The wide range of sixties fabric designs reflected the transition from the comforting tranquility of the early years to the bolder, more "hip" end of the decade. Funky Fabrics of the 60s takes you on a nostalgic tour of pastel and splashy florals, patchwork calicos, denims and stripes, wild abstract geometrics, and neon paisleys. Whether you admired Jackie Kennedy's elegant style or danced barefoot in a peasant dress as a "flower child", this full color book with hundreds of designs will bring back memories of a unique time.

The innovative designs in silver jewelry made in Europe and North America in the 20th century are fascinating and highly popular today. This new book starts with the end of Victorian styles, just before the turn of the twentieth century, and proceeds to display and explain the relationships in Arts and Crafts, Art Nouveau, Art Deco, Mexican, Native American, Mid-century Realistic, and Modern Abstract styles right up to the 1990s. Beautiful color photographs clearly show the details, makers' marks, and fine workmanship that make each piece of jewelry fascinating to so many collectors today.

A fascinating book on the origins of writing. Before Writing gives a new perspective on the evolution of communication. It points out that when writing began in Mesopotamia it was not, as previously thought, a sudden and spontaneous invention. Instead, it was the outgrowth of many thousands of years' worth of experience at manipulating symbols. In Volume I: From Counting to Cuneiform, Denise Schmandt-Besserat describes how in about 8000 B.C., coinciding with the rise of agriculture, a system of counters, or tokens, appeared in the Near East. These tokens-small, geometrically shaped objects made of clay-represented various units of goods and were used to count and account for them. The token system was a breakthrough in data processing and communication that ultimately led to the invention of writing about 3100 B.C. Through a study of archaeological and epigraphic evidence, Schmandt-Besserat traces how the Sumerian cuneiform script, the first writing system, emerged from a counting device. In Volume II: A Catalog of Near Eastern Tokens, Schmandt-Besserat presents the primary data on which she bases her theories. These data consist of several thousand tokens, catalogued by country, archaeological site, and token types and subtypes. The information also includes the chronology, stratigraphy, museum ownership, accession or field number, references to previous publications, material, and size of the artifacts. Line drawings and photographs illustrate the various token types.

A guide to the history and value of Catholic collectibles, most from 1800 through the 1900s. Rosaries, medals, crosses and crucifixes, representations of saints and holy people, and more are presented through more than 400 pictures and text. Catholic religious art has been created and displayed in churches and cathedrals for centuries. At the same time, on a much more humble scale, religious artifacts and artistic expressions of holy objects have been displayed in the homes of both the wealthy and the poor in Christian countries. In recent times there has been a surge in interest in the acquisition of these articles by both Catholics and Protestants, not only for their beauty but also for their spiritual inspiration. This work focuses on everyday devotional objects at reasonable prices.

Gracious table settings of the 1920s and '30s are a joy to behold. Coordinated glass dinnerware sets produced in the Depression era contained a wonderful assortment of specialized pieces, each serving a specific purpose for the family meal. Showcased here are centerpieces, candleholders, center-handled trays and bowls, tidbit servers, Serva-snack sets, relish dishes, candy dishes, cake plates, punch sets, and more. The informative text features an overview of each category, and captions provide specific descriptions, manufacturers, dates, measurements, and current values. Become familiar with these versatile accessories and enjoy using them to glamorize table settings today!

Over 1000 beautiful color photos display a wide spectrum of Elegant Glass patterns, colors, shapes, and etchings. The book's listings are updated and over 100 patterns of elegant American glass are represented in this new 4th edition. Several patterns have additional listings. Each pattern includes a complete listing of all known pieces made. Detailed descriptions are given for each item listed. Captions include descriptions of each piece pictured. The major companies of Cambridge, Fenton, Fostoria, Heisey, Imperial, Morgantown, New Martinsville, and Paden City are represented, along with their most popular patterns. Introductions to each pattern include production dates, pattern and/or etching numbers, and original company colors. Full lines of dinnerware and their companion patterns are listed, along with bedroom, bath, and decorating pieces. Aiding collectors in identifying patterns, a detailed image of each etching is provided in every description. Collector resources, a detailed bibliography, and a glossary complete this thorough guide.

