With 240 color photos and engaging text, this is the first book devoted to collecting rosaries. Hundreds of examples and informative text enables antique lovers, historians, and collectors of religious artifacts to identify variations of rosaries, and their crosses, crucifixes, and religious medals, determining their age and place of origin. It contains historical insights and descriptions, explaining materials used and legends associated with various rosaries. Background information on rosary makers, answers to frequently asked questions, and a glossary to define related terms are also included. With the information enclosed, readers searching brick and mortar stores or online will be able to distinguish between genuine antiques, reproductions, and rosaries that have been altered. The color photographs and concise descriptions identify old and new rosaries in detail. From the boxwood rosary owned by England's King Henry VIII to the newest Mysteries of Light Rosary developed by Pope John Paul II, this volume spans the ages and brings new understanding of both the rosary's beauty and its place in history.

Enter the world of the werewolf, where superstition abounds and shape shifting is possible! Find out what to do if you or a friend turns into a werewolf or other were-beast. Learn the differences between Therianthropy and Lycanthropy, discover the medical conditions such as hypertrichosis, clinical lycanthropy, hirsutism, and rabies that might cause you to think you are a werewolf. Meet real killers who thought that they had reign over the supernatural and could bend their bones! Take a fantastic journey through the transformation of the werewolf in the graphic novel industry and look into the darkest minds of those who claim to be flesh eaters. Come along for one wild ride and remember you too can bark at the moon!

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!

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.

Here is a wonderful resource for dollhouse collectors seeking to identify and date items in their collections. Shown in over 400 photographs are advertisements from catalogs, magazines, and trade journals picturing dollhouses, dollhouse furniture, and accessories. The ads provide a comprehensive pictorial history of mostly American dollhouses dating from the 1880s to the 1980s. Shown are products from many famous dollhouse companies, including N.D. Cass, Arcade, Meccano, Lines Brothers, Schoenhut, Strombecker, Wisconsin Toy, Rich Toys, Keystone, Converse, Tynietoy, Renwal, Marx, Plasco, Ideal, Playsteel, Built-Rite, Nancy Forbes, Tootsietoy, and many other well-known firms. Of special interest are ads from companies not recognized in previous dollhouse books, including Cranford, Elastic Tip, Playroom Equipment, Toy Gro Educational Toys, Playskool Institute, Vista, Melco Toys, and many more. A special chapter illustrating magazine and newspaper plans for building dollhouses is included to help with the identification of handmade houses and furnishings. This unique book will help new and old collectors alike research their beloved dollhouses and dollhouse furniture.

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.