Review by Luister:

I wanted a large, old fashioned map, for framing and hanging. This was perfect, and the information on it is up-to-date.

Review by Chicago:

Good poster, good customer service, & fast delivery. Only negative I'd give is that packaging got a little bent in USPS and hence, the poster got some creases. I'm satisfied overall.

Review by :

If your looking for some tips on how to sell books on e-bay or some other internet auction site, this book has nothing at all to offer. It's nothing more than a series of common sense bromides (pack the books well and be nice!), and poorly written at that.

Review by G. Reid:

This book has general information about selling books on the internet. It is a fast and easy read at about 125 pages. It will help you to get started. However, you will need additional resources. Other good books are available and there is much information to be found directly online. Have fun!

Review by :

Used and Rare...I picked it up at the Pierpont Morgan Library gift shop in NYC. Figured that if they sold it, it might be good. It is.The book is a lovely read, especially easy to put down and pick up again, to carry along with you, and to learn from (without any effort). It's like reading a magazine article. When I was a freshman in high school, I read a magazine article about why the Red Badge of Courage was not only valuable in the world of literature but also as a financial investment. That article started me off as a collector, and now, years later, I have a fine collection of rare books that I adore, that I'll never sell, but that are wonderful investments. The writing in this book is very light, magazine-like, but pleasant. It's a fine introduction for those who are interested in this topic; a primer. Far from a scholarly work, this book gives you a gentle lesson about the world of highly intellectual, high-end collecting. It will inspire you to read, to learn why some books are important in history - while others are not. It will also give you a few new terms and a few hints as to the etiquette you need to acquire as you browse the stacks within shops and booths at the antiquarian book fairs.I ordered several editions of this book which I gave as gifts to friends who would like to learn more about rare book collecting. They have all enjoyed it.

Review by anna-joelle:

I came across this little "gem" at my favourite bookstore (under the shelf labelled "Literary Criticism"), picked it up, started reading the first page... and was immediately hooked! This book is very like a treasure map... if you love shopping for books (especially classic literature), you'll know what I mean. I sat down and read the first 30 pages straight, then came back to the store the following 3 days (during office lunch break) to continue reading (didn't buy the book then because I've already exceeded my book-expense budget for the month). I've since bought the book and have loaned it to some friends.This "travel book" is about the "adventures" of a husband-and-wife team (the Goldstones) who are SUCH book lovers that they scour bookstores far and near (especially used and rare book stores) to find the books they want... mostly hardcover editions of famous literature, which then "decorate" the bookshelves in their home. In the process, they meet really interesting people (especially eccentric bookstore owners with a wealth of knowledge to share) and gain insight into the fascinating history and story behind a particular book/author/publication/edition... things that may sound boring on the surface, but this book will prove to you otherwise because each chapter/"story" is so brilliantly written, filled with humour, wit, truth and great anecdotes that keep your interest throughout. Many of the "stories" will make you chuckle out loud. It's a happy book.It's interesting to read how the hunt for a hardcover edition of "War & Peace" as a birthday present has evolved into a long-term passion in book collecting for the Goldstones. Read about your favourite classics here, from Tolstoy, Dickens, Homer and Doystoyevsky to Austen, Melville, Hemingway, Steinbeck and many more. But beware - this book may spark an interest in serious book collecting (which is not a cheap hobby!).I also recommend another wonderful literary companion, "For the Love of Books" (edited by Ronald B. Shwartz) which compiles the personal response of over 100 famous writers today on the question: "What books have left the greatest impression on you and why?".

Review by Rebecca Brown:

Given to me as a birthday present on a misty Northwest beach,the whimsical allure of these charmingly self-possessed women residingin one of the toughest cities in the world, drew me into its first pages even as the rest of my party sat around on logs, barbecuing fine local viands & feeding the camp dogs. From their student years, surviving the Depression & WWII; to studying & getting published through the exciting times of starting a company & their book-hunting jaunts to musty basements in faraway places this is a lively, lovely duet by two voices weaving a deeply evocative memoir...

Review by Onno de Zwart (steffens@bart.nl):

For everyone loving books, history and detectives this book is a great pleasure to read. With great enthusiasm Leona & Madeleine write about their lives and the books which they bought and sold. It makes one jealous of times when rare books could still be found under piles of dust instead of being sold for fortunes. So stop reading the reviews and start reading this book now.

Review by Daryl Anderson:

I bought this book as I was starting into book collecting. But with about 4 months of intensive collecting and study under my belt, I found it not to have too much new or really useful information. Is is, however, very well written and engaging enough that I read the entire book. If you are starting at a slower pace than I did or if you are just thinking about becoming a book collector this is a fine place to start. It has chapter-length overviews of all the important realms and activities of book-collecting. The only weak-spot, but an important one, is in the area of internet books. In being about 2-3 years behind, it is not an adequate introduction to the range of online resources available to the new collector.Most useful was a list of "1001 more-or-less collectible books" listed by author at the back. (Lacking years of experience, such lists are critical for my reference). This is a useful thing to have around at book sales and the like (along with a good guide to first editions) although not especially wieldy as provided. I found that I finally photocopied the entire section in half-size and ended up with a more useful 5-6 page foldup that I could carry in my pocket. Note that this last section is NOT a price-guide and is not especially discriminatory... for many authors their rarest first book is listed along with much less collectible later works (and since the listings are alphabetical by title, rather than chronological by publication date, you will not be able to use it for parsing-out "first books".Overall a useful starting resource but one that you will rarely use once your collecting becomes a more serious affair.

Review by John:

I started to become interested in book collecting about 2 years ago and this was one of the first books that I purchased. It is an excellent book for a beginning collector. The author describes the history of book production and how books are produced in modern times. There is also a very good chapter on the grading of books, and how to determine if a book is "collectible." Another chapter describes ways to determine if a book by a certain publisher is a first edition. However, if you plan to collect rare, old books then this text may not be the best for you. The focus of this book is on collecting modern first editions.Although it's full of facts, the book is written in a light, easy-to-read style. The author is an avid book collector and he provides plenty of anecdotes about his experiences. The author assumes that the reader is interested in book collecting both for pleasure and for profit. He explains in detail how to acquire collectible books as inexpensively as possible by using trade-ins. The book claims to contain a list of the "1000 Most Collectible Books and Authors." This list is a little subjective however. The author even admits that what may be collectible now, may have little value later. What may be collectible to one person may be just another used book to another. Don't assume that every book on the list will be valuable.If you collect books, or plan to start a collection, this book should be part of library.

