General Books

1897 Sears Roebuck & Co. Catalogue

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 12 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

A portal to another time 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

This book is utterly fascinating for those who hold any sort of interest in bygone times. While not a step-by-step guide, it inadvertantly thrusts the reader into the role of a home owner of limited means in the late 1800s. You find yourself shopping, suckered in by the richly worded item desciptions and enticed by the promises of "best on the market," "guaranteed for a lifetime," and "will cure all diseases of the nervous system."

Unconsciously, you create your own little shopping list and envision a home where the husband builds everything from the buggy to the bathrooms while the wife prepares all the meals and pretties herself with skin whiteners and hair lotions.

I am so glad to have bought this catalogue. I use it as a writing prompt for my high school students, to encourage creative and analytical thought, and they delight in it. I implore everyone to investigate this book.

Editorial Review:

Imagine it’s the end of the nineteenth century, and, with one catalog, you can buy everything from beds and tools to clothing and opium. (Yes, opium.) Not to mention ear trumpets, horse buggies, and Bibles. The 1897 Sears, Roebuck & Co. Catalogue is both a wonderfully fascinating collector’s item and a valuable piece of American history. For every recognizable item included, there are plenty of others guaranteed to confuse or interest 21st century readers—like Bust Cream or Food and Sweet Spirits of Nitre. What was once standard household fare is today a sometimes strange, often funny look at what life was once like for the average American family. It’s amazing to see that a Princely Shirt for Princely Men cost $0.95 or three for $2.75 or that a Complete Violin Outfit (with bow and case) cost only $2.00.

B.J. Summer's Guide To Coca-Cola: Identifications, Current Values (B J Summer's Guide to Coca Cola Identification)

B. J. Summers

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 9 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

OK, but could be great 3 out of 5 stars.
2 of 3 people found this review helpful.

*****April 2005 UPDATE: "Could be great" but after seeing the 5th edition, the publisher has taken a book with great potential and flushed that potential down the toilet. What they did was gloss up the paper and make it look old-fashioned (it doesn't work for me, but maybe it will for others), but the huge mistake is that they actually dropped a significant number of items from the book and went overboard hiking up the price values! If you are a serious collector, browse through the 5th edition at a bookstore, before buying it. END UPDATE*****

This guide has great potential, but somebody should do some usability studies on it to make it better. It's a chore finding a specific item. For example, collector trays: I still can't figure out what logic was used to arrange/order them in the book. By title? By name? The index at the back of the book is incomplete and often worthless. For example, there's a whole section on blotters in the front index, but try finding "blotter" in the back index.

Prices are conservative. Unrealistically low in many cases.

There are items that aren't found in other guides, and the color pix are exceptional. I really like this guide, but it has design flaws that need to be fixed.

Editorial Review:

B.J. Summers, author of two popular books on advertising and gas station memorabilia, offers this refreshing book on Coca-Cola collectibles. This deluxe hardbound book will become the essential reference book for collectors of Coca-Cola items, including thermometers, jewelry, china, calendars, fans, bottles, trays, games, clocks and Santas. 750 color photos.

Value Guide To Gas Station Memorabilia

B. J. Summers, Wayne Priddy

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 1 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

B. J. Summers & Wayne Priddy Many sights and sounds have disappeared from our landscape during the last 50 years. The 'ding ding' of the drive bell at the local service station is one of the sounds that is missed. But over the years, collectors have consistently grabbed all the other station trappings such as light-up gas globes, signs, advertising premiums, oil cans, display racks, and of course, the gas pumps themselves. This demand has kept market values, and the ever-increasing search for knowledge, on an upward climb. B.J. Summers and Wayne Priddy have again teamed up to deliver a guide for gas station collectibles. This book is designed to be both fast and easy for the beginner and advanced collector alike. Summers's and Priddy's first gas station value guide has proven itself to be a pace-setting standard in this rapidly expanding field. This eye-catching hardback edition with over 1,000 full-color photos of signs, pumps, cans, premiums, and thermometers related to the gas station field and bits of information strategically located throughout will make the reader a more informed collector.

Advertising Cuts of the 20s and 30s CD-ROM and Book (Dover Electronic Clip Art)

Dover

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Editorial Review:

For busy commercial artists and do-it-yourselfers: hundreds of engaging, business-related cuts from rare publications include permission-free images dramatizing industry, construction, transportation, healthcare services, sports, entertainment, and other ventures. Contents are conveniently arranged by category for ease of use. 765 black-and-white illustrations.

Antique & Contemporary Advertising Memorabilia (Antique and Contemporary Advertising Memorabilia)

B. J. Summers

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 1 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

The 2004 Advertising book has been largely expanded with over 1,000 new listings and photos plus updates on current listings. All listings indicate the condition of the item and are keyed to indicate whether the value assigned was derived from an auction, collector, or dealer. Designed to be a valuable tool for the beginner as well as the advanced collector with its easy-to-use alphabetical format and clear, full-color photographs, this book will be wanted by every collector and dealer for their research libraries. 2005 values. AUTHORBIO: B.J. Summers continues to compile essential references for advertising and Coca-Cola collectors. His popular books include Pocket Guide to Coca-Cola, Summers' Guide to Coca-Cola, Soda Pop Memorabilia, Antique & Contemporary Advertising Memorabilia, and Value Guide to Gas Station Memorabilia. His books have become standard references in their fields. REVIEW: Advance warning: do not miss the AQS Calendar 2005 just published for the forthcoming year if you're an avid quilter or know someone who is. Once again the most beautiful of quilt designs are captured in a practical wall calendar format pairing full-page quilt designs with large-box calendar wall format presentation. Highly recommended indeed.

