Best Antique & Collectible Marbles
Included among the handmade marbles are old marbles of glass, earthenware, minerals, and steel; machine-made marbles are identified by their manufacturers; and contemporary handmade glass marbles by artisans recapturing the old styles and creating exciting new styles all their own. Bob Block has been collecting, appraising, auctioning, and dealing in marbles for over 30 years.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Great book on marbles, their origins and manufacturers."
"Very informative with great pictures."
"Didn't quite fill my needs."
"This was a gift for a friend."
"This is a comprehensive, well designed volume for anyone interested in learning about marble identification."
Marbles evoke memories of childhood and simpler times; perhaps this is why they are collected with such enthusiasm! A child of antique collectors, Paul Baumann was encouraged to find his own collecting niche; he found it in marbles, and has been an avid collector since 1952.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Having recently become interested in Carpet ball / bowls, this book kept coming up in a Google search, I was able to review it quit extensively before purchasing the E-Book version. It had a great deal of information about Scottish Carpet ball or bowls, including excellent pictures of authentic and reproduction balls."
"It is, by far,the best reference book I have ever come across in both areas, i.e. antique marbles and antique carpet balls."
"However, I have learned that marble "dealers" are not very forthcoming with information in books nor online."
"I have his original physical book."
"Delivered on time."
"I read a lot of marble books."
"A Good Reference Guide to Marbles!"
"A great book for a marble collector."
It features the main areas of interest on makers and manufacturers of marbles made of stone, minerals, and early hand- and machine-made glass. Stanley Block was a registered Public Accountant, company business manager, and treasurer of a wholesale distribution company.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"This book not only talks about the history of the marble but there are a TON of pictures that include the marbles as well. Nobody who collects marbles should be without this book!"
"This is a must read for collectors."
"I wanted a nice color book with the history of marble companies and this delivered."
"Lots of useful information and marble history."
"My wife has saved marbles for a while now."
"The Block family are true marble gurus."
"This was a great book."
Best Antique & Collectible Bottles
The Bottle Bible! He is a member of the Los Angeles Historical Bottle Club, San Diego Antique Bottle Club, Las Vegas Bottle Club and the Federation of Historical Bottle Collectors.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Also provides info on newer (vintage) bottles like Jim Beam whiskey bottles, Ezra Brooks whiskey, Avon bottles, miniature whiskey bottles, soda bottles, Violin & Banjo bottles."
"This gives me the basic bottles prices on old and new bottles and other items."
"Good book for Collectors."
"There are plenty of other bottles that did not make their list."
"I got this book for about 75 cents plus shipping on Amazon and it is well worth the shipping and change, the color photos of the bottles are beautiful!"
"If you want a clinical book to be able to classify bottles by the way their necks are shaped or the amount of bubbles in the glass this book will fit your needs well."
"Not a bit of info I could useđ."
Best Antique & Collectible Books
This charming classic love story, first published in 1970, brings together twenty years of correspondence between Helene Hanff, at the time, a freelance writer living in New York City, and a used-book dealer in London at 84, Charing Cross Road. In her first letter to Marks & Co., Helene Hanff encloses a wish list, but warns, "The phrase 'antiquarian booksellers' scares me somewhat, as I equate 'antique' with expensive." Twenty days later, on October 25, 1949, a correspondent identified only as FPD let Hanff know that works by Hazlitt and Robert Louis Stevenson would be coming under separate cover. In the collection's penultimate entry, Helene Hanff urges a tourist friend, "If you happen to pass by 84, Charing Cross Road, kiss it for me.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I loved the movie and think the book characters lack the intimacy developed by Anthony Hopkins and Ann Bancroft."
"Helene Hanff and FPD correspond for 20 years across two continents and centuries of books."
"Interesting publication of a unique correspondence between individuals during a unique period."
"You will want to be a part of this funny, moving story told in letters."
"I love this book."
"A most wonderful book about books for people who love books by a woman who loved books."
"A mini masterpiece."
"This book is a collection of a series of letters exchanged by the author, Helene Hanff, a New York writer, and the employees, though primarily Frank Doel, of Marks & Co, a London-based antiquarian bookseller. This book of letters is special because it captures so well the passion that both the author and the company had for rare and classic books, not to mention the friendships that were engendered because of that shared passion."
Best Antique & Collectible Stamps
Each Coloring Page is designed for Fun and Relaxation It includes a Digital PDF Edition for Unlimited Printing It includes 29 Exclusive Swear Word & Funny Phrases Coloring Pages Designed for Adults Each Coloring Page is printed on a separate sheet to avoid bleed through Each Swear Word is Designed with Flowers, Motifs, and Patterns The Variety of Pages Ensure There is Something for Every Skill Level Follow us on Snapchat at: Rainbowcoloring. Featuring some of the most inappropriate swear words imaginable, these beautiful designs are a joy to color.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"If using gel pens or markers to color, I always recommend placing a few sheets of paper in between the pages so nothing goes through or else I personally like to use a piece of poster board. I like to know what is in a book for the designs before buying it and many don't show you and then you end up with something you thought you'd like but then don't."