Review by R. Smith:

The board book verisions of Dr. Suess and other books from the beginning reader series are terrible abridged and watered down versions of the originals. Most of the fun of the rhymes is lost. They even changed some of the letters completely (including the pictures.) With as many as four letters of the alphabet crowded on a single page, it is too much and too detailed for an infant or toddler to focus on. Get the original and don't worry about a few ripped pages.

Review by :

My daughter has had this book since she was 6 months old (she's 15 months old now) and it is her favorite book, I have read it so many times that I have it memorized. She brings it to me to read at least 3 times a day. Her copy got so worn from all the hugs and taking it everywhere with her that I had to buy a new one. The longer version is great but board books are better when you have a small one.

Review by Will B Bell:

Perhaps I was just in a weird mood when I first read this book to my son, but I just found it laugh out loud hilarious. The expressions on the old lady's face are just too much, and the clever running commentary by the about-to-be-swallowed animals just adds to the fun. The artwork is colorful and detailed, and there is plenty of little details for a smartalecky kid (or a smartalecky adult) to pick out of the background. My son loved this book and so did I. I would heartily recommend it. I will actively seek out other books by Simms Tayback.

Review by :

I read this book to my Kindergarteners, and they LOVED it. We read it through once, and then I taught them the song. They simply couldn't get enough of it. The illustrations are great, and it really captivates the kids! Great buy!

Review by Professor Donald Mitchell:

I sometimes think that retirement is when you stop going to work full time so that you can go to doctors full time. Dr. Seuss seems to agree with that observation in this witty, beautifully illustrated book.The book starts off like most Dr. Seuss books, beckoning you towards a far distant, wonderful land. In this case, the land is Fotta-fa-Zee where there's "no smelly bad traffic," you feel fine at 103, and your teeth and hair are kept strong by chewing nuts from the Tutt-a-Tutt Tree. Then reality sets in. You've just been reading National Geographic about Fotta-fa-Zee while sitting in the Golden Years Clinic waiting for the physical that no one should ever have. The high point of this whole experience is talking with the fish in the aquarium as you wait, and wait, and wait for the next part of the exam. Naturally, no one will tell you anything about what they have learned from the tests. You have to see more doctors first, and take more tests.One of my favorite parts is the eye exam near the beginning, where you get both a "eyesight and solvency test." You have to be able to see and pay for the exam to pass. Pretty soon all of your clothes have been replaced with a gown, and you cannot easily escape even though that seems like the right thing to do. Each test seems worse than the last. The stress test adds stress as well as measuring it. You smell foods, and any that smell good are taken off your diet. At some point, you make such an impression with your test results that they wheel you around in a wheelchair. Pretty soon you've got so many prescriptions it takes two pages of poetry to cover all of the directions.Before you can escape you have to fill out more forms so that the bills will be paid by your estate if you don't survive. Dr. Seuss concludes with "you're in pretty good shape for the shape you are in." That's the most we can hope for from America's answer to afternoon tea for the Medicare set. Having been through such check-ups myself and having a father whose retirement consists of keeping doctors in business at 84 (he calls it 21 for the 4th time), I can definitely appreciate the humor here. Hopefully, you will too.I just wish we had stayed in Fotta-fa-Zee rather than the Doctor's office. The satirical concept is great, but the poetry, whimsy, and illustrations make it all even better. It should cheer up anyone who spends a lot of time visiting doctors. Banish your misconception stalls about aging and medical care with humor!

Review by Philip Fultz:

Yes, this really is a book for adults. It has page after page of insights about the clinic "Beckoner," and the waiting room fish, and your gratitude that you're, " . . . not quite as deaf as a post." For most of us, it has been far too long (since childhood?) since anyone read to us just to read to us, rather than pass along information. So for something very special, if you are over 50 or so, read YOU'RE ONLY OLD ONCE to your Significant Other. You'll probably end up hugging each other while you chuckle.

Review by A. P. Smith:

I love this map! I got it to replace a National Geographic map (black background, brightly colored) and am very happy with the decision. This map uses the Van Der Grinten projection which works well on a large wall map like this. The map is too "bright" for some people -- there is a very similar Terra Nova map available which I believe has more subdued hues, that would be a better choice for someone looking for something more subtle. The oceans are nicely shaded with information regarding the ocean floor (I think).

Very handsome map, I recommend it.

Review by Gary A. Klatt:

The map is everything I expected it to be, very large covering the wall I intended to place it on. The colors are very vivid, the country names print large enough to see from across the room.

Review by Jacqui Denomme:

To start off with, I must say that if we were to decide to elect a world government at some point in the near future and author Cleo Paskal ran for office I would not only vote for her, I would offer to be on her campaign team. The depth and breadth of her grasp of the coming effects of what she calls 'Environmental Change' (a much broader and more appropriate term than the more commonly used 'global warming' or 'climate change) is phenomenal.

I learned so much in this relatively short but very dense and impeccably researched book that put much of what I read in the news into perspective. I also benefited from the crash course in geopolitics that she delivers and appreciated her ability to hold both macro and micro-perspectives of the changes that have occurred in our past and that are to come in the future.

Her chart on page 244 is a must-read for anyone in the world who has a position of governance or influence. It is a brilliant synthesis of four aspects of preparedness for the potential hazards of the environmental changes that we are in the middle of and can expect more and more of. She describes three aspect of preparedness: 'Reinforce, Rescue, and Recovery' or preparation FOR potential disasters, planning for rescue when they occur, and the repair and cleanup afterward (which of course includes 'reinforce' in the event of another disastrous event). For each of these three aspects, there are four segments of society that must be involved and act according to their domain: Governments, the Private Sector, Society (NGO's, faith-based groups, community organizations, neighbourhoods, etc) and the Media. She goes on to give examples of how some nations have excelled in some areas but come up short in others.

