Search results for ""Schiffer Publishing, Ltd.""

Paul and Camille Bolinger present a how-to guide for creating whimsical wooden Christmas figures that sit on shelf edges to decorate all holiday homes. Inspirational as well as educational, Edge of Christmas contains the patterns for nine new woodcarvings, including a Teddy Bear, a Moose, Snowmen, and, of course, some Santas. The great design ideas and decorating touches shown by Paul and Camille are sure to help you perfect your carving skills and expand your ability to a new level. Through easy-to-follow instructions and helpful practice exercises, the “cut out and glue up” techniques detailed instruct novices and old hands alike on how to produce eye-catching figures faster and with more confidence. The design ideas and patterns include ideas on the different beard, mustache, nose, and eye styles, while also encouraging and allowing room for carvers to develop unique and imaginative designs of their own. With the showcase of figures featured in the picture gallery, this book is certain to bring inspiration and innovation to any carving technique, spurring carvers into a carving frenzy.

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Match Holders for Tabletops and Walls, by Jean and Franklin Hunting, is destined to be a major source of information for the collector as well as the antiques dealer. The Huntings, of Hunting House Antiques, have been in the antiques business for over twenty-five years, and have participated in major antiques shows from coast to coast. They put their years of experience and love for collecting into a much needed book on match holders. From the common kitchen tin match holder to the elaborate Victorian porcelain piece for the parlor, Match Holders for Tabletops and Walls contains 541 photographs with descriptions as well as information on the history of matches and match holders, and tables of information on United States invention and design patents and their time frames. This up-to-date value guide is an invaluable reference for those wishing to insure their collections, for dealers doing appraisals, and for the novice who is just beginning the pleasurable hobby of collecting.

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Only Texas, of all the states, can boast of a heritage that includes the army and navy of an independent nation. Throughout the ten turbulent years of Texas independence its military was engaged in constant warfare against enemies within and without. Its regulars were backed up by a militia described as "the most formidable, for their numbers, in the world." Contrary to the image projected by Hollywood and most historians, even in Texas, they were smartly uniformed and equipped with the latest in weaponry. What did these long-forgotten uniforms look like? Texas insignia and flags? Writer-artist-historian Bruce Marshall has discovered the answers in archives in Texas and Mexico, in old diaries and letters and sketches by those who wore or saw them. With his internationally-honored art he has recreated the uniforms in twenty-six full color illustrations, supplemented by fourteen photographs - including the only two known of uniformed officers of the Texas army and navy.

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An art form often ignored gets its due in this collection of historic prints. The abstract genre, as it has been applied to the textiles of everyday life--from upholstery fabrics and curtains to the wearable art we don daily--is explored through photographs of 300 fabric swatches from couture houses in Italy, France, and the United States. This colorful volume is a must-have for up-and-coming textile and fashion designers ready to take a lesson from their anonymous predecessors in the everyday gallery of art.

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Velma Susanne Warren's latest book on golden oak is an important addition to every oak furniture collector's bookshelf. Using over 700 color photos and related graphics, the author leads us through room after room of fabulous antiques. With detailed commentary on the pieces in the photos that the reader is seeing, the author describes, instructs, and amuses as we follow her guided tour. Faithful readers of Ms. Warren's first book, Golden Oak Furniture, now in its third revised edition, will be enthusiastic about More Golden Oak. With pleasure, they will turn page after page of photos of beautiful golden oak tables, chairs, bedroom sets, desks, and other handsome, sturdy glowing furniture, none of which they have seen before. New readers are in for a delightful experience. All will value the price guide and descriptions as useful tools for many years to come. So settle in for a good read-preferably in a golden oak rocker-and enjoy!

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Cleve Taylor takes to the road, steering readers effortlessly through every step needed to carve an impressive and humorous caricature of a motorcyclist and his bike. Over 225 color photographs illustrate Cleve’s clear, concise instructions. When this basswood figure and his bike are complete, instructions are also provided for painting and aging. Patterns are provided for both the figure and the bike. The gallery photos at the back of the book feature additional biker figures by both Cleve Taylor and some of his carving students. For additional inspiration, three color illustrations by caricature artist Bruce Day round out the presentation. This book is sure to be inspiring for beginning carvers and a real pleasure for experienced carvers.