"This is my favorite by far!"
"Always a great gift for someone with a good sense of humor."
"I literally bought these cursey coloring books for all my staff."
"Feel like cussing everyone that you talk to?"
"Nice drawings on quality paper."
"Love these books."
"it's fun but watch out with using markers because it bleeds through to the other side."
Best Antique & Collectible Posters
2017 GIFT IDEAS | COLORING BOOKS FOR GROWN-UPS | NURSING. Well, put back the gurneys and pick up this Coloring Book for Grown-Ups instead!
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Bought 2 of these as gifts for nurses I had during a recent hospital stay."
"The book itself has high-quality pages that have just one picture per page and on the opposite side has a black page with a random design."
"One of my best friends is a nurse and she loves to color."
"My nurse friends loved them."
"Bought this as a gift for a new nurse in the family."
"All things we've thought when are nerves are fried and a 12 hour shift feels like an eternity."
"Bought it for a UCSD graduate who is headed to nursing school."
"Bought this for a nurse friend and sent it right to her, so I never saw it all, but she really liked it and was quite impressed."
Best Antique & Collectible Records
Itâs bursting with the latest facts and stats on your favorite games from the futuristic soccer action of Rocket League to the psychedelic paint battles of Splatoon . GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS (GWR) is the universally recognized global authority on record-breaking achievement.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"A 28 year old step-grandson who is a whiz computer person, and his 16 year old brother,also a whiz with computers, both remarked about this book in a very favorable manner."
"This book has a lot of trivia in it. If anyone still gives a trivia party this book would put you leaps on everyone else."
"I think it's a fun book to browse and although he is almost 14 now, during the years when he was between the ages 8-12 he excitedly went into hiding every year and read them cover to cover."
"has a thick hardback cover in a shiny yellow metallic that makes it look like a rockstar is gonna pop out when you open it up."
"It is a thick book and what I love is that every possible space on each page is filled with facts and stories."
"There is a lot of good information and tips in the book."
"Great book."
"I get the new one for my son every Christmas, this has kept my son who is 12 and my daughter who is 9 enthralled with reading for countless hours."
Best Antique & Collectible Weapons
This edition features a more detailed Price Percentage Grading System (PPGS), and an expanded serialization section, allowing more dates of manufacture to be determined. In the gun business, the Blue Book of Gun Values is considered the authority when it comes to establishing the value of a firearm.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Have owned several editions over the years."
"We tried using the online version, but the book is way easier."
"very thorough guide to all guns."
"Simply by far the best Blue Book to date."
"BIG book, Pretty good coverage."
"Gave it as a gift to a collector friend."
"A necessary book for any gun collector or novice."
"Just what I needed to help me decide on how much insurance to buy."
Best Antique & Collectible Jewelry
A dazzling visual guide to precious and semiprecious stones, organic gems, and precious metals that showcases beautiful, specially commissioned images as well as science, natural history, mythology, and true stories of adventure and discovery. "Feast your eyes on the most beautiful encyclopedia of jewelry you will ever find."
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Good prchase."
"I have done many appraisals and this is a good reference to have."
"Awesome, fun, light reference for everything jewelry."
"Love this gorgeous book and purchased more for gifts."
"Super, Super cool and interesting and fascinating book!"
"Hello, It's an amazing book!"
"Lovely photographs and great information."
"A wonderful gem reference book."
Best Antique & Collectible Buttons
Jesusâ teachings and ministry come alive with each scripture verse featured in this Christian adult coloring book, deepening your Christian faith and relationship with Jesus. Color The Psalms (Coloring For Grown-Ups) - ISBN 1534827617 Color The Proverbs (Coloring For Grown-Ups) - ISBN 1534827684 Color The Gospel (Coloring For Grown-Ups) - ISBN 153482782X Color Genesis (Coloring For Grown-Ups) - ISBN 1534827900 Verses For Women (Coloring For Grown-Ups) - ISBN 1945888059 Verses For Men (Coloring For Grown-Ups) - ISBN 1534827978 6-Month Prayer Journal (Coloring Edition) - ISBN 1945888466 6-Month Bible Study Journal (Coloring Edition) - ISBN 1945888474.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"These coloring books are wonderful because they are day and night color books so you have the options of coloring on a lighter colored page or a darker color page. It provides some pictures that are more detailed while also providing other pictures that are less detailed so that no matter whether you like to color the small sections or the larger sections and provide something for everyone."
"I did receive this product at a discounted rate in exchange for my honest and unbiased review. I am not affiliated with the seller or manufacturer of this product in any way, and am in no way required to leave a positive review. I review all products honestly regardless of the price I paid for the item."
"I was so excited to get these coloring books, and I bought four of them. When I was looking at these they were $8.99 regular regular price and if I want a coloring book it needs to have more area to color not just some blank space here, blank space there. I have a few suggestions Thor this company and they are more designs more intricate designs comma and don't repeat verses."
"Due to the page structure, and the black patterning on the back of the pages, I had no issue with bleeding. Perfect for colored pencils or ultra fine markers (I was only using fine tip, so I had issue in a few places, but not that many. I would definitely recommend this coloring book."
