The Collector's Voice is a major four-volume project which brings together in accessible form material relevant to the history and practice of collecting in the European tradition from c. 1500 BC to the present day. The series demonstrates how attitudes to objects, the collecting of objects, and the shape of the museum institution have developed over the past 3000 years. Material presented includes translations of a wide range of original documents: letters, official reports, verse, fiction, travellers' accounts, catalogues and labels. Volume 1: Ancient Voices, edited by Susan Pearce and Alexandra Bounia Volume 2: Early Voices, edited by Susan Pearce and Kenneth Arnold Volume 3: Imperial Voices, edited by Susan Pearce and Rosemary Flanders Volume 4: Contemporary Voices, edited by Susan Pearce and Paul Martin

'The cultural history of the mirror is fully explored by Sabine Melchior-Bonnet. The book marries science and art, literature and philosophy.' - New York Times

'This erudite meditation ... reveals how significantly the mirror has influenced Western culture ... this beautifully illustrated study offers so many intriguing glimpses into the meanings of reflection that it will reward anyone who peers beneath its surface.' - Publishers' Weekly

This new edition covers all the standards, procedures, and ethics of appraising gems, jewelry, and other valuables. Each step involved in conducting an appraisal is fully explained, with photos, case studies, key documents, worksheets and pricing data included. Registered Master Valuer Anna M Miller gives professional guidance and step-by-step instructions on how to: Build a clientele; Set fees; Get publicity; Handle insurance replacement claims; Photograph gems and jewellery; Research and write reports; Test metals; Research provenance; Master the different approaches to valuation; Use price guides; Understand legal and ethical aspects of appraising. This resource offers all the information that practising or aspiring appraisal professionals will need to establish an appraisal business, handle various kinds of appraisals, and provide an accurate, verifiable estimate of value.

The Collector's Voice is a major four-volume project which brings together in accessible form material relevant to the history and practice of collecting in the European tradition from c. 1500 BC to the present day. The series demonstrates how attitudes to objects, the collecting of objects, and the shape of the museum institution have developed over the past 3000 years. Material presented includes translations of a wide range of original documents: letters, official reports, verse, fiction, travellers' accounts, catalogues and labels. Volume 1: Ancient Voices, edited by Susan Pearce and Alexandra Bounia Volume 2: Early Voices, edited by Susan Pearce and Kenneth Arnold Volume 3: Imperial Voices, edited by Susan Pearce and Rosemary Flanders Volume 4: Contemporary Voices, edited by Susan Pearce and Paul Martin

With a growing interest in ethnicity, there has also been an increasing interest in the study of material culture, as a means of explicating traditional and popular culture. Moreover, the decades leading up to the Columbian Quincentenary have been marked by the establishment of new Italian American museums, cultural centers, and archival collections. This timely publication, the fourth in Greenwood's series of Material Culture Directories, complements existing Italian American and Italian Canadian bibliographies and guides to collections by focusing on material culture and photographic collections, historic sites, and festivals. Following an introductory overview, chapter 1 provides information on objects, photographics images, and, in a few cases, oral histories held by museums and other repositories in the United States and Canada. Chapter 2 lists churches, houses, commercial buildings, wineries, monuments, a few towns and neighborhoods, and other sites associated with Italian American history. Entries range from Manhattan's Casa Italiana to the Italian Rock ovens in Washington State. Chapter 3 covers over 100 religious feasts and secular festivals in which material culture or foodways play an important part in the lives of Italian Americans. Each chapter is arranged alphabetically by geographic location. The work concludes with a selected bibliography and name and subject indexes.

The Book of Griswold & Wagner, referred to as the "blue book" by collectors, is the most complete, accurate, and widely used reference guide and is coveted by collectors. This revised 5th edition features more pictures, updated values for cast iron cookware and kitchen collecting enthusiasts, and expanded charts. This definitive, encyclopedic guide details durable cast-iron antiques, including cornstick pans, griddles, Dutch ovens, gem pans, coffee grinders and roasters, trivets, molds, broilers, teapots, and much more. Over 1,000 photographs document variations of shape, size, dates, moldings, finishes, hardware types, catalog numbers, and markings. There are comprehensive histories of the manufacturers Griswold, Wagner, Sidney Hollow Ware, Favorite, and Wapak, as well as patent lists for meticulous researchers. This is an essential reference for anyone wishing to invest in these timeless treasures.

Creating the V&A tells the definitive story of the formative years of London's world-renowned Victoria and Albert Museum and the gathering of its early collections in the decade between the Great Exhibition of 1851 and the death of Prince Albert in 1861. The story of the V&A's genesis is often centred on the first director and first curator (Henry Cole and J. C. Robinson), and their competing agendas for design reform and connoisseurship. And yet there is an untold story of how the young royal couple for whom it is named were highly instrumental in the establishment of the museum, as public supporters and large-scale lenders before a permanent collection was in place. The book is also full of fascinating and colourful stories of the strategies deployed to harvest treasures on the market as the young museum sought to fill its rapidly expanding buildings and compete with the British Museum and the Crystal Palace. For anyone interested in the history of collecting and curating, and for all fans of this legendary London museum, Creating the V&A explains how the foundational collections established parameters which still inform the museum's collecting policies, role and identity today.

