Search results for ""schiffer publishing""

Sheperd Paine did more than anyone to elevate modeling to the level of an art form - one that includes elements of painting, sculpting, research, and storytelling. Building and painting miniature figures, armor, aircraft, and ships with equal skill, and displaying a broad scope of knowledge and interests ranging from the Napoleonic era to WWII, Paine created incredibly detailed and masterfully rendered vignettes and dioramas. This is the first book to examine all of his remarkable work, cataloging it with more than seven hundred beautiful photos, and charting the life experiences that formed these creations in an interesting, conversational format.

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Like its predecessors in the series, this book is an epic chronicle of previously unpublished topics, including the uniforms and equipment of the submarine force, PT boat squadrons, mine warfare men, gun crews, signalmen, and more. In addition, never-before addressed subjects including the U.S. Coast Guard, Merchant Marine, Public Health Service, Coast and Geodetic Survey and the Samoan Fita-Fita are examined. Clothing, accoutrements, insignia, small arms, knives, life jackets, novelty items and sweetheart jewelry are all covered.

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Gain insight to the current world of Botanical Art and see the work of 65 top artists from throughout America. Gorgeous flowers, leaves, plants, roots, and vegetables have been beautifully drawn and painted and are displayed here. See 220 colorful images that bring modern techniques and a contemporary eye to this venerable tradition. Artwork values, artists’ backgrounds, and contact information are included. Today’s gardeners, nature lovers, graphic designers, collectors, and decorators will find much to absorb and enjoy. Let these images inspire your imagination and become a patron of this cherished and enduring art.

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This stunning new book showcases fantastic costume jewelry from 53 top designers of the 20th century. Examples from Christian Dior, Miriam Haskell, Kenneth Jay Lane, Elsa Schiaparelli, Stanley Hagler, Trifari, Vendome, and may others are shown in profusion. 360 luscious color photographs display exquisite examples of each designers’ best work. Masterpieces abound, including many rare examples. The authors illustrate ways to enjoy these pieces today, with candid photography of friends adorned for casual occasions. Delightful stories are shared of memories associated with their passion for jewelry over the years. This remarkable exhibition displays costume jewelry as absolutely beautiful works of art. Sit back with this eye candy, relax with the fairytale spirit it projects, and enjoy the romance. Let the passion roll!

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This retrospective of Jim's skateboard art bombards the reader with colorful decks, logos, ad art, ad layouts, photos, and stickers to illustrate the history of skateboarding, from the urethane revolution to the present. Take a ride with an inside view of Phillips' Studios, to observe the wacky world of his crazed studio artists and examine their graphic assignments. The story traces the roots of skateboarding with more than half a century of Phillips' involvement. It provides insight to the creative evolution of the sport, and worldwide interest in and influence from this California artist.

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This volume has been prepared as an inexpensive guide to Japanese military handguns of the first half of the 20th Century. It is intended primarily for the collector who, upon encountering a new specimen, wants information to identify, classify and evaluate it in order to make a decision on its purchase. It will also be useful to dealers in establishing values, and to firearms owners who simply want to know where an individual pistol or its accessories fit in the overall picture of Japanese military collectibles.

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Herbert Knötel adroitly brings soldiers of every age and every nationality to life with his detailed sketches and masterful watercolors. "Herbert Knötel's German Armies" includes 137 never-before-published sketches and watercolors of German military figures from the 18th-20th centuries. This unique art, from the Anne S.K. Brown Military Collection at Brown University and the private collection of Alfred and Roland Umhey, offers vivid insight into one of the 20th century's most accomplished military artists. A superb biographical essay from Knötel's only child provides personal context for the artist's life and brilliant work.

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Challenge yourself with a puzzle showing the beach, surf, and blue sky in a summer scene straight off Cape Cod, Massachusetts. The perfect rainy day project, this 500-piece puzzle is a wonderful keepsake from a favorite vacation retreat. You'll want to hang when it's done so you can recall summer all year long.

