6 Collectables
72320 MOBY-DICK: A Pop-Up Book by Sam Ita
Herman Melville’s epic saga Moby Dick is brought vividly to life in this abridged three dimensional graphic novel adaptation, the first of its kind, by a celebrated paper engineer. Trace Captain Ahab’s obsessive quest for the white whale in comic book-style panels, speech balloons and spectacular colour illustrations that rise dramatically off the page. The first is the ship with its rigging, (white cotton and with a fold out page) showing life on board. Open the doors, lift the flaps and open pockets, pull tabs to make the scenes move and swirl the disc to see how the concentric circles seize the lone boat and all its crew, each floating oar and every lance pole spinning - all round and round in one vortex... Ages six to adult pop-up collector. $24.95 NOW £7
71493 JONATHAN SWIFT’S GULLIVER’S
TRAVELS retold by Harriet Castor Read Gulliver’s essential touring tips, see a giant pop-up hand about to scoop up Gulliver, pull a tab to see a magician’s ghost appear and open a miniature booklet on the people and customs of Lilliput. Ahoy there travellers! Set sail with Lemuel Gulliver, the ship’s surgeon who is having trouble getting home, meet Glumdalclitch, a gentle giant of a girl who loves dolls, the Queen of Brobdingnag, the King of Laputa, the disgusting Yahoo and the noble horse the grey Houyhnhnm. Teeny weeny booklets and flaps, big colourful board pages. £14.99 NOW £5
72924 SEVEN VOYAGES OF SINBAD THE SAILOR retold by John Yeoman and illustrated by Quentin Blake
Most people have heard of Sinbad the Sailor but really, he was not a sailor, just a merchant and an unstoppable traveller. Stories about him first appeared in the Middle Eastern tales called The
Arabian Nights. They were translated into French and then, over 200 years ago, into English. In these amazing tales of danger, shipwreck, heroism, fabulous treasures and terrifying monsters there is always an element of the truth, which makes them among the greatest adventure stories ever told. Our favourite is the men who flew. They had to grow wings, of course, but what a prophetic story! 119 pages 31cm by 24.5cm with lively and amusing watercolours. £12.99 NOW £4.50
71571 STORIES OF CHILDREN FROM
DICKENS retold by Mary Angela Dickens A beautiful facsimile edition containing shortened versions of some of the most famous stories created by Charles Dickens and written by his granddaughter featuring memorable child characters including Tiny Tim, Jenny Wren, Smike, Little Nell, David Copperfield and Oliver Twist. Includes exceptional colour plates and woodcuts by Harold Copping with the text wrapped around them, and all evoking the Victorian hardships, misery and moments of joy. 104pp. £9.99 NOW £3
71766 OLIVIA THE MAGNIFICENT by Sheila Sweeny Higginson
From the Channel Five TV series and the ever popular set of books, join Olivia the lovely little piglet and her family on the occasion of Grandma’s visit when she puts on a magic show. ‘Ta-Daa!’ Grandma pulls out two daisies from behind Olivia’s and Ian’s ears. Watch the coin disappear and watch Olivia practise and practise until she too can be a great magician in this delightful lift- the-flap story. Big colourful softback. £4.95 NOW £1.75
72171 CLASSIC FAIRY TALES: Five Favourite Stories
This gorgeous box set is beautifully retold and illustrated - contemporary interpretations of timeless classics. The Pied Piper of Hamelin by Michael Morpurgo and Emma Chichester Clark illustrating, Hansel and Gretel by the same duo, a spellbinding book in words and pictures, Cinderella retold by Max Eilenberg and illustrated by Naimh Sharkey in modern appealing brightly coloured art works, Beauty and the Beast also told by Max Eilenberg and illustrated by Angela Barret in a more classical haunting Victorian style, dreamy and delicate illustrations, and last but not least The Snow Queen by Hans Christian Andersen retold by Naomi Lewis and exquisitely illustrated by Christian Birmingham with evocative imagery. Collectable authors and illustrators, ages 4+. Five softbacks in sturdy slipcase. $39.95 NOW £12
72168 CHARLIE AND LOLA MY COMPLETELY
BEST STORY COLLECTON: Five Stories and CD by Lauren Child
Charlie has his little sister Lola. She is small and very funny. Based on the popular TV series and here presented in a lovely slipcase from Puffin Books are ‘Snow Is My Favourite and My Best’, ‘I’ve Won, No I’ve Won, No I’ve Won’, ‘Whoops! But It Wasn’t Me’, ‘My Wobbly Tooth Must Not Ever Never Fall Out’ and ‘We Honestly Can Look After Your Dog’. Marv says ‘Definitely no taking him off the lead.’ The irresistibly comic duo take us on an adventure with a rocket, playing games, in the snow and more and the CD features the original voice recordings, music and sounds from the BBC TV show. Colour illus.