Best Antique & Collectible Ceramics
2017 GIFT IDEAS | COLORING BOOKS FOR GROWN-UPS | HUMOROUS.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Really enjoy this book."
"Gave this as a Christmas gift to a southern friend of mine and she loved it!"
"Southern Sayins' & Sass: A Chalkboard Coloring Book: Well Bless Your Heart: Southern Charm & Southern Sayings Funny Coloring Books For Grownups & ... Spiritual Coloring Book & Zen Coloring Book)."
"You can either color inside the book or tear it out to color elsewhere. The book is paperback which I think makes it easier to color because the book is more flexible than a hard covered book would be."
"I rank each product with 1-5 star rating, below you will find what I personally feel each star represents when I am reviewing a product. 1 star = I hate the product - would return if I could, threw it away. 2 star = I don't like the product - will never purchase again, but will use until I get something different. 3 star = It's okay - I'm indifferent about it. 4 star = I like the product - recommend it. 5 star = I LOVE the product - strongly recommend this product and this product alone (would purchase again if need be). Thank you for taking the time to read my review."
Best Antique & Collectible Music Boxes
this book is the definitive reference for anyone interested in the history of music, mechanical music, and musical technology, with complete diagrams of the various types of mechanical movements used over the centuries, indexes of manufacturers, box styles, and tune sheets, complete American and British patent lists, tips on maintaining, repairing, and purchasing boxes, and a price guide. Dr. Arthur Ord-Hume is England's foremost scholar of musical boxes, and spends much of his time traveling internationally to conduct research and to educate others about the subject.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"So very nice, love the pictures!"
"Thirteen chapters covering things like history, how they are made, advice for collectors, conservation and protection, an index of makers, hundreds of illustrations, many in color."
"The Musical Box has many illustrations (including tune cards) and had lots of good information."
"Very good book, great seller."
"interesting book, but was looking for more information on repairing music boxes."
"As others have said, this profusely illustrated book tells you everything you might want to know about music boxes."
Best Antique & Collectible Autographs
This is your life: Kids, Cooking, Carpool, Coaching, Calling out the backyard, âKeep that racket down, Iâm trying to watch ESPN!â It sounds like you need a break! Printed single-sided on bright white paper Premium matte cover finish Soothing seamless patterns on reverse pages Perfect for all coloring mediums High quality 60 pound paper stock Large format 8.5" wide x 11.0" tall pages.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Great gift for a Dad."
"I was also excited to learn that Papeterie Bleu Adult Coloring Books has a full line. I received Papeterie Bleu Adult Coloring Books' Dad Life: A Manly Adult Coloring Book at a discounted price in exchange for my honest and unbiased review. Thank you for taking the time to read my review, I hope you will find it helpful."
"Each rating I give for each product I receive is always 100% honest and based solely on my own use (or family member's) and experiences with them. Based on my history of reviews you will see that I am not afraid to rate a product as "poor" based on a bad performance, bad quality, or even not performing as expected."
"You can probably get one of these done within an hour or less, instead of spending your next three weekends trying to finish it. I love it. I got this book at a discount in exchange for my honest review, but since I'm being honest, I don't think I'd pay the asking $10 for this book in the future."
Best Antique & Collectible Advertising
Also included on the CD, on a separate track, is the new, original "Chester's Song" with lyrics by Audrey Penn and set to beautiful music.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"We put one on at the beginning of the preschool and school year and whenever we are having a hard time separating for the day."
"My girls and i love this story!"
"This is such a wonderful story for children dealing with separation anxiety, or even just a nice message to help children feel secure when going to school for the first time, or even daycare."
"was told to bring my favorite childhood book to my friends baby shower, growing up I love this one so purchased it for her (:"
"My favorite children's book."
"This book has given my toddler help transition from being home to going to day care."
"This was a favorite of my daughter, and she recently went away to college and wanted this to take with her."
"Beautiful book for children!"
Best Antique & Collectible Coins & Medals
Collectors around the country love the book's grade-by-grade values, auction records, historical background, detailed specifications, high-resolution photographs, and accurate mintage data. Articles on investing, grading coins, and detecting counterfeits will make you a savvy collector; and entertaining essays on the history of American coinage, shipwrecks and hoards, and the modern rare-coin market give you an inside look at "the hobby of kings."
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Very informative Book, I haven't looked through my coin books and loose ones in several years."
"All ways purchase these books, helps keep up with much needed info for my coin collection !!"
"My first Redbook."
"If you have an interest in your coin's value, this book is a MUST."
"I couldn't ask for a better reference book!"
"Perfect for the collector in my family."
"Very thorough and just what I needed."
"Not enough detail for me to see in the book or detailed in what to look for on the coin."
Best Art Antiques & Collectibles
Metaphorical Journey is a poetic catalogue of the Vladimir Kushâs major paintings and drawings through 2002.