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Debbie Barr captures the lighter side of women’s daily lives in her carvings, lives filled with triumphs and travails. Debbie takes her readers step-by-step through the process of transforming a block of basswood into a lively caricature with concise instructions, sound advice, and over 250 color illustrations. Once the carving is complete, instructions are also provided for painting the figure. Eight patterns accompany the text. A photographic gallery rounds out the presentation, displaying additional figures sure to provide inspiration and insight to every carver. This book will present satisfying challenges to beginners and will be a joy to the more advanced carvers.

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More than 300 historic fabric samples from the mid-1920s and 1930s provide a visual textbook of design ideas prevalent during the Art Deco era. These were the everyday fabrics used for housedresses and curtains, adorned with the era's predominate geometric creations and spiced with the exotic inspirations that spurred one of the most popular artistic movements of all times. This book is an invaluable reference guide for costume historians and a treasure trove of inspiration for designers.

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Featuring over 1000 color photographs, this expansive guide to Cracker Jack covers all manner of company collectibles from advertising copy, books, catalogs, and crates to packages, premiums, photographs, and sales stimulators. The items detailed in this thorough work span the twentieth century from c. 1910 up through 1998. Values for the items shown are provided. Only the toys retrieved directly from Cracker Jack boxes are excluded here, covered by the author in a separate volume. As if this were not enough, other product lines produced by F.W. Rueckheim and The Cracker Jack Company are also displayed and discussed, along with the candy-coated popcorn and peanut confections created by early competitors. Everyone who has ever opened a box of Cracker Jack will find something of interest inside this Cracker Jack of a book!

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They're hot, they're shiny, and they're oh-so-glamorous. The mettle of movie star wardrobes, the spark that lights brides' eyes, and the flash that marks music videos-metallic fabrics have defined glamour for half a century. This book revisits metallics past, with historic fabric swatches from Europe and Japan dating back to the 1950s, and takes us to today's top European couture houses in a visual exploration of metallics' allure. In all, 237 pictures will provide inspiration for designers and insight for fashion historians.

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1950s vintage clothing, from formal to classic, from party clothes and sports attire to underwear and sleepwear, is shown and described. Over 450 color photographs of American clothing for the whole family, adults and children. These styles hold a strong place in the Fifties Look that became popular around the world.

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"A picture is worth a thousand words." There is no better description for what the art of the cigar box label did for sales of cigars from the mid 1800s through the 1930s. Busty women, heroes, impish children, sports icons, composers, all these and more found their way into the advertiser's art. The makers would change labels at the drop of the hat if they thought it would help sales. This new book shows hundreds of the finest examples from the world's largest private collection of cigar box label art, revealing the imagination and creativity of the printers and lithographers of the period. Each is shown in a beautiful, full color photograph and is accompanied by a description with a current value on the collector's market. This is a visual delight, sure to please cigar aficionados, but also to be much valued by collectors, designers, and students of advertising history. And it makes a great gift for the smoker in your life!

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Tom Wolfe returns to an old friend of his, Santa Claus. In his own special way he leads the carver through each step of the carving process. The result is a traditional Santa in stride, heading for the reindeer pen to hook up for the Christmas flight. He is accompanied by old Rudolph, who looks a bit bewildered by the night that lies ahead. Every step, from the blank to the painted Santa, is documented with a color photograph and a clear instruction. Patterns are provided for the project, the reindeer, and several other interesting Santas. A gallery of the other Santas is included for reference to the other possibilities. This is a book for all to enjoy and learn from!

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Fashions from elephant bells to tube tops, Joe Poltorak takes readers on a visually unforgettable cross-country tour of fashions that faded, and colors that will never dull. Enjoy the visual punch of printed polyester shirts, the sock of psychedelic paisleys, and a parade of pop T-shirt icons. An invaluable reference for collectors, the author presents brand new clothes, salvaged from dusty warehouses and storerooms. Nearly 450 photos show these treasures in all their glory, as well as being modeled in modern-day context. The book includes a foreword by nationally syndicated style writer Patricia McLaughlin.

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In the early days of television, people attempted to protect themselves from the new machines with bright talismans--creative lamps that provided back light that was believed to protect the eyes. These lamps took on fantastic forms, the most popular among them being panthers and other animals like Siamese cats. They came in any number of forms, though, and sometimes doubled as vases or planters. Herein nearly 400 photos explore the many forms of TV lamps, from a barnyard full of horses, roosters, ducks, and swans, to all manner of conveyances like boats, wagons, and cars, and an international collection of people and faces. Current market values are provided for the collector and antiques dealer.

