Popular Culture Books

Wacky Packages

The Topps Company

Amazon Price: $13.57 List Price: $19.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Abrams Amazon Marketplace: 45 new & used starting at $8.99

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 25 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

From Wacky to Zippy 5 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

As one of the cartoonists who created a few of the Wacky Packages shown in the book, my view of the project is far from objective---but I thought it was fun to see such pop ephemera resurface 34 years later as an Abrams art book! Who would've thought, back in 1974, as I cruised the aisles of the San Francisco Safeway with Art Spiegelman, hunting for likely targets, that our little barbs sent at consumerism and package design would have such staying power? I shudder to think it, but more people probably saw my "Generally Demented Light Bulbs" or "Kentucky Fried Fingers" Wacky Packs than ever read one of my Zippy comic books.
-Bill Griffith
Zippy:Walk A Mile In My Muu-Muu(Zippy (Graphic Novels))

Editorial Review:

Wacky Packages—a series of collectible stickers featuring parodies of consumer products and well-known brands and packaging—were first produced by the Topps company in 1967, then revived in 1973 for a highly successful run. In fact, for the first two years they were published, Wacky Packages were the only Topps product to achieve higher sales than their flagship line of baseball cards. The series has been relaunched several times over the years, most recently to great success in 2007.

Known affectionately among collectors as “Wacky Packs,” as a creative force with artist Art Spiegelman, the stickers were illustrated by such notable comics artists as Kim Deitch, , Bill Griffith, Jay Lynch, and Norm Saunders.

This first-ever collection of Series One through Series Seven (from 1973 and 1974) celebrates the 35th anniversary of Wacky Packages and is sure to amuse collectors and fans young and old.

Under the Tree: The Toys and Treats that Made Christmas Special, 1930-1970

Susan Waggoner

Amazon Price: $11.53 List Price: $16.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Stewart, Tabori and Chang Amazon Marketplace: 22 new & used starting at $9.90

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 6 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

Filled with more than 100 illustrations—nostalgic art, vintage photographs, and evocative advertisements

When? Can’t I open just one? Please? The minutes, the hours, the eons of waiting—and wondering. What’s underneath the shiny silver paper? Behind the enormous red bow? Under the tree?

Who doesn’t remember what it was like to be a kid at Christmas? And who hasn’t yearned to go back in time to recapture that special feeling? Well, we can’t turn back the clock, but we can do the next best thing. We can bring a bit of the past into the present. In Under the Tree, Susan Waggoner, author of Stewart, Tabori and Chang’s It’s a Wonderful Christmas, takes a loving, nostalgic look at the toys and gifts that made the postwar American Christmas the big deal it was.

Under the Tree revisits gifts both large and small, from Mr. Machine and the Kenner Easy-Bake Oven to Moon Rocks, Silly Putty, Sea Monkeys, and other delights that stuffed our stockings. In addition to the fascinating stories behind each toy, the book is bursting with cultural history, quotes, and lore—all wrapped up with more than 100 full-color vintage illustrations. For anyone who’s ever been a kid at Christmas, Under the Tree will be as irresistible as a kiss under the mistletoe.

Tomart's Disneyana: Guide To Pin Trading

Tom Tumbusch

List Price: $32.95 By: Tomart Publications Amazon Marketplace: 7 new & used starting at $30.97

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 14 Average rating: 3.5 of 5

Not as good as it could be 3 out of 5 stars.
2 of 3 people found this review helpful.

Dinsey pin collecters and traders will enjoy seeing all the pictures in this book. It is the best source for info on the pins but being the only source, they don't have to be that good to be successful.
Criticisms include the fact that they don't list ALL the pins- you have to buy more stuff to get info on the overseas them park pins, Disney store pins, online pins, and others. Finding a pin can be very difficult also as their index is unclear on many items. You have to know where the pin was released to find it in the book and many of us won't guess right on that question. Some of us would like the pictures in the book to be a little bit bigger, too. A final criticism is the price of the book for the numbers of pages- it's expensive.
For someone who collects, the book is indispensable but it is a very imperfect work.

Editorial Review:

The 6th Edition of Tomart's DISNEYANA Guide to Pin Trading is the first new edition in over two years, and contains many additions and changes. But don't get rid of your Fifth or earlier editions. Many pins will not be repeated. Foreign pins and Disney Auction/Shopping pins have been eliminated to concentrate on US Disney theme parks, Disney Cruise Line, New York World of Disney and other operations. New issue pins for eliminated catagories will still be covered in Tomart's DISNEYANA Update magazine, but will not appear in our traditional guide. Values have also been revised to reflect the current market.

