Book Description
This book provides beginning collectors with friendly one-on-one advice on how to begin a collection and how to recognize good quality costume jewelry. Background information for almost 130 different manufacturers, including the author's recommendations on which pieces from each designer are the most collectible, are provided. Over 750 color photographs of costume jewelry that is within the means of most collectors are featured. There are also tips on how to upgrade a collection by selling to dealers, selling on eBay, and trading with friends; tips on how to catalog a collection using a spread sheet or a notebook; and tips on repairing, storing, and cleaning jewelry. A glossary of jewelry terms and an index of patent and design numbers round out the book. 2004 values. REVIEW: This book is a companion to the Standard Encyclopedia of Carnival Glass, 9th Edition, but can also stand alone as a handy reference guide to take along on your glass searches. Thousands of patterns, from Absentee Dragon to Zip Zip, are included, with all available colors and values listed.
Customer Reviews:
Absolute Beginners.......2007-05-23
Brief Description of Book
This book lives up to its name and is a great gift for someone you may know who is just getting hooked on buying vintage costume jewelry. It would make a great companion gift to a fabulous vintage piece. This book Collecting 101 is a bit basic for absolute beginners only.
The core thesis of the book is G-U-I-D-E an acronym that stands for:
* Is the piece in Good condition?
* Do U Like it?
* Is it a good investment?
* Is the piece designer signed and is it well designed?
* Are there extras that make it more interesting?
These questions are posed to help the buyer select good pieces at whatever price point they are starting to collect at. The author explains her GUIDE concept quite concisely and uses it throughout the book.
The author suggests four designers that beginners should collect Trifari, Coro, Kramer and Weiss. She recounts a little history about each of the companies, shows photos of their marks and recommends pieces to purchase. For example she suggests Trifari from the 50's and 60's because it is plentiful, available in excellent condition and not too expensive. The author uses a lot of photos to illustrate these sections
The next portion of the book is arranged the alphabetically and cameos 130 designers. Each profile contains a little company history, marks, signature look of a designer and recommendations of pieces to buy.
In the next chapter there is a section called "Marked by Style" on identifying unmarked jewelry. A little more than a beginner skill in my opinion but an interesting section to ponder nonetheless. She focuses 75% of her energy on Juliana, the remaining 25% on Eisenberg, Dorothy Bauer, Hattie Carnegie, Goldette, Haskell, Hollycraft, Sarah Coventry, Schauer, Schreiner and Weiss.
The remaining chapters cover:
* Upgrading your collection
* Repairing and Cleaning
* Cataloging a Collection
* Storing and Insuring a Collection
Over all the advice is quite sound, the G-U-I-D-E principle should be followed it will really help anyone avoid unfocused buying.
Quantity of Illustrations:
There are more than 750 total illustrations in Collecting Costume Jewelry 101. There are color photographs, original advertisements in color and black and white. The photos are clear and focused.
Quality of Illustrations:
Comments: The items selected are not riveting I think that they are pedestrian. Maybe that is because this book is pitched at beginners. However I feel that the selections should be inspirational and exciting. This is why the top shelf pieces in a book such as "A Tribute to America" are always fun to look at. I felt the items pictured were what the author could get permission to use. Which leads me to the inclusion of Christmas tree jewelry! There are too many Christmas trees in this book. And I like Christmas tree jewelry.
I have one very pointed example that illustrates my low score on the illustrations. The author devoted 3 pages to Miriam Haskell. In my opinion these are not good representative pieces, they are what was available to include. There is one pair of beaded earrings, a necklace with gold chain and a wood pendant that looks like it was made in shop class to me, several strings of beads, a pearl necklace that is not photographed close enough to generate any excitement and a pair of gilded earrings. I may sound harsh here but the wow factor of buying Miriam Haskell is not expressed in these photos. Feel free to disagree!
As a final note on the illustrations, I am reviewing the first edition of this book. According to the publisher Collector Books a second edition should be available soon. They promise 200 new photos and updates on the price guidelines that are included in the first edition.
Quantity of Information
Range of Information offered:
For the most part this is a good concise book to check for information. If you are looking for in depth information on a particular designer you should probably look at a more specialized book. For example there are entire books on Haskell, KJL, D &E, to name only a few designers.
Is the information thorough?
The information provided seems to be thorough and remember this is a book for beginners.
