This is the Revised Edition of the classic bible of American furniture. It presents a thorough analysis, through over 700 photographs and detailed text, of the various elements of design, decoration, craftsmanship, construction, and finish of early American furniture. Each type is shown and discussed with three examplesgood, better, bestand the relative merits and consequent value differentials of each are compared. It explains why superficially similar pieces of furniture of the same approximate age and scarcity, and possibly by the same maker, may vary considerably in desirability and worth. It is a unique, indispensible guide for today's students, collectors, dealers, and curators in judging and evaluating antiques. More than 100 types are discussed and 675 examples are illustrated, including some of the most notable pieces. The ultimate reference, as important today as when first written in 1950.

Covers of Gold is the third ground-breaking book about collectible sheet music by Marion Short. Exciting new categories covered in this book include baseball music, the evolution of fashion, the Big Band era, and the elusive sheet music cover illustrators. These subjects and more are accompanied by over 550 full color photographs of the actual music, encompassing the approximate time span of 1900 to 1940. Covers of Gold follows the success of Marion Short's first two books, The Gold in Your Piano Bench and More Gold in Your Piano Bench also available from Schiffer Publishing.

The caramel-coated popcorn treat Cracker Jacksr was first introduced in 1893 at the World's Columbian Exposition. Little did the 21 million people who got their first taste at the Fair know that the snack would soon sweep the nation. Beginning in 1912, a toy `surprise'was sealed inside each box of Cracker Jack. These toys soon became an important part of childhood for generations of sweet-teeth to come. This new book shows many of these toys, in almost tow hundred full-color group photographs. Since 1912, more than 16 billion toys have been distributed-including a pair of baseball card sets worth over a hundred thousand dollars, miniature toys, booklets made of paper or cardboard, handpainted wooden or porcelain trinkets, jumping frogs made of tin, even a complete model train...anything could be found inside that next box of Cracker Jack! Also included in this book are a general history of the Reuckheim company that produced Cracker Jack, a price guide, and a discussion of the many changing trends in Cracker Jack toy history.

Trace the evolution of automatic Morse code devices from the early 1800s to today through this informative text and over 1,100 photos. Beginning with an overview of telegraphy and early key history, fifteen sections explore the equipment used to send messages over long distances. Featured are code readers, oscillators, Morse trainers, electronic keyers, single- and dual-lever paddles, portable paddles, automatic mechanical keys, accessories, and more. Each device is presented in text and images, some with classic advertisements; this combination allows the reader to appreciate device development and better understand the thinking that went into the design. Paddle and key maintenance and adjustment are also examined, as well as computer interfacing and use of the Internet. The book also includes the results of patent studies and historical research, with many new findings presented, making it a must-have for collectors, ham operators, or anyone interested in the history of these communication devices.

Charlot Byj created her famous redheaded children and other figures as greeting card illustrations. In the mid 1940s her work caught the attention of the Goebel Company, the makers of Hummel figurines. At Goebel her characters took on three dimensions, and now they are sought by collectors around the world. The Redheads, the blonde series, and other Byj creations for Goebel are presented here, making this a comprehensive volume. Nearly every figure is shown in a beautiful color photograph. Current values are given with each photograph, and there is a history of values on the secondary market, beginning with 1957. A wealth of information is given to make this a truly valuable book for collectors of these delightful figures.

American glassmaking became a popular industry in the late 19th and early 20th centuries when the population expanded and demanded pretty decorative goods to reflect their growing affluence. This new book presents over 500 pretty, American-made glass bells identified by their type of bell, producer, and period; and with descriptions that include their size, color, decoration or pattern, and range of values. Each bell is shown in beautiful color photography. Chapters focus on American art glass, cut glass, blown, pressed, and lampwork glass bells. Bell collectors, historians, museum curators, and glass lovers all will find this an important reference for their libraries.

More than 350 photographs of historic fabric swatches explore design variations in foulards, the small motifs printed on silks and related fabrics that were intended for men's ties and dressing gowns. Take an inspiring visual tour of designs, from the traditional to pop art, in foulard prints. An invaluable guide for the historian and student, a treasure of ideas and inspiration for designers.

This book provides a review of the history behind colorful Depression glassware, descriptions of specific pieces along with their values, and information on how to collect and display Depression Glass. Illustrated with over 300 color photographs, individual chapters highlight premium giveaways, children's sets, unique pitchers and pitcher sets, butter dishes, serving pieces, the decorated Swanky Swigs, reproductions, and much more. Also included are a vocabulary list, updated values, a review of important glassware companies, and a bibliography. This book is an excellent guide for all lovers and collectors of Depression Glass.

The patch is a customized emblem designed specifically for a particular organization. An emblem is often displayed on patches, decals, plaques, and other memorabilia. Pride and comraderie in the crew is a direct result of the patch as a daily reminder that a specific unit is the best in the Navy. This volume covers over 1,900 patches of US Navy rotary wing aircraft in full color, covering the patches of individual helicopters, schools, organizations, air wings and detachments for all the squadron types HAL, HC, HCS, HCT, HM, HS, HSC, HSL, HSM, HT, HU, HUQ and HX.