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Miami, Florida, is fast becoming a critical center for contemporary art. Serving as an incubator for outstanding visual artists, this "natural playground for inspiration" is poised to become one of the leading cultural destinations of the world. With more than 315 stunning color photos, this exciting new book takes readers through significant highlights of the city's art history and showcases the works of over 100 contemporary artists who have helped bring the cultural evolution to fruition. Ranging from established artists with international careers to those beginning to make a name for themselves, this selection reveals diversity that breathes creative energy into the sultry, scintillating city of Miami.

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Breitling. One watch has made this name famous worldwide, the Navitimer. In 1952 this watch was a real sensation, the chronograph along with the calculator made it possible for the pilot to carry out all necessary calculations during the flight. This made the Navitimer a valuable on-board instrument at that time, and a valuable collectible today. This newly revised book shows the whole spectrum of the firm's products since its founding in 1884, and gives the reader an informed insight into more than 100 years of the firm's history. Many photos, old catalogs, and advertising material support the informative text. With the help of reference numbers, the collector can also locate individual watches chronologically. This fascinating portrait of the Breitling firm will enthrall all who appreciate fine mechanical precision.

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European porcelain was born in the German city of Meissen, in 1708. This is the most comprehensive source book available to show the marks used by manufacturers, factories, and decorators from the beginning to the present. Included are more than 3,300 marks, many previously unpublished. More than 1,300 porcelain products, producers, and decorators are identified, including marks which American importers had applied. A special chapter shows more than 650 marks of Continental and American origin which can be confused with other famous marks. Here are aids in identifying imitations, fakes, and look-alikes, and revisions of marks which have been incorrectly identified until now. In all cases, the time period in which the mark was given will enable dealers and auctioneers to determine the age of porcelain items.

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This illustrated two-volume set is a further detailed look at the helmets of all nations using an identifiable helmet during the First World War, and contains over 1,000 full colour, detailed photos and over 200 period bw photos. Featured are rare and unique helmets, some previously unseen. The text includes a short history of the belligerent countries – setting the helmets and their development in context – as well as details and dimensions of all helmets.

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Beautiful color photographs of over 1,000 paperweights bring to life the authors' passion for collecting these art treasures made of glass and crystal, color and imagination. Paperweights from the 1840s to the 1980s are displayed. The history, development, production techniques, and informative histories of the paperweight makers, glass studios, and independent artists are presented, along with hints for collectors. Museum information, a helpful bibliography, and tips for the care of paperweights round out this enjoyable book, which is packed with stunning artwork for those who love beautiful things.

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Explore the construction, fabrication, design, and qualities of authentic Tiffany lamps made between 1900 and 1918. Tiffany Studios produced thousands of lamps in hundreds of designs, although many of the designs were closely related. Examining the ways in which the forms, patterns, and motifs were changed and adapted illuminates the extraordinary design vocabulary of Tiffany Studios. This selection of over 80 magnificent color photographs clearly demonstrates how shade patterns range from deceptively simple to extraordinarily complex. Learn how the Tiffany designers manipulated a decorative scheme by repetition of the motifs: sometimes patterns are repeated within the shade and sometimes a shade has no repeats. The nuance of color may shift from top to bottom in a delicate progression or around the shade, as flowers are different from season to season. By closely observing the many varied designs of Tiffany shades, a deeper understanding of the quality and beauty of these objects is made possible.

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This book presents, in words and pictures, the history of the Schutzstaffeln from their formation as escort aircraft, to their being renamed Schlachstaffeln and their role as infantry support aircraft. Participating in all the major German offenses on the Western Front in 1918, and manned mainly by enlisted pilots and gunners, these units became the first true close air support squadrons.

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Here is an exciting foray into the world of the artist-blacksmith. Dona Z. Meilach discovers the growing numbers of men and women who revel in lighting up a forge and shaping hot, malleable iron into beautiful, useful objects. Blacksmiths today make both monumental and modest architectural accompaniments, from public art to an infinite number of items we encounter every day. With this book, you will gain an appreciation of the medium and its creators, and realize that blacksmiths do much more than shoe horses. Over 480 color photographs highlight objects for indoor and outdoor use, including fences, railings, gates, doors, sculpture, furniture, lighting fixtures, candleholders, and more. Some are truly “modern” in style while others are inspired by historical references, such as Art Nouveau, Art Deco, Craftsman, and Victorian styles. Today’s blacksmiths, designers, artists, and homeowners will find unparalleded inspiration for creating unique yet practical surroundings.