Values Listed (Prices) Yes
Are they helpful or realistic? The prices are being updated for a new edition
The prices are based on what one might hope to get in an e-bay auction.
Comments: Based on the prices sometimes I want to be buying and other times I want to be on the selling end of the transaction.
User Friendly:
Is the book easy to read and follow? yes
Is there a table of contents and index? yes
Is information easy to find? yes
Is this book a must have? Only for your friends who are just beginning to collect costume jewelry. I think Costume Jewelry 202 is a vastly superior book and I would recommend that (again).
Overall comments
If I had this book many years ago I would have avoided buying stuff I just didn't need. I would have made wiser purchases and would have a better collection today.
Wonderful Vintage Costume Jewelry beginner guide.......2007-04-02
I actually bought her 2nd book (202) before buying this one (101) and while I treasure my 202 guide much more than this first one (because I'm not a beginner) - I think it is a fabulous book to have for those starting out. With a lot of fake WEISS and other great designers' jewelry being reproduced and sold as the real thing today (especially on eBay), it's a good guide to have that shows a fair amount and variation of these favorite popular designers' pieces. This will help the beginner collector possibly know a fake when they see it. Not all that shines and sparkles means it is the real thing or that it's collectible. I believe both her books should be bought together but the 202 Guide is definitely the very best there is (because it shows so many patents). I particularly like the fact that both of these books are done in sturdy paperback because if they were hardbound, they would be so heavy given how big they are. Lots and lots of colorful pictures! Well done!!
JUST LOVE THIS BOOK.......2007-04-01
Found this book to be very helpful at my jewelry shows. Has lots of pictures and information on vintage jewelry and numerous designers. Does not go into great detail, but gives enough good information to be helpful. Because the information is listed in alpha order, my customers find it helpful when looking up specific designers or styles. This book is great for beginners and old collectors alike.
My Costume jewelry reference book.......2007-03-16
This book along with the "202" book by the same author are "must have"s for costume jewelry collectors, buyers and sellers. I can't rate them highly enough.
Great overview of costume jewelry.......2007-02-25
I learned many of the basics overtime and searching the internet. It is great to have so much information in one book. The photos are excellent and I would recommend this to anyone starting a collection. Great do's and don'ts.
Book Description
As good as gold, this book satisfies the tastes of anyone with a curiosity for old white metal and rhinestone jewelry.
The award-winning producer of the Hidden Treasures: Antique and Costume Jewelry video series brings you this beautiful book, featuring more than 1,000 pieces of jewelry. Filled with 400 color photographs that bring these glittering baubles to life, the book details white metal and rhinestone jewelry of the 1920s-1940s. Readers will learn the history of rhinestones, the different types of metal and rhinestones used during this era, and the fashion trends that influenced the designs. An extensive pricing and identification guide covers signed and unsigned foreign and American pieces.
Leigh Leshner has been collecting vintage jewelry since she was 11 and has been a dealer for more than 12 years. She participates in antiques shows, provides appraisal services, and is considered one of the foremost experts on vintage jewelry.
• Features more than 1,000 pieces of jewelry
• Extensive pricing and identification guide
• Showcases both signed and unsigned pieces, as well as foreign and domestic
Customer Reviews:
Great guide for earlier pieces.......2007-04-02
This is a great early guide for those earlier pieces that you don't often see in the other costume/vintage jewelry guides and therefore often hard to tell what they are worth. This book has plenty of pot metal made pieces, white rhinestone pave pieces, and lots of dress and fur clips. This is not a guide for beginners in collecting. My only disappointment would be the same I have with other guides - I would love to see the back of pieces; maybe not all of them of course, but I think it lends to a great education for the serious collector who isn't the most knowledgeable yet - like me! :)
Slightly out of date prices -eBay not a reliable source.......2006-05-04
eBay is NOT the be all and end all for collectible jewelry. Half of the people list items as "Bakelite" for example when they don't even know what it is. eBay is NOT the place for serious collectors of vintage jewelry. Half the time you don't know what you are going to get due to uneducated buyers trying to cash in on the term "Bakelite". Any serious collector does not use eBay as a barometer for actual values of these beautiful collectible items. There is my two cents on the topic.
Makes You Hunger for More.......2005-03-03
Without a doubt, one of the best books on this period of jewelry. I have all the books in Leigh Leshner's series and cannot rate them high enough. Brilliant photographs, excellent jewelry samples and wonderfully informative on jewelry from this period.