Over 350 vivid color photos and engaging text reveal that bookends have been a medium of art from the turn of the twentieth century to today. The photos illustrate 350 pairs of bookends from principal art styles, and the research places them in historical context. Accompanying the photos are identification of the production date, the foundry, sculptor, art style, commentary, and values. The bookends presented have documented American art fashions for the past one hundred years. This novel guide also organizes bookends by art style and historical period, rather than subject matter, which gives the reader new insight into the evolution of bookends in a dynamic culture. Readers will come to regard bookends as works of art and will be knowledgeable about their rightful place in the art world. This book is a must-have reference for art lovers everywhere.

Since founding his firm in Selb in 1891, Philip Rosenthal Sr. endeavored with great success to join porcelain and art together. Using a variety of different design styles, Rosenthal produced porcelain service, figures, ornaments, and art pieces, each with the highest artistic quality worthy of fine collections. With over 350 beautiful pictures, this book provides a history of the Rosenthal family and company, a description of the entire porcelain production proces, artists' biographies, and tips for collectors. The stars of course are the pieces themselves. Current market values are given to help the collector.

At last, here is the compendium of cigarette packs that collectors have been waiting for! Joe Giesenhagen has compiled a fantastic collection of cigarette packs dating from the 1880s to the present, in all colors, shapes and sizes. See the incredible diversity of character in cigarette packaging over the past century, and the amazing creative effort some companies exerted to make their cigarettes appear exotic, luxurious, colorful, feminine, masculine, festive, or even medicinal. This book includes color photographs of over 4000 packs of cigarettes to accompany in-depth listings of Merchants & Vendors, Factory Numbers, Merchant Code list, up-to-date pricing information, anecdotes of the industry, and much, much, more. Cigarette packs are a great field for collecting, with a huge diversity, availability, and price range. This book is an excellent ground-level entrance for anyone looking to begin a collection and a valuable resource for anyone in the process of building one.

Out of a long and rich tradition of pottery making among the Pueblo Indians of the American Southwest there has grown a new and exciting form. In 1964, Helen Cordero of Cochiti created a clay image of her grandfather, Santiago Quintana, with five children clinging to him. With this piece the storyteller was born. Almost at once storytellers caught the attention of the public. Beginning at Cochiti and continuing in the other pueblos, the storyteller became a favorite form of pottery. Now the form is even beginning to be used by others outside of the pueblos. The storytellers have come to include not only male figures, but females, turtles, frogs, and coyotes. In this new book, the reader will find the most extensive collection of storytellers ever gathered in print. Over 400 pieces by nearly 150 artists are shown in full color, and organized by pueblo. In addition to storytellers, nativities and other figurative pottery are represented.

Lavishly illustrated and exquisitely deisgned, this book opens with a stunning series of images of style icons - historic and modern - wearing their favoured emerald jewelry. As befits a prized gemstone that is twenty times rarer than diamond, here we see together, for the first time, pieces worn by celebrities ranging from filmstars to royalty, all alongside classic images of emeralds from art, advertising and fashion, celebrated in a text by Franca Sozzani, editor of Vogue Italia . The second part of this major volume showcases more than forty of the world's most significant and famous pieces of emerald jewelry, including many previously unseen designs from private and royal collections. Historic creations that are up to 5,500 years old are represented alongside all the modern jewelry houses. The third and final part of Emerald tells the story of the emerald trade from mine to market, illustrated with specially commissioned photography taken across four continents.

Welcome to the exciting world of fast food collectibles! This comprehensive book presents a thorough and entertaining guide to the multitude of kid's meal premiums distributed by fourteen quick service restaurants (other than McDonald's) from January 1990 through late 1998. This colorful assortment of restaurants includes Jack in the Box, KFC, K-Mart, Long John Silver's, Pizza Hut, Roy Rogers, Sonic, Subway, Taco Bell, Target, Wal-Mart, Wendy's, Whataburger, and White Castle. Starting with the beginning of the fast food toy explosion, this definitive volume identifies, describes, and lists prices for over 570 kid's meal promotions from the 1990s. More than 550 full color photos document this awesome array of premiums dating from this decade alone. Many of the toys depict colorful characters from such popular companies as Walt Disney, Warner Brothers, Hanna Barbera, Inc., Viacom International, Hasbro, Inc., Twentieth Century Fox Universal City Studios, Inc., DC Comics, Mars, Inc., The Coca-Cola Company, and more. The informative text includes a brief history of each corporation and their cast of characters, plus check-off boxes to help you organize your expansive collection. Additionally, the authors have provided a numbering system that identifies every item in the book.

A comprehensive look at striking furniture of the nineteenth century Biedermeier era in Austria and Germany. This handsome book features more than 600 authentic Biedermeier pieces, including cabinets, bureaus, wardrobes, secretaries, sofas, chairs, and tables. The authoritative authors provide extensive information on shapes, materials, ornamental features, and regional aspects of this popular furniture. The text covers evaluation and pricing, market trends, and tips on buying, caring for, and proper restoration of Biedermeier pieces. An illustrated glossary and current values are also included in this elegant reference.

