Made as toy savings banks, souvenirs, or advertising premiums, cast-iron safe banks are found in a variety of sizes, colors, and finishes and were produced from approximately 1870 until World War II. Due to their numerous parts, coupled with the locking mechanism, they have not been reproduced. This book is the most complete listing of iron safe banks known to date and includes a broad range of additional information, taken directly from primary reference resources, to engage both the casual reader and serious collector. There are nearly 500 unique casting variations identified with multiple colors and finishes represented. This catalog is augmented with chapters that include more than 20 company profiles, 175 pages reproduced from original manufacturer catalogs, over 60 ads from period mail order catalogs, and nearly 40 related US patents, as well as trade cards, postcards, calendars, posters, and other ephemera related to safe banks and the companies that made them.

Send your messages with style with Mini Office Messenger Pigeon! Kit includes everything you need to send a note with your own reliable avian. Specifications: 3" vinyl messenger pigeon figurine with a slot for notesIllustrated mini book: Includes 48-page mini book all about the messenger pigeon, along with 50 perforated pre-printed and blank message slips Great gift: A fun desk accessory gift for friends, family, and co-workers

Covering the years 1950 to 1970, this fascinating book provides a detailed look at the Fire King pitchers and glasses produced by the venerable Anchor Hocking glass company, established in 1905 and still in business today. Over 350 color photographs beautifully display these Fire King wares, ranging from Tilt Ball and juice pitchers to frosted glasses and cocktail sets. The succinct text describes the evolution of Anchor Hocking pitcher design and teaches collectors how to differentiate Anchor Hocking from similar companies' glassware. Catalog pages are included, along with an index, and current market values in the captions.

Fast food authors extraordinaire Joyce and Terry Losonsky continue their around-the-world McDonald's odyssey with this expansive guide covering Happy Meal*r toys given out during the late 1990s in over 114 different countries. In addition to a complete listing of international Happy Meal*r toys, the book also includes the displays, pins, buttons, register toppers, banners, pogs, and assorted memorabilia distributed by the McDonald's Corporation during the same time period. Hundreds of full color photos illustrate the Happy Meal*r toys and promotional items described. Join the parade of collectors who are having world class fun exploring and collecting this vast array of merchandise. Your trip around the world continues with this delightful adventure. All aboard!

The clay and plaster statuary groups made by John Rogers (1829-1904) from 1859 until after 1888 were so appealing in late Victorian America that "scarcely a family of reasonable means and taste did not possess one." He portrayed ordinary, everyday, urban and rural people doing ordinary, everyday things. Thereby, he offered an unrivaled transcript of the manners, sports, amusements, social customs, domestic interests, costumes, and even modes of furnishing for the period. He made statues of Civil War soldiers, family groups, literary topics, theater scenes, and historical figures from eight to forty-six inches tall. This book chronicles each Rogers group with a photograph, size, patent or design date, and pertinent anecdotes. It will be useful today as a reference for interpreting life in Victorian America and today's collectors will covet the pictures, personal letters, advertising, and social commentary presented in the text. The Rogers statuary reflects the lives of our common ancestors of the late nineteenth century.

For all who love collecting and displaying salt and pepper shakers, here are hundreds of colorful and charming sets all made in the "good old USA." Featured are more than 750 sets dating from the 1930s to the 1970s, along with background information on the companies and artists that produced them. The makers include Regal China Company, Elbee Art, Sascha Brastoff, Matthew Adams, Catalina, Roselane, Shirley, and others. Also shown are a number of interesting and unique sets designed and crafted by two California pottery artists in the 1940s, Margaret Weese and Billee Vier. The authors provide helpful information on marks, labels, and other means of identification, and the captions include descriptions, heights, and values. A great reference for all shaker lovers and collectors!

Collecting rock and roll sheet music is an excellent (and different) way to enjoy popular songs -- and you don't have to know how to read music! This lively look at the songs and fashions that were all the rage in the Swingin' Sixties is presented through over 630 color photos of sheet music from that remarkable decade. Many offer seldom-seen images of the band or recording artist and often include facts about the song composer or album as well. Popular styles such as Motown, R&B, surf, pop, and garage rock are represented, all from memorable groups like The Rolling Stones, Monkees, Beach Boys, Supremes, Doors, and of course, The Beatles. Collector hints, musical facts, and trivia appear along with current values, an index, and rare, foreign printings from the United Kingdom, Australia, and Italy. You'll be humming along and tapping your foot as you turn the pages of this nostalgic and visually exciting book!