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Carve lifelike animal-handled canes and walking sticks with power tools. Over 180 clear color photos and concise, informative text take the reader through all the tools, techniques, and individual steps, from carving the blank and setting the eyes to texturing the fur and painting the finished handle. Patterns are provided for fifteen projects to make handles that depict an elephant, bear, sheep, bison, chimpanzee, horse, dog, groundhog, cobra, lion, rabbit, squirrel, tiger, and walrus. Instructions are given for procuring, sizing, and fastening shafts. This book will challenge and delight the novice and inspire a seasoned wood carver.

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This is the first book to address the collectibility of figural animal pitchers. For many years, ceramics manufacturers have made pitchers in the shapes of animals for the family table, some as part of a cream and sugar set, others created to serve water or juice. Hundreds of pitchers from around the world are shown here in over 200 color photos with descriptions that include measurements, colors, manufacturer, date made, and current market value. Over 30 different animal types are included, from the alligator to the yak, with interesting facts about each. The pitchers represent popular American manufacturers, including American Bisque, Blue Ridge, Brayton Laguna, Fitz & Floyd, Hull, Lenox, McCoy, Rio Hondo Potteries, Shawnee, Spaulding China's Royal Copley line, Stewart Ceramics, and Vallona Starr. Others are from Bavaria, China, Czechoslovakia, England, France, Germany, Holland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Occupied Japan, and Taiwan. Whatever your interest, there probably are animal pitchers to swell your collection. And collecting them need not be expensive, just pure fun to see how many you can find in your travels.

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Seashells from the worlds' oceans have fascinated people since the dawn of time, and they continue to inspire study, collections, and decorative uses today. This new and stunningly beautiful book showcases seashells that have been assembled by shell artists in sailor's valentines, the octagonal-framed plaques with love messages and floral designs that were said to have been made by Victorian sailors as love tokens for their sweethearts at home. Learn their history, lore, and reality, and be introduced to exquisite designs, both antique and contemporary. Over 200 color photographs, maps, and drawings reveal unique sailor's valentines and shell collectors' chests from England, Barbados, and the United States over a two-hundred year period. Modern sailor's valentines, created by 19 shell artists, display creative interpretations of the traditional style with a wide variety of materials. Their beauty is disarming and their appeal is universal. Enjoy this nautical and historic journey through time.

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Colorful patterns of English transferware have graced homes around the world for nearly 200 years. In the 20th century major manufacturers like Crown Ducal, Enoch Wood, Royal Staffordshire, Royal Crownford, Alfred Meakin, Spode, Johnson Brothers, and Mason’s produced a large variety of patterns, styles and colors that are avidly collected today. With nearly 600 beautiful color photos of 2000 pieces illustrated, this book focuses on the most actively sought-after patterns, such as Crown Ducal’s “Bristol,” “Calico,” “Castles,” “Charlotte,” “English Chippendale,” “English Scenery,” “Friendly Village,” “Historic America,” “Italian,” “Liberty Blue,” “Old Britain Castles,” “Rose Chintz,” “Tonquin,” “Tower,” Vista,” and more. Place settings and serving pieces as well as rarer, more unusual pieces and those whose purpose was decorative are intcluded. Detailed pricing tables for major patterns and commentary of popular trends. All this and more make this an indispensible, long awaited addition to the collector’s library.

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A comprehensive introduction to the vast range of tribal sculpture from Africa is presented in this photographic survey. Ashanti fertility dolls, Bambara dance headpieces, Bachokwe staff heads, and Bakuba boxes are included in 347 works from Senegal to the Congo regions, Mali to Sierra Leone. This book provides a tremendous opportunity for Africans and non-Africans alike to view the diversity, expressive quality, and sheer evocative power of African art, and to gain a better understanding of one of the great heritages of mankind. Warren Robbins presents the pieces from the perspective of two civilizations -- Africa and the West. Believing that the works are classical rather than primitive art, his sensitive analysis of the stylistic refinements of the various tribes past and present emphasizes the importance of preserving this art for posterity. The text and captions are presented in both English and French.