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With more than 2300 marks illustrated and brief histories and cross-references of more than 1600 manufacturers, this is the most comprehensive reference source on the subject. To compile the information presented here, the authors devoted much time researching numerous sources. These include various editions of Trademarks of the Jewelry & Kindred Trades, U.S. Patent Office records, silver and jewelry catalogs of manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers, records of companies still in business, and pieces examined in antiques shops all over the country. This fifth edition includes new trademarks, additional companies, and brings to date the many changes in company ownership during the last decade.

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Welcome to the world of McDonald's*r Pre-Happy Meal*r Toy collecting-Americana at its best! This book chronicles the colorful and nostalgic toys distributed by the McDonald's Corporation from 1955 through the creation of the Happy Meal concept in 1979. Here are detailed descriptions and over 850 color photographs of all early promotional items and premiums distributed by McDonald's, colorful stories surrounding the McDonaldland cast of characters, and a complete, chronological listing of the jingles, slogans, signs, and themes used by this prolific organization through the years. Check-off boxes and a comprehensive index are provided to help in organizing your collection, plus the authors' established numbering system is used to identify all items. You'll want to complete your McDonald's library with the Losonsky's companion volumes: McDonald's*r Happy Meal*r Toys from the Eighties, McDonald's*r Happy Meal*r Toys from the Nineties, and McDonald's*r Happy Meal*r Toys Around the World. Now join Ronald McDonald and all the McDonaldland characters on an irresistible tour of McDonald's Pre-Happy Meal toys!

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Spindrift is a collection of true seagoing anecdotes about the experiences of three brothers, each of whom served aboard U.S. Navy ships during his service. One of the authors was a Torpedoman Second Class on U.S.S. Barbero, a guided missile diesel submarine in the early 1950s. The second author served as a seagoing Marine Corporal aboard the aircraft carrier, U.S.S. Wasp during the 1960s. The third author, a career Naval Aviator, served aboard a number of aircraft carriers over a 33 year career ultimately retiring as a Rear Admiral. The three authors present to the reader three different perspectives and three different writing styles about three different periods in the history of the U.S. Navy. The perspectives are the submarine service, the seagoing Marine Corps aspects of life aboard an anti-submarine warfare aircraft carrier and the attack carrier Navy. The book is divided into four parts: the first deals with life aboard diesel submarines in the 1950s as well as nuclear-powered submarine operations in the 1970s. The torpedoman, Dan and his aviator brother, Paul provide the anecdotes in this part. Part II deals with surface ships operations over a thirty year period (1952-1982) and is written exclusively by brother, Paul, the aviator. Part III deals with aspects of aircraft carrier operations over the same thirty year period and is written by the Marine, Bob and his aviator brother, Paul. Part IV deals with women in Naval Aviation and the anecdotes contained therein come from the experiences of the aviator. The subject matter of the anecdotes ranges from the sublime to the ridiculous … interspersing humor with adventure, and excitement with introspection. The underlying theme of the stories stresses the notion that the sea services seem to contain more than their share of genuine, all-American characters.

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This book recreates the ambiance of the ocean liner era by showing the actual objects used on board. Each piece of ocean-liner memorabilia is like an Aladdin's lamp, releasing wondrous memories of that grand style of travel. Beginning in the late 1890s, shipping lines forged their identities by commissioning unique furniture, china, silverware, glassware, vases, ashtrays, playing cards, menus, and stationery. These types of items characterized the different ocean liners, from the Normandie with her elegant Art Deco furnishings, to the stainless steel gleam of the S.S. United States, to the old-world luxury of the Queens.