Great pictures but questionable price guide.......2004-09-23
This book is one of the best books for illustrations of the white metal/rhinestone forms of jewelry. All the photos are of high quality and show the pieces well. I found the price advisories to be questionable because the values listed seemed very high for local auctions and dealers and WAY high for the eBay world. Perhaps this is because the publication was over 2 years ago so the prices are even older. All in all a nice book - just get a second opinion on any $ values.
white metal pictures.......2004-02-11
The author has wisely given us 400 beautiful pictures of
old white metal costume jewelry. Since so much is unsigned
the pictures will make it easier to evaluate pot metal pieces.
This is the first book devoted entirely to white metal and is
in a class all of its own. The illustrations make this a
"coffee table" book. The author establishes all the variables
taken in when pricing. All the jewelry in the book is mint
condition. In few words she also explains that the book is
devoted to the beauty and value of the jewelry, minimizing the
importance of signed pieces. Thank you Miss Leshner.
Book Description
This book is the first book of its kind, concentrating not only on costume jewelry, but also on those pieces that are unmarked or unsigned by the manufacturer. Over 1,000 photographs featuring 3,500 pieces of antique and collectible costume jewelry highlight this beautiful book. Brown carefully illustrates and discusses such details as the types of metal finishes used, the different cuts of stones, and stone setting techniques. Easy to read charts covering time lines, fashion dates, and jewelry introductions are provided for ease in identification of pieces. All photographs are indexed for easier research, and a helpful glossary has been included. 2000 values. AUTHORBIO: Marcia Brown published her first book, Unsigned Beauties of Costume Jewelry, in 2000. She is the host and co-writer of the award-winning Venture Entertainment books-on-tape series Hidden Treasures: A Collector's Guide to Antique Vintage Jewelry. She is a frequent contributor to the Vintage Fashion Costume Jewelry newsletter. An antique and vintage jewelry historian, lecturer, and collector, Brown also provides private consultations for many dealers, mall owners, and collectors. REVIEW: This book truly "sparkles" (like the author's name) and would make an ideal gift for costume jewelry fans. Thousands of jewelry items are illustrated in over 1,000 color photographs and are complemented by captions that include descriptions and values.
Customer Reviews:
Unsigned Beauties of Costume Jewelry.......2007-01-04
An excelent reference book, however, sellers/buyers need to know a particular designer to find items. Not all items are referenced. Sellers/buyers need to do MUCH more research if they are looking for something special.
Review from a buyer in Australia.......2005-09-14
I was looking forward to receiving this book because as a collector I did not have a book on unsigned costume jewellery. However I was disappointed with the copy I received.
My main complaint is the quality of the illustrations. For the most part the photos are dull, too dark and the colours are distorted. Some pages have a definate brownish tint and other pages are quite grey. In comparison to other books on the suject the photos lack colour and clarity but this may be due to the printing and perhaps I received a particularly bad copy.
The book has 3 chapters that give insight into the birth of costume jewelry, the metals, stones, shapes and settings and also how to start a collection, date and restore pieces.
For the price the book covers the subject well.
Unsigned and Unsung beauties of jewelry!.......2005-08-27
Marcia "Sparkles" Brown puts together the best books on costume jewelry there are. With all the pictures she includes it makes it so much easier to find something you may be wondering about and she has a lot to look at! I absolutely love her books!
Basic Knowledge.......2005-07-20
I had read the book before when I started researching my mothers pins. I have now purchsed two of Marcie's books. They are well written, easy to follow, good pictures of pins and great advise.
Excellent Resource for Vintage Jewelry Buffs.......2004-11-18
I love this book!. It's chock full of excellent pictures and information for the vintage jewelry collector, whether a novice or one of long-standing. The book is well organized in its layout. I've discovered it's a 'collectible' book in its own right. Author, Marcia Sparkles Brown, has a video, which I also own and recommend.
Although not a whole lot on each designer, some mention is better than none. To find references to Judy Lee, BSK, LaRoco, Park Lane, Avon, Capri, Art, JJ, Les Bernard, Capri, etc. was of interest to me when I first started collecting jewelry because of the scarcity of volumes on these names. Other designers, such as Lisner, Coventry, Napier, Monet, etc., also included in this book, were more easily found when doing searches for designers.