Western nations have a complacency that some other lesser-developed nations do not have and this could put us in a very bad position if a disaster happens (she cites Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans).

One could apply this chart to the recent Haitian earthquake and it is easy to see where Haiti excelled and where they came up short (obviously in the 'reinforce aspect)

Cleo Paskal believes that we should be proactive rather than reactive in anticipating environmental change. She referred, for example, to the effects of thawing permafrost and the damage that is already causing current infrastructure. For example, rail lines built on permafrost are buckling under the thawing earth, something not previously accounted for that MUST be accounted for as new infrastructure is built. This was something that I'd not thought of before.

I could type pages about this book, how informative and enlightening and intelligent it was and it's ability to open my eyes to the possible opportunities and potential difficulties we are going to be facing as communities, nations and global citizens. I think the chief benefit for me, having read many books on this topic previously, was the global perspective, the concern with 'environmental change' as opposed to just carbon emissions, which many other books on this topic focus on and the influence of geopolitics on world events. The concept of nationalist capitalism that the author describes (China for one practices this) was very illuminating as well.

This book was not written to incite fear but rather to inform in a broad sense and provide very clear and practical prescriptions so that we can weather the upcoming environmental storms as well as we can. This is why I hope that anyone and everyone who has some 'clout' on whatever scale gets to read it and digest the ideas therein and hopefully help guide our good ship planet earth into a long future.

(I have also recently read Stewart Brand's newest book "Whole Earth Discipline: an Ecopragmatist's Manifesto" and enjoyed it immensely. It's focus was on the potential of technology to help us adapt to environmental change so a positive, although very different, companion to this book if you enjoy this topic. As a very vocal environmentalist since the sixties (and author of the Whole Earth Catalogue) it was very interesting to hear him retract some of his former views based on new knowledge).

Review by Noah Weisbord:

The strength of this book lies in Paskal's capacity to relate a broad set of disparate and dynamic physical and social scientific findings into a coherent projection about the future. She does a surprisingly good job of herding cats. This well-crafted projection calls for an immediate set of policy responses which make sense. Because of the urgency of the writing and the author's sense of humor, this book is a page-turner. I recommend it to academics and non-academics interested in the relationship between international law and the use of force.

-Noah Weisbord, Visiting Assistant Professor of Law, Duke Law School

Review by Brandon from NJ:

If your looking for a great looking, detailed, interesting U.S. map at just the right size then this map would be perfect for you. It's not too large yet includes many cities/towns in all states either well-known or not. It works out well for me becuase I find it fun to put small push pins in all the different cities I visited all around the country. The map also makes room for parts of Canada and Mexico. The key is very helpful and creative and the map also shows some of the more mountainous regions of the U.S. I have it hanging up right above my bed and I love just exploring the map and the states every night before I go to bed.

Review by J. Seaman:

Excellent product! I put this out on the kitchen table. My four boys(ages 5-14) have spent hours(not all at once) just surveying it as I challenge them to find continents, then countries, deserts, cities, etc. The colors are very pleasant for any wall or as I did covered with a plastic sheet on the kitchen table.

Review by bingokat:

This is a great wall map!! I bought it to put in the TV room so my kids would have something to look at BESIDES the TV. We love to travel so we put stickers on the places we want to go. I wish I would have gotten the frame option though. I tacked this to the wall and the kids have pulled it down a few times. It's such a nice map, a frame would do it justice. Be advised though - it's VERY large.

Review by Ravenskya:

I purchased this and the "World Map" together from Amazon, since they are made by the same company on the same material, much of my review will be the same:

I was hunting for maps large enough for a 6 and 10 year old to look at and comprehend, but cheap enough to be replaced once things change or the kids did too much damage to it.

The positives - this map is correct, it's large (we tacked them up in the hallway to the kids' rooms) and it's very colorful, which is good for 6 year olds. It has time zones, capitals, waterways, and mountain ranges all clearly marked

The negatives - it's not laminated, now if I was buying this for myself that would be fine, but the paper is also some strange form of paper that attracts and holds small sticky fingerprints. Being maps, little fingers are naturally attracted like magnets.

If you are making the purchase for an adult or a classroom, or if you intend to frame it, then I highly recommend this map. If you are buying for little ones, I'd spend the extra money to get a laminated version.

One last note - if you purchase from Amazon, they are not particularly well packed. They put them in a tube that is too large for the map so it bangs around and the ends get a bit bent up. Also they don't tape the ends of the tube so I had to have a second one sent after my first tube arrived empty and without ends on it. (It was actually the world map that was missing from the tube, but this one was packed in the same manner)

Review by D. J. Morrison:

I have this map displayed in my cubicle at work and it has proved to be a great reference and conversation piece. It's a good size and very colorful. I especially like that it came rolled in a tube instead of folded. It's easy to read and just interesting to look at. People stop by my desk often to talk about where they have been and where they'd like to go and ask me the same. It's a good way to brush up on U.S. geography at any age!

Review by Rosangela:

Hi,

This product is beautiful, it's very difficult to assemble but the result was wonderful

Thank you

Rosangela Penotto

Review by J. Hands:

Comes in 3 separate pieces, the middle one has to have the white trimmed off to look seamless. Took a little while to align all 3 so that it looks complete, but after its up it looks amazing. Our office is now legit.

Review by Chitown Amzn Fan:

Great Product, updated to reflect recent geopolitical changes. However, the box that AMZN shipped the rolled up map in broke in half while in UPS's possession, crumpling up the rolled up map completely. In true form to AMZN's great service, a replacement was sent along as a return postage for the damaged map. Unfortunately, the replacement was sent in the same exact type of packaging and broke in UPS's possession again! The second time, the damage was not nearly as bad, leaving only one small crease in the map, so I decided to just keep it. AMZN should probably change it's practice of using standard shipping tubes instead of long triangular boxes that can break fairly easily in shipper's hands.

