with my collection, but I am glad I bought it - it makes a pleasent just for fun.

This book has most of the basic information that you need in order to identify metals and stones as well as other valuable information. Written in clear,easy to understand language. This is one that you need to read over and over again . It has already paid for itself.

I found this book to be invaluable as both a collector and jewelry dealer on Trocadero. I write my jewelry descriptions every day with this book sitting at my side. A very good idea to carry it with you while going shopping for your treasures. If you are a beginner putting a collection together, it is a must have.

As a vintage jewelry dealer at Atlanta Vintage Jewelry dot com and one who is always in need of information to further advance my knowledge, this little book by Jeaneanne Bell fits the bill nicely.

The tests she gives the reader are invaluable. Not just 'how' to test, but she actually 'tests' the reader to see how we're absorbing and retaining the information in the book. If you don't know the answers to her questions, you can always go back and review. This is an excellent method for teaching us how to identify materials, marks, and substances in old jewelry to discover their origin or value.

This little book has big rewards.

Gail Gupton, Author: The 31-Day Diet of Spiritual Enlightenment and Seekers of Truth.

I love this guide! I actually picked it up in a antique store but I decided not to buy it that day because I had too much already to buy. I regretted that from the moment I left the store. I then spent the next three months trying to remember what the name of it was. I happened onto it while searching for jewelry on the internet. If you collect costume jewelry, then you must get this guide because she teaches you all about how to tell the difference in Bakelite, pearls, etc., vs. fake/faux stones or materials. A must-have for the serious collector who will refer to it again and again.

This book has NOT been shipped at all, so I cannot in any way honestly review this book.
Amazon keeps promising this book to ship and it never does.
I am looking forward to it and to check it out.