Collector Books

Library Bookwatch, Dec, 2004

Collector Books

PO Box 3009, Paducah, KY 42002-3009

www.collectorbooks.com

Collector Books is becoming the collector's reference publisher of choice for serious collectors seeking the latest print value guides, and their latest batch of references is wide-ranging and specific, offering serious collectors the opportunity to easily identify pieces and keep up with the changing values market. Collectors of glassware always have plenty to choose from through Collector Books, from Pocket Guide To Depression Glass And More (1574324144, $12.95), appearing in its 14th edition updated by Gene and Cathy Florence to provide a guide to 1920s-1960s popular pieces, to Lorraine Kovar's Westmoreland Glass: The Popular Years 1940-1985 (1574324039, $29.95), packing in color photos of glass ware to accompany a range of Westmoreland pieces and history, or Gene & Cathy Florence's Elegant Glassware Of The Depression Era (1574324179, $24.95), appearing in its 11th updated edition to

provide a thorough coverage of glassware from Cambridge, Fostoria, and more. Even more specific is Stan & Arlene Weitman's Crackle Glass From Around The World (1574323614, $24.95), with its lovely detailed photos of pitchers, decanters, vases and more, Gene and Cathy Florence's The Hazel-Atlas Glass Guide (1574324209, $24.95), outlining the kitchen and kiddie ware specific to this family glass form, and Jack Chipman's California Pottery Scrapbook (15-74324071, $29.95), profiling pottery from the 1930s, 40s and 50s. Jewelry collectors, too, will find many items of interest from Collector Books, more specifically Julia Carroll's Collecting Costume Jewelry 101 (1574323806, $24.95), a beginner's primer to learning the basics of buying costume jewelry, and upgrading holdings; to Ann Mitchell Pitman's Inside The Jewelry Box (1574323911, $24.95), based on Pitman's news columns which have run in antique publications since 1997. Over 1,000 items are listed here with photos and coverage of many pieces given only limited feature in competing jewelry guides. For a good solid, general antiques reference you can't go far wrong with Schroeder's ntiques Price Guide (1574324284, $14.95), appearing in what is now its updated 23rd edition for 2005 and including values and black and white photos for over 50,000 antiques and collectibles. These aren't just price listings, either: categories include brief histories and recommendations specific to collector concerns. Collector Books is no slouch on very specific references either, whether it be Paul Erano's Fountain Pens Past And Present (1574-323857, $24.95), simply packed with full-page color photos of fountain pens along with discussions of collectibility and valuation factors, Lar Hothem's Indian Artifacts: Best Of The Midwest (1574323903, $29.95), an identification and price guide to bone, shell, axe and blade relics specific to Midwest hunters, Kathryn Witt's unusual Contemporary American Doll Artists And Their Dolls (1574323792, $29.95), a powerful survey of contemporary dollmakers which provides a history, web site and studio location, and color photos of their works; John Slusser's Colelctor's Guide To Antique Radios (1574324268, $24.95), appearing in its 6th edition to provide listings by manufacturer along with some very fine color photos, or Felicia Browell's Breyer Animal Collector's Guide, 4th Edition (1574324063, $24.95), packed with color photos and prices for classics, traditionals and unusual collectibles (mostly horses).Trivet collectors aren't left out with Margaret Lynn Rosack's A-Z Guide To Collecting Trivets (1574323997, $24.95), covering mostly antique trivets and stands with a bow to contemporary trivets concluding an excellent survey of the history and styles involved, toy collectors will relish David Ritcher's Tootsietoys Third Edition (157-4323989, $24.95), with bright color photos of the small trucks, trains, and race cars specific to this line, and gun gatherers will want Russell and Steve Quertermous' latest values guide in the 15th revised edition of Modern Guns (1574324233, $16.95), a weighty survey of statistics for thousands of models from rifles and shotguns to handguns. Potos are in black and white, but this brings the price tag down to affordable levels. Top picks for collector reference shelves all!