Vladimir Kush started formal art training in Russia at the age of seven and progressed to art institute in Moscow.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I perused his/this book in the gallery and decided to add it to my growing library ASAP. His writing adds an extensive narrative to his metaphorical artistic mysteries & fantasies."
"You could come home from a busy day and just sit and be calmed by the warm, magical, imaginery, illustrious notions of each and every piece."
"Very good quality book and so beautifully illustrated."
"Not quite what I expected with the photographs, but it's all right."
"Beautiful reproductions but the cover was attached oddly."
"Great book, holds most of VK's work, I love it, I actually discovered his art in Laguna Beach, CA."
"Vladimir Kush is amazing!"
"Pricey, but an amazing book."
Best Antique & Collectible Transportation
From that first 1953 âVette to the brand-new 2014 Corvette Stingrayâthe triumphant culmination of Chevroletâs longstanding sports car expertiseâ The Complete Book of Corvette pays tribute to one of Americaâs proudest sports car traditions and the innovative company behind it. Code names for those generations came into vogue during the radically redesigned 1997 Corvetteâs long haul to market after Chevrolet people let it be known that this all-new platform was identified in-house by the simple ÂC5â designation. It was only logical to retroactively label previous generations accordingly: Original solid-axle models built from 1953 to 1962 made up the C1 group; the C2 family consisted of the classic Sting Rays of 1963 to 1967; the C3 era spanned from 1968 to 1982; and the C4 ran from 1984 to 1996.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Christmas gift for my 11 year old son."
"Beautiful high quality, colorful book!"
"Lot's of Corvette information and updated from the last edition."
"Great all encompassing book on the Corvette!"
"Nice book lots of great pictures."
"Excellent corvette history book."
"Great history on Corvettes!"
Best Antique & Collectible Precious Metals
âI have been metal detecting for over 5 years and this great metal detecting guide book taught me plenty of new tips and tricks.â - Mike in Texas. While this metal detecting book may be geared towards the novice treasure hunter, there are plenty of choice tips that even experienced treasure hunters can pick up. Mark Smith reveals some of his best guarded metal detecting secrets in this metal detecting guide that puts more treasure in your find's pouch. Learn how to find more treasure by: understanding common metal detecting terminology, understanding which metal detectors work the best and where, understanding how and why a metal detector works, other equipment you will need, proper etiquette, what you can expect to find, why you should never throw anything away, how to identify your finds, how to identify jewelry, how to tell if it is real gold, how to metal detect with children, which recovery tools work the best, how to recover treasure, how to metal detect private property, how to identify unknown metal detecting finds, metal detecting creeks, rivers and lakes, pinpointing, making weak targets stronger, cleaning your finds, the best places to use your metal detector, selling your finds and more! Find out how you can maximize your treasure with this informative metal detecting book today.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I loved the information, It was very specific and helpful, It had lists that were really helpful, like what areas to aim for, What tools are necessary, What settings you should use in order to get the most out of your time out metal detecting."
"Covers everything you need to get started,or expand on what you already know."
"Book looked awesome by cover pretty basic inside good but not awesome big print good for old guys a book anybody with a little experience could have written will not order any other books by this writer."
"Mark hits it solid in that detecting info he has accumulated."
"Me and my 10 year old grandson loved this book, we bought a second hand metal detector at the local pawn shop for $36 and have been having a blast finding relics, coins, just exploring, I highly recommend this book if you are a beginner."
"I really enjoyed this book."
"Excellent introduction."
"Mark explains to the novice the basics of metal detecting."
Best Antique & Collectible Clocks & Watches
From the fifty-day power reserve, to the constant force mechanism, and the 1,000Hz mechanical escapement, section 1 will allow the reader to understand and appreciate what is happening beneath the dial of their watch. For example, the regatta timer, pulsometer, and monopusher chronograph join a host of others in a chapter entitled 'Recording Lapses of Time'; The power reserve indicator, dynamograph, and crown position indicator are featured in a chapter for 'Power and Performance Indication'; The moon phase indicator, annual calendar, and planetarium can be found in the 'Astronomical Complications' chapter. Once the functional categories are exhausted, the final three chapters explore whimsical complications that have little regard for practical function, novelty time indication, and the 'super-complicated' watch - a rare breed of timepiece that houses an intimidating host of complications featured throughout the book. At 352 pages in large format, the handbook is a beautiful book, filled with captivating images and explanatory text which never gets too dry or too technical. Ryan Schmidt's monumental book takes you from the basic principles to the most complicated derivations of watchmaking and is designed to âto be a map and compass for you own personal journeyâ, without being cryptically elitist or pretentious. At times it was a little maddening, but my absolute priority with the book was to deliver complex subject matter in an accessible yet accurate manner. Whether looking for an understandable, yet informed, overview of watch movementsâfrom the general to the specific, such as Roger Smith's Daniels Anniversary movement (below)âor if you are desperately seeking insight into whether life can be lived without a Telemeter (âa key tool for calculating firing range'), Mr. Schmidt's âbrand agnosticâ tome could be the place to find your answer.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"The pictures are clear and do a very good job showing what the text is referring to."