Review by Gadgeteer:

This is a pretty nice map for the price. It's thinner than I expected and it has plastic strips across the top and bottom to give it some rigidity. The "lamination" is more like a plastic coating than what I would expect after reading "laminated map." Overall, I think its great for less than shipped. Delivery was very fast and it came in a triangular shipping tube. The map itself was only protected inside this tube by plastic wrap...so it bounced around during shipping causing some slight crinkles at the edges, but the map arrived in reasonably good shape. If the map were enclosed in a tighter fitting plastic tube, which was then put in the shipping container, there would be zero damage during shipment. Oh well. Its still worth the price.

Review by Duran A. Valdez:

I'm a US History teacher and I ordered this map for my new classroom. So far, it's been a fantastic addition. Unlike previous maps I've used, this one is large enough for my entire class to see from any point in the room. Plus, the fact that it's laminated means you can do everything from break the country into regions, to circle where key events took place, to drawing out overland routes, with just a handy whiteboard marker.

Review by :

Used and Rare...I picked it up at the Pierpont Morgan Library gift shop in NYC. Figured that if they sold it, it might be good. It is.The book is a lovely read, especially easy to put down and pick up again, to carry along with you, and to learn from (without any effort). It's like reading a magazine article. When I was a freshman in high school, I read a magazine article about why the Red Badge of Courage was not only valuable in the world of literature but also as a financial investment. That article started me off as a collector, and now, years later, I have a fine collection of rare books that I adore, that I'll never sell, but that are wonderful investments. The writing in this book is very light, magazine-like, but pleasant. It's a fine introduction for those who are interested in this topic; a primer. Far from a scholarly work, this book gives you a gentle lesson about the world of highly intellectual, high-end collecting. It will inspire you to read, to learn why some books are important in history - while others are not. It will also give you a few new terms and a few hints as to the etiquette you need to acquire as you browse the stacks within shops and booths at the antiquarian book fairs.I ordered several editions of this book which I gave as gifts to friends who would like to learn more about rare book collecting. They have all enjoyed it.

Review by anna-joelle:

I came across this little "gem" at my favourite bookstore (under the shelf labelled "Literary Criticism"), picked it up, started reading the first page... and was immediately hooked! This book is very like a treasure map... if you love shopping for books (especially classic literature), you'll know what I mean. I sat down and read the first 30 pages straight, then came back to the store the following 3 days (during office lunch break) to continue reading (didn't buy the book then because I've already exceeded my book-expense budget for the month). I've since bought the book and have loaned it to some friends.This "travel book" is about the "adventures" of a husband-and-wife team (the Goldstones) who are SUCH book lovers that they scour bookstores far and near (especially used and rare book stores) to find the books they want... mostly hardcover editions of famous literature, which then "decorate" the bookshelves in their home. In the process, they meet really interesting people (especially eccentric bookstore owners with a wealth of knowledge to share) and gain insight into the fascinating history and story behind a particular book/author/publication/edition... things that may sound boring on the surface, but this book will prove to you otherwise because each chapter/"story" is so brilliantly written, filled with humour, wit, truth and great anecdotes that keep your interest throughout. Many of the "stories" will make you chuckle out loud. It's a happy book.It's interesting to read how the hunt for a hardcover edition of "War & Peace" as a birthday present has evolved into a long-term passion in book collecting for the Goldstones. Read about your favourite classics here, from Tolstoy, Dickens, Homer and Doystoyevsky to Austen, Melville, Hemingway, Steinbeck and many more. But beware - this book may spark an interest in serious book collecting (which is not a cheap hobby!).I also recommend another wonderful literary companion, "For the Love of Books" (edited by Ronald B. Shwartz) which compiles the personal response of over 100 famous writers today on the question: "What books have left the greatest impression on you and why?".

Review by :

A close friend recommended Mr. Russell's book when Grandma died and I had to take care of her estate which included thousands of books.I was clueless about books.Several "reputable" book stores in our area wanted to buy everything for pennies. I knew Grandma had spent thousands of dollars on her books that she loved dearly.So, I read Mr. Russell's book,studied the pictures, and started to learn the simple basics of collecting in language that I could understand. I realized that there were authors that Grandma read who had had their books banned.There were books that she owned by Ernest Trueblood and Edith Van Dyne which were pseudonyms for William Faulkner and L. Frank Baum.(Actually,it would have been helpful if there had been more information about the Oz books.) So,instead of getting ripped off and losing everything that Grandma had cherished for many years,I kept all of her books.Now, I can go into those same bookstores and buy books for pennies that are worth hundreds of dollars.Thank you for sharing your knowledge,Mr. Russell

Review by :

So many times I have purchased books that promise the information I will need to be knowledgable about a subject. And so many times it is an empty promise.Antique Trader Book Collector's Price Guide makes no empty promises. It's filled with accessible information that informs the reader on this complex subject. I've not found one easier to use. If you are interested in collecting or selling books, this guide belongs in your library.

Review by Raymond Robert:

This price guide is incredibly thorough! There are thousands of prices crammed into this book that cover a huge variety of items. All the prices in the book are actual prices rather than estimates so I feel confident that these prices are giving me an accurate reading of the market.

Besides the prices, I also found the information on the sidebars to be very helpful and enjoyed the many color pictures included. There are a huge variety of items here, but the Kovels do a great job of organizing them so you can easily find what you're looking for. All in all, it's a spectacular companion to anyone interested in antiques and the kinds of prices you should be paying for them. Many thanks to the Kovels for saving me time and money!!!!

Review by Good ole Jim:

If you know what you have and it's easily identified such as a name brand or specific logo, date, size etc. then this book may help. Far more of the book should have been devoted to descriptions and photo I.D. such as the side bars throuhout the book show. The one line descriptions and price that fill most of the pages are a waste in my opinion. If you know exactly what you have and want a value then this book may be for you. If you are trying to identify what you have then look elsewhere for help.