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When Mattel's Hotwheels toy cars exploded onto the market in 1968, venerable Matchbox Toys met the challenge with its Superfast line. The successful result is now presented in the largest book on Matchbox Toys ever produced - so big it is two volumes that celebrate 35 years of Matchbox Superfast production with over 7000 color photos and over 10,000 listed variations! The detailed, beautiful photographs are a great assistance to collectors for identification and color reference. The Variation Listings, found in Volume 1, are arranged alpha-numerically by product numbers, making location and cross-referencing easy. Photos are arranged by major product lines, with Basic Models in Volume1, and everything else from Adventure Pack to White Rose Collectibles arranged alphabetically in Volume 2. Superfast models from late 2004 and early 2005 also appear in Volume 2. Each photo includes the product number and name for easy reference to the Variation Listings. To further aid in identification there are helpful indexes by MAN number and model names (actual base names), as well as a general alphabetical index. The model variations have current market prices for each variation. Taken together, these two great books are a must for Matchbox collectors everywhere, a monumental effort by one of the world's greatest authorities! Volume 1: Over 2050 Color Photos of Basic Models Illustrated • Promotionals • Miniature 1-75 Basic Listing • Variations Listing with Values Volume 2: Over 5000 Color Photos of Adventure Packs & Action System to World Class Models with late 2004 Models • Alphabetical Index • Index to Annual Basic Range Listings 1998-2004 by Issue Numbers (MW numbers) • MAN Number (frame number) Listing • Alphabetical Index by Actual Base Names

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Seldom does the début of an antiques publication introduce a completely new area of collecting, but that’s exactly what this book does. The authors turn the world of mid-nineteenth-century French porcelain upside-down through their interpretation of two recently discovered factory books from the earliest years of the Haviland porcelain works at Limoges. Shape drawings from a mysterious volume at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, complemented by paintings and prints from a heretofore unknown design catalog preserved in the Haviland family, reveal the shattering truth that many pieces of anonymous “Old Paris” in collections today are actually Limoges porcelains designed, decorated, and marketed by American entrepreneur David Haviland during his first two decades in France. Anticipated on both sides of the Atlantic as one of the most significant contributions of original scholarship on French ceramics in a generation, this study combines carefully researched text with 450 illustrations, including full-color photographs of previously unidentifiable porcelains and many unpublished documents from archives in France and America. A beautiful volume, it is the indispensable reference for curators, scholars, dealers, and aficionados of French ceramics. Readers will find their views of nineteenth-century porcelains enhanced and transformed.

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For one hundred years, the Fenton Art Glass Company of Williamstown, West Virginia, has been producing spectacular glass tableware and gift items. Displayed in over 870 brilliant color images are the best, rarest, and most coveted of Fenton's early production, from the early 1900s through the 1930s. They include Carnival Glass, American Iridescent Stretch Glass, Freehand Hanging Hearts, Karnak Red and Mosaic, Art Deco Dancing Ladies vases and urns in unusual colors, Two-Tone stretch and opaque candlesticks, September Morn Nymphs, #1639 Elizabeth, Lincoln Inn, and Satin Etchings. Also in this valuable guide are dating and pricing information, important collecting tips, numbers of pieces known in given production lines, and values in the captions. Everyone who loves art glass needs this book!

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In an endearing personal account, Doris Yeske shares her love and knowledge of Depression glass and knowledge accumulated through years of research. This is the perfect starter book for any would-be collector - a gentle and humorous introduction to the hobby starting with the origins of the glass, leading them through garage sales and auctions, and on to a more extensive knowledge of specific colors, patterns, pieces, and prominent companies. For anyone already ensconced in this brilliant world of affordable, attainable glassware, this compatriot is ready to share her stories. More than 240 images accompany the engaging text, complete with current values.