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Field gear and inert weapons and ordnance have long been popular items with militaria collectors. The Vietnam War by its very nature offers an incredible range and variety of these items for the interested collector. The North Vietnamese and their puppet troops of the National Liberation Front (Viet Cong or VC) relied primarily on communist allies (Russia, China, North Korea, Cuba and various Eastern Bloc countries of the era) for their weapons and field gear. For this reason, Vietnam represents a microcosm of gear from all of this century's wars, dating back to World War I, as well as a wide range of improvised weapons and equipment. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the variety of hand grenades used by the enemy, including Russian, Chinese, North Korean, Eastern European, French, Japanese and even modified, captured U.S. grenades. Although impossible to completely catalog the extreme variety of weapons and field gear used by the PAVN and VC, author Edward Emering has made a determined effort to present a wide overview of the weapons and field gear used from the late-1950s through the modern era. He has been aided in his goal by obtaining access to the world class collection of the National Vietnam Veterans Art Museum, located in Chicago, Illinois and by material from a number of extensive private collections. This book will help both the serious collector as well as those individuals interested in acquiring only a token piece of history to avoid potentially costly mistakes. A value guide is included.

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Welcome to the exciting world of fast food toy collecting. Over the years fast food restaurants have distributed hundreds of toys based on Disney characters. This book contains a thorough listing and price guide for all of your favorite toys and over-the-counter promotions. Hundreds of color photographs give you a visual reference for fast food figures from around the world. There are listings for toys dating back to 1987, organized by year, country, and restaurant to help you pinpoint that missing or unknown toy, and to assemble your want list.

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This book covers, in photographs and detailed text, the different types of bridgebuilding equipment used by the Wehrmacht in WWII.

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The medium PKW of the German Wehrmacht is described in both photographs and text.

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Woo hoo! Here, at long last, is a guide to the ever-expanding world of collectibles inspired by America's longest-running animated sitcom, "The Simpsons." Since their first appearance in 1987, the Simpsons have lent their familiar faces to literally hundreds of items, from dolls and action figures to clocks and cookie jars. With over 500 full-color pictures of Simpsonabilia that range from the everyday to the obscure, Robert W. Getz invites you to join him as he braves this forbidding, spiky-topped Everest. Prefaced with an essay that traces the history of the show and the reasons for its long-lived popularity, The Unauthorized Guide To The Simpsons Collectibles has something to offer every Simpsons collector, from the beginner to the die-hard fan, including a guide to current prices.

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Popular carved wooden jewelry and novelties, from the 1920 to 1950 era, are attracting attention at antiques markets because they are delightful design images and happy reminders of a by-gone age. With over 425 color examples to delight the eye, this book gives readers a wonderful variety of items that often incorporate Plastics, Bakelite, and Lucite. The jewelry includes bracelets, necklaces, and charming figural pins in design themes encompassing of water creatures, military, cowboys, Indians, animals, fruit, nuts, and more. The related novelties include advertising and kitchen items, buttons, masks, clothespin figures, pictures, toys, and more. Value ranges are included with the captions.

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Souvenir plates have long been representatives of America's history, whether commemorating special events or depicting places. Souvenir plates make attractive collectibles for several reasons, including their affordability and the fact that they come in a variety of designs and shapes. Popular Souvenir Plates has captured the versatility of the souvenir plate with examples that date from the 1880s through the present. More than 530 color photographs document plates depicting all fifty states and Canada, along with a sampling of European designs, each with its current market value. The work of American firms represented are Harker Pottery, Homer Laughlin, Kettlesprings Kilns, Edwin M. Knowles China Co., Sabin Industries, Salem China Co., Syracuse China Co., Vernon Kilns, and many others. The work of noted English potters such as Staffordshire, Adams, Jonroth, and Rowland and Marsellus are present. A chapter on foreign plates shows a variety of foreign-made souvenir ware including the beauty of "Made in Bavaria" and "Made in Germany" souvenir plates. This book and price guide is a valuable reference for anyone with an interest in souvenir plates.

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Zsolnay ceramic art from Hungary, featuring over 400 color photographs, covers the three main periods of Zsolnay production: 1868 to 1897--Folklorism, Historicism, Victorian Eclecticism; 1897 to 1920--Art Nouveau; and Art Deco; and 1920 to the present--Modernism. An entire chapter is devoted to Zsolnay marks to help identify the pieces. There are almost 11,000 different forms of domestic Zsolnay art works; 700 were issued in 1900 alone, and there are many undocumented forms imported in England and America. Along with the charming miniature, green-glazed, multi-figural series that Zsolnay is most identified with today, there is a wealth of earlier pieces to be found. A value range is given for each item in the book.