Collecting is a wide spread phenomenon within our society. Many of us are involved in the activity of collecting and many more of us are fascinated by others' collections. Yet surprisingly little is known about how and why we collect. On Collecting examines the nature of collecting both in Europe and among people living within the European tradition elsewhere.
Gathering objects together is a universal human custom, yet every society collects in different ways. Susan Pearce looks at the way we collect and what this tells us about ourselves and our society. She also explores the psychology of collecting: why do we bestow value on certain objects and how does this add meaning to our lives? Do men and women collect differently? How do we use objects to construct our identity?
On Collecting breaks new ground in its analysis of our relationship to the material world. It will be of value to museums professionals and students, cultural historians and anyone interested in the phenomenon of collecting.

Foreword by Christian Louboutin Vintage Shoes recounts a century of shoe history, from Andre Perugia's designs for society women in the 1920s to Christian Louboutin's red soles. Accompanied by archive images, stunning fashion photography and specially commissioned photographs of rare period footwear, the most collectible and fabulous footwear designs are showcased. An invaluable reference as well as a visual delight of times past, the book explores the key designers, technical developments and cultural influences that shaped shoe fashions, presenting exquisite footwear from such trailblazers as Salvatore Ferragamo, Charles Jourdan, Roger Vivier, Beth Levine, Vivienne Westwood and Manolo Blahnik.

Matchbox vehicles, from cars and trucks to tractors and trailers, produced in series 1 through 75 from 1953 to 1969, are presented here in both detailed text listings and over 370 color images. Variations of each vehicle manufactured are detailed, including the many different kinds of box styles used throughout this period. This revised 2nd Edition includes an updated price list for the Matchbox vehicles presented and their variations listed throughout the text. A great resource for collectors.

This excellent reference for anyone interested in the wondrously broad range of Coca-Cola collectibles is now in its newly revised fourth edition! This book is filled cover-to-cover with approximately 2,000 bright, color pictures of the most sought-after Coca-Cola products ever made, from advertisements, trays and bottles to haberdashery, jewelry, and amazing one-of-a-kind novelties, all with updated prices reflecting today's market. From its earliest offerings to a modern-day selection, Coca-Cola is well represented by this definitive text, which includes many of the rarest pieces from within the Coca-Cola Company's own archives. A useful and gloriously beautiful book!

This comprehensive account of the past, present and future of the automobile examines the key trends, key technologies and key players involved in the race to develop clean, environmentally friendly vehicles that are affordable and that do not compromise on safety or design. Undertaking a rigorous interrogation of our global dependency on oil, the author demonstrates just how unwise and unnecessary this is in light of current developments such as the fuel cell revolution and the increasing viability of hybrid cars, which use both petrol and electricity - innovations that could signal a new era of clean, sustainable energy. The arguments put forward draw on support from an eclectic range of sources - including industry insiders, scientists, economists and environmentalists - to make for an enlightening read.

Now in its revised sixth edition, this classic reference book is designed for the collector, with a historical survey, hundreds of color and black and white illustrations, a description of how mechanical wristwatches work, and a thorough glossary. Updated price ranges for various wristwatches are included, along with a chapter on fakes, knock-offs, and hybrids; even a chapter on the popular Swatch watches is included. Information on the preservation, care, and repair of wristwatches rounds out the volume, making it the most complete reference for novice and experienced collectors alike.

When Mattel's Hotwheels toy cars exploded onto the market in 1968, venerable Matchbox Toys met the challenge with its Superfast line. The successful result is now presented in the largest book on Matchbox Toys ever produced - so big it is two volumes that celebrate 35 years of Matchbox Superfast production with over 7000 color photos and over 10,000 listed variations! The detailed, beautiful photographs are a great assistance to collectors for identification and color reference. The Variation Listings, found in Volume 1, are arranged alpha-numerically by product numbers, making location and cross-referencing easy. Photos are arranged by major product lines, with Basic Models in Volume1, and everything else from Adventure Pack to White Rose Collectibles arranged alphabetically in Volume 2. Superfast models from late 2004 and early 2005 also appear in Volume 2. Each photo includes the product number and name for easy reference to the Variation Listings. To further aid in identification there are helpful indexes by MAN number and model names (actual base names), as well as a general alphabetical index. The model variations have current market prices for each variation. Taken together, these two great books are a must for Matchbox collectors everywhere, a monumental effort by one of the world's greatest authorities! Volume 1: Over 2050 Color Photos of Basic Models Illustrated Promotionals Miniature 1-75 Basic Listing Variations Listing with Values Volume 2: Over 5000 Color Photos of Adventure Packs & Action System to World Class Models with late 2004 Models Alphabetical Index Index to Annual Basic Range Listings 1998-2004 by Issue Numbers (MW numbers) MAN Number (frame number) Listing Alphabetical Index by Actual Base Names

For more than a century, Rolex has stood apart as the most legendary brand of watch in the world. A Rolex conveys many things: a luxury timepiece, a tool of power for movers and shakers and the symbol of passage into adulthood.