"This book is fantastic - it is a visual gem with a very easy understandable take on explaining complications and watch basics."
"Great book!"
"This book is a must-have for any wristwatch enthusiast."
"This is a very detailed book with a lot of beautiful photos."
"Stunning pictures with the explanations behind the inner workings of a mechanical watch."
"A real pleasure to read these book."
"Great Book explaining every complication in easy to understand manner."
Best Antique & Collectible Toys & Figurines
Wired.com says, "If you're a LEGO fanatic (or know one), The LEGO Ideas Book is worth taking a look at." ©2016 The LEGO Group. His writing has appeared in LEGO Club Magazine as well as LEGO Master Builder Academy , and his characters and storylines regularly appear in new LEGO themes and animated LEGO films.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I remember the Lego Idea Book 6000 the best, that's the one that follows Bill and Mary as they build a house, explore a city, travel to space, and then back in time to a medieval castle. The book is broken up into sections, essentially these are: vehicles, buildings, spaceships & robots, castles, pirates & adventure, and real world creations. This last section is very interesting, showing you things such as picture frames and pencil holders made out of LEGO. These include some interview style questions where you learn about the builder who wrote a particular section of the book. The lack of instructions also mean that it is probably more suited to an experienced LEGO builder - either an older child or a parent who enjoys building with younger children."
"This book certainly stimulates the child's imagination re: what is possible to build with Legos."
"Perhaps as he gets older, he will gain a better appreciation for all of the ideas in the book."
"disappointed it doesn't give you more details on how to build the items it shows."
"This is like an engineering version of a DK Publishing tour guide book, but for legos."
"If you don't have a huge lego collection, this book could potentially have you buying more lego pieces or hunting down some of the more rare specialized peices to accomplish some of the creations."
"I got this book for my son, who, along with his two boys *ages 7 & 4* has always been very creative with anything LEGO."
"I was expecting step by step type instructions but it's more of a bragging book with pictures of things people built without help of how to build it."
Best Antique & Collectible Textiles & Costumes
Grand in scope and handsomely produced, Four Centuries of Quilts: The Colonial Williamsburg Collection is sure to be one of the most useful and beloved references on quilts and quilting for years to come. "The book Four Centuries of Quilts: The Colonial Williamsburg Collection , by the curators Linda Baumgarten and Kimberly Smith Ivey, . delves into the genealogies of craftswomen, including a Maine blueberry farmer, a Brooklyn philanthropist and an Alabama housekeeper. As historical documents, for example, they show the ways women reacted to the Civil War and how far-flung countries traded with each other at an early date. The book catalogs nearly 180 quilts from the museumâs collection, dating back more than 400 years, and tells the stories of the quilt-makers . "[ Four Centuries of Quilts ] is a joint publication by the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation and the Yale University Press. With those credentials you know that this big, attractive book is the word on quilt making in America. "Each quilt in the book is both a work of art as well as a historic document offering revealing clues to the past. "An important addition to any decorative arts library, for it contains the most recent quilt scholarship, carefully footnoted. This volume highlights scads of exquisite eye candy, but it's those lovely 'Baltimore album quilts' that made me gasp. In Four Centuries of Quilts , an expansive new survey published by Yale University Press, authors Linda Baumgarten and Kimberly Smith Ivey say yes. "The substance and breadth of this lavishly illustrated museum collection catalog make it a worthy addition to the well-established scholarly literature on the history and significance of quilts and quilt making in American culture. Book design is first-rate, with period photographs, portraits, related artifacts, detail close-ups, and black-and-white diagrams providing context for 130-plus full-page color plates." "A wonderful book, an enormous, fabulous overview devoted to the world-famous collection of Colonial Williamsburg. The two textile conservators responsible for the collection offer us in this book a fabulous journey to a land of richly documented quilts and hundreds of photos of extraordinary pieces. The bookâs historical references are supplemented with spectacular full-page photos as well as close-up detail photograph.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"good information, inspiration."
"Bought for my wife who was very impressed."
