I found this book to be easy for understand the collecting of first day covers as well as pricing my collection.

NOTE: This book has been available for 2 months!!

The authoritative guide to U.S. first day covers, it not only contains prices for individual issues, but also for different cachets (envelope designs) and for Inaugural Covers and First Day Ceremony Programs. No US first day cover collector should be without it.

I am sorry, but I never read the book, but I purchased it as a gift for friend. However I had the pleasure of meeting Mr Simmons on a tour of Charleston, South Carolina in 1998. He is an incredibly lively person who is full of humor and has countless stories to share. I remember one in particular, when he spoke of his years as a boy when there were only horse & carriages for transportation. Then he said the age of the automobile came to be and folks would stop whatever they were doing to watch in awe as the automobile went by. Then he chuckled quietly as he descibed the same behavior today when a horse & carriage goes clamoring through town. There are no words to describe the artistic craftmanship of Mr. Simmons iron works, you simply have to see for yourself. As for Mr. Simmons, he is a proud yet humble man about his craft, his works and his life, you should meet him for yourself.

a stirring and engaging account of a man whose life spans almost the whole century, who grew up in a fascinating environment, regularly crossing between worlds while he served an apprenticeship, and went on to cross between other worlds, a folk artist who is regarded by the art world as a peerless sculptor, whose work is exhibited in museums. THis is a great study by a preeminent folklorist that will interest anyone.

This was the first woodworking how-to book I bought and it has been very informative and I reference it often. With many helpful photos, the author does a good job of explaining all of the basic woodworking fundamentals (how to 4-square wood, how to cut joints, different projects, etc.). There is also a balance between using machines and hand tools. Recommended.

Looked over the book in a local bookstore and was intrigued by the furniture designs found in the book. Picked it up and found that the projects were as simple to make as indicated in the plans. Would highly recommend the book for weekend workshop hobbyists who want woodworking projects that are challenging and rewarding to work with.

Bennett has created a clear guide that both beginning and experienced restorators will find helpful. His techniques preserve the integrity and value of antiques by treating them conservatively. I especially appreciate Bennett's directions for formulating fillers and cleaners. If you want to do a proper job of restoring a fine antique this book is an essential tool.

This book is full of very helpful information on many aspects of furniture restoration and repair. Unlike many books on the subject it gives you the information you need without wasting your time or money.

This is an excellent book. What I especially liked were the photos of the authors performing the techniques decribed. Very straight forward with lots of good project ideas. They included an extensive list of flowers, how they should be harvested, and the best drying technique for each. I've bought several dried flower books and if I'd bought this one first, it would be the only one I'd own.

Every photograph and illustration is stunning. The Gertleys have brought dried flower arranging to a level that I've never seen anywhere in any other book.

You'll meet some up with some fascinating info including Robert Maxwell and the phoney brilliancy, the Urinal opening, the dream match of Fischer v Kasparov, the horrible fate of Jeffrey Archer, the Beatle who ate the pieces, Gazza's draw against a grandmother, the rudest chess pieces, and the man who was British Ladies Champion. Also a chapter on Nigel Short, Fischer, Judith Polgar, Kasparov, Karpov, and others. Fader & Fader 1987 London

... that this book has gone out of print, for it's great fun. Personalities (from Jacob Bronowski to Aleister Crowley), history, records (worst result in a blindfold simul?), chess variants and more. If you can find a used copy of this (or of its predecessor, "The Complete Chess Addict"), grab it!

This book has straightforward directions, excellent diagrams, and wonderful ideas. There is a great playhouse with a tudor facade but whose roof and walls are pole beans, an ocean scene with porpoises swimming through lobelia (appealing to a transplant from Seattle now in the landlocked desert of UT), a giant sundial with flowers marking the hours, a simple but lovely arbor, and more. Several projects assume relatively sophisticated painting skills (tole type) and are way beyond what I could (or care) to do, but one never expects to love everything in a book. When I found myself rereading this book on each trip to the bookstore, I realized it was time to own it (I'm not an impluse buyer).

You'll need access to a round saw and a table saw,or someone willing to cut for you, but the designs are simple enough for most anyone.

This book has turned my children into wild eyed gardeners! After plowing through "The Family Garden" the kids were crazed with inspiration. Armed with shovels and seed packets, they've transformed our backyard into a mini-Disneyland! A must have book for any parent.

Excellent book dealing ONLY with the construction of the Windor chair. Dunbar takes the reader through the selection and riving of wood, adzing of the seat and turning of the chair legs, through to the finished construction of the chair. Dunbar also explains the construction of a steaming setup and jigs for the bending of wood(s). Dunbar runs a school on the making of Windors and this would be the textbook students use to learn Dunbar's methods. A "can't miss, no regrets" purchase.

I not only have this book, I have made a chair in Mike's workshop in New Hampshire. Mike has been instrumental both through his writings and teachings in the recent revival of interest in the making of Windsor chairs by hand much as they were made hundreds of years ago. His book is my definitive resource for questions about Windsor chair construction when I am working in my shop. In this day and age where most of our furniture is mass produced by machines using wood composites and other man made materials it is refreshing to see how fine furniture was once (and in certain places still is) crafted directly from the forest with nothing but hand tools and the skilled hands of the chairwright

If you've ever visited the Art Institute and wished that you could spend more time enjoying the Thorne Rooms, this book is a way for you to visit them as often as you would like.

"Miniature Rooms" begins with a brief history of Mrs. Thorne and how the rooms came to be. The rest of the book is a complete catalog of the Rooms, divided into two sections - the European rooms and the American rooms. Every room is beautifully photographed from at least two angles, using the existing lighting in the rooms so that each has the same realistic quality enjoyed in the Institute. Along with each photograph is a description of the room and its furnishings. I would recommend "Miniature Rooms" to anyone who enjoys the Art of Miniatures.

Although I have been away from the world of Miniatures for 20 years, I was really inspired when I opened this book. The rooms were beyond beautiful! I will make every effort to see these miniature rooms in person when I next visit Chicago.

I'd love to own a room box or two but would REALLY love to have a full-scale version of these rooms to live in! So realistic and detailed!

This is a great book. It is very interesting. I really like this book because it tells me how to make pretty boxes. The directions are very easy to follow and If you still do not understand they have pictures too.

This is a wonderful book on learning to make your own beautiful & unique boxes. By varying the paper & decorative elements a stunning variety of boxes can be made based on few basic designs.

The step-by-step instructions are very easy to follow. Both photographs & illustrations guide you smoothly through the box making process. Tips on construction & presentation for each box are also included.

There are eight box types demonstrated. Included are triangle, cube, frame, magician, puzzle, heart, lotus, & a matchbox. For each one there is a one-page gallery of different design ideas.

In the back there are templates for each box. It even includes paper elements you can tear out and use. I put a picture in a frame box with a pin inside & gave it to my mother for her birthday; she was delighted.