Review by Daryl Anderson:

I bought this book as I was starting into book collecting. But with about 4 months of intensive collecting and study under my belt, I found it not to have too much new or really useful information. Is is, however, very well written and engaging enough that I read the entire book. If you are starting at a slower pace than I did or if you are just thinking about becoming a book collector this is a fine place to start. It has chapter-length overviews of all the important realms and activities of book-collecting. The only weak-spot, but an important one, is in the area of internet books. In being about 2-3 years behind, it is not an adequate introduction to the range of online resources available to the new collector.Most useful was a list of "1001 more-or-less collectible books" listed by author at the back. (Lacking years of experience, such lists are critical for my reference). This is a useful thing to have around at book sales and the like (along with a good guide to first editions) although not especially wieldy as provided. I found that I finally photocopied the entire section in half-size and ended up with a more useful 5-6 page foldup that I could carry in my pocket. Note that this last section is NOT a price-guide and is not especially discriminatory... for many authors their rarest first book is listed along with much less collectible later works (and since the listings are alphabetical by title, rather than chronological by publication date, you will not be able to use it for parsing-out "first books".Overall a useful starting resource but one that you will rarely use once your collecting becomes a more serious affair.

Review by John:

I started to become interested in book collecting about 2 years ago and this was one of the first books that I purchased. It is an excellent book for a beginning collector. The author describes the history of book production and how books are produced in modern times. There is also a very good chapter on the grading of books, and how to determine if a book is "collectible." Another chapter describes ways to determine if a book by a certain publisher is a first edition. However, if you plan to collect rare, old books then this text may not be the best for you. The focus of this book is on collecting modern first editions.Although it's full of facts, the book is written in a light, easy-to-read style. The author is an avid book collector and he provides plenty of anecdotes about his experiences. The author assumes that the reader is interested in book collecting both for pleasure and for profit. He explains in detail how to acquire collectible books as inexpensively as possible by using trade-ins. The book claims to contain a list of the "1000 Most Collectible Books and Authors." This list is a little subjective however. The author even admits that what may be collectible now, may have little value later. What may be collectible to one person may be just another used book to another. Don't assume that every book on the list will be valuable.If you collect books, or plan to start a collection, this book should be part of library.

Review by An Indy Fan:

This is without doubt the most beautiful annual price guide on the market today. I have been a loyal reader of the Warman's line of books and have seen this title evolve from a black-and-white book to a gorgeous feast of antiques and collectibles. To call it a price guide is not accurate. This is a book to savor, to read, and to enjoy the lavish images and lovely design. Page after page of this 800-page book are filled with delights big and small. My personal favorite is the chapter on illustration art featuring an introduction by Noah Fleisher who works for Heritage Auctions. The section on Halloween collectibles is also great fun. I saw author Mark Ledenbach on the Martha Stewart Show and he knows his stuff. Whether you are a collector or simply a lover of fine and fun things, you will enjoy this book.

Review by Mark F. Moran:

"Whether it's a "Wonder Woman" comic book, Lalique glass or a Gustav Stickley sideboard - this guide has it all. I know my copy will take up residence in my car, keeping me armed and ready for the hunt."

-- Marsha Bemko, Executive Producer, Antiques Roadshow

"Warman's Price guide is an essential tool for any treasure

hunter. It is easy to use and has great photos."

-- Leigh Keno, Keno Auctions

Review by Wylie Ziegler:

I've purchased several books on Amazon.com and while a lot of them were very good, I've never felt compelled to write a review. Then I purchased and read "How to Sell Antiques and Collectibles on eBay...And Make a Fortune!" by Lynn Dralle and Dennis Prince. This book is FANTASTIC!!! I had started an eBay business from home a few months before buying the book and was filled with questions...this book answered them all! It covers everything from how to set up your home office to choosing a business name & business plan to how much to spend at Garage Sales, etc. It is filled with amazing tips and tricks (for instance, Lynn gives you a website that helps you identify almost any china pattern which is invaluable when researching your item to post on ebay).

Not only is the book overwhelmingly thorough, but Ms. Dralle also includes her email address just in case you have further questions. You're probably wondering if she would actually respond to your emails and the answer is, "YES!" I was having a problem with one of my customers and I wasn't quite sure how to handle it, so after much deliberation I decided to email Lynn. In less than 24 hours I received a response to my email with some very good advice which I promptly followed. I can honestly say that her advice was right on target! It worked perfectly and the customer gave me excellent feedback! So in short, if you are considering selling antiques and collectibles on eBay, this book is a must-have!!!

Review by Joanne F. Teping:

I've been selling on ebay for about a year and have read numerous books on ebay. How to Sell Antiques and Collectibles on ebay....and Make a Fortune....is the Best book I've come across. A lot of the other books on ebay...contain information you could find on the ebay website. This book is different...got a lot of great tips about selling in the most popular catagories, ect.

Review by mirasreviews:

Margot Rosenberg and Bern Markowitz wrote "The Care and Feeding of Books Old and New" after repeatedly being queried by their customers on how to care for old books. The couple owned Dog Lovers Bookshop in Manhattan (now on the web), which specialized in the literature of dogs, including many old and esoteric volumes. Inspired by basic handbooks for new dog owners, they set out to write a common sense guide to book ownership that covered routine care and basic first aid. In that, they have largely succeeded. This book would be a useful and much appreciated addition to the collection of any reader who isn't an expert, but is interested in keeping his or her books in top shape through preventive measures and minor repairs. It's a fantastic help for anyone who frequently purchases secondhand books that would benefit from a little clean-up. The book starts out with an explanation of the common household products, as well as some specialized products, that will be of use to you in maintaining and repairing books. Then the authors talk about conditions which pose a threat to books -mold, insects, water, dirt, etc.- and what you can do to remedy the damage. There is a chapter on cleaning books and a chapter on repairing them. Both chapters address all parts of the book, including dust jackets. Most of the advice is for hardback books, but some of it applies equally to paperbacks. The discussion of book repair includes a section on professional bookbinding in case your book's affliction is beyond the scope of an amateur. There is a lengthy and informative interview with John Landau, owner of Find Binding and expert bibliopegist. The authors go on to recommend the best ways to handle, store and protect books. And this guide to book ownership concludes with some fun ideas on how to promote the good care of books, followed by a glossary of terms, an amusing list of words pertaining to books whose root is "biblio", recommendations for further reading, a list of suppliers, organizations that offer classes in book arts, and, finally, a little travel guide for those who want to walk "a bibliomaniac's Manhattan mile". I'm giving "The Care and Feeding of Books Old and New" five stars because it contains so much useful information, presented in a humorous tone at a jaunty pace. I have one reservation about the book, however: It would benefit tremendously from some illustrations. A diagram of a book's "anatomy" with parts labeled would make it so much easier to understand instructions, as would a few additional illustrations of the more complex repairs. The absence of any illustrations sometimes seems like a major oversight. But I'm sure that book lovers will find a lot to like and to use in this little guide. And it would make a thoughtful gift for any amateur bibliophile.

