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"COLLECTOR'S CHOICE" for my favorite specific category
"SPECIAL SELECTIONS" related to my inventory

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MOST OFTEN RECOMMENDED

Title and Review

Official Price Guide to Pottery and Porcelain
Harvey Duke

One of my favorites! A comprehensive guide to US made pottery and porcelain, by Harvey Duke. I highly  recommend this book to new collectors and dealers. 1008 pages, jam-packed with information for identifying and evaluating pottery and porcelain. Includes maker's marks, pricing info., and descriptions. Easy to understand. 8th Ed. 1995, so is a bit outdated, but still an invaluable reference.

The two books appearing within this frame are what I would refer to as "companion" books.
If at all possible, consider getting both.

Kovels' New Dictionary of Marks
Ralph & Terry Kovel

Ok, so you're interested in pottery or porcelain. Next, you buy a few pieces that attract you. Now what? Of course, the next logical step would be to get an evaluation. Find out if you've gotten a good deal, right? Sure, you can search the Internet for similar pieces not knowing who the maker really is.....but wouldn't it be easier to to figure out who made them, and then search by the name of the maker? This book allows you to be able to easily identify your pottery by the maker's mark. I have found this dictionary of marks to be a fabulous tool! More than 3,500 (yes that's three-thousand-five-hundred) American, European, and Oriental pottery maker's marks from 1850 to the date of publication, 1986. Now that covers a lot of territory! And the nice thing is.....the marks are categorized by shape, indexed by maker. So  whether there is lettering with the mark or not, that mark can be found based upon the shape. Nifty, huh?  1986 ed., 290 pages. An absolute identification necessity! I wouldn't be without this one.

Kovel's Dictionary of Marks: Pottery and Porcelain

You'll also want to be sure to check out the companion book "Kovel's Dictionary of Marks: Pottery and Porcelain". Amazon.com will give you the option of buying/shipping this one and the "New Dictionary of Marks", together....it would be very wise of you to go ahead and purchase both, as shipping fees can be combined. Again, the marks are categorized by shape, and you'll find over 5,000 of the earlier pottery and porcelain maker's marks in this book They date from 1842 to 1883. Revised in May 1995, 288 pages, also by Ralph and Terry Kovel. Again, it is possible that you are the owner of a valuable piece of pottery. But the cryptic mark may be your only clue to identifying and subsequently evaluating the piece. Kovels' New Dictionary of Marks will help you identify those pieces by giving you a starting point......the maker's name. I also use this one myself, not as frequently, as I don't find as many early pieces, but it has definitely come in handy on several occasions.

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When I don't find the mark in Kovel's, this is always my second choice for researching U.S. pottery marks. A HUGE book (634 pages), boasting over 8,000 marks, logos, symbols, etc. The company histories are included with the marks. So if you're researching a factory that was later bought by another company, the cross-reference information is available as well. The Index is fantastic! Even the initials of makers are included. This 1988 edition is a bit outdated, but since the majority of the potters researched are the earlier ones, who cares!?

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For researching early European marks, this reference is tops on the list. Originally printed in England around 1863 by Wm. Chaffers, this is the 14th revised edition by Frederick Litchfield in the early part of the 20th century. Includes extensive histories of the potters, along with Christie's auction prices for the early to late 1920's, and is touted as "The finest volume of its kind in the world." With 1095 pages bearing marks and detailed historical information, need I say more?

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Kovels' Antiques and Collectibles Price List

This is the 2007 edition, and is updated every year. Now is a good time to begin using it. Kovels' Price Guide is a general reference which offers page after page of illustrations of items, along with their marks, and more than 50,000 prices on pottery, glass, advertising, furniture, jewelry, you name it! I'm especially fond of this guide as it is small enough (8" x 5.5")  to carry with you on your treasure hunts! 2007, 39th edition, 912 pages. Get your copy today!

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Schroeder's Antiques Price Guide

Another of my top picks, and an excellent general reference. This book is much larger (11" x 8.5"), so not as easy to take along when you're shopping, but still a very good reference. I do like the fact that Schroeder's is indexed so that items are easily located in the by common terms. Also updated every year, and very reasonably priced. Covers a broad range of topics on literally thousands of antiques and collectibles. Also includes makers marks, pictures and prices. 2007, 25th edition, 607 pages. A favorite among most dealers!

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COLLECTOR'S CHOICE
This space is reserved for one reference of extremely high quality, such as the one below.
When I find a book I like better, this selection will be replaced, and will include my own review.

Sanfords Guide to Nicodemus his pottery and his art

Jim Riebel & Steve Sanford

Want to know a secret? Interestingly enough, this quality pottery is not well known..... as YET! I believe those who have begun to buy Nicodemus pottery will reap the reward$ (if you know what I mean). Be wise enough to be one of the first who did take the time to familiarize yourself with this lovely art pottery. As I always say... "Knowledge...It's a smart thing".  Learn how to identify the lines, colors and glazes. Easy to find price guide logically located in the back of the book. Don't waste valuable time, take my word for it, you do not want to be a latecomer on this one! 1998, Hardback, 100 fact and photo-filled pages. Small enough to carry with you to estate, tag and garage sales.  If you haven't read the book, you may have already bought some Nicodemus pottery and thought you were buying Frankoma.  It pays to know for sure.

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SPECIAL SELECTIONS
A brief synopsis of selected books I recommend.