Welcome to the world of White Knob Wind Up Toys (WKWs). Their diversity, availability,and price make these small, ingenious mechanical wonders one of the most collectible toys on the market today. Since the manufacturing of WKWs began in the 1970s, they have hopped, waddled, swam, danced, flipped, and rolled into hearts and homes throughout the world. Never has any toy been more plentifully accepted and enjoyed by both children and adults alike. This book, which is as irresistible as the WKWs it features, includes over 275 full-color photographs, a price guide, and the information you need to either start or continue building a wonderful collection.

For over 140 years, the Homer Laughlin Company, of East Liverpool, Ohio, made popular ceramic plate shapes, each with different decorative treatments that are identified by numbers and date codes. This book shows, in 805 color photographs, 43 dinnerware shapes as well as kitchenware, specialty items, and backmarks. With this information, you can learn to identify each shape and treatment. Today, this dinnerware is valuable in antiques markets.

We hate to name drop, but this beautiful book features the top manufacturers and designers of kitchen towels from the 1930s to the 1960s! From the delightful fruit and floral patterns of Wilendur, Startex, and Martex, to the wonderful whimsical designs of Broderie, Bucilla, and JS&S, a visual feast of color and design is presented here. Vintage towels are small art canvases -- easily afforded, easily cleaned, and easily displayed. Hundreds of different designs can be collected in a small space and at minimal cost. It is no wonder, then, that their popularity has risen in recent years to make them one of the hottest textile collectibles! Called by various names -- tea towels, dish towels, kitchen towels, utility towels, work towels and hand towels -- these irresistible charmers are showcased here in over 490 color photos. Previously unpublished information about some of the era's top-name textile artists is featured in a special designer section and a must-read cleaning and storage chapter provides tips that will add decades to the lives of vintage textiles. Measurements, current values, a helpful glossary, and manufacturers list are all included.

This noteworthy and exceptionally comprehensive book features edged weapons dating from the Neolithic period to the early 20th century. These fascinating antiques come from all over the globe, including Europe, America, the Middle East, Asia, Japan, and Africa. Detailed descriptions and over 890 outstanding color photos help collectors identify and study the characteristics, historical uses, and current values of highly diverse swords and daggers. Among the items showcased are tribal, ceremonial, and presentation edged weapons, Indonesian krises, and Borneo "headhunter" swords. Valuable information is provided about rare artifacts, terminology, and evaluating age and authenticity of the weapons. Novice as well as advanced collectors will find this an indispensable reference.

Whistles: every child's favorite noise-maker, every police officer's most trusted alarm, every girl or boy scout's most treasured souvenir. With almost 500 full-color photographs, this cheerful new book catalogs whistles from the past century, from the simple wooden penny whistle to novelty whistles with built-in compasses, 15-jewel watches, and mink fur decoration. There are many examples of tin whistles decorated with lithographs, plastic whistles made of celluloid, vinyl, and other compounds, and even a reproduction of a clay whistle made in the 1400s! While whistles could be as frivolous as the water-filled `warbling bird' variety, sliding whistles, and kiddie whistles with 1950s TV cowboy logos, there are many more serious whistles shown as well, including a Kentucky coal mine whistle(used to check for toxic gases), a New York City taxi-cab whistle, and a plastic version of traditional African "nose-flute" used in mating rituals. This book covers them all, with discussion of when and how they were made, instructions for taking care of them, and a current price guide.

Featuring 352 color photos of beautiful glassware and 67 black and white historical photos and catalog pages, this is one of the most authoritative volumes documenting this prolific firm. Dazzling tableware, tumblers, condiments, and more are displayed in many of their popular glass patterns, including Eyewinker, Reverse torpedo, Alexis, Klondike, Onyx, and Floradine. Sweetheart, Crown, Two Post, Delaware, and Oklahoma lamps are also featured. Among the highly sought novelties illustrated are the Snowball Wine Set, Mrs. Snowball, Clown Decanter, Parrot Decanter, and the novelty pitchers Bicycle Girl, Bringing Home the Cows, Squirrel, and Three Birds. The text provides a detailed history of the company, from its founding in West Virginia through its time as a part of the National Glass Company. Values are provided in the captions. This book is a must for all who enjoy, collect, and study beautiful glassware.