The book has no index, so this may be a concern to others. But the designer names are presented in alphabetical order.
Gail Gupton, Author: The 31-Day Diet of Spiritual Enlightenment and Seekers of Truth.
Book Description
Collectible Costume Jewelry simplifies the understanding of historical and social influences which will aid in identification. All the major designers and manufacturers like Haskell, Coro, Eisenberg, and Trifari are featured. There are dates given and examples of the jewelry for which the designer/manufacturer is best known. A time chart shows what was in style during each period of time as do the fascinating vintage ads. There are examples from the Victorian era to the present, even featuring recent pieces by designers such as Anne Klein and Joan Rivers. There is a helpful glossary of jewelry terms with picture examples. Nearly 600 full-color pictures arranged by subjects. Current values, marks, and detailed descriptions. 2003 values. REVIEW: This book addresses all kinds of questions about costume jewelry - how do you know if a piece is worth anything even though it is signed? How do know if it is rare? What about fakes? Is it a reproduction? How do I take care of the jewelry once I start collecting it? What do I do if the item is broken? This book addresses all of these topics and more.
Customer Reviews:
Collectible Costume Jewelry: Identification & Values.......2007-05-04
Wonderful photographs wide range of designers as well as some unsigned pieces. The only issue I have with the book is the value guide is a bit out dated. (book released in 1997! Almost vintage it self!)
But it will give you a good idea of a value range. The market goes up and down and I am certian this was written when it was up, with today's gas issue the same pieces do and will sell for much less, as I have seen on eBay. The Florenza pieces in the book have a low value and I've seen the prices so much higher than what is marked this book. It does give you a good idea though.
There is a great varity of types from rhinestone necklaces to bakelite clips to compacts and a few copper pieces. Demis, full parures, broochs, bracelets.. Very well done book.
Apparently I got a "Library" copy that was dog eared and marked up inside, but all in all I am happy with this book and suggest it to all collectors.
Review from a buyer in Australia.......2005-09-14
Very informative book, well laid out and beautifully illustrated.
My copy is in hardback and was an excellent buy for the price. The book identifies all the famous and many little known costume jewellery makers and their marks/signatures so it is a very good buy for anyone starting to collect vintage costume jewellery. The only disappointment for me is that it basically only covers USA jewellery with little mention of Victorian, Deco, Czech etc from Europe and Britain.
A Great Reference Book!!.......2005-02-27
I like this book for a number of reasons. I like the way it's organized by types of jewelry and not by designer like so many other books I own. I like the graphic illustrations of the types of cuts and the lengths necklaces come in and how to 'name' them accordingly. I like the old costume jewelry advertisements at the beginng of the book, giving one a sense of the era.
As a dealer of vintage costume jewelry, this book is a great addition to my collection. Buy it if you have an interest in vintage jewelry.
Gail Gupton, Author: The 31-Day Diet of Spiritual Enlightenment and Seekers of Truth.
This book was not what I hoped it would be...........2002-04-24
I am new to collecting costume jewelry so I bought this book thinking it would help me identify older pieces. It confused me more than anything else.
This book has beautiful photos which have been very helpful to me. However, the author is vague on alot of things.
She does talk about the differnt era's of jewelry (i.e. victorian, art deco etc.) but she is not clear on how to date them or how to tell when they were made. Just not enough information or details if you really want to idetify your great finds!
I still don't know how to tell the difference between Bakelite, celluloid, lucite or regular plastic!
Great book if you just want alot of pretty pictures!!
A good book for beginners........2001-07-10
This book is mostly a picture book and the pictures are excellent. It has a Designer/Manufacturer chart toward the front of the book. This is a good help for beginners. There are some cautions about copies of signed jewelry, some tips about cleaning/storing a collection, a glossary, and drawings of some marks and signatures. All in all it's a nice book for beginners, it's strongest point being the many fine color illustrations. Another interesting feature is the section showing old jewelry advertisements.
Book Description
This book is based on the author's informative and interesting news column that has run in antique publications across the country since 1997. These articles are presented here, along with photographs of hundreds of pieces of vintage costume jewelry with descriptions, designer names, and current collector values. A section on costume jewelry on the Internet is also included, which profiles in detail, the best costume jewelery sites on the web, including biographies of each dealer and a synopsis of what makes the sites special. There are also hints for those wishing to sell their jewelry at auction. There are even vintage costume jewelry advertisements to add pizazz to the book. Finally, an informative section on where to buy replacement stones, how to restring beads and pearls, how to repair costume jewelry, and how to join vintage costume jewelry clubs rounds out the book. 2004 values.