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This four volume set by Thomas M. Johnson, a leading collector and authoritative researcher, has been compiled to serve as a useful and authoritative reference on the daggers of Nazi Germany, and have been designed to aid not only the beginning collector, but also the seasoned advanced collector and specialist. These volumes are the result of many years of arduous research conducted on both sides of the Atlantic, and are a scholarly study that is more than a perfunctory annotation and illustration of the known basic patterns. Also, the series is a study of a culture and the crafts that actually produced the blades, as well as being a manual in the art of collecting them. The embracing scope is both educational and recreational – and it adds a whole new dimension to this popular collecting subject as a whole. Within these books one will see coverage of the historical background; the manufacturing techniques; constructional information; the actual basic patterns; variations and rarities; the art of collecting, and a whole host of other salient facts of absorbing interest.

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Natural swimming pools rely on the correct balance of living plants and micro-organisms to clean and purify the water. They are easy and less costly to maintain than chemical pools. Chlorine and other common pool chemicals that are hazardous to human health are not used. Natural pools are safe places for children to play and birds to drink, and are a dramatic example of ecological design, combining the natural and man-made worlds while creating beauty. These pools offer enjoyment not only in the warm months, but during winter, when they can be used for ice skating. Often the focal point of a garden, a natural swimming pool blends into the environment, flowing into the surroundings with plants and rocks. It reflects the changing seasons and enhances the environment naturally. This book is a necessary resource for people who consider a natural swimming pool. It shows how the natural system works to provide environmental, health, and safety benefits. Drawings, diagrams, and charts help explain their planning, design, biology, materials, construction, planting, and maintenance. Over 300 beautiful color photographs of natural pools will inspire your own water garden, where you can swim in harmony with nature.

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This monumental, two volume set, several years in preparation, includes over 400 color photographs, illustrations and period images from the finest collections in the United States and Europe. For the first time, collectors will see a comprehensive full color photographic lexicon picturing helmets from every unit of the Imperial German Army of 1914. Many of the photographs exhibit helmets of such rarity that they have never been seen outside a select group of advanced collectors. Carefully selected, each photograph and illustration affords the reader information not to be found elsewhere. Presented in a clear and easy to understand format, the detailed text covers evolution of the Pickelhaube from 1842 until 1918, helmet nomenclature, front plates of the Active, Reserve and Landwehr regiments, and identification tables for officer and other ranks helmets. Without a doubt, these are the most extensive and comprehensive books on this subject ever published in English. The information presented here will make this book essential for the novice and advanced collector, military historian and restorer.

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Art Deco style, with its modern forms, rich colors, and brilliant glazes, appeared on the scene by 1910, exploded into great heights of popularity by 1925, and remained popular throughout the 1930s. In 475 brilliant color images worthy of the movement, the Art Deco decorated porcelains from Limoges, France, are displayed. While centering on the work of the talented artist Camille Tharaud, examples from Robj, Edouard Marcel Sandoz, Suzanne Lalique, and Royal Limoges are also included. Among the wares presented are over 500 delicate vases, tea sets, figurines, covered boxes and bowls, plates, and night lights. Additionally, Art Deco patterns and company names, direct from the pattern books of Gerard, Dufraisseix, Abbot, are on display. The detailed text provides an indepth look at Camille Tharaud and his work, with an extensive bibliography, and index. Value ranges for the wares displayed are found in the captions.

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Step aside Roswell: California leads the nation in UFO sightings and encounters, with over 5000 reported incidents from the late nineteenth through the early twenty-first centuries. Documented here are diverse early accounts, including native American UFO encounters, the 1896 California Airship Mystery, and the 1942 Battle of Los Angeles. Hundreds of verified sightings include luminaries, such as Sammy Davis Jr., Cliff Robertson, Jill Ireland, and Ronald Regan. Sightings and landings at California Air Force bases include Edwards, George, Norton, and Hamilton, as well as some over Los Angeles International Airport. Cases are described of healing and surgical implants along with UFO landings, on dry land and off the coast. Color photographs of UFOs in flight and illustrations by award-winning artist Kesara will leave every reader searching the skies, seeking the truth!