£34.95 NOW £12.50
COLLECTABLES
Good taste is better than bad taste, but bad taste is better than no taste at all.
- Arnold Bennett 73234 MILLER’S SOFT TOYS:
A Collector’s Guide by Frankie Leibe
A super beginner’s guide including 150 photos in colour of collectable pieces. All of the manufacturer’s marks are noted together with fact files and tips on how to collect Steiff and post-World War Two toys. Their ‘Eric the Bat’ is probably the most rare and collectable with his
pipe cleaner legs and vinyl like wings, he comes upside down and was manufactured in the 1960s. Dino the Dinosaur is also rather sweet with a value anywhere between $128 and $640! Other favourites of ours are the elephants by Schuco and Farnell, the ride on camel and elephant by Steiff, the Pig Family from the 1930s on page 45, the promotional toy Belisha Beacon from 1934 which introduced road safety, Felix the Cat and any one of the wonderful bunny rabbits, the Art Deco cat inspired by Louis Wain in the 1920s, the beautiful Puss in Boots by Steiff from 1912 (approximate value $4000) and all the little doggies. With a full history of how toys have been made from soft materials and modelled, tips on care and restoration, where to see and buy, the prices are way out of date but are an indicator of value. 64 page paperback. $9.99 NOW £3.25
73608 COLLECTING TEDDY
BEARS by Sally Taylor Since prehistoric times, humans have been fascinated by the bear. Down through the centuries they have been hunted, worshipped, used for entertainment and often cruelly abused. Yet, if there is just one soft and cuddly toy we all remember from the days of our childhood, then it is undoubtedly the
teddy bear. These much loved companions from the nursery have inspired generations of affection. They have now become an enduring icon, whose place in our consciousness was set forever when Margarete Steiff in Germany and Rose Michtom in the USA produced the first cuddly toy bears at about the same time at the beginning of the 20th century. So what is it that makes them so special? Why do they have such everlasting appeal? This endearing book tells the whole story, from their first appearance and importance in mythology, right up to the present day when rare examples of historic bears can and do sell for six-figure sums in the auction rooms of the world. It explores famous bears in fiction, such as The Three Bears, Winnie-the-Pooh, Paddington, Pudsey, Rupert and Theodore, and gives some very sound advice on how to start building up a collection of these uniquely loveable little creatures. 128 pages 31cm x 23cm in appealing colour. £7.99 NOW £4
73239 SCHUCO CLASSIC TIN TOYS
by Chris Knox
Readers - whether they are interested in collectible toys, or the history of transport and the changes that this century has seen, or admirable intricate mechanisms, or
clockwork wonders, or if they just admire gorgeous, vivid pictures - will be captivated by this informative and beautifully illustrated volume. It is the story of Schuco, the famed German toy-maker and is a tale of perfectionism, an absorbing record of the history of this internationally famous, classical mechanical toy producer, from its heyday in the 1950s through its bankruptcy in the 1970s to its successful renaissance today. Mixed with illustrations from original Schuco catalogues are hundreds of delightful modern photos highlighting: cars, motorbikes, boats, airplanes, acrobatic tumbling mice, Charlie Chaplin, Donald Duck, a Scottie dog, the famous Pick-Pick bird and a whole host of other wind-up figures. There is also info for collectors on manufacturing processes, technical details, variety, availability and much more. Our favourite is the cheeky, drumming clown - although the beer-drinking figures with huge steins come a close second. 128 pages 23cm x 23cm in dazzling colour with list of websites. $19.99 NOW £6
71699 CHESS MASTERPIECES: One Thousand Years of Extraordinary Chess Sets