Customer Reviews:
Good jewelry collectors book!.......2007-08-21
This book covers a host of costume jewelry, better than average photos of the manufacturer's signatures or maker's marks (very important if you are a collector!), along with good descriptions and some pricing information. Included in the back of the book are copies of some of the original advertisements for some of the jewelry. Good stuff! I'd recommend this book if you are a collector.
Valuable Costume Jewelry Guide!.......2007-04-02
Wonderful pictures! I like the way she has some jewelry shown under designer headings while she also shows groups of brooches, necklaces, etc., with various designers together. I especially like the beginning that shows the backs of designer pieces; something you don't get to see a lot in these jewelry guides. It's one of those books you take out on the porch on a nice day and go through page by page from beginning to end (for me, it was like a kid in a candy store), and by the time you get to the end, you feel much more knowledgeable about costume vintage jewelry!
Haphazard Organization.......2007-01-10
The jewelry in this guide is mainly from the author's and apparently her friends' collections. Quite a bit of the jewelry is unidentified by company. The book is strangely organized beginning with around a dozen companies, unalphabetized, followed by sections under the headings of "Quality," "Fruits & Vegetables," "Bakelite, Lucite & Other Plastics," "Parures & Demi- Parures," "Necklaces," "Bracelets," "Brooches & Pins," "Earrings," "Rings & Things," "Pebble Jewelry," and "Guilloche." Under these headings there is no discernible organization. The book concludes with a short section on contemporary jewelry, general information on reproductions and care and repair, thirteeen pages of vintage ads, and some costume jewelry internet web sites. The strengths of this book are that the photography is pretty good and the collection of figural pieces is extensive.
GREAT JEWELRY BOOK!!!!.......2006-11-07
I am so happy to add this wonderful costume jewelry book to my collection of reference books. Very well written and I love the sections on DeLillo, Rosenstein, Claudette, Hobe and especially Calvaire since I recently purchased a magnificent Calvaire wide collar necklace & bracelet set with emerald green rhinestones. I was also happy to see the green "baked potato" set since I also have the same set but in a different color. It would be fantastic to one day find out if this set is really a Nettie Rosenstein set. Thank you so much, Ann, for featuring these special designers. Hope to see another book from you soon!
Good Information and lots of pictures!.......2006-09-08
I like this book because it has an assortment of makers and not alot of history. There are alot of pictures and values which is what I am looking for.The pictures are clear. Most jewelry books seem to have inflated prices on the values of the jewelry. This book doesn't seem to be to far off base.But I'm no expert!I also like that there is a section on "Fakes".
To bad it has to come to that!It's a good book so buy it!
Book Description
Popularized by Coco Chanel in Paris during the 1920s, costume jewelry -- from the inexpensive to the extravagant -- has come into its own, creating a skyrocketing market for both investors and collectors. This guide covers it all, from Coro, Eisenberg, and Trifari to Miriam Haskell and Joseff. Complete with the latest prices, descriptions, and fascinating histories of the most famous manufacturers, it provides new and essential information for every collector:
- Listings for every major designer
- The most current prices available
- Detailed descriptions and photos for easy identification
- Tips on buying and selling
- How to spot fakes and forgeries
- Detailed bibliography
- Predictions about hot trends of the future
Customer Reviews:
Cc Costume Jewelry 2edby Harrice S. Miller (Author).......2003-06-06
This book was perhaps a little more helpful than another by this author pertaining to costume jewelry but it still leaves much to be desired for the beginner trying to learn about prices and pieces of costume jewelry. I do not recommend.
A great info reference, but not my favorite.......2002-03-14
This book has wonderful information about different styles of costume jewelry, history, and manufacturing. For me however, I found that there were not enough photos, and the photos that were included, because they are black and white and because of the type of paper the book is printed on, are just not clear enough.
One of the reasons I bought a number of books on this subject was to help me recognize the pieces when I saw them. Because the photos are not clear it was harder for me to put my new found knowledge to practice in the real world, because I wasn't quite sure if what I was seeing was the same as what was in the book.