Review by :

This is a wonderful reference book for all book lovers and collectors. It has great tips for maintaining, repairing and storing books. It included a lot of information I had to glean from dealers over the years, such as: creating a book press to flatten warped books, how to choose a public storage unit so as to best protect your books, how to repair books when the pages are coming out, dealing with humidity, removing odors from books, etc. I suspect that this book will be in print for decades. Its a very "real world" book and is written simply, not bogged down with antiquarian terms. It also has a great bibliography and list of online resources. The only negative things I can say about this book is that I got tired of hearing about the dogs (the authors run a bookstore devoted to all things canine) and that not enough information was given about the special considerations of vintage paperbacks. Overall, an indispensable book for the "everyman" book collector.

Review by Upright Ape:

I gave this book 2 stars because the reference sections are fairly well written and informative. However, the listing of collectible books for some genres is so incomplete that it is virtually useless to serious collectors. Collectible Science Fiction titles, for example, appear to have been selected arbitrarily. While there are a few token collectibles shown for some authors, many other collectibles have been omitted. In some cases less popular titles are included for some reason.

Some examples, with titles in quotes because italics are apparently not supported here:

Clarke, Arthur C. - "The Exploration of the Moon" is in the list; but "The Exploration of Space", famous for including the first prediction of communication satellites, is not. "Against the Fall of Night" and its successor "The City and The Stars" are also missing. If you search these titles on rare book retail websites such as AbeBooks, Biblio, and Alibris, you'll find a lot of coverage. The rarest editions are priced at over 00.00, as is the case for "Against The Fall of Night": 00.00. However there is also a large range of prices for the less rare or well-preserved editions. This pricing makes titles like these very popular with collectors.

Heinlein, Robert A. - "Space Cadet", his second novel, is not included. This is another baffling omission considering its popularity with collectors and its pricing. A volume I bought for 0.00 ten years ago is now getting 00.00 in the retail market. Once again, there is a large range of prices for less valuable editions and/or copies, making it affordable to a corresponding range of budgets.

Ballard, J. G. - "Passport to Eternity" is the only title listed for this author. "The Wind from Nowhere" and "The Drowned World", his first two novels, are missing. Rare editions of these are typically priced in the thousands of dollars. These too are very sought-after items for collectors. "Empire of the Sun", a somewhat autobiographical novel that inspired the screenplay for the movie of the same title, is not here. "The Atrocity Exhibition", a very controversial collection short titles, is extremely rare and priced at over ,000 for a first edition. Considering the literary merit of some of J. G. Ballard's writings, the inclusion of only one of his titles here - in this case one less valuable to collectors than his first two novels - is extremely disappointing.

I suppose some might say that this concentration on the Science Fiction genre (with the exception of some of J. G. Ballard's works) is outside the scope of this price guide. If so, it is a very limited scope. In addition, the title and publisher's description nowhere indicate that this listing is largely incomplete for some genres. I felt this was somewhat misleading, and that the word "Official" in the title implied a more complete price listing. "The Official Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide", produced by the same publisher (and with "Official" in the same font!), provides such a listing and thus is appropriately named. "Official Price Guide To Collecting Books" is not.

Have a good one,

UpRight Ape

Review by RP:

This book mostly focuses on great fiction authors and 1st editions.

Not a thorough guide by any means, it covers information it wanted to cover. Although 'Official' seemed to be a franchise name rather than trying to be official guide(very misleading).

When compared as a Guide to the Official Comic Book Price Guide this Book Collecting book is pitiful.

From a bibliophile point of view, one could understand information it contains. Such as interviews with book collectors and their passion with books. On a substance side this book is lacking, not all genres are included.

Authors just have more expertise in their area and focus on that. Which is great, except title is very misleading.

Review by Lamour712@aol.com:

"Maps of the Ancient Sea Kings", Hapgood. I read this book when it was first published...must have been 30 years ago. What I remember most was an ancient map of tne continent of Antartica, published in 1509, but with an outline amazingly close to what the continent was recently shown to be late in the 20th Century. The map was published by a French cartographer who had no notion of Antartica. In addition to its inexplicable similarity to the Antartica that we know, the margins of the continent are shown to be free of ice, and across this landscape rivers flowing from the frozen center down to the sea. It has always been assumed, I imagine, that Antartica has been covered with its two mile thick ice sheet for millions of years. But last year Discovery magazine reported that a scientist, working in Antartica claimed to have evidence that the southernmost continent had been partially ice free in recent times, recent meaning sometime in the Pleistocene. There is also in this unusual book a strange map of Europe as it might have been seen during the last Ice Age from a vantage point somewhere in space. In this map, also produced in the early 16th Century, the sun is shown glinting off the ice cap that covers all the northern European countries. Since the 16th Century knew nothing of ice ages, you can't help but wonder who was around, say twenty five thousand years ago with the technology and the desire to make maps whose accuracy would not be duplicated again until our own age. Along this line, who was around, a few years ago an English engineer wrote a book called, "The history of Metrology", which is the study of measuring things. In his research through the old world, he discovered that some of these ancient peoples, the Greeks, the Romans, the Assyrians, for instance, used a measure of length that was a geo-physical reality, like our nautical mile. In other words, these ancient units of length were a segment of a mean circumference of the earth, or a segment of a &quot! ;greater circle" and not an arbitrary measure "from the king's nose to the king's finger". Since all these people had to be unaware that their unit of length had a special geographical significance, the author of the book assumed that they had inherited their systems from some unknown culture in the distant past. Again, who? It's a thought provoking book, "Maps of the Ancient Sea Kings". Were there some technologically sophisticated people around at a time when other men were painting horses on cave walls?