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Spencer Coil examines the uniforms and equipment used by the multiethnic Czarist Russian Forces during the turbulent reign of Czar Nicholas II. In addition to a remarkable selection of studio photos, stunning candid photos of front-oviki, or frontline troops, offer an authentic view of trench and battlefield life. Each photo has been carefully chosen and researched to offer the reader detailed information on the medical, motor, naval and air service branches as well as artillery, machinegun, pioneer, infantry, cavalry, and guard troops. There are chapters covering Cossacks, Caucasian irregulars, POWs, St. George Cross recipients and Czar Nicholas II. A full color section of heretofore unpublished photos of original headdress, equipment and accessories used by the armed forces provides valuable information on materials, markings, stamps and construction. This work is an outstanding and indispensable resource for all historians, collectors, re-enactors, war gamers, model builders and Czarist Russia enthusiasts.

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The definitive reference guide for vintage Halloween collectors looking for accurate information on each piece, as well as for designers looking for the best in Halloween graphics. The collectibles showcased span what some people consider the “Golden Years” of Halloween production—1920 through 1949. You’ll be charmed by the artwork of the many invitations shown and wonder how a host ever survived without the myriad party helps. Dozens of die cut items have graphics so vivid they almost jump from the pages! See the artist’s creativity at its best when you pore over the party games and hats. And what Halloween would be complete without the Jack-O’-Lantern? The stock number, initial release year, and object’s proper name, are taken directly from holiday sales catalogs and interspersed with the author’s comments. Over 350 photographs include some never-before-seen items. A value guide accompanies each entry.

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Sixty-five color images of summer cottages and guesthouses create a treasured souvenir for all who have visited New Jersey’s southern cape, and an indispensable reference for anyone who loves Victorian Era architecture and exterior ornamentation. This is a visual smorgasbord of Victorian architecture and ornamentation, adorned with sparkling coats of colorful paint. Gorgeous examples of Carpenter Gothic, Gothic Revival, Italianate, Second Empire, Edwardian, American Bracketed Villa, and Stick Styles are presented. Most date from the late 1800s to the early 1900s, and all are dripping with finely wrought wood bric-a-brac and ornaments. Includes work by celebrated architects Frank Furness, Samuel Sloan, and Stephen Decatur Button. This selection of summer cottages and guesthouses was drawn from one of the greatest collections of late 19th century buildings in the United States.

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This book is a comprehensive study of the Prussian army from its inception in the first standing troops, raised as his personal guards by the Elector Johann Georg of Brandenburg in 1571, to the dramatic defeat of the Emperor Napoleon I at Waterloo in 1815. It was an army whose character and capabilities were formed by the Prussian kings Frederick William I and, crucially, by Frederick the Great. The history of each regiment is presented with details of the uniforms worn, down to the regimental lace decorations and the many grenadier cap plates, the various colonels in chief who owned the regiment and the battles and clashes in which each took part. Not only uniform and saddlery details are to be found here; there is also comprehensive information on the colours and standards carried by each regiment, and their fate if lost in battle. The book is copiously illustrated with over a hundred colour and black and white plates, the majority now published for the first time since they were first executed over two hundred years ago. Photographs of contemporary items have been included, many of them from the Military Museum in Rastatt, Germany. Only the best and most reliable German language sources have been used in putting this work together.

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The islands of Murano, in the lagoon of Venice, have been a sheltered community of glass artists for at least 700 years, leading the world in blown techniques and design of beautiful and functional objects. This new study captures the artistry of Murano glass as well as the multi-generational world of discovery, innovation, alliances, and realliances that have fostered that artistry. With 250 stunning color photographs of Murano glass art and a detailed text that includes historical information and family trees, this book is original in its comprehensive presentation of the artists, both past and present. The seasoned collector will find this an invaluable sourcebook for untangling Murano relationships and tracking individual careers. The novice and curious visitor will find an easy, carefully-structured introduction to the bold beauty of Venetian glass.