Warman's Coca-Cola Field Guide: Values and Identification (Warman's Field Guides)

Allan Petretti

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Editorial Review:

Coca-Cola collectibles are among the most in-demand of any collectible area - and now the masses of dedicated collectors can reference the most affordable carry-along price guide on the market.

Alan Peretti, the world's foremost expert on Coca-Cola collectibles, offers Warman's Coca-Cola Field Guide, with 1,000 price listings for bottles, trays, calendars, clocks, and hundreds of other items. The book features 300 brilliant color photos of the most collectible items on the market, as well as historical facts and tips on collecting. The convenient pocket-sized format makes this book essential for the Coca-Cola collector on the go.

-1,000 price listings for Coca-Cola collectibles -300 full-color photos -Convenient portable size

Petretti's Coca-Cola Collectibles Price Guide

Allan Petretti

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 12 Average rating: 3.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

Petretti’s Coca-Cola Collectibles Price Guide has been called the “bible” of Coca-Cola collectibles—and with good reason! This impressive 11th edition of the hobby’s standard reference depicts, describes, and values more Coca-Cola Company marketing, advertising, and promotional items than any other published source. The new volume covers items produced from the 1880s through the 1960s, and includes 96 full-color pages; photos and descriptions of previously undocumented items; up-to-date pricing information; and revised guidelines for collectors. Allan Petretti, long regarded as the foremost authority on the subject, has combined years of experience in the hobby with his proven expertise as a Coca-Cola collectibles dealer and auctioneer to provide the collecting community with the up-to-date information needed to keep pace with this popular and fast-growing hobby.

- Current market prices for every item depicted and described
- New color sections featuring trays, calendars, and other highly sought after items
- Includes additional, recently found rare pieces not shown in any other collector guide
- Contains an expanded and improved bottles section
- New chapters include Coca-Cola candy and Coke’s “Diamond Design” from the 1960s
- Offers new guidelines for grading and evaluating Coca-Cola items

The Encyclopedia of Pepsi-Cola Collectibles

Bob Stoddard

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 4 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

The choice is clear and this comprehensive guide on Pepsi-Cola memorabilia is the only one collectors will need.

Divided into four sections—signs, containers, novelties and toys, and paper collectibles—collectors will find everything from early Pepsi trays to cardboard signs, and matchbooks to toys. Features 2,000 individual items with current values, accurate descriptions, rarity ratings, and full-color photographs. Presents a fascinating historical perspective of the Pepsi-Cola Company, including the evolution of their famous logo.

The author, Robert Stoddard, has been collecting Pepsi-Cola memorabilia for more than 20 years and is the founder of the Pepsi-Cola Collectors Club. He has written four books on Pepsi-Cola memorabilia and history.

• Includes listings and photos for 2,000 Pepsi-Cola memorabilia items
• History of the Pepsi-Cola Company, including the evolution of their logo
• Author is a long-time collector and founder of the Pepsi-Cola Collectors Club

Antique Tins: Identification & Values (Antique Tins)

Fred Dodge

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 9 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Very informative and a must for the tin collector. 5 out of 5 stars.
7 of 8 people found this review helpful.

A book that every collector should have on hand. Helps identify, grade and value your tin. Great wish book. Would highly recommend to all.

An excellent source for all collectors of antique tins!!! 5 out of 5 stars.
5 of 5 people found this review helpful.

Great photography. Let's the collector have a source at his hand that helps identify, grade and value their tin. Would highly recommend to all collector's of tins as a great resource. The author's love of the hobby shines through with with this book.

Editorial Review:

Over 1,600 full color photos not presented in books one and two. Includes a descriptive condition grading scale, values, sizes, companies, and makers and information for finding antique tins. Grouped according to the product which they originally contained or for which they were designed. 1999 values. AUTHORBIO: Fred Dodge has traveled abroad in his years of antique tin collecting. After countless hours of research and input from dealers, collectors, and tin owners, he authored a popular three-volume series, Antique Tins. REVIEW: Within this book readers will find tins from talented artists who have captured hundreds of colorful eye-catching graphics, many of which commemorate special historic events ranging from politics and sports, to famous people and places. Hundreds of tins are featured in full color.

Coca-Cola Collectible Santas: Official Coca-Cola Collectors Series

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 1 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Everybody's copyright Santa 5 out of 5 stars.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful.

How refreshing to see a beautifully produced collector's book. From my experience publishers that cover this market don't seem to bother with book design, strange really because it costs no more to design well as badly.

This lovely book has hundreds of Coke Santas all presented as cutouts with a drop shadow on every picture to give the impression that they are floating on the page.

Haddon Sundblom created the Coke Santa and every one is included, pages eighteen to forty-two show his paintings from 1932 to 1964, also including the variations he did for some years. The rest of the book has examples of how his work (and others) was used to sell the drink each Christmas season. Chapters are devoted to store cardboard cutouts, advertising, calendars, figurines, dolls and finally miscellaneous Santa collectibles. All the pictures have captions, with a date and a dollar value. Amazingly some of the store free-standing cutouts from the thirties are valued up to $1500, not surprising I guess because how many managers would bother keeping a piece of cardboard promoting a fizzy drink for Christmas.

This book is much better than a previous one I reviewed, 'Dream of Santa' by Barbara Charles, it featured the work of Sundblom and had a well printed picture for each year (except 1941, 57 and 63) but no other advertising material.

If you collect Coke Santas or just like to look at the great man you will enjoy this book.

***FOR AN INSIDE LOOK click 'customer images' under the cover.

Editorial Review:

The Coca-Cola Santa is a familiar figure at Christmastime. This wonderful book features a history and current secondary market pricing for these traditional holiday collectibles. Includes Coca-Cola Sundblom art, print advertising, trays, bottles/cans, signage, figures, pins, plush and much more.