A Must Have for Serious Collectors.......2001-02-18
I sell vintage costume jewelry for a living so, as you can probably imagine, I have a lot of books on the subject. This is definitely one of the best. It's filled with fantastic background information on the making of costume jewelry, the top name designers and popular styles. The photos (b&w and color) provide good illustrations and are often of rarer, less-frequently-seen styles. I also like the fact that it's a smaller paperback book (as opposed to a large format hardcover). It's easier to take to antique/jewelry shows and thumb through when necesary.
Worth buying!.......1999-12-03
Quite a good reference book on costume jewelry! It is divided into chapters by eras, i.e. - 20's, 30's, etc.... Not only does this book show jewelry and give prices, but it also gives info on what was going on in the jewelry industry during that era, which gives you help in identifying the age of pieces not found in the book. The pictures are mostly in B&W, but are very crisp and well photographed. The few color pictures are stunning. One note of caution to newbies - many of the book values in here are quite high - do not expect to get anywhere near that amount when you sell a piece, unless you sell in a very large city, and even then expect to "discount" a little. In all, however, this book has a ton of info and resources (even a dealer's directory!), and is well worth buying.
Book Description
Gallina has included detailed histories about many of the major Christmas pin designers of past and present, including Beatrix, Hob, Trifari, Carolee, Monet, Stanley Hagler Anke, Bauer, and more. Over 400 new pins have been added to this edition, which now features over 700 of these glittering beauties in more than 325 detailed close-up photographs. There are Christmas trees, wreaths, Santas, sleighs and sleds, bells, reindeer, stockings, angels, candy canes, ornaments, candles, snowmen, and even a section on patriotic Christmas designs. A directory of Internet sites that specialize in Christmas pins is an added feature of the book, as well as a helpful bibliography and index. 2004 values. AUTHORBIO: Jill Gallina and her husband, Michael, have achieved national prominence as the country's foremost composers of musical plays and choral music for youth in elementary, middle, junior high, and senior high schools. Their chorals have sold millions of copies and their musical plays have thousands of performances across the globe each year. Jill's avocation is collecting antiques and costume jewelry with a special passion for Christmas pins. REVIEW: This edition includes information on dating, pricing, and designers past and present, but the photos are the best attraction. Every category is illustrated, with identification and prices. Anything you may have put on your Christmas list is here. Lovers of Christmas jewelry will treasure this volume.
Customer Reviews:
Jill Gallina's Christmas Pins.......2007-05-07
Ms. Gallina has done impressive research. Her pictures are well done, in color, and carefully organized by designer and theme. Her captions are descriptive and the values are clear.
Christmas Pins Past & Present Second Edition.......2006-03-30
This somewhat small book was extremely helpful to me in identifying the values of some recently purchased Weiss candle Christmas Tree Pins. It has also shown me what pins do not carry such a high value.
I would love to see more books like this one for holiday jewelry.
I would highly reccommend this book to anyone interested in Vintage and New Christmas Jewelry.
Excellent Book for the Novice or Advanced Collector.......2004-12-31
Very enjoyable book with great history of the designers of today and yesteryear that made Christmas Pins. Good color pictures with a price guide that reflects today's prices. If you are a new pin collector this is a must have at a reasonable price. If you are a seasoned collector you will enjoy reading about the short histories of your favorite designers.
A must have for collectors and dealers.......2004-09-20
This book by Jill is one of my favorite books, and not just because my own jewelry is included. Jill's wonderful photography showcases a wonderous variety of this collecting category. I doubt there are very many collectors who don't have a least one Christmas tree pin in their collection. And truly, it is very likely that every single woman who loves jewelry has at least one tree pin for holiday wear. This beautiful book is a perfect addition to any vintage costume jewelry reference library, for collectors and dealers alike. And it may even convert non-collectors! Thanks Jill!