The Vintage Watch Company is the only store of its kind in the world, with a devoted client base of devoted Rolex aficionados, from royalty to sporting legends to stars of the silver screen. Throughout, father and son, John and David Silver have been carefully cataloguing and amassing one of the largest pictorial records of vintage Rolex watches in the world. This new and updated edition, with an extra 48 sumptuous pages of fabulous pieces, is published to celebrate the company's 30th anniversary in 2025 and contains a unique collection of vintage Rolex watches that have passed through the store in this time. The watches included take the collection up to the year 2006. Ever the record setter – the Daytona that had belonged to Paul Newman was auctioned by Phillips in New York in October 2017 for $17.8 million – it comes as no surprise that Rolex is the most collected watch brand in the world.

Over 2,000 watches feature in the book. From early Rolex pocket watches to the world’s first wristwatches, elegant in their simplicity yet revolutionary in their impact, to the very first Submariners, iconic Daytonas and jewel-encrusted Crown Collections, the mesmerising archive of vintage timepieces charts the extraordinary rise of an extraordinary brand. Choose from the First Rolex Submariner, later coined the James Bond, or the Early GMT-Master made for Pan Am transatlantic pilots. Read about the First Explorers made famous by the 1953 Everest Expedition, or the Explorer II worn by Steve McQueen. Marvel at Early Vintage collections, from the Officer’s Pocket Watch to the Ladies’ Diamond; from the Oyster and the Stella & Stone collections, to the Sport Collection. Take a look at a new section covering ‘tropical’ dials, watches with dials which have faded gradually through exposure to sun and hot climates, which are highly sought-after; and a new section covering the relationship between Rolex and the luxury jewellery brand Tiffany, one of the most famous co-branding partnerships in history.

This limited edition features the rare Stella colour dial in Lilac on the cover – there are two other limited edition colourways, making three limited editions to celebrate each of the three decades the company has been in business – these books are an essential addition to the watch aficionado’s library.

This book is a perfect gift for all lovers of luxury retail as well as passionate collectors of Rolex watches who will want to read about the models they own.

More than 300 printing type fonts are illustrated, each shown in its entirety, along with examples of typeset documents that use them. There are examples of body fonts in various sizes and leadings, and a host of initials and monograms. This early 20th century gem finds new life in a book that will serve as standard reference in any graphic design library. Great old fonts like Copperplate, Cheltenham, Goudy, Bodoni, and Garamond, are represented along with great calligraphic, typewriter, and other fancy fonts. A wonderful assortment of Art Deco fonts find a home in this book, like Newport, Rosetti, Agency, Boul Mich, Gallia, Parisian, and many more.

Create your own cookbook! Keep all your favorite family recipes in one handy place with our blank cookbook organizer. Organized into 6 chapters from breakfasts to desserts...there are even 3 blank chapters to name your own, plus dozens of tips.

This book provides a sweeping study of the clothing of the 1930s. Garments of all kinds, from the intimate to the most formal, the flamboyant to the practical, for women, men and children, are displayed and discussed in detail. Accessories including jewelry, hats, and handbags are also explored. Even uniforms used for work, band, and cheerleading are found in this inclusive work. More than 600 color photographs spread the 1930s fashion world out before you. An historical overview explains the turbulent 1930s and the economic depression that so affected every aspect of daily life. Values for the garments and accessories are found in the captions. Finally, a glossary, bibliography, and index round out this fascinating presentation. Designers, historians, and fashion-conscious consumers will find this an indespensible reference.

Great Wines and Great Writers are a Wonderful Blend"Guides to the wide world of wine are many but this is the first book on the market to pair books with wine by an author who is a preeminent expert on both." -Thriftbooks.com #1 Best Seller in Wine & Spirits Buying Guides A fact-filled, jargon free guide to wine, bursting with entertaining anecdotes, literary quotes and compelling humor that teaches you everything you always wanted to learn about wine but were too scared to ask. The pleasures of great wine and great writers. Under the careful guidance of his father, Patrick Alexander began drinking wine with his meals at the age of five. At the same age, encouraged by his mother, he began a lifelong love-affair with books. The twin pleasures of wine and writing remained his passion up to this day. He has raised his own children in many of the world's great wine growing regions, from Bordeaux and Piedmont in Europe to the Santa Cruz mountains of California while researching and writing his definitive guide to the novels of Marcel Proust. History of wine and some of the best wines. For several years, Patrick has been teaching a sold-out wine appreciation class at the nation's No.1 independent bookstore, Books & Books in Coral Gables, Florida. The Booklovers' Guide to Wine is based on this very successful class and blends Patrick's passion for the culture and history of wine and his love of literature for the world's great writers. A literary twist on traditional food and wine pairings, this book explores how great wines and great writers can be combined to enhance the enjoyment of both. The book describes the history of wine from the time of Noah to the birth of two-buck Chuck. If you are a fan of wine books such as Cork Dork, Wine Folly, Wine Simple, or The Wine Bible, and appreciate great literature, you will love The Booklovers' Guide to Wine.