In 1636, theologian Roger Williams landed in Rhode Island and "having a sense of God's merciful providence unto me in my distress, called the place Providence." This city grew to become a leader in textile, tool, and jewelry manufacturing and gained the nickname "Beehive of Industry." In the nineteenth century, Providence was known for its busy factories, fascinating history, and beautiful location on scenic Narragansett Bay. Over 300 vintage, hand-tinted postcards transport readers to the early 1900s, when tourism boomed. See the marble dome of the Rhode Island State Capitol, look into the shops at the Mall on Weybosset and Westminster Streets, Roger Williams Park, a lecture at Brown University, and a clambake on the shores of Narragansett Bay. Approximate dating and price guides will be useful to seasoned collectors and beginners looking to start their own collections.

Collecting autographs is a time-honored avocation that has exploded in popularity in recent years, creating a new industry with millions of autographed items for sale online. Coveted signatures include those from presidents of the United States, Civil War officers, World War II heroes, classical music composers and baseball stars. It is estimated that 90 percent of historical autographs on the market today are forgeries. This book provides a definitive guide to signature authentication for experts and beginners alike. Numerous illustrations of genuine and forged signatures are included, from Ty Cobb to Isaac Newton to Abraham Lincoln to Neil Armstrong. Detailed descriptions of common forgeries are given, enabling collectors to make direct comparisons.

Revealed here are children's and women's clothing, including undergarments, leisurewear, and street apparel from 1860 to 1900. Over 270 photographs combine with text to enable accurate dating of clothing to within a three- to seven-year time frame. Nineteenth century photographs are supplemented by surviving examples of period clothing, many picturing both the outside and inner construction. The text is based on Victorian fashion, medical, etiquette, and advice literature and reveals the often-surprising reasons females were willing to become such devoted slaves to dress, as well as the impact dress had upon their lives and health. This well-researched book also explores the constraints of childhood during this era, which lends valuable insight into women's acceptance of nonsensical fashions as adults. Endnotes are included.

With original documents discovered to build his story, Peter Blackman has eloquently explained the origins, artistic growth, and dissemination of Black Forest carved wooden furniture and fine decor now recognized worldwide. The style evolved in 1815 in Brienz, a small village in the Swiss Alps, and spread through the 19th century, with operations stretching to Paris and central Germany. Bears are the best known and prolific examples, but many other animals and human figures also comprise the style. The book presents in detail the development of the "Black Forest" woodcarving tradition, or Brienzerwares, through noteworthy carvers, schools, companies, and the Great Exhibitions worldwide. Artists, collectors, museum curators, and wood carvers will be instructed and inspired by Mr. Blackman's relentless research, fine analysis, and keen eye.

It is said that art is a universal language and this book communicates eloquently, revealing to the reader hundreds of antique, hand-painted pieces of Limoges porcelain, each an exquisite masterpiece. Over 400 beautiful, full color photographs show stunning examples of hand-painted jardiniAres, punch bowls, spittoons, dinnerware, cups and saucers, cake plates, and more. Limoges boxes are highly collectible today and there is a special section devoted to these lovely, useful objects, each as unique as the talented individual who painted it. The thorough yet concise text defines the arduous process of hand painting on china that has been passed down through the centuries. This is the first book to provide names and biographical information of individual, female, American china painters and highlights their accomplishments and contributions to the art of painting on porcelain. The comprehensive marks section of Limoges and reproduction marks makes this book an invaluable reference and resource guide. Values for every item are included in the captions.

This beautiful book features an exciting and wonderfully diverse selection of over 475 rugs created by 270 of today's contemporary rug hooking artists. These meticulously crafted and often evocative rugs all relate to specific themes or series. Some were made by a group of artists joining together to complete a theme-related project, others are part of a series or theme explored by an individual artist. View such impressive collections as "The Alphabet of Sheep" by Patty Yoder, "Art Rugs: The 'Art' of Playing Cards," and "Celebrate Life: An American/Japanese Exhibit." Delight in charming rugs depicting family memories, honoring children's births, and celebrating friendships. Discover groups devoted to portraiture, ancient legends, scenic locations, romance, and more. Showcased are some of today's most noted artists, along with new artists making their debuts. A must-have volume for textile lovers who want to experience the artistry and variety of hooked rugs.