"Organized chronologically, it begins where bed quilts seem to have begun, in India, where by 1609 the word âquiltâ had already become a common term among English traders who brought both white and exotic painted, printed, and embroidered bedcovers back from India to a people newly alive to the world beyond their own chilly terrain. It ends with the work of African-American quiltmakers from Geeâs Bend, Alabama, whose bold, primitive designs created a similar excitement among sophisticated urban audiences. Even now, after a month with this book, when I turn to the photograph on page 91, a border fragment from a pieced and figural quilt circa 1700 and 1730, my hand involuntarily moves to touch the shattering silk backing. It is the language of writers long familiar with their subject and accustomed to communicating even complex details in the limited format of museum displays and exhibitions. Baumgarten and Ivey consistently raise questions, note limitations of current conclusions, call attention to an aspect of a well-known quilt that many ignore. Instead of treating the early motif of the tree in a garden as purely Indian in cultural origin, for example, they point to the close relationship between the exotic trees found in English crewel embroidery and the flowering branches of chintzes and suggest that established taste in needlework motifs might have influenced the Indian products, rather than the reverse. Except for the earliest, traders did not simply purchase what had been produced by Indian artisans and then market those textiles to their clients in Europe. Examining Renaissance iconography and the politics of the late 1500s, the authors end by noting the possibility of an eastern European origin for two stunning silk pieces and others mentioned in trade accounts and correspondence. Iâve encountered no book on quilts that goes to greater lengths than this to identify makers, fabrics, origins, donors, milieu, and so much more than is strictly required to support conclusions. A woman in an intricately designed dress holds a parasol in the center of a block constructed of multitudinous tiny pieces of silk arranged in what would one day be called the Broken Dishes pattern. Looking at this extraordinary piece with a magnifying glass, one marvels, both at the skill and accomplishment of the makers, but also at the variety of designs that emerged in larger form in the 1840s. One side of it consists of fifty-six blocks, set on point and constructed in the color combination of a blue-green, oxblood, and cheddar that was so popular in the South at this time. As a backing, the maker used a much older American hand block-printed bedcover that reflects in its design the patriotism of an earlier era. The printed top was slightly smaller than the pieced front of the quilt and was not perfectly squared, so the maker added strips of gingham to make up the difference. I have but one caveat about the book---it neglects quilts from the cultures south and west of the original English coloniesâ borders. Cut off from close interaction with the East and Mid-Atlantic regions by space, early settlers of the South adapted their inherited customs and worldviews to dramatically different circumstances. From Kentucky to the 31st parallel, Southerners were defined and united by their relationship to the land, but most lived in relative isolation from their neighbors. The evacuation and removal of Indians from the South in the late 1820s brought new waves of settlers into the region and increased the competition for land. Cattle and hog herding dominated the economy along the arc of the coastal plain with its pine barrens dotted with cowpens, producing a steady pattern of movement westward to fresh grazing areas. Planters were accutely conscious of the independence of the small farmers or owners of cowpens and took considerable pains to curry the favor of their yeoman neighbors. And when, early in the next century, the sons of these elites failed to honor their needs, men with names like Folsom, Long, and Talmadge would remind them of the power of the common man. Included in a section titled âMake Doâ is a paper-pieced quilt top from Fort Worth, Texas, presumed to be the work of a white quiltmaker. It is made by a white woman from western North Carolina, but had it been included in a Geeâs Bend exhibition, no one would have questioned its placement. I am personally familiar with the Field of Diamonds quilt shown on page 128, made by Mrs. Emma Russell, who lived in nearby Jackson Parish, Louisiana. Her second choice was to repeat patterns she had made previously, especially the Double Wedding Ring, which she held to be the apex of quilt design. In other words, most of Mrs. Russellâs quilts were strongly influenced by commercial motives and printed patterns and photographs found in contemporary publications. To answer these requires a careful, dispassionate study of the ways in which black and white women interacted in general. I think of the late eighteenth century with its literary hoaxes like James MacPhersonâs Ossian papers, the many ârough geniusesâ discovered or reported in craggy Scottish caves and their odd ballads."
"Wonderful historical quilt book filled with color photos."
"I really appreciated learning about the history of textiles, dyes, and especially about early quilting."
"Beautiful book."
"If you like history you will love it."
"Very nice "table top" book."
Best Antique & Collectible Houseware & Dining
The first complete guide to collecting, identifying, and understanding the history behind smooth glass shards found at the water's edge. Pure Sea Glass assists the collector in playing detective using subtle clues regarding color and shape to identify the possible source of sea glass shards, their age, rarity, and historical significance.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"The author gives wonderful detailed information on each color of glass, including its rarity."
"So before I went any further, I bought a copy of Richard LaMotte's renowned book "Pure Sea Glass: Discovering Nature's Vanishing Gems" on the advice of a longtime collector and jewelry maker. A major added attraction is that there are over 150 exquisite and elegant photographs by Celia Pearson included here, presenting some of the beat specimens ever collected, along with a vast array of classical glassware from around the world that is often its source. The book is a comprehensive guide, chock full of information on finding and identifying these gems, the bits of aged glass, enhanced by years beneath the sea or caught in the tides that wash our coasts. After a recent hurricane I made a day trip to Montauk, NY, and actually found some wonderful pieces on the beach at low tide - one a real jewel!"
"What caught my eye was the beautiful color photos of various glasses that comprise the make up of Sea Glasses. Book also includes a glass color rating scale for helping collector determine how rare each of his or her individual pieces are. There are very interesting color photos of different colored specimens of Sea Glass educating collectors as to which colors are more valuable and rare."
"Beautifully photographed and produced but not extremely helpful."
"Beautiful book filled with great information on sea glass."
"You are asking me too early..."
"A must have book for all Sea Glass collector's."
"It has very detailed information about the different types of sea glass."