Petretti's Coca-Cola Collectibles Price Guide: The Encyclopedia of Coca-Cola Collectibles (Petretti's Coca-Cola Collectibles Price Guide)

Allan Petretti

Amazon Price: $31.49 List Price: $49.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Krause Publications Amazon Marketplace: 5 new & used starting at $31.49

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 9 Average rating: 3.0 of 5

Fed Up With This One, Too 2 out of 5 stars.
12 of 12 people found this review helpful.

Right off the bat: I agree that the omission of blotters and assorted other collectibles from this guide is a gaping omission as big as a barn. I hardly use this guide anymore for several reasons:

1) The back index is as bad as they come. Totally incomplete.

2) You want to find a certain tray? Be prepared to bounce from one end of the book to the other looking for what you need. There is no apparent logic to the way this guide is arranged. I'm sure the author felt it was completely logical, but his logic escapes me.

3) The front index is just painful to figure out. There is a usability book out there called "Don't Make Me Think". The author of this Coke guide should study it.

4) Too much rhetoric and opinion about "fantasy" items. I find this section of the guide painful to sift through. Just the facts, please. And then there's the illogical order of everything .

The best that can be said about this guide is that it's big. It is poorly organized and has way too many omissions to be my primary guide. If a 12th edition ever comes out, I'm going to check it out before buying, to see if these problems have been fixed.

I much prefer Wilsons' guide over this one.

Editorial Review:

Chapter by colorful chapter of Coca-Cola calendars, serving trays, bottles, signs, vintage advertisements, toys, coolers, dispensers and countless other items representing the foremost name in soda pop collectibles await you, in this new edition of the superior Coca-Cola collectibles identification and values reference.

Just Can't Get Enough: Toys, Games, and Other Stuff from the 80s that Rocked

Matthew Robinson, Jensen Karp

Amazon Price: $12.89 List Price: $18.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Abrams Image Amazon Marketplace: 39 new & used starting at $4.24

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 16 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

A Guilty Pleasure Book That Leaves You Wanting More, More, More... 5 out of 5 stars.
5 of 5 people found this review helpful.

There's a certain innocence about the 80's that seems very transparent by today's standards. But in the 80's... we all thought that we were living a revolution of cutting edge pop culture. Little did we know that those years would pale in comparison to the childhood trends of the 90's & 2000's. I really believed that I had dismissed from my mind most of the decade and rightly so, it seemed so 20 something years ago. But honestly this book made me really appreciate what I had forgotten. Being a kid of the Reagan Era, I lived through the 90's thumbing my nose at most of these pop culture icons (and listening to grudge rock). I bought "Just Can't Get Enough" as a passing fancy (being a follower of vintage toys), not knowing that the personal stories and memories of the authors would be the gems within.

The Book Itself - It's pretty neat really. The chapters are each a certain 80's icon, divided into small subsections with titles like, "The Story" or "The Products" or "What Does It All Mean?" All of this wrapped up in a suedo-Trapper Keeper style cover with a velcro clasp. When reading the chapters, you begin to appreciate how much time and effort was put into this book. With chapters devoted to Transformers, He-Man, Madballs, Scratch N' Sniff stickers, Garbage Pail Kids, etc., the book gives equal focus, regardless of obscurity. I particularly liked the toys that I remembered fondly from childhood, but also enjoyed the great details about toys I never knew - i.e. Pogo Ball or "Pogo Bal" as the writers note humorously. The authors treat us to most of the usual suspects of the decade, but there are a few rarely honored candidates such as Crossbows And Catapults, Choose Your Own Adventure books, and Hit-Stix among others. Also, there are some obvious misses such as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Ghostbusters, Gremlins, Get Along Gang, Shirt Tales, Smurfs, Pound Puppies, etc. Hopefully these oversights make way for a follow-up volume. But what you do get makes up for anything not included. First thing you will notice is the great writing style. I particularly like the sarcastic overtone that seems to permeate from every page, pure "Gen X" humor at its best. These authors go to great lengths to make each chapter witty and nostalgic. In fact, if you are unable to feel an overwhelming sense of nostalgia after reading this book, then you most likely were born after Operation Desert Shield... or during the hay days of Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In. Whether you relive the 80's regularly or haven't looked back since 1990 - this book is going to trigger fond memories... or at least jar something loose from the painfully hidden recesses of the mind.