The most popular 1940s styles, from couture to everyday workclothes, ensembles, sportswear, lingerie, and evening dresses, plus toys, needlework, and gifts, are presented here in 550 color photographs of pattern envelopes from companies like Advance, Butterick, Hollywood, McCall, Simplicity, Vogue, and others. A wide array of pattern-related items is presented, including publications and advertising, display dolls, tools, and various forms of packaging. The pattern envelope illustrations are wonderful period drawings of '40s fashions. All who enjoy these great styles will find Blueprints of Fashion to be a refreshing approach and an important first book on this growing field of interest.

This second book by Nick Snider presents the popular collectible military sweetheart jewelry and collectibles that were so important to the home front during World War I and II. Over 200 color photographs, most of full-page size, display thousands of items of jewelry, banners, pillow covers, paper items and compacts, as well as special sections on the Seabee(Construction Batallion) and WASP(Women's Airforce Service Pilot) items. Experience the human side of warfare through appreciation of the patriotic items displayed herein.

Vibrant color photograph postcards show 32 Lancaster county covered bridges, representing every season. GPS coordinates with each bridge make every bridge easy to find using a GPS satellite navigation device. If you prefer, you may also use a local tour map. These bridges are architectural treasures spanning the rivers and streams of Lancaster County, a scenic landscape dotted with pristine Amish farms. These postcards will be treasured by all who enjoy the beauty of rural America and her historic covered bridges.

This is the most comprehensive guide to collecting fire-related antiques available, presenting a fascinating collection of functional items like helmets, parade trumpets, fire extinguishing grenades, alarm boxes, and lanterns. It also offers ranking and ceremonial effects such as badges, trophies, medals and awards, and ephemera that celebrate the culture and mystique of firefighting, including toys, artwork, movie posters, and much more. Forgotten relics, such as firefighting adventure novels, show the enormous amount of respect and admiration society has had for firefighters. Covering colonial times to the present, with a brief historical introduction, this authoritative reference serves hobbyists and the most serious collectors of "firematics." Nearly 700 color photographs are inside with detailed descriptions and up-to-date pricing information.

This new study presents striking parallels in both ethnic (non-European) and folk (European) traditional costumes and ornaments made with silver and glass. African ornaments include Zulu beads, Maghreb necklaces, the Oba's crown, and Massai headpieces. European ornaments extend from the Baltic to the Alps and from Russia, Hungary, and the Ottoman Empire. Asian jewelry comes from the Fertile Crescent, the Silk Route, and the foothills of the Himalaya. Each example exquisitely displays a common sense of beauty among many distant peoples.

Take a tour of nearly 150 dollhouses from Europe and America in this beautifully illustrated book. The houses and their furnishings are shown in over 700 color photographs provided with the help of nearly twenty individual collectors. Most of the houses are pictured fully furnished, complete with accessories. The houses range in size from one-room Converse models to very large handmade houses, and many are also shown with the dolls that lived inside. You'll enjoy several hundred pieces of furniture, all dating from the 1880s to the 1980s. Companies whose products are pictured include Arcade, Bliss, Christian Hacker, Converse, Schoenhut, Strombecker, Tootsietoy, Gottschalk, Deluxe Game Corp., Lines, Tri-Ang, Renwal, Ideal, Plasco, Marx, Reliable and others. Background information on over sixty-five companies is also provided. A must-have for anyone interested in dollhouses and their furnishings, this charming and informative book also includes prices with the captions.

For the first time, this book uncovers the fascinating history and diverse design of decorative ceramic tiles in Britain during the 20th century. Following extensive research and study, author Chris Blanchett, a well-known British tile enthusiast and collector, has compiled the story of the companies and their products, including the major influences that affected design and manufacture during this vibrant period. Together with its companion title, this publication contains nearly 2500 striking color photographs and illustrates the work of over 110 companies, large and small. Among the firms profiled here are Maw & Co., Packard & Ord, H. & R. Johnson, Pilkington's, and many more. A third volume in the series covers the numerous craft and studio tile makers that flourished in the 20th century, particularly during the second half. Each book features an entry for each maker, listing all known addresses, a short history of the firm and its products, a gallery of tile images, and a section on identification and dating. A bibliography is included as well as a glossary, comprehensive index, and price guide. This beautiful and informative book is an essential reference for all who are fascinated with the art of tile.

The German immigrants to Southeastern Pennsylvania developed a rich and very colorful quilting heritage after they arrived in America. This book focuses on a rare subset of that tradition--the patchwork pillowcase. If antique Pennsylvania quilts number in the thousands, patchwork pillowcases number in the hundreds. Gathered from private collectors and museums, the pillowcases presented here were made from about 1820 to 1920. Over 250 color photos showcase a huge assortment of nineteenth century printed fabrics used in both pieced and appliquA (c) pillowcases. Quilt designs range from a simple four-patch to a complex carpenter's wheel, while color schemes range from reserved red and white to bold pink and cheddar. This book will delight the quilt historian and inspire the quilt-maker.