Best Antique & Collectible Magazines & Newspapers
Featuring show-stopping imagery and thrilling behind-the-scenes tales, National Geographic 125 Years captures the heart of National Geographic's fascinating history, from its earliest days as a scientific club to its growth into one of the world's largest geographic organizations. (Eliza R. Scidmore, p. 77) AFGHANISTAN | 1984 Editor Bill Garrett had a fabulous. eye: It was he who plucked this Kodachrome frame from a. pile of rejects and made it the most famous cover image in. the magazineâs history.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"A detailed history of the Society and its explorers (even the more minor ones get their due), beautifully illustrated with photos and graphics, offering a look at how the magazine and society have changed over the past century-plus."
"Beautiful!"
"Winter reading material."
"It's a good coffee table book."
"As a casual reader of National Geographic (in the waiting room of my chiro each month) I saw this advertised in one of the issues."
"One of my favorite books in our home library."
"Perfect as a special gift or beautiful coffee table book."
"National Geographic has always been a favorite of mine."
Best Antique & Collectible Radios & Televisions
An illuminating overview of the pioneers of radio receiver design Trace the evolution of radio receivers over the decades Set your dial for the life story of the radio - from the living room to the car; from the shortwave to the citizenâs band. An electrical engineer and experienced electronics bench technician with CET and CCE certifications, Carr is a former winner of ISCET's Technician of the Year award.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I enjoyed this book."
"Carr presents a descriptive but very clear analysis of what each component in a vintage radio does, and how they all work together to give us radio."
"What it is .... a great book on all the theory you REALLY NEED to understand to be a good Radio Man (or woman) to restore, repair or trouble shoot vacuum tube radios."
"This book is a great introduction for anyone interested in vacuum tube radios."
"THIS IS A EXCELLENT BOOK FOR THOSE INTERESTED IN THE AMERICAN CREATIVE AND DEVELOPMENT OF RADIO AND ALL THE FUN THINGS WE HAVE TODAY AS A RESULT OF OUR PIONEER CREATIVITY.THIS BOOK IS OF GREAT VALUE ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE WHO ARE INTERESTED IN ATTEMPTING TO RESTORE OLD RADIOS."
"I would say that this book is very good in the way that it tackles the different problems that may arise from antique vacuum tube radios."
"This is an outstanding book and a must-have for vintage radio repair."
"Great read for the antique radio restorer!"
Best Diecast Antiques & Collectibles
This book provides a quality reference on Tonka Truck Toys produced from 1947 through 1963. The toughest toy trucks of all are also becoming increasingly tougher to find for collectors.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I used it to help price my old Tonka trucks for resale on EBAY."
"It's abundant with factory and personnel history, including photos and profiles of the folks whose backs the Tonka brand was built on. There are adequate photos of Tonka products to satisfy a 'shared read' with a youngster, and yet give the collector a proper specimin to compare his own pieces to."
"Enjoyed reading about the early years at the Tonka factory and wished the factory was still there in Mound so we could tour through it to see the toys being made."
"A terrific reference book which has helped me immensely in my collecting of Tonka Toys."
"I bought it for my husband, and he loved it!"
"I love it."
Best Americana Antiques & Collectibles
Beautifully designed and illustrated with color photographs throughout, The Smithsonian's History of America in 101 Objects is a rich and fascinating journey through America's collective memory, and a beautiful object in its own right. Kirkus Reviews : âSmithsonian Undersecretary Kurinâs tales are abundant, so much so that it seems almost a shame to stop at a mere 101 items....A well-conceived and well-illustrated pleasure to read, combining narrative history and keepsake volume.â.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Kurin has written a very interesting series of articles about these 101 objects and how they relate to the history of America."
"Love this book...Didn't think it would be this thick for softcover...Alot of good information inside.. Great purchase..."
"Pages inside the book are good, but the jacket and cover are torn and worn in places."
"The book is filled with an immense amount of information which is presented in a fascinating, readable way."
"I am moving to the USA soon and thought it would be interesting to get to know some of the history of my next home country and this book is a really great source for that."
"An excellent book: One of the best put out by The Smithsonian."
Best Military Antiques & Collectibles
Smithsonian Civil War is a lavishly illustrated coffee-table book featuring 150 entries in honor of the 150th anniversary of the Civil War. It is similar in coverage and format to illustrated histories such as William J. Miller and Brian C. Pohanka's An Illustrated History of the Civil War (Time-Life, 2000) and is better suited as a browsing item for Civil War buffs or an adult audience.âMary Mueller, Rolla Public Schools, MOα(c) Copyright 2013.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"This is a great book of history to have."
"A beautifully photographed record of the bloodiest war in American History."
"Attractive coffee table book, full of interesting mementos from the Civil War, each with a detailed description of the item."
"This was a gift to a Civil War hobbyist who absolutely loved it."
"Truthfully I can't say I love this book, but my husband does!"
"Fantastic coffee table book!!!"
"Offers a glimpse into unusual Civil War artifacts not likely found elsewhere."
"Haven't read it yet, but as a civil war reenactor this is a must buy for highlights of the civil war encompassing the historial events."
Best Political Antiques & Collectibles
Designed and curated by the legendary designer Kit Hinrichs, these 100 postcards (50 images, repeating once) showcase the American flag as both a piece of art and a cultural object. KIT HINRICHS is considered one of the world's most influential graphic designers and is partner in the global design firm Pentagram.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I also bought several postcard stamps, looked up all the addresses of my state and federal reps and made a bunch of labels for each of them."