by George Dean with Maxine Brady From all over the world, George and Vivian Dean have amassed one of the greatest chess collections ever, containing more than 600 decorative sets, the best of which are in this exquisite volume. The spine shows a delicately formed sea horse in Meissen porcelain, a front cover depicting intricately painted Santa Clara porcelain from Seville, both from the 20th century, and a back cover featuring a Russian set of 1905 in silver, aventurine quartz and Kolgon jasper on a board fashioned from Siberian jade, apricot serpentine, quartz and silver. The breathtaking photos of the works of art created by craftsmen of the fame of Wedgwood, Murano, Fabergé, Man Ray, Marcel Duchamp, Salvador Dalí and Damien Hirst. Some sets were either collected or commissioned by the likes of Catherine the Great, Napoléon, President Eisenhower and other world leaders. The engaging text considers chess through the perspectives of art and history, touching upon the influences of local cultures and available materials, as well as the battles, rulers and political factions that often inspired thematic sets. 271 pages 26cm x 31cm with photos in richly glowing colour. £39.99 NOW £20
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71701 CLASSIC KITS: Collecting the Greatest Model Kits In the World, from
Airfix to Tamiya by Arthur Ward Remember when pocket money was spent on a Spitfire after school, assembled before tea-time and destroyed in an imaginary fierce air battle by bed-time? Described as ‘a giant of a book in the world of miniature modelling’, not only does this volume allow you to compare and contrast the different models and their historical development, and in some cases demise, but it also notes the rare and the valuable so that you can re- evaluate those pieces you have stored away in your attic - the ones that survived the battles, that is! With scores of colour photos of kits, box tops, books and magazines, all the favourites from Airfix and Revell, Monogram, Aurora and Frog, to Esci, Heller, Tamiya, Fujimi, Matell, Matchbox, Eaglewall and Italeri, here are tanks, ships, aircraft, spaceships and tractors. 92 pages 23cm x 28.5cm, bright colour. £20 NOW £9.50
71905 MAGPIES, SQUIRRELS AND THIEVES How the Victorians Collected the World by Jacqueline Yallop
Here Jacqueline Yallop, curator of Sheffield’s Ruskin Gallery, tells the stories of the 19th century’s most intriguing and obsessive collectors. Travelling with people like the art connoisseur John Robinson and aristocratic scholar Charlotte Schreiber who ransacked Europe for art treasures, and the pioneering Orientalists in India and China, we enter a world of cut-throat markets, questionable dealing, forgery and looting, all part of the ultra-competitive spirit that drove them. Two other factors also had a major effect - the Empire and the involvement of women for the first time. 420pp, b/ w illus.
£25 NOW £5
72166 MILLER’S BUYING AFFORDABLE ART by Hugh St. Clair
A practical art book on what art to buy, and where to find it, how to buy from the Internet, a gallery or at auction and covers all media including photographs, prints and posters. There are useful contacts to events and reference to such things as the Asian and Tribal Art Show, cowboy and American art, for drawings and sketches, portraits, video art, text-based art, and sculpture. Good sculpture appeals not only to the eye, but to the sense of touch as well. With fact boxes, buyer’s tips. 192pp in paperback. £9.99 NOW £4
72985 GEMSTONES by Cally Hall, Harry Taylor and
Dr Roger Harding There are over 3,000 different minerals, but only about 50 are commonly used as gemstones. The five major stones are diamond, star sapphire, river pearl, ruby and emerald but over 130 different gorgeous varieties from around the
world are described in this book and depicted in crystal- clear photos, showing the gems both as they are found in in rocks and after they have been cut and polished. Precise annotation makes identification sure and simple. 160 softback pages, 800 photos in sparkling colour, table of properties, map showing world distribution, and list of useful addresses. £10.99 NOW £5
72405 CRACKING ANTIQUES
by Kathryn Rayward and Mark Hill Based on the popular BBC series, this book shows you how to fill your house with characterful antiques without breaking the budget. A Victorian chaise longue is the perfect focal piece for a modern living room and can be reupholstered to suit changing decor. An antique dining table can show off a pretty Victorian dinner service or a 1960s Le Creuset casserole and Denby stoneware. Your kitchen can house precious collections of blue and white ceramics or old-fashioned utensils. The hall or corridor is often overlooked but is crucial in setting the style of a home with paintings or displays of glass. There are useful sections on cleaning and caring for textiles, repairing a scratch on wood and renovating furniture with a preparation of vinegar and methylated spirits. Step-by-step instructions to gilding etc. 224 pages, colour illus.