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This beautiful and comprehensive volume on easy-to-grow geraniums (pelargoniums) provides a wealth of new information for hobby growers from all climates, including valuable tips on the challenges each region presents. Chapters provide detailed background on the many varieties of geraniums, including scented leaf pelargoniums, zonals, dwarfs, stellars, regals, angels, and more. Hundreds of stunning photographs provide a visual reference of the many colors available. Current and aspiring gardeners will find practical information on propagation and hybridization, pots and potting soils, food and water, and dealing with diseases and insect pests. In addition, many common errors in plant nomenclature are corrected. This is a wonderful reference for everyone who enjoys beautiful flowers, on windowsills or in the garden.

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Trained in the use of the Eureka radar, holophan lights, and colored ground panels, the pathfinders dropped thirty minutes before the main airborne landing to provide ground guidance for successive airborne jumps. The concept of the pathfinders proved successful and they were used during the remainder of World War II. The story of the airborne pathfinders and the vital part they played in airborne operations during the Second World War has rarely been told. In this new book, Jeff Moran tells the story of the operations they led, the equipment used – much of it unique to the pathfinders – and has memorialized them by noting, in many cases, the individual teams of pathfinders.

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Here for the first time is the story of the 356th Fighter Group which flew in the European Theater of Operations during the Second World War. This 9th Air Force unit spent over two years in England, occupying the airfield at Martlesham Heath, in the county of Suffolk. Originally entering combat flying P-47 Thunderbolts, and later switching to P-51 Mustangs, the 356th dispatched its aircraft on 407 missions across the Channel. Between the time of the first, on October 15, 1943, and the final mission on May 7, 1945, the 356th was credited with destroying 277 enemy planes. As the principle of bomber escort was strictly adhered to by the 356th’s leaders, pilots of the group often had to pass up opportunities to engage enemy fighters and increase their scores. While this fact helped earn the 356th a reputation as being a “hard luck” outfit, due to their low victory to loss ratio, the gratitude and praise from the bomber crews more than offset this misnomer.

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During the early days of the Cold War, the Boeing B-47 Stratojet was America's ""big stick"" with more than 1500 operational aircraft available to attack targets withing the Soviet Union, and was the world's first operational swept-wing, multi-jet engine bomber. Beginning with the maiden flight of the XB-47 in 1947, and concluding with the final flight of any B-47 in the 1986, B-47 True Stories details the development and operational history of a remarkable aircraft that the USAF initially did not want. Eventually, more than 2000 Stratojets were built by Boeing, Lockheed, and Douglas aircraft companies.

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For the first time, a detailed history of a little known aspect of the Great War in the air: the forty-two Italian aces. From legendary personalities such as Francesco Baracca and Scaroni to completely forgotten aces, each biography details their personalities, and their combat careers during and after the war. Charts report all their victories, with careful cross-referencing to Austrian and German losses. An introduction puts the air war on the Italian front in perspective, showing the development and actions of the Italian air force including many orders of battle, and brief histories of all fighter squadrons. Over 500 previously unpublished photographs from private sources, as well as twenty-four pages of color profiles of Nieuports, Spads, Hanriots and Macchis provide a stunning visual complement for the historian and modeler.

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A comprehensive look at striking furniture of the nineteenth century Biedermeier era in Austria and Germany. This handsome book features more than 600 authentic Biedermeier pieces, including cabinets, bureaus, wardrobes, secretaries, sofas, chairs, and tables. The authoritative authors provide extensive information on shapes, materials, ornamental features, and regional aspects of this popular furniture. The text covers evaluation and pricing, market trends, and tips on buying, caring for, and proper restoration of Biedermeier pieces. An illustrated glossary and current values are also included in this elegant reference.

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American tattoo master Sailor Jerry Collins of Hawaii is best known for his remarkable tattoo designs, blending the fluidity of Asian motifs into classic American tattoo imagery. Until now, most of Sailor Jerry’s work has been controlled by a handful of collectors, seen only at museum or art gallery exhibitions or in short-run, self-published books. Here is a sizeable portion of Sailor Jerry’s stencils, the newest tattoo collectible, spanning his tattoo career, from the 1940s to the early 1970s. The basic line work of hundreds of his staple and surprisingly beautiful designs—pin-ups, roses, bluebirds, hearts, and banners, and Jerry’s infamous military/political cartoons. The stencils themselves were handcut in celluloid, vinyl or acetate sheets by the master himself for use during his day-to-day thriving tattoo trade in downtown Honolulu. They are, in the best sense, permanent tattoos carved in plastic, enduring through time. In their original condition, most carry residual charcoal dust from their last use. All are signed by Jerry with one of his several distinctive signatures. This is the only book of its kind—a workbook for artists, and a design catalog for folk art historians. The value of the stencils is included, along with descriptions of stencils and their usage and a glossary of tattoo terminology.

