This superb reference work provides a newly revised, comprehensive overview of the entertaining world of battery toys. Battery operated robots, animals, people, character toys, banks, monsters, and cars are shown, compared, and fully analyzed in this first specialized book on the subject. Vehicles and figurals from the…
Although advertising has a history that goes back thousands of years, it is the Americans who have made it into an art form. Advertisements were put on everything from pocket mirrors to memo pads, the sides of barns to the sides of carriages and buses. A history of advertising printed in the 1880s even show an…
The American cowboy’s unique life-style inspired tools, clothing, amusements, advertising, and more which are avidly sought by collectors today. They are presented here with over 1000 color photographs identified in text and captions. Each section of this beautiful new second edition is more complete and has…
During the 1930s, the first Looney Tunes*r series debuted at movie theatres as part of Warner Brothers Vitaphone Shorts. This classic series achieved overnight success for its brilliant animation and pre-recorded sound. It proved to be the perfect diversion for audiences looking to escape the harsh realities of the…
Paperweights that were made in Scotland from 1835 to the present are a wonderful part of glass history. In this beautiful book, Scottish paperweights are displayed in nearly 400 full-color photographs together with a discussion of the major weight-makers and glass houses. The important Ysart Family is thoroughly…
Includes nearly 750 toys, representing almost 50 years of cartoon collectibles, with items dating back to 1949. All the major players are here: Casper™, cereal and advertising characters; Disney™; Dr. Seuss™; Hanna-Barbera™; Looney Tunes™; The Peanuts Gang™; Popeye™; Rocky and Bullwinkle™; Underdog™, and many more.…
Here are 72 all-new scrollsaw projects, featuring original patterns and designs ranging in difficulty from simple to quite challenging. These unique stand-up puzzles, irresistible holiday decorations, and imaginative project designs are perfect for all skill levels. Creating these clever crafts is fun, relatively…
Once you finish carving your first gnome, the little guy will surely want you to carve some more elfin friends for him! It’s a good thing Al Streetman has included 15 different patterns for well-dressed elves and gnomes of all shapes and sizes–drawn up with the beginner in mind, but with plenty of potential for…
By studying primary source material, the authors have compiled the most authentic and readable record of the prolific Adams ceramic wares from England, including earthenware, bone china, jasper, stoneware, basalt, and Parian made over a 200 year period. Over 1250 color photographs illustrate the comprehensive text.…
Black memorabilia is still one of the hottest items being collected today, although it is growing harder and harder to find good pieces. This new book helps the collector see what is available in the market place, with full color illustrations of hundreds of items. They include kitchen items, like wall pockets, mammy…
In recent years, collectors have come to recognize the beauty and value of Roycroft items, particularly the art metal which is the most available, affordable, and varied of all Roycroft collectibles. Influenced by the English movement that was spearheaded by William Morris, Elbert Hubbard began a new industry dedicated…
Almost 100 years ago, in 1896, Amedeo Obici bought a peanut roaster from his uncle and went into business for himself. After ten years of selling peanuts to other shopkeepers from a small store and a horse-drawn cart, in 1906 Obici teamed up with Mario Peruzzi, to expand business, and form Planters Peanuts. The rest is…
Do you own an old lamp? Would you like to learn its approximate age, value, and history? Antique Lamp Buyer’s Guide is the reference book used by professionals and collectors alike. Dealers and appraisers often carry this paperback with them to quickly identify antique and collectible late 19th century and early 20th…
This book presents a nostalgic look at baby and children’s wear from the Victorian Era to the first half of the 20th century. It chronicles the changes in children’s fashions over the decades and centuries, from the popularity of tartans and plaids in the 1880s, to Knickerbocker suits and box pleated…
When first invited to give talks and demonstrations on carving techniques to school children, Howard K. Suzuki quickly found out that wood was not the most suitable medium. It took too long to show much progress in the limited time available. He decided to use bars of soap to demonstrate basic techniques on carving and…
Quilting history encompasses much more than the final product–it is also the story of the people (women, men, girls, and boys) who lovingly stitched these beautiful and intricate objects. Just as a quilt is multi-layered, so too is the story each quilt tells. Featuring nearly 200 exquisite quilts–plus…
This book presents a unique selection of the most rare and collectible toy cars made in Japan and Hong Kong in the 1950s and 1960s. Three particular groups of toys are covered: the magnificent large-scale tinplate cars made for the American market; the smaller but equally sought-after Japanese diecasts by Model Pet,…
This attractive pocket guide presents the story of Carnival Glass, with a chapter giving an overview of how Carnival Glass has endured. Included are brief histories of Dugan, Fenton, Imperial, Millersburg, and Northwood. Over 200 beautiful color photographs will teach you how to identify classic Carnival Glass patterns…
This new and improved edition is an essential and invaluable resource for every glass enthusiast, collector, researcher, and historian. It contains over 4,200 alphabetized definitions of glassware, colors, processes, materials, forms, decorative styles, pattern motifs, noted artisans, companies, and designers, from…
The creation of classic American Carnival Glass took the world by storm in the early 1900s, bringing color and beauty in the form of iridized glass to homes everywhere. Carnival’s iridescent, rainbow colored appearance was achieved by spraying the still hot glass with a liquid solution of various metallic salts. A…