£18.99 NOW £5
71455 GUIDE TO FIRST EDITION PRICES: Eight Edition by R. B. Russell
Worth its weight in gold, and boy, this heavy weighing in at 786 large pages, this is the completely revised and updated eight edition (2010). Compiled for collectors, dealers and all who love books, the volume provides a guide to the value of over 50,000 sought-after titles. Includes Jane Austen to Oscar Wilde, Eric Ambler to Minette Walters, illustrators from Aubrey Beardsley to Florence Upton and poets from Richard Alvington to Walt Whitman. Authors and artists are represented in British and American first editions, limited editions and important, collectable reprints. As featured on Radio Four’s ‘Front Row’. Lovely clear layout and great value. £19.95 NOW £7
69743 SEARS, ROEBUCK & CO.: The Best of 1905-1910 Collectibles
edited by Leslie Parr, Andrea Hicks and Marie Stareck
Take a hundred-year excursion into the past, to a time when all your wishes and whims could be found within the pages of a Sears, Roebuck & Co. catalogue. Florida Water, Liquid Skin, hammer-less revolvers, bankers’ shears, travelling bags, bridging telephones, and the Acme Triumph Six-Hole Steel Range could all be had for reasonable prices. In this compilation of the best collectibles from 1905 through to 1910 editions of Sears catalogues, readers will find everything the early 20th century American needed to outfit the home, office, medicine chest, or craft workshop. Chunky softback, 15,000 b/w illus. £17.95 NOW £6
73629 SUNDIALS: An Illustrated History of Portable Dials by Hester Higton
The variety of dials that adorn the covers of this informative and intriguing volume provide a tantalising preview of the many lovely artefacts inside. They include such rareties as a gold pocket watch by Benjamin Lewis Vulliamy, made in about 1847, whose inside case shows a number of different towns and cities with time differences in GMT. For thousands of years, people have been using dialling instruments to mark the passage of time. This book concentrates on portable dials which - astonishingly enough - have been known since Egyptian times. The book combines science, art, commercial trade and piety, to reveal a riveting story. Portable sundials form a major part of the instrumental holdings of the National Maritime Museum, and the collection is one of the most important in the world. Many of them came from the munificent donations of Sir James Caird, who prized navigational and astronomical instruments as highly as maritime art. Numbered among the riches of the Museum’s collection are such treasured items as horizontal, ring, pillar, ivory and wooden diptych, magnetic and magnetic azimuth, Butterfield and so- called Regiomontanus dials, as well as astronomical compendia,
quadrants, nocturnals and one of the few surviving examples of a medieval navicula. 136 pages 28cm x 21cm very
lavishly illustrated in colour and b/w with many diagrams, glossary and map.
£37 NOW £11
73089 THE HUGUENOT LEGACY: English Silver 1680-1760 from the Alan and Simone
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Hartman Collection by Christopher Hartop Written by the head of the silver department at Christie’s New York, this sumptuous volume chronicles and reassesses the history of the influence exercised by skilled Huguenot craftsmen on English silver at the end of the 17th and beginning of the 18th centuries. Many of the Huguenots were silversmiths, and the author argues that they were the most significant of the many groups of foreign workers who were responsible for the great flowering of style and technique in English silver at this time. The new fashion for coffee, drinking chocolate and tea saw the introduction of a wealth of new forms of domestic silver such as tea caddies and sugar boxes, and separate sections of the book deal with these. Silver made for display alone is also examined. Each entry here details the height, width, depth and gross weight of the piece together with its provenance and the marks struck on it and, often, portraits of its owners and paintings of social gatherings. 432 softback pages 29.5cm x 22cm, colour and b/w illus, glossary, and ‘references frequently cited for makers’ marks’. First edition, 1999. $60 NOW £11
70729 CARRY ME! 1950s Lucite Handbags by Janice Berkson
The hat box, accordion, tortoiseshell with rhinestone trim, translucent topaz with topaz rhinestones, black diamond- carved bucket covered in rhinestone with the signature clear handles, crushed seashell, confetti and threads, the translucent tortoiseshell body with translucent amber carved sides and clear carved lid are among the ornamental, transcending fashion, high quality handbag designs to pore over again and again in this exquisitely photographed collection. 208 large pages, full page colour photos. Carry me home! 170 colour photos. £29.95 NOW £11
71012 CONFESSIONS OF A COLLECTOR by Hunter Davies
A compulsive collector of items as diverse as comics, coronation mugs, British prime ministerial autographs and football memorabilia confesses to about 15 collections he has built up over the years. These range from first issues of magazines and newspapers to anything connected with the Beatles and from China and pottery to Lakelandiana. In his inimitably enthusiastic style, he describes how his collections came into being. 207 pages 19cm x 25cm, colour illus. £20 NOW £5
73232 MATCHSAFES by Deborah Sampson Shinn
Developed independently by numerous chemists working around the world in the early 1830s for the first time man had instant fire at his fingertips. Early friction matches were not only extremely combustible and volatile, but also prone to becoming useless at the first hint of moisture. The need for a dry container led to the creation of matchsafes, also known as match boxes and match receivers (vesta cases in Britain), protective and decorative containers for carrying about one’s person. These soon developed into beautifully ornamented forms in the way that only the Victorians could, often worked into natural forms such as animals and plants, inlaid with jewels and incorporating precious metals as well as those that were entirely practical, robust creations which had a utilitarian beauty all of their own. The author’s narrative shows how they
developed up until the advent of matchbooks and pocket lighters in the first part of the 20th century, which heralded their decline. 100 colour photos of the best examples of the 4,000+ matchsafes from around the world held in the Smithsonian in New York. 112pp softback, colour.
£15.95 NOW £5
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