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During the Great Depression, glass companies turned to machine made methods to produce inexpensive, colorful glass for the table and kitchen. Green was a popular color for this glassware and its popularity is very evident today among collectors. This book, the first of its kind to extensively cover only Depression Era green glass, contains over 250 color photographs illustrating a wide variety of pieces. Examples of forty-six patterns and brief histories of the glass companies are included, along with a chapter of incidental pieces from such firms as Anchor Hocking, Bartlett-Collins, Federal, Hazel-Atlas, Imperial, L.E. Smith, U.S. Glass and others. Authors Monica Lynn Clements and Patricia Rosser Clements have created an indispensable guide for all who collect Depression Era glass and enjoy the beauty of green glassware.

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Eagerly anticipated, this update of the highly regarded third book from pinball author Michael Shalhoub includes over 900 color photos and covers the most recent period in pinball history, from 1982 through 2011. Each chapter is devoted to a specific year and features descriptions, release dates, and historical background on the games released that year from manufacturers Gottlieb, Williams, Bally, Data East, Stern, Sega, and others. Current values are listed for each machine shown in the book. Interspersed with the games are stories and interviews with many of the legendary designers and artists who created them. Readers will gain fascinating insight into the planning that went into the games, how the designers and artists got their start in the industry, behind-the-scenes tales of life in the pinball world, and more. “Michael Shalhoub’s Pinball Compendium is a great documentary of our business,” says designer Steve Ritchie of the second book in the trilogy. Along with its two companion volumes (the first covering the 1930s-1960s and the second covering 1970-1981), this book is a must-have for all who love the sights and sounds of the world’s great pinball machines.

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This two volume set is a fully illustrated, detailed look at the famous German "stahlhelm" of World War II. Full color photographs - including multiple-view, interiors, and up-close detail - show Army, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Paratroop, and many others. Both volumes have been specifically produced to give the advanced collector the opportunity to expand his or her knowledge, and to compare paint and insignia against their own collections. For the novice or would-be collector, these books are an invaluable reference.

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The Luftwaffe's legendary Gigant (Giant) is covered in this large, detailed, and highly illustrated volume. Wherever the Messerschmitt Me 321 appeared at the front during World War II it produced tremendous astonishment. Most soldiers had never seen anything like it. The huge glider with a wingspan of fifty-five meters was towed by three Bf 110s, or a five-engined He 111Z. Such an aircraft could carry up to twenty-two metric tons of freight: fuel, ammunition, trucks, tanks, 100 fully equipped troops and more. Even the Me 323D version, powered by six radial engines, was capable of carrying thirteen metric tons of freight to the front - and was a juicy target for the enemy. In the Mediterranean theater, they were pitilessly chased from the air and bombed and strafed on the ground. Only one Transportgeschwader was equipped with the Me 323. Everything about the type was strictly secret - even the Gruppen equipped with the type knew little about each other.

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This book is a compilation of helmets collected over the past thirty years, and is intended as an illustrated reference source on the elaborate head dress of the Imperial German Army from 1880-1916. Displaying many rare helmets in full color, large format photographs, the book covers most branches within the army and is organized in alphabetic order beginning with the artillery units, moving through the various cavalry (hussars, dragoons, currasiers) and infantry units, and ending with uhlans - a superb cross section of all the different head dress types. Head dress of the large states like Prussia, Bavaria, WÜrttemburg, and Saxony are well represented, and in addition, smaller states like Hesse, Lubeck, Hamburg and the Saxon duchies can also be found. Other sections are devoted to the helmets of the generals and their staffs, with another showing six examples of the different ranks and models of the rare Garde du Korps helmets. This book is a beautiful, highly detailed source for collectors.

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