My Personal Reaction - I found myself on several occasions laughing out loud. My girlfriend seemed frustrated with me continually interrupting her TV watching by loudly exclaiming, "listen to this" as I read aloud large passages time and time again. Finally she picked up the book, which was a big mistake for me... since it took me quite a while to get it back. She appreciated different sections (the My Little Pony, Strawberry Shortcake, Rainbow Brite). It was like going to Toys 'R Us from your childhood; you either were in the boys section or over in the pink section if you were a girl - no matter which, it was fun. So I can say, there is something for everyone, boys and girls alike. Personally, I was pleasantly surprised by my fascination with chapters like the game Guess Who?, which I actually hated as a child. The more ridiculous the idea the funnier the commentary became as the authors put it all in perspective. And when I say perspective, I mean being a 20 something or 30 something adult. There is some crude humor in here that is not at all pointed to the young kids we once were. But honestly, do we expect any children today to even bother reading this? I can plainly put that to rest - kids today would never "get" what this book is about. Once you start reading, remember this isn't just a book about the items; it's a book about how they all relate to us - the children of the 80's. So don't get caught up expecting a long treatise on the history of everything 1980's, that's not what it's about.

Final Thoughts - I read this only wanting more. The only fix for your "jonesing" would be to share this with others. If you buy this book, then don't forget to invite your other Gen X friends or siblings or whoevers to a fun filled day in the way-back machine. I highly recommend this book as a fan of humor and 80's pop culture. But, if you only want to see details of 80's toys - minus the nifty sarcasm, then check out Action Figures of the 1980s (Schiffer Book for Collectors) - it's loaded with great pictures. But be warned, that book doesn't have a one-tenth the laughs of "Just Can't Get Enough." If the authors do nothing else, then this book is still a masterpiece in its own right and worthy of a notable writing career. I hope this isn't the end though; there are plenty of unvisited pop culture products still lurking in our memories for "Just Can't Get Enough"... Volume 2.

Editorial Review:

In this fond trip down memory lane, Just Can’t Get Enough celebrates all the awesome products kids collected, begged their parents for, threw tantrums about, and obsessed over in the 1980s. From Hit Stix to Hungry, Hungry Hippos, My Little Pony to My Buddy, this book has all the toys and games that made the ’80s one of the gnarliest decades of the century.

Packed with colorful photographs and illustrations and written in an entertaining, irreverent style, Just Can’t Get Enough is filled with personal anecdotes, funny facts, and random trivia, along with special features like the Redonkulous Meter, which measures how beyond ridiculous each product truly was. Hilarious and original, this book is a must-have for anyone who ever snuggled with their Care Bear, staged epic battles between He-Man and Skeletor, played with their Lite-Brite for hours, or all of the above.

Star Trek The Collectibles

Steve Kelley

Amazon Price: $16.49 List Price: $24.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Krause Publications Amazon Marketplace: 39 new & used starting at $15.34

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

Best Book That I've Ever Seen On Star Trek Collectibles! 5 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

I have been collecting Star Trek items since I was a child and this is by far the best book on the subject of Star Trek collectibles. The book is organized very well and has some of the best photographs of hard to find Star Trek items that I have even seen. All I can say is EXCELLENT! Loved the book. I wish a book like this was around years ago. After reading, I am inclined to improve my collection by searching for items that I never knew existed. Great job!!

Editorial Review:

This book provides a wide-range of Star Trek treasures you can appreciate whether you're a devoted Trekkie or a novice collector of this epic American science fiction franchise. In the pages of this spectacular guide you'll discover more than 1,500 color photos - including memorabilia direct from Paramount Studios' warehouses. In addition, you'll enjoy chapters covering more than 40 years of Star Trek action figures, lunch boxes, games, pins, posters, uniforms, original scripts and countless other items, all with identifying details and current market values.

The Skateboard Art of Jim Phillips

Jim Phillips

Amazon Price: $19.77 List Price: $29.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Schiffer Publishing Amazon Marketplace: 14 new & used starting at $16.80

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 4 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Skaters Art Gallery 5 out of 5 stars.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful.

Jim Phillips is finally stepping out from the obscurity of his drawing board to take a bow for the countless skating design innovations for which he is solely responsible. The skateboarding, surfing and rock & roll art of the last 30 years was trailblazed by this softspoken and humble artuer and the rest if the world has been playing catch-up ever since. Any skater who grew up riding in the 70s, 80s and 90s had these designs plastered on every wall of their bedroom as well as the decks of their boards. The ripples started in Santa Cruz, CA but have radiated out to impact the art worlds of Europe, Japan and Canada. Check out Jim's other 2 books on Rock Art and Surf/Skate art, too! AWESOME!