Over 500 beautiful color photographs and an informative, succinct text provide a sweeping overview of stunning modern tableware designs. This book presents manufacturers both familiar and less known that revolutionized dining in the mid-twentieth century. Among the pottery firms whose wares are presented are Red Wing,…
This attractive and useful book presents thousands of beautiful hand-formed decorative glassware designs from British manufacturers, for export and domestic use, from 1850 to 1914. Detailed analysis and more than 850 color photographs and hundreds of carefully hand-drawn illustrations provide a visual feast to study…
This beautiful reference introduces contemporary Mexican folk art by featuring prominent artists from Oaxaca in southeastern Mexico. Their unique artworks are introduced and illustrated. Crafted from natural materials, their ceramics, weaving, woodcarving, embroidery, tin work, toys, jewelry, candles, dried flower…
Whimsical household linens and handkerchiefs of the 20th century, most from the ”fun linen” period after World War II and through the 1960s, fill this book. The authors’ selection criteria was simple: the linens must be collectible, cheerful, and fun! Shown in outstanding color photographs are…
The beautiful diversity of high quality vintage purses is presented here through a friendly and informative text and hundreds of clear color photographs. Chosen from among the leading private, dealer and museum collections, these primarily nineteenth and twentieth century purses are among the finest glass and metal…
Raggedy Ann and Andy are among the best loved and most long-lived dolls still available today. The original Raggedy Ann dolls were created in 1918 by Johnny Gruelle in response to requests from readers of his very popular Raggedy Ann series of books. Later their design was licensed to various maufacturers who produced…
Almost every business and home has at least one scale. This newly updated book features hundreds of color photographs of the most collectible scales made, including diamond scales, egg scales, bathroom scales, martini scales, toy scales, golf club scales, coin-operated scales, and many others, all described in detail…
Illustrating and describing over a thousand Christmas collectibles, Christmas Revisited is the type of reference guide a collector cannot afford to pass up.
Covered in this newly revised book are candy containers, Italian glass ornaments, Santa figures, snow babies, Christmas advertising, trade cards, post cards, toys,…
More popular than ever, Corning’s PYREX*r is one of the most recognized and collected of vintage kitchen glass. Ovenware, FLAMEWARE, colorful later additions, laboratory glass, and more are presented in an organized format in this revised and expanded 3rd edition. In this edition, Barbara Mauzy has added a…
This paper pack contains 500 high-quality small (4 inch) origami sheets printed with colorful and traditional Japanese Shibori blue & white designs.
These paper designs were developed to enhance the creative work of origami artists and paper crafters. The pack contains 12 designs unique to this pack, and all of…
Bessie Pease Gutmann was a premier illustrator during the first half of the twentieth century. She embodies the feel and subject matter that has come to be associated with women illustrators of that period.
This visual masterpiece contains more full-color photography of Gutmann’s work than all other previous…
Since the mid-nineteenth century, the George Wade pottery in Burslem, England, has produced many forms of ceramic items. It is best known for their delightful series of tiny porcelain animals known as Whimsies®. Highly collectible, the Whimsies have been joined over the years by many equally charming miniatures, some…
This idea-packed compendium presents the work of today’s top wood artists in over 500 photos. More than 130 artists from nine countries are showcased, including furniture makers, turners, and sculptors who borrow ideas and techniques from one another to create their art. Their disciplines have blurred as furniture…
Discover creative and unique ways to increase seating, utilize storage space, and spice up a room with dozens of full color photographs displaying beautiful window seats and other built-in seating. Whether it’s your most lived-in area, kitchen, bath, or even your home office, window seats offer comfort and style to…
In an endearing personal account, Doris Yeske shares her love and knowledge of Depression glass and knowledge accumulated through years of research. This is the perfect starter book for any would-be collector – a gentle and humorous introduction to the hobby starting with the origins of the glass, leading them…
Bold and flashy, sweet and coquettish, stylish and elegant—plastic jewelry is all of these. In a comprehensive new study with over 400 beautiful color photographs of fabulous and original jewelry designs, explore the interesting and evolving history of plastics used to make jewelry. Meet the manufacturers, designers,…
Forty colorful images explore the wonderful range of Depression Glass in a variety of colors and patterns that are widely sought after by collectors. These beautiful perforated postcards are ready to be detached and mailed to friends and family, or to frame and hang in your home. At only $14.95, the cards cost less…
Here is what could be the largest collection of vintage cigarette lighters ever assembled. It is a fascinating chronicle of cigarette lighters’ Golden Age. This era begins with the primitive lighters made at the turn of the 20th century and continues through to the contemporary Scripto Vu-Lighters of the 1960s.…
This beautiful and comprehensive reference is an essential tool for all collectors and admirers of ornamental glass figurines, and for elephant fanatics alike. Highlighted makers include Boyd, Co-Operative Flint, Fenton, Fostoria, Heisey, Imperial, L.E. Smith, Mosser Glass, New Martinsville, Summit Glass, and Tiara…
Elegant and graceful, glass bells are favored by many bell collectors as well as collectors and admirers of fine glass. This stunning book showcases over 750 glass bells dating from the eighteenth century to the twenty-first century, with over 29 countries represented. Included are cut glass bells, blown and pressed…