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Having spent much of its quarter century of military service in the shadows of more glamorous aircraft, the tough, hard-working H-43 helicopter is brought to the forefront in this long overdue account. Recounting the personal experiences of aircrews, and with dramatic incidents and exclusive illustrations, Wayne Mutza brings to light the H-43’s unique development and numerous accomplishments. The complete details of the helicopter’s colorful past, which have long remained in obscurity, are presented for the first time in this fascinating volume. Coverage includes early U.S. Navy and Marine Corps Service, U.S. Air Force crash-rescue, combat in Southeast Asia, foreign use, commercial operators, and unusual variants and survivors. Whether pulling flyers from fiery crashes, rescuing airmen from enemy lairs in the jungles of Southeast Asia, aiding hurricane victims, or flying plane guard duty off carriers, the H-43 proved itself a most distinct and capable brand of helicopter.

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Convair B-36: A Comprehensive History of America’s “Big Stick” is a collaborative effort edited and co-authored by Meyers Jacobsen exploring the history of one of SAC’s air giants, the six-engine Convair B-36. From the origins of the use of six engines on bombers from around the world, along with the history and development of SAC and the use of its numbers of B-36s, this book will give the reader a greater amount of information than has ever before been published on the Convair B-36. Included with the technical and historical aspects of the B-36’s use in SAC, are first hand anecdotes and accounts from the men who serviced, flew, and proudly served in SAC under Curtis LeMay. There are also detailed sections on the electronic countermeasures and various armament configurations applied in the B-36, as well as chapters containing information on B-36 attrition, and detailed accounts of the survivors that exist to this day. A wonderful book for aircraft historians, modellers, and SAC enthusiasts.

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Having an Al Streetman book is liking having your own personal carving instructor sit down on the back porch with you. His easygoing Oklahoma ways and his patient, soothing voice are evident in the simple instructions, as though he were right there with you, carving blade in hand, leading you through the simple step-by-step task of characterization. And that's where the Streetman's true brilliance lies—he is a master of the character, and this book is rich with them. There are 30 patterns, with something for every holiday of the year, in here. Streetman's instructions, clear photos, and meticulously drawn patterns will make an expert of beginners, and offer experts a challenge. Many people simply trace his well-drawn patterns on thin flat board or cardboard and paint them for tree ornaments.

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Most people know the toy "Etch A Sketch," but relatively few know that Ohio Art Company produced it and some of America's most beautifully lithographed popular toys. Over 400 color photographs of toys from the 1920s through the 1980s and the text explore the evolution of Ohio Art. Catalog pages, information for determining dates of production, and a guide to current values make this a must for toy collectors.

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Dee Hockenberry brings home some of the world's favorite storybook characters and cuddle partners in a pictorial review of teddy bears and dolls. Enjoy Raggedy Ann and Andy, Beatrix Potter's delightful creatures, the Golliwog, all the absurd characters from Alice in Wonderland, and Winnie-the-Pooh and his adventurous pals. Explore the bear's evolution since first made famous, and welcomed indoors, by Teddy Roosevelt. Punkinhead, Paddington, and storybook characters like The Three Bears and The Busy Bears are pictured and described. A collectors guide, this book provides current values for memorabilia about these lovable characters in their many incarnations.

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Gulf Oil Collectibles by Charles Whitworth covers over one hundred different categories of Gulf collectibles, containing over 500 different pictures in full color of everything from cans, signs, promotional items, and clothing, to toys and many other Gulf related items. If it's Gulf, its probably covered in this book. The values here have been established based on the author's years of collecting Gulf Oil memorabilia.

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This is the most comprehensive guide to salt and pepper shaker series ever published. Never before have so many shaker series been pictured in one book. Shown in full color are more than 850 sets, making up more than 125 series. Included are well-known names such as Rosemeade, Ceramic Arts, Lefton, Enesco, and more. This will be an indispensable reference book for both beginning and longtime collectors who have always wondered which sets "belong" together. Measurements, manufacturers, countries, and current values are provided. If you have never had an interest in salt and pepper shakers before, this book will open your eyes to a wonderful collectible!