Book Description
This book will teach any collector to identify the company that produced that enchanting piece of costume jewelry. Arranged alphabetically for the reader's convenience, the book highlights jewelry from 24 companies that is easily found and affordable. Home party plan Emmons, Sarah Ann Coventry, and Judy Lee; door-to-door Avon including Elizabeth Taylor and Kenneth Jay Lane designs; Monet, Napier, BSK, Art, Marvella, Western Germany, Gerry, Park Lane, B. David, Cathe, Dodds; the butterflies of La Roco; the whimsicals from JJ; and Les Bernard, Lisner, and Celebrity are all included in this beautiful book, which presents almost 400 full-color photographs. Tips on field identification and characteristics of the companies are included. AUTHORBIO: Marcia Brown published her first book, Unsigned Beauties of Costume Jewelry, in 2000. She is the host and co-writer of the award-winning Venture Entertainment books-on-tape series Hidden Treasures: A Collector's Guide to Antique Vintage Jewelry. She is a frequent contributor to the Vintage Fashion Costume Jewelry newsletter. An antique and vintage jewelry historian, lecturer, and collector, Brown also provides private consultations for many dealers, mall owners, and collectors. REVIEW: This book truly "sparkles" (like the author's name) and would make an ideal gift for costume jewelry fans. Thousands of jewelry items are illustrated in hundreds of color photographs and are complemented by captions that include descriptions and values.
Customer Reviews:
BUY A BETTER GUIDE.......2007-07-21
I was not overly impressed with this book.It did have a list of a dozen or so of what I'd call "THE MASTERS",well know and VERY EXPENSIVE pieces,but none of the lesser ones that you find every day in farmer's markets,auctions,flea markets,yard sales,garage sales,etc.ie NO mention of Sarah Coventry,AJC,JJ,and some others.Okay maybe for a beginners book but mine has been used twice.I've had it for years!
My grandmother's jewelry.......2007-05-31
If you are thinking about collecting (a sick, sick hobby of mine) this is a starter book. Be careful that you don't let the costume jewelry bug bite you. It costs a fortune and breaks everytime you wear it. My jeweler and I now have lunch every week.
Memories of Iris - Vintage Jewelry is my business. .......2007-05-07
This is an excellent resource guide to have. There is so much vintage jewelry out there and details to know. Important for the collector.
Would Have Liked More From This Book.......2007-04-03
This book is much thinner than the first volume and there is no table of contents so it is hard to find the companies covered. These are also the less expensive jewelry companies than the first volume. I wish the author had included more companies especially the less known more valuable marks. The author does a nice job with some basic information but this is not a useful for the advanced collector. Beautiful pictures.
Signed Beauties of Costume Jewelry Identification & Values.......2006-03-30
This book has been a great help to me as a new beginner to Vintage Costume Jewelry. It has helped me to identify and appreciate the values on some pieces of jewelry. It has become an aid for me to value the jewelry I now collect and resell.
I would reccomend this book to any beginner collector.
Customer Reviews:
WOW! Another book I Could Read & Read Again & Again.......2007-09-13
Beautifully written and the photos are stunning! If you collect costume jewelry you won't be disappointed. Only problem is now I have many more pieces to covet!!!
A highly recommended treasury for collectors........2007-06-09
Inside the Jewelry Box: A Collector's Guide to Costume Jewelry Identification and Values, Volume 2 is a full-color catalogue of an amazing array of costume jewelry pieces. Each piece is presented with one or more photographs, a recommended price, and the name of the collection from which the sample piece was selected. From charm bracelets to artful plastics to necklaces, earrings, and rings, as well as special sections dedicated to well-known brand designs such as Eisenberg and Bettina von Walhof, Inside the Jewelry Box is a singularly gorgeous compilation and a joy to page through simply to savor the photography. The text offers the occasional sprinkling of historical information, comments, or insights about costume jewelry as well. A highly recommended treasury for collectors.
Must have Book.......2007-05-17
If you are a jewelry lover this is a must have book for your collection.
Ann does a wonderful job with the pictures and the information. She is very knowledgeable in the costume jewelry field
Great vintage costume jewelry reference.......2007-05-17
This book is an excellent followup to the first volume of "Inside the Jewelry Box." It once again features nearly 1,000 full color photographs of beautiful vintage costume jewelry, with values ranging from $5 to $2,000. Collectors of every level from novice to experienced will find this book to be extremely useful. It is also entertaining as it is written like an informal chat between friends, discussing their favorite jewelry. Twenty six vintage costume jewelry ads are reproduced including companies such as Eisenberg, Coro, Trifari, Schiaparelli, Hattie Carnegie and Miriam Haskell. The Contemporary Chapter features jewelry by current artist Annie Navetta and the late, great Ian St. Gielar. The Websites Chapter features completely different websites devoted to selling vintage costume jewelry, building on those in the first volume. And the front and back cover photos are gorgeous! Enjoy!