The Springfield 1903 Rifle, considered one of the smoothest working bolt action rifles ever made, saw action through World War II and is still used in hunting today. Its extreme popularity down the years has lent this gun a romance that has lingered to the present. The Springfield 1903 Rifles is a book worthy of its legendary subject. It is the massive lifetime work of the rifle's premier authority, William Brophy. His exhaustive research took Brophy into some of the rarest collections in existence. These are reflected in the book's more than 1,500 superb, first-quality photos, which represent the Springfield Armory; the Navy Museum in Quantico, Virginia; the U.S. Army Historical Institute; and Colonel Crossman's collection, among others. Such extensive documentation makes The Springfield 1903 Rifles a history classic. It follows the gun through both World Wars, tracing its development and detailing accessories, appendages, racks, bayonets, scabbards, various models, and much more. New information on the bushmaster and Marine Corps sniper is also included, along with historical anecdotes about Theodore Roosevelt and Colonel Crossman. The book appeals to those interested in the history of firearms as well as collectors. Interest in the subject is so widespread that one knowledgeable source compared gun lovers' fascination with the Springfield Rifle to auto buffs' for the Model T.

Over 280 color photos and descriptive text display and discuss over 200 objects, many of which are quite rare and unusual, related to Jewish culture and experience. Sabbath candlesticks and candelabras, menorahs, Kiddush cups, Havdalah plates, spice boxes, Mezuzah cases, seder trays, marriage cups, torah pointers, a beer mug used on the festive Purim holiday, and much more are presented. Ranging from the 18th to the early 20th century, these objects take readers on an informative tour through Europe, the Middle East, and the United States, as well as through the holidays and the Sabbath. Also included are items without religious purpose, yet retaining a bold link to Jewish faith and tradition nonetheless, including veterans medals, alphabet charts translating Yiddish into English, eye charts in Yiddish, charity boxes, fans, seltzer bottles, and more. For anyone who has ever been interested in Judaism and Judaica, this book will hold great fascination

Think it's just an old paint can? Look again, it's the latest collectible! Paint cans advertised themselves for a hundred years, and early cans are works of art. From tin pails with bail handles to cone-top cans, screw-top cans, and sample cans--they're all out there waiting to be collected and they're all featured in this fascinating new book. In addition to paint cans, a large cross section of paint advertising, including signs, giveaways, calendars, thermometers, toys, store displays, and novelties are illustrated in over 500 outstanding color photos. You'll find the famous Dutch Boy depicted on paint cans, window displays, and easel backs, and you'll also find tractor paint cans, bear paint cans, and even "Black Dinah" paint cans for Black Americana enthusiasts. And did you know that Uncle Sam and Miss Liberty carried gallons of paint? This is the first price guide in a brand new collecting field and covers items from the 1880s through 1980. Bet you're already wondering how much those old paint cans out in your shed are worth!

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.

This monumental, two volume set, several years in preparation, includes over 400 color photographs, illustrations and period images from the finest collections in the United States and Europe. For the first time, collectors will see a comprehensive full color photographic lexicon picturing helmets from every unit of the Imperial German Army of 1914. Many of the photographs exhibit helmets of such rarity that they have never been seen outside a select group of advanced collectors. Carefully selected, each photograph and illustration affords the reader information not to be found elsewhere. Presented in a clear and easy to understand format, the detailed text covers evolution of the Pickelhaube from 1842 until 1918, helmet nomenclature, front plates of the Active, Reserve and Landwehr regiments, and identification tables for officer and other ranks helmets. Without a doubt, these are the most extensive and comprehensive books on this subject ever published in English. The information presented here will make this book essential for the novice and advanced collector, military historian and restorer.

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.

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.

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.

Despite a long history of involvement in the design and production of firearms, the Birmingham firm of Webley & Scott is probably better known to the general public for its manufacture of airguns than for any other product. Until now, there has been no published reference that concentrates exclusively on the history and development of Webley air pistols. This book has been prepared to offer a comprehensive guide for all those interested in the subject and who appreciate the traditional British craftsmanship entailed. It embraces all models based upon the same initial patent, which were produced between the years 1924 and 1999, commencing with the original Mark 1 and progressing through twelve other models to the final Webley Tempest introduced more than half a century later. In addition to the pistols themselves, there are sections of the book relating to pellet styles and various shooting accessories produced by the same company. The whole work is divided into 22 sections, the text being accompanied throughout with 226 original photographs and over 70 line illustrations, each of which has been prepared by the author.