Paperback: 792 pages
Publisher: Krause Publ; 12th edition (July 7, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0896893715
ISBN-13: 978-0896893719
Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.4 x 1.5 inches
Shipping Weight: 3.9 pounds
Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
Best Sellers Rank: #701,903 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #126 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > Antiques & Collectibles > Dolls, Toys & Figurines > Toys #562 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > Antiques & Collectibles > Antiques Care & Reference > Reference #1266 in Books > Reference > Encyclopedias & Subject Guides > Antiques & Collectibles
This book has a lot of information on antique and vintage toys. It's very descriptive and is a good price guide.
I would rate this book at 3 1/2 stars but there's no accommodation for this. The book is an excellent resource for buyers and collectors, with lots of photos. However, for myself (an old and antique toy blogger), I needed the book to refer to. Much of the book is filled with brief descriptions and dimensions, but not enough photos on each page. There are also sections for collectors of catalogues, which again, I don't really need.The good news if you need such books for reference is that since old toys will always remain old toys and never change, you can buy such books used, if you don't need to know what the latest year's prices are for toys. In buying an older version of the book, you'll save money, rather than having to have the "latest, latest".There are well-written narratives about companies, which are almost American, as well as nicely-written introductions to the different types of collectibles (e.g. Mechanical Banks).
I have used the O.Brien's for many years and continue to update. Some sections are new and helpful to others.The toy market is changing and the book did similar.'s ease of purchase and updates are always helpful.
My father-in-law is a collector. Since he doesn't believe in the internet, I thought this book would be a great gift.He was surprised at how much information was in this medium-sized book. He's still enjoying it. As a matter of fact, he thinks he'd like the book that has 60's toys in it.I'd highly recommend this book for those interested in 50's collectibles.
Have used the O'Brien Collecting Toys guides for years. Find them helpful in identifying toys and assigning value to them.
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