Book Description
For those who thirst for knowledge of costume jewelry, Ronna Lee Aikins brings a new book that covers an even broader variety of jewelry than her first book, Brilliant Rhinestones. Her latest book, 20th Century Costume Jewelry, will enable the novice and experienced collector to appreciate a multitude of designs. Eisenberg, KJL, Coro, Monet, Trifari, Lisner, Kramer, Pell, BSK, and Gerry's are just a few to be featured. This book is organized according to style and types, with more than 600 color photos and over 800 sparkling pieces. Chapters on aurora borealis, accessories, beads, flowers, gold tones, silvertones, and rhinestones are just a few to be showcased in this book. There is also a chapter dedicated to how to select and wear jewelry according to skin tones and face shapes. Basic tips for jewelry care, fun facts about jewelry, and many vintage advertisements are provided. 20th Century Costume Jewelry will help you select an item in a personalized fashion. 2005 values.
Customer Reviews:
identification and value guide-1900-1980.......2007-08-07
Thank you Amazon for offering this wonderful book. I plan to spend a lot of time with it.
It has been very helpful and the price is well worth it.
Thank You,sanklo.
Excellent book.......2007-05-04
I have to disagree with the other review about the value guides in this book, these guides are exactly on what they do sell for on Ruby lane or ebay. This is one of the lesser assigned value guide books I own.
I found this book very good for my research and although the photographs are a little less than I expected, they show the item well enough there are only a few that look less than professional.
The book released in 2005 reflects current pricing and value. I do not understand how the other reviewer said they were grossly off?? The market changes, one year a necklace will sell for 200.00 the next year perhaps 100.00, with the gas issue and the war the higher value guide book frankly are a bit off. This book I feel is more on value then the others.. The AB crystal necklace section I did find a bit high on the values though..That is about the only part I agree on with the other reviewer.
The values given in collection books usually are used for insurance and not for actual sale.. This si why they are usually higher than what they would sell for on the market.
That is why you find such a difference in pricing..
Your best bet is to watch ebay and ruby lane for current pricing on an item and what they actually sell for. But keep in mind that there has been a lull in costume jewelry that should pick up real soon but who knows as the war continues and gas prices climb to 4.00+.. (yikes)
Use these books to estimate the value, this is a range to use not a written in stone on top of a mountain rule as are all collector books!
I suggest getting this book because it does have a large assortment of different types of jewelry as well as compacts and belts.
What I didn't like about it is that it is not in any kind of real order. Also there was a marked lack of Juliana jewelry. There is no information about the makers, only photo value and description. However, I use other books for that. I got this book because I wanted to see a varity of items not just Trifari, Coro.. etc.
Still a good book to own because there is a lot of unusual signed and unsigned jewelry in it.
20th Century Costume Jewelry is Not in My Century.......2005-03-03
This book was purchased along with the sister, companion, Brilliant Rhinestones. While I can appreciate the time that the author has devoted to her book (per review on Brilliant Rhinestones obviously by the author's husband) feel that the quality of the photographs is very poor. When I spend money like this on a book, expect jewelry that looks like I want to reach out and pick it up. Many of the darker items are washed out in the background. Felt that the prices were a little overinflated. The concepts for the books are excellent, but this author needs to work on her photography.
Bad info, misleading price guide!.......2004-12-25
I just purchased this book and am VERY disappointed in the lack of information and misleading prices. Only a few pages of minimal information and the rest is photos of lackluster jewelry at grossly overinflated priced. Seems like no research was done, and prices should definitely not be used as any kind of price guideline. Save your money for much better jewelry books for your library!
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- Fisher-Price, 1931-1963: A Historical, Rarity, Value Guide (Fisher-Price: a Historical, Rarity & Value Guide, 2nd ed)
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Books Index
Books Home
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Care & Restoration
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Inside the Jewelry Box: A Collector's Guide To Costume Jewelry, Identification And Values (Identification and Values)
Collecting Costume Jewelry 202: The Basics of Dating Jewelry
Unsigned Beauties of Costume Jewelry: Identification and Values
Signed Beauties of Costume Jewelry: Indentification & Values (Signed Beauties of Costume Jewelry)
Costume Jewelry (DK Collector's Guides)