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Rustic furniture is showing up in the most unusual places. It stands in the midst of the most modern furniture in a place of honor as a piece of folk art or sculpture. This one-time country mainstay, now graces the most elegant apartments of New York City or Beverly Hills. Larry Hawkins is one of the leading producers of twig mosaic furniture, a variety of the rustic motif that utilizes the great variety of color and texture in the bark of twigs and trees to create wonderful patterns on the furniture surfaces. The results are fantastic creations, destined to take a predominant place in any room setting. Larry takes the reader/craftsman step-by-step through the process of making a three drawer chest. The techniques learned along the way can be applied to any number of furniture forms, many of which are shown in the gallery. Every step is illustrated with a full color photograph and a precise description of the processes involved.

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Many of the great modern classic furniture designs of the twentieth century are still in production and available to the public in America and abroad. There are also many recent designs destined to become classics, because they share many of the same qualities of modern furniture already in museum collections and sought after by collectors. This volume, with 600 color photographs and detailed captions of a representative sample of the best modern furniture available, is the first source book to focus only on designs that are currently in production, and to present them in full color. It is both a history of modern design and an international shopping catalog. The indexes of 250 designers and companies and the list of sources will enable the reader to locate each item for purchase or for additional information. This book will serve as an indispensable and handy reference for decorators, interior designers, architects, and collectors, plus acquaint the general public with extraordinary designs that are generally only known to the trade.

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This book provides a pictorial overview of the progress of American military airplane design from approximately the end of World War I to the present time. It covers all types including attack, pursuit or fighter, cargo, trainer, and other models via a series of type sections. There are introductions to each section followed by photographic coverage along with extensive photo captioning providing highlights of characteristics and service use. Thus over three quarters of a century of Army and Air Force airplanes are displayed. Primary sections include production airplanes and variants, and a following photo gallery section covers experimental models. A few important export military types are also included. The illustrations and text portray in quite dramatic fashion the advances in U.S. military plane design over the period, including progress from “stick and wire” craft to the latest sleek turbine powered types.

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“Tomcat Alley” contains over seven-hundred images depicting the venerable F-14 Tomcat, bureau number by bureau number. Each U.S. Navy Tomcat is traced from date of delivery through February 1998. After a brief introduction, informative captions provide details concerning every Tomcat model, modification, and the fate of each aircraft including those stricken due to operational accidents, retired to the “bone-yard”, or resting as “gate guards” at military installations around the country. The majority of Tomcats are shown in full-color with images displaying every paint scheme worn by the F-14, including many water-based schemes applied during various tactical exercises and deployments. Images also include every squadron commander’s aircraft, nose art, tail colors, over 150 patches and insignia, bicentennial schemes, and Tomcats which participated in Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm. Additionally, the Su-22, MiG-23, and Hi-8 killers are depicted along with “movie star” Tomcats from “Final Countdown,” “Topgun,” and “Executive Decision.”

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This book is the history of V./(Z)LG 1, a Zerstörergruppe (destroyer-group) which, like most of the Luftwaffe destroyer units equipped with the Messerschmitt Bf 110 twin-engined heavy fighter, was disbanded at the end of 1940 after suffering devastating losses during the Battle of Britain. From the remnants of these Zerstörer units evolved night-fighter units; in this case I./Nachtjagdgeschwader 3 which was derived from V./(Z)LG 1. Only a few of the airmen who continued to fly operationally survived the end of the war. Covered are all air operations during the campaigns in Poland, France, and in particular detail the Battle of Britain, where the unit suffered heavy casualties that led to their reformation in October 1940 as I./NJG 3. Included are over 500 photographs from the personal archives of surviving air- and groundcrewmen – nearly all are previously unpublished. Detailed appendices list casualties, air operations, documents and other data.

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This is a brutal story – but, from the safety of fifty years distance in time – it is an extremely compelling one. It is also an enduring lesson that a military unit, formed under an evil ideology, led by a social outcast and composed of vicious criminals, will sink to its lowest common denominator – hate. The Dirlewanger Battalion, also known as “Sonderkommando (special commando) Dirlewanger” was perhaps the least understood, but at the same time the most notorious German SS anti-partisan unit in World War II. German propaganda correspondents and wartime photographers did not follow them in action. And for good reason. Wherever the Dirlewanger unit – named for and led by Oskar Dirlewanger – operated, corruption and rape formed an every-day part of life and indiscriminate slaughter, beatings and looting were rife. Formed as a battalion of convicted poachers in 1940, the unit operated in Poland until 1942, guarding Jews in forced labor camps and making life miserable for Poles in Lublin and Cracow. From there Dirlewanger spent two years combating partisans in central Russia, giving no quarter and expecting none in return, during vicious fighting against an elusive foe in the midst of inhospitable swamps and dismal forests. In 1944 Dirlewanger savaged Warsaw during the Polish Uprising, before moving to Slovakia to crush another rebellion there. The end of the war saw the unit, which was now a division in size, fighting for its life south of Berlin against the Soviet Army. Medieval in their outlook on war and certainly not indicative of many German military formations, this unit none-the-less remains a reflection of a segment of mankind gone mad in the inferno of World War II on the eastern front. Size: 6" x 9" over 50 b/w photographs, maps, fully annotated