"This is a great collection of cards - like many other 100 Card sets, there are actually 2 sets of 50. Depending on your preferences, this is good or bad."
"Perfect postcards to send to politicians who aren't doing their job!"
"There were a couple out of the fifty different themes that I thought missed the point, but as a whole, the group was really very nice and great for sending an American message to friends and associates."
"Great postcard set."
"There are some old time pictures of soldiers and some cigar bands, which are cool, but not exactly what I was hoping for."
"These cards were great!!"
"Excellent postcards capturing some of our greatest moments in history!"
Best Canadiana Antiques & Collectibles
This Christian adult coloring book lets you enjoy the relaxing act of coloring while also deepening your male relationship with the Lord our God. Color The Psalms (Coloring For Grown-Ups) - ISBN 1534827617 Color The Proverbs (Coloring For Grown-Ups) - ISBN 1534827684 Color The Gospel (Coloring For Grown-Ups) - ISBN 153482782X Color Genesis (Coloring For Grown-Ups) - ISBN 1534827900 Verses For Women (Coloring For Grown-Ups) - ISBN 1945888059 Verses For Men (Coloring For Grown-Ups) - ISBN 1534827978 6-Month Prayer Journal (Coloring Edition) - ISBN 1945888466 6-Month Bible Study Journal (Coloring Edition) - ISBN 1945888474.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"My father-in-law loves this coloring book."
"Got as a gift for my dad."
"However, my wife regularly colors in adult coloring books because she says that it helps her to reduce her stress levels. I have also heard that coloring in the adult coloring books helps reduce the effects of dementia or Alzheimerâs because it keeps your brain engaged and active and thus helps prevent the symptoms. Regardless of the benefits of coloring, it is quite simply fun to color in this coloring book. Although you donât actually color the passages in the book, you can color all around the passages to make them look as pretty as they sound when you read them."
"I purchased this particular book as a gift for my brother-in-law's birthday because he came to Christ recently in life and would enjoy something like this that is catered to man but is also a gift that's a bit different and creative. I rely heavily on reviews from others when purchasing items online, so when I write reviews I want to be as helpful to you as you are to me."
"*Verses are from a variety of Old and New Testament Bible passages - Acts, Hebrews, Philippians, Proverbs, Genesis, etc. *Verses are taken from a variety of Bible translations (NIV, Revised Standard Version, New King James, King James Version, etc.)."
Best Popular Culture Antiques & Collectibles
A one-of-a-kind deluxe keepsake for fans celebrating Quidditch, the magical sport from J.K. Rowling's Wizarding World.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"This isn't a playable quidditch set, and for anyone who thought you could buy a full sports quality quidditch set at $18... maybe you should have read the product description a little more closely."
"I also thought it was gonna be really tiny because of the price, but it's a pretty good collectible size (not life size). And for those leaving bad reviews because the snitch doesn't have wings...have you seen the movie?"
"I really love the trunk...so many complained that it was too small, I was hoping for something smaller."
"I got the set for under $5 and I feel that was a fair price; I wouldn't pay more than that for it personally. Like others have mentioned the book is basically just the same vector clip art that's being put on all kinds of products along with a handful of box art, but personally I find the miniature book aspect to be quite charming even if the art is somewhat modernized."
"The two complaints I have are due to the quality of the box and the fact that the golden snitch is not removable."
"Though other reviewers seem to be more okay with the included book, I was more disappointed by the book than by the pony. There are some colorful pictures of various ponies in the book, which are nice (though they kind of look like clip-art), but there is a lot of unnecessary filler text that I didn't love -- for instance, some pages merely said mundane things like "Made in the 80's" or "Friends 4-Ever" which seemed completely pointless to me."
"Bought as a wedding gift for a Harry Potter obsessed friend of mine."
"The pony I received was very different (I see the image has now been updated to reflect the actual pony)."
Best Performing Arts Antiques & Collectibles
A one-of-a-kind deluxe keepsake for fans celebrating Quidditch, the magical sport from J.K. Rowling's Wizarding World.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"This isn't a playable quidditch set, and for anyone who thought you could buy a full sports quality quidditch set at $18... maybe you should have read the product description a little more closely."
"I also thought it was gonna be really tiny because of the price, but it's a pretty good collectible size (not life size). And for those leaving bad reviews because the snitch doesn't have wings...have you seen the movie?"
"I really love the trunk...so many complained that it was too small, I was hoping for something smaller."
"Also the hinges are so 'shaky' I'm sort of scared to open and close the thing. Overall, it's a fun little set to own (especially for an avid Harry Potter Fan), and it does look good. I suppose if you want a really nice Quidditch Set, you are going to have to really invest some money into it... maybe at a place like Etsy."
"Bought as a wedding gift for a Harry Potter obsessed friend of mine."
"I did expect this set to be bigger but, I still love it and I think its very cute."
"Great Harry Potter birthday gift!"
"I love this and think it's adorable."