The glassware made by Bryce, Higbee & Company of Pittsburgh is known for its beauty and quality, yet is misunderstood by even the most knowledgeable collectors. Using original sources, this definitive resource shatters many myths and corrects misconceptions that have persisted for over half a century. The history of the company and the marketing of glassware in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries is discussed as well as the difference between the products of Bryce, Higbee & Company and J.B. Higbee Glass Company. Also featured is information on the intended use of the multitude of items made during the Early American Pattern Glass (EAPG) era and lists of items in tableware patterns and novelties made by Bryce, Higbee & Company. Liberally illustrated with more than 500 original catalog images and photos of glassware, this is sure to be a valuable resource for all lovers of glass.

You know you're hooked when you get that feeling in the pit of your stomach. Is it a shortness of breath or a flush that comes to your face when you see it in a case at an antique mall, or on someone's arm as you stroll down the aisle shopping at an antiques show? Has someone caught you staring intently at their wrist or lapel and mistaken your focused gaze for some sign of familiarity? If any or all of the above symptoms or scenarios seem familiar to you, it's possible you may have it! Yes, it's all too true, you may indeed be suffering from...BAKELITE FEVER! The Bakelite Collection describes some of the many differing collecting preferences of some of the nation's most prolific appreciators of fine Bakelite jewelry. Men and women, doctors and lawyers, modernists and traditionalists alike have fallen prey to Bakelite fever. Their stories, experiences, lovingly assembled collections will delight every Bakelite collector. The Bakelite Collection showcases these fantastic jewelry arrays in luscious detail, using full color photography. A price guide makes it a truly valuable book for all sufferers of Bakelite Fever.

Rookwood art pottery was made in Cincinnati, Ohio, from 1880 until 1967, producing forms that feature delicate colors fired at low kiln temperatures. Pieces are eagerly sought by collectors today and continue to influence contemporary art potters. In this guide 251 color and 166 black and white photographs show hundreds of vases, plaques, bowls, bookends, lamps, tea tiles, and more, with estimated price ranges to reflect the art market.

In his third book, Christer Loefgren expands the scholarship on imperial Chinese porcelain with a radical, new interpretation of the term "Mark and Period". From identifying only marks on imperial porcelain, to looking at objects associated with those marks, his analysis will change imperial porcelain's image and significantly contribute to the knowledge base of Chinese porcelain experts and collectors. For the first time, it is now possible to group all imperial items in all these periods, from Ming to the end of the Qing period. Based on a database of over 5000 items and marks, this survey provides statistics which make it possible to go deeper into identifying which items and marks are "Mark and Period", copies, or counterfeits. Also available: Chinese Imperial Reign Marks ISBN 9789198465181

San Francisco, the City by the Bay, rose from a small Spanish settlement to become one of the largest and most unique cities in the United States. Vintage postcards from the 1900s to the 1960s showcase the Golden Gate Bridge (one of the Seven Modern Wonders of the World), cable cars as they make their way up Market Street, Alcatraz Island and the prison that housed public enemies like Al Capone, Machine Gun Kelly, and Robert Franklin Stroud (the Birdman of Alactraz). Take in the exotic sights of Chinatown, Fisherman's Wharf, the de Young Museum, Golden Gate Park, and see the historic buildings at the Presidio, or watch the sea lions on Seal Rock from the balcony of the Cliff House. Enjoy the wonderful diversity that has made San Francisco a tourist destination for 100 years.

For many people the ocean is a source of relaxation and comfort, and this new self-discovery book takes that relaxation to the next level. The healing power of reiki energy combines with the magnificent forces of the ocean to encourage healing, clarity, and clearing available to everyone. Chapters address how to negotiate different aspects of daily life - compassion, fear, forgiveness, grief, faith, hope, and surrender - with deep breathing, journaling, and visualization exercises. This meditation will help you to embrace the ocean's limitless energies as you unlock the healing power that lies within you and each of us. Staring off into the ocean will take on a whole new meaning.