Title/Author
Brief Synopsis

Antique and Comtemporary Advertising Memorabilia ID and Value Guide
B.J. Summers

2002 ed., 407 pages Updated value guide, Hardcover

Art Deco (DK  Collectors Guides)
Judith Miller

2005 ed., 240 pgs., Hardcover

Glass A to Z
David J. Shotwell

My hat is off to Mr. Shotwell for presenting us with a handy and easy-to-use collector’s/dealer's resource of definitions and descriptions of: Glass terms, styles, patterns, and manufacturers. You will refer to this one time and time again. More than 400 photographs of glassware. Line drawings are included to illustrate significant shapes and patterns. Includes everything from Depression to Pattern glass and Fenton to Tiffany. You'll find dozens of manufacturers' marks, taken directly from my own Glass Marks Dictionary here at Heartland Discoveries. The marks are there to aid in identification when you're out and about. If you are familiar with the Glass Marks Dictionary, then you'll know that the marks that appear in the book are categorized by shape, exactly as they are in the Dictionary. If you aren't familiar with the Dictionary yet, you should be. You can find it here. When Mr. Shotwell, who has spent over 30 years collecting and researching glass, contacted me and requested permission to use photos of many of my glassware offerings here at Heartland Discoveries, I was honored to agree to allow my photos to be included in his book. Most of you know how important I feel it is to share knowledge, so to be instrumental in producing such a monumental learning tool was exciting. This is the reference that everyone who has an interest in collectible glassware should own. Want to learn about or ID your glass? Want to learn the terminology? Want to learn about the maker's history? This is the all-in-one book that's a must to have on hand at all times because you just never know when you're going to need it. My copy has been carried to so many flea markets and Antiques fairs that its becoming extremely worn, which brings me to the last point I want to make....I especially like this book because the compact size allows me to slip it into my pocketbook or backpack and take it with me, so that it's handy when I find something I think might be a "keeper". You do not want to be caught without this handy reference. Trust me.  

Dec. 2002 ed., 504 pgs., Paperback

American Art Pottery
David Rago

1997 ed., 256 pgs., Hardback - Fabulous array of large color photographs of art pottery by various makers

The Complete Cookie Jar Book
Mike Schneider

2001 Revised 5th ed., 312 pgs., Paperback

Collectibles for the Kitchen, Bath & Beyond
Ellen Bercovici, Bobbie Zucker Bryson and Deborah Gillham

2001 ed., 255 pgs., more than 1,300 color photos, Paperback

Fostoria American - A Complete Guide
Sidney P. Seligson

The title states that this is "A Complete Guide". That is an understatement. Mr. Seligson, who passed away a few years ago, was a world-class Fostoria collector. He owned pieces that were so rare they were valued at thousands of dollars. He included pictures of almost every known piece of Fostoria ever produced in his book, and explained the differences in shapes and sizes of certain pieces which are, at times, so subtle you'd never notice, so they could be easily confused. For example; Mr. Seligson detailed how to avoid confusing condiment underplates with bread and butter plates. The two are commonly mistaken for one another because the size and shape are so similar, but the informed Fostoria collector or dealer will know that the underplates can be more valuable and hard to find as opposed to the bread and butters, which are quite common. You will learn how to know the difference. This is just one of the many informative topics in this book. The money you could make on a rare piece of Fostoria well outweighs the price of the book.

4th edition 2001 ISBN #0966052854, Hardback, 114 Pages

The most comprehensive guide on Fostoria American I've ever seen.  You will not be disappointed.

Crystal Stemware Identification Guide
Bob Page & Dale Frederiksen

October 1997, Paperback, 376 pgs.

The Official Price Guide to Civil War Collectibles
Richard Friz

1998 2nd ed., Paperback, 400 pgs. - jam packed with info.

Answers to Questions About Old Jewelry 1840-1950
C. Jeanenne Bell

6th ed. June 2003, Paperback, 560 pgs. - Chock-full of priceless information

Antique Medical Instruments
Schiffer Publishing

5th ed., 2003, Paperback - Some great info here for collectors of medical instruments.

Antique Brass & Copper Identification & Value Guide
Mary Frank Gaston

1991 ed., 207 pgs., Revised edition - Hundreds of photos - covers many topics of decorative, kitchen, wash-day and architectural brass and copper.

Collector's Encyclopedia of Metlox Potteries:
Identification & Values
Carl Gibbs, Jr.

2001 2nd ed., 429 pgs., Hardback - Invaluable!

ADEC 2002 Art Price Annual & Falk's Art Price Index
ADEC Staff

Limited ed., 2002, Hardback, 2800 pgs. - Hundreds of thousands of realized auction prices for hundreds of thousands of artists.  This book is HUGE.  Even though the pages are printed on thin paper, the listings are so numerous that the book is quite thick.  It weighs almost 9 pounds, so you can only imagine what a wonderful resource this will be when it is included in your library.

Miller's Smoking Accessories: A Collector's Guide (Miller's Collector's Guides)
Sarah Yates, Jacques Cole

Feb. 2000 ed., Paperback, 64 pgs. - Ashtrays, cigarette dispensers, match safes, cigarette packs, pipes, cases & more.

2006 Toys & Prices
Karen O'Brien

Published Yearly 13th ed., 10/2005, Paperback, 824 pgs. - Lists 31,000  and covers over 25 genre's of toy collecting with more than 2,100 photos from the mid 1800's forward.  Ms. O'Brien uses the expertise of toy experts from around the globe for values.

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