Review by John D. Cofield:

Charles Hapgood's Maps of the Ancient Sea Kings is a much needed scholarly examination of the large number of maps dating from the Renaissance period which seem to show an ice-free Antarctica and accurate depictions of areas thought to have been unknown at the time the maps were drawn. Since the maps in question were based on older maps which are now lost, the inevitable question is: How in the world could they have been created? Hapgood does not draw fantastic conclusions about ancient astronauts or magical powers, he simply sets forth compelling evidence that civilization is far older than orthodox science thinks. His work deserves to be taken seriously,not ignored.

Review by Donald A. McAfee:

I am an inveterate map reader. Whenever I travel there is a map in my pocket. But a recent trip to the Middle East and growing hobby collecting ancient coins had left me lost and confused as I tried to put in context the ruins visited and the coins I collected. With time, the names of cities and regions change so that one needs a separate map for each period. Morkot's superbly written historical atlas not only provides maps, but the rationale and context for their evolution and change. One of the best features in the structure of this book is the use of the overview, followed by a series of in-depth accounts, each from the perspective of the important "players" during a given historical period. This approach is immensely effective in reinforcing the information since the same information is repeated and new information added as each of the regions, their politics and battles, are succesively presented. From the Mycenae to the Parthians are thousands of years, thousands of miles, and thousands of political entities whose ebb and flow of power and reach of influence affect us even today. For the first time after years of puzzling over strange Grecian place names and leaders, I am now able to begin to understand the who what when and where for the 5 millenia preceding the birth of Christ. I wish this had been the first book I read in my study of ancient history. I can hardly wait to start on Penguin's sequel - Acient Rome.

Review by Bill Manaris:

This superficially attractive book should be approached carefully. The author makes several strong, yet unsupported statements in an attempt to minimize the effect of Classical Greece on western civilization. It is refreshing to see a different viewpoint. However, the book has no references; only further readings. Had I not been exposed to other viewpoints before reading this book, I would walk away thinking the Athenian contribution to Western philosophy, arts, architecture, letters, etc., was rather inconsequential and evolutionary in nature (rather than revolutionary as it is customarily accepted). There is nothing wrong with a new point of view. But, if it is radical, it should be supported (via references, etc.) -- otherwise, it is suspect.An example of this is the statement (p. 93) that an exquisite ivory carving of Philip II "a little over three centimetres in height ... belies Demosthenes' claim that the Macedonians were 'barbarians'". In the same paragraph we hear that Philip employed many Greeks at his court, including Aristotle. Could it be possible that the barbarian conqueror, Phillip, surrounded himself with the beauty of the world he conquered? Readers exposed to the beauty of Classical Greek thought and art are left wondering about the motives (or background) of this author who chooses to focus on the political, military, and perhaps greedy aspects of Greek civilization, while completely ignoring its more noble contributions to Western thought. Perhaps the book balances the opposite tendency, i.e., to focus on the marvels of Greek Arts, and disregard the support environment that provided the safety and affluence for Greek Arts to flourish. The author only mentions Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle by name, but without any statement that might suggest he has studied their works (which I am sure he has, but ...).A search on the web reveals the author is mainly an Egyptologist. This explains his belief that the Greeks were not initiators of Western thought, but rather mere continuators of the Egyptian arts and sciences, and "deeply influenced in all [their historical and cultural] phases by the other civilizations of the eastern Mediterranean and western Asia." While it is true that Greek culture was influenced by other cultures of the region, it is suspect to underplay the influence of Greek innovation on Democratic thought and other noble ideals of western society. Again, balance this book with other viewpoints and do study some Plato (among others), while you are at it.

Review by G.Reed:

Many people are writing that this book did not satisfy their desire for facts and more in-depth explanations of Egyptian history, and that the book's text is not informative. This book is not meant for that purpose, and is really and truly an atlas. The maps are what matter.

In that reguard it serves its purpose and more. The maps are extremely easy to follow, clearly labelled and idenitified, colorful, and most of all- informative. One can tell so much about a period of history by analyzing a map, particularly several which have trade routes, battle sites, important roads and cultural sites CLEARLY marked. Who could ask for anything more! This atlas is wonderful, and is, I repeat, an atlas.

Anyways? What kind of person sits down and reads an atlas? I mean, seriously, its just a reference book, its not a novel. Its not supposed to tell wonderful stories and dazzle you with vibrant facts, its just maps, and anything else, is extra.

Review by magellan:

This book provides a great deal of information on 3000 years of Egyptian history in an unusual format. The book consists of many single-page essays on a particular topic or period, with the essay on the left side of the page, and the corresponding map on the other side of the page, which illustrates what's going on in the text. It's sort of an interesting way to write a history book of ancient Egypt, and I thought it worked out pretty well. Although not your typical history, it's still an interesting and useful book, especially for getting a quick overview of a particular subject or topic.

Review by Jaromir Benesch:

There is very little information about the ancient Asian maps in the book. Also, they are so poorly photographed as to be virtually unusable by readers. The general thesis of the work is that the Chinese crossed the Pacific Ocean and settled in the Western hemishpere by the Shang dynasty (4000 years ago.) Although still controversial, that thesis has been accepted by many historians and Social Scientists. The problems with this work are (1) no new evidence is introduced to support it (2) The existing solid evidence of Chinese settlement is mixed with foolish speculations and reliance on far too many older works which have beeen properly criticized. The study of Shang dynasty Chinese language is a highly technical and as yet very inexact science. No one knows how written words were were pronounced when spoken, and meanings are VERY dubious. To draw conclusions about place names in the Western hemisphere from similarity to speculated Chinese sounds is absurd. Yes, there is accurate DNA and biological evidence in the book, but it is mixed with the guesswork to produce strange result. I cannot imagine how non-scholars will be able to sort the gems from the trash. The end result is that the book will probably delay the acceptance of the very thesis it is meant to forward, and will inirectly cast doubt on serious scholars like Gavin Mendes.