Editorial Review:

This retrospective of Jim's skateboard art bombards the reader with colorful decks, logos, ad art, ad layouts, photos, and stickers to illustrate the history of skateboarding, from the urethane revolution to the present. Take a ride with an inside view of Phillips' Studios, to observe the wacky world of his crazed studio artists and examine their graphic assignments. The story traces the roots of skateboarding with more than half a century of Phillips' involvement. It provides insight to the creative evolution of the sport, and worldwide interest in and influence from this California artist.

Collector's Guide to Pez: Identification and Price Guide, 3rd Edition

Shawn Peterson

Amazon Price: $16.49 List Price: $24.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Krause Publications Amazon Marketplace: 35 new & used starting at $12.11

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 25 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

The Best of What's Out There 5 out of 5 stars.
15 of 16 people found this review helpful.

Although it's not a highly competitive category, this book takes the top spot in Pez guides.
Being the newest, it has the most up to date pictures, prices and products.
The extended section on candy packs, and Pez paper products/inserts is helpful, as other books lacked in that departement.
Overall it's a solid price and picture book, with accurate estimates and such. It's the best of what's out there, so it's worth a shot.

Editorial Review:

PEZ's claim to collectable fame is among one of the most intriguing urban legends. Word has it, a die-hard PEZ fan's desire to trade and connect with fellow 'PEZheads' was the impetus for her boyfriend developing eBay. Either way, PEZ has come a long way since its start in 1927.In the new edition of the "Collector's Guide to PEZ", author Shawn Peterson walks readers through the company history, providing updated pricing and more than 16 chapters devoted to PEZ. Look for information on many more rare and extremely valuable dispensers, plus 1,000 fun and fantastic photos.

Bulgari

Daniela Mascetti, Amanda Triossi

List Price: $75.00 By: Abbeville Press Amazon Marketplace: 16 new & used starting at $55.00

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 12 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Any college-level art library strong in jewelry history needs BULGARI 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

Any college-level art library strong in jewelry history needs BULGARI: a lavish, oversized and powerful collection of color photos and archival pictures that trace the unique Bulgari style which was born in Rome in 1884. The book first appeared in 1996: its updated edition represents an extensive revision and reflects newly-discovered historical material and historical facts on the Bulgari firm, making it a top pick.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

Wonderful Book! 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

I was pleasently surprised when I recieved this book. When I looked over the discription of the book I thought I'd enjoy it but didn't know just how much until it came. The images are beautiful, full color and the discriptions are well done. This book gives a great overview of the design house Bulgari. I would recommind this book to anyone interested in learning about Bulgari or if you are just a lover of beautiful jewelry.

Editorial Review:

A dazzlingly illustrated history of Bulgari jewelry, this engaging book tells the story of the world's most famous family of jewelers, goldsmiths, and silversmiths, and the pieces that made their name.

Inventing Christmas: How Our Holiday Came to Be

Jock Elliott

List Price: $24.95 By: Harry N. Abrams Amazon Marketplace: 10 new & used starting at $12.47

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 4 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

A Real Christmas Gem 5 out of 5 stars.
19 of 22 people found this review helpful.

This book is such an amazing find! It tells the whole celebration of the Christmas holiday, from it's pre-Christian pagan celebrations, through the 20th century. Particularly interesting is how it became a Christian Holiday a few hundred years after the birth of Christ. But the book also covers how Santa Claus came to be, the history of the Christmas Tree, carols, and a pretty extensive article on Charles Dickens 'A Christmas Carol.'
The author, Jock Elliott, is probably the foremost collector of Christmas memorabelia, and through many color photos has shared some of his extensive collection with us. The man even has his letters to Santa from the 1920's! But, most impressive of all (to me!) is his 'A Christmas Carol' collection. He has a copy of the original first edition from 1843, as well as the original newspaper advertisement for the book from that same year! And, yes, Mr. Elliott shares this with us, too.
I've compared his history of the holiday with other books I own and I feel I can safely say that Mr. Elliott has done his research. His writing style is very entertaining and easy to follow, so the younger set can enjoy this book, too.
All in all, this is one of the most entertaining books I've read on the Christmas holiday. I guess if I had one complaint it would be for Mr. Elliott to maybe add a bit about the Reason for the Season - Jesus Christ.
Very highly recommended.

Editorial Review:

Where did the best-loved traditions that make Christmas America's favourite holiday originate? With vintage illustrations by artists such as Thomas Nast, Everett Shinn, Al Hirschfeld, Arthur Rackham and others, "Inventing Christmas" explains how most of America's traditions evolved over the 25-year period from 1822 (when Clement Clarke Moore's "A Visit from St Nicholas" was published) to 1848. Jock Elliott, who has been collecting Christmas ephemera for over 50 years, shows how Santa, the Christmas tree, gift-giving and Scrooge all came to signify Christmas.