Review by JHY:

Though I had heard this theory that ancient Asians had made their way into the Western Hemisphere, this book provided interesting and compelling evidence for this theory that I had never heard or seen. Well researched and written, I found this book an interesting read.

Review by Ralph Boerke:

I bought four atlases from Penguin recently. This one, New Penguin Altas of Ancient History (McEvedy), N.Pen. Atlas of Medieval His. (McEvedy), and The Pen. Historical Atlas of Ancient Rome (Scarre). They are all thin and small (under 150 pages and around 10" x 7".

This was the best of all four.

I found the articles and maps to be very good. This was the first atlas I found to show exactly how Meso-American Empires were related.

I also liked the coverage of the ancient Middle East. I love to read history and this book had new stuff I hadn't found. And it is nice to have it all in one place (might have taken me weeks or months to find all of this on the Internet).

Very happy with this book

Review by Xerofall:

Okay,

I got this book as a gift. It covers quite a bit of history in a small book. More of a starting off point for further research with other books. The photos and maps are very nice however. Most of the other books on history I looked at lacked such nice colorful images and maps.

I did find one error so far, page 102, the Greek City States chapter. I was all into reading the story of the Spartan-Athens victory over the Persians in 480-479 but at the very bottom of the page the sentence does not finish.

"""Their victory is generally recognized as marking the beginning of the Classical age of """"

I figured it would continue on the opposite page, however that page starts a new chapter. Kind of a dissapointment. Age of what????!!!! Now I'll never know. Haha!

I'll still look into buying The Penguin Historical Atlas of Rome and Greece only because of the nice pictures and maps.

Review by :

I bought this book, sight unseen, as a way of developing my knowledge of the geography of Ancient Greece. I was not unhappy with the maps, although it would be nice to have more of them. But it is clear that the author and the editor have combined to make this a coffeetable book of little real use to anyone interested in expanding his or her understanding of the subject beyond the obvious. Each subtopic takes up about two pages, including illustrations. It's not enough for any real depth or even the inclusion of many pertinant facts. Konstam has little apparent background in ancient Greek, although he seems to imply that he has by his use of italicized, transliterated words--erroneously as it turns out; for example, "basileios," meaning war lord(?)with a plural form of "basilei." He also mistranslates words ("anarchia" translated as no-archon, rather than no-government). In addition, as well as factual errors,there are numerous typographical errors throughout. He states other things that are just plain wrong. For example, he maintains that the wooden horse of the Trojan war must be a post-Homeric addition to the myth because it doesn't appear in the Illiad. He fails to recognize that the wooden horse is at least referred to in the Odyssey. There are two places, one on a map and one in the main text, where the poet Pindar is described as having been "active" from 550-445 BC, a good trick--we should all be so lucky. There are also occasional grammatical howlers, which one would hope an editor would catch, if not the author himself. A good, professional editing job and a thorough overview by a real scholar of ancient Greece would have made this a more reliable book, one that would instill confidence in the reader.

Review by Colin McLarty:

This is a very nice piece of work but not exactly an atlas of ancient history. It is a cultural geography of Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East. It has far fewer place names than I wanted from an atlas and much of it is pre-history beginning some 40,000 years ago.

It starts with a brisk and entertaining account of the author's methods for interpreting scanty archaeological and linguistic evidence. This is at once accessible, learned, detailed, acerbic, and engaging. There is a funny bit about how archaeologists will say "a major new civilization" when they mean "a particularly disappointing dig", or will say "earliest known" when they mean "undated", and more. There is a terrific account of what it took to re-settle humans in Europe as the last ice age retreated. The effects were strong on Northern Europe into historical times (indeed Scandinavia and some of Russia is still rising and drying out today). The author estimates the human population of all of Europe and the Middle East was only about 100,000 in 9,000 BC.

The book describes movements of peoples, languages, technologies, and writing systems. It maps out the earliest known trade relations. It includes many maps but with few place names. Rather they indicate where various ethnic groups lived and what technologies were used where. As it enters historical times the book describes the campaigns of rulers and empires. It is a beautiful piece of work and beautifully concise.

On the other hand, if you are reading Euripides and you want to know where Lemnos was, you won't find it here. You will find the most famous places: In Greece, besides

Athens and Sparta, are Mycenea, Lesbos, Argos. That is like finding Chicago and San Francisco in an atlas of the US. But you will not find general Meno's birthplace of Larissa--which you would read about in either Plato or Xenophon. It is like not finding St. Louis in a US atlas. Those places are found in the Atlas of the Greek World (Cultural Atlas of) by Peter Levi. And they are found in another book you should read anyway, namely the Landmark Thucydides. It is a terrific edition available in paperback and it shows these places in detailed maps.

Review by ronald o'hara:

I have taught History for over 15 years. In all of my years of study and teaching I have never seen a series that was so succinctly, and logically protrayed. I have been asked to help college students who were failing Western Civiliazation. I gave them this series, and none ever came back with less than a B+. I have taught teachers with multiple Masters Degrees who couldn't understand why none of their college classes ever put history in such a simple and straight forward way as this series does. This series gives you one page of narrative with a facing page displaying the information pictorially. How delightfully simple can it get. I recommend this series to any student of History, particularly to those in Biblical studies.

Review by Midwest Book Review:

Historical Atlas of Ancient Rome is an eye-catching summary of ancient Roman geography, history, and visual splendor. Illustrated with full-color photographs of Roman artifacts, architecture, and maps - including reconstructed maps of the city as it must have once stood - grace this amazing reference cover to cover. Since it is a historical atlas, the main focus is on geography and maps, but references to all aspects of Roman culture and its impact on subsequent civilizations abound. The text is accessible for lay readers and spells out the course of Roman history from its rise to its increasingly inevitable fall due to incompetent emperors, a self-serving bureaucracy, and a border far larger than its armies could protect. Highly recommended for library and personal history collections.