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Spanning more than five decades of fabric design, Plaids is an invaluable visual reference guide for designers. With more than 550 full-color photographs of printed and woven plaids, this colorful book provides a sweeping survey of plaid fabric designs, from the standard checks and gingham patterns to the farthest reaches of designers' imaginations. Special sections detail variations in plaid styles, including imitation weaves, hound's-tooth, harlequin, florals, and novelty prints. The book also includes French and Italian couture fabrics and more than 150 traditional Scottish tartans. Plaids is the most comprehensive pictorial guide ever produced on the subject.

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The colorful and charming decorations on French Quimper pottery (pronounced Kem-pair) have made it a popular ware for over 300 years. Brightly clad men and women, many in the traditional clothing of Brittany, and other designs, reflect the Celtic heritage of Breton culture: its rolling green countryside, grazing animals, and small fishing villages. Over the years, a tremendous amount has been exported to North America and England. Quimper faience has been produced by three primary factories in the French town of Quimper, and this book explains, compares and contrasts the factories and their products. Today old Quimper ware is collected avidly here and abroad and the new ware is cherished. 290 clear color photographs, makers' marks, and the useful, newly updated price guide make this a necessary reference for all who are interested in ceramics.

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For the cigar aficionado, a proper humidor is absolutely essential for the safe storage of favorite cigars. Dick Sing offers his design for an eye-catching cylindrical humidor to the discriminating craftsman and connoisseur. In this book, he provides detailed instructions on the design, turning, and finishing of this distinctive humidor. Helpful hints and practical advice useful to woodturners of all levels are provided. The instructions are accompanied by over 180 color photographs, illustrating each step. Details are presented not only on the construction of the humidor, but also on the proper lining materials and equipment necessary to maintain the optimal humidity level within the confines of the humidor. A photo gallery at the end of the book provides additional inspiration.

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Ideas, ideas, ideas... they filled the rooms highlighted in 1950s advertising by Armstrong, the leading maker of flooring and ceiling products. Here you will find over 350 photographs of room interiors that appeared in popular magazines from the '50s, inspiring the looks we now associate with that decade. Each one offers new decorating ideas that set the standard for the 1950s with furniture, floor coverings, accessories, and home improvements. Examples include a boys' bedroom that can reflect changing interests as the boys grow into their teens, a living room whose interior can be converted from summer to winter decor in just an hour, and a den with a "secret life" as a guest room. These were refreshingly new ideas in the 1950s and are still practical today. If you want a crash course in imaginative interior design of the 1950s, this is the book you must have.

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Collectible Enameled Ware: American & European is a celebration of those vintage wares that humbly served in the kitchens and households of the past, but have since achieved status as highly sought-after antiques. It's not only American-made enameled ware that's creating such a stir.European enameled ware, with its vibrant colors and spectacular graphic designs, is also highly in demand. A concise text and over 375 color photographs with value ranges offer antiques dealers, collectors, and interior designers a close-up look at the beautiful examples of enameled ware produced throughout Europe and the United States between the late 1800s and 1940. Decorative patterns, floral graphic designs, one-of-a-kind items-these are but a few of the attributes that lead many collectors to think of antique enameled ware as relics of a lost art.

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In this new, extensively researched volume, U.S. Army uniforms – including enlisted soldiers, officers, insignia, and headgear – from the years 1848-1873 are examined in exacting detail. For the first time, original accounts from official reports, diaries, and other primary sources will be combined with color photographs of extraordinary surviving specimens, hundreds of important black and white images, as well as artwork from the period to tell the story of what the American soldier wore during these years. Army Blue represents more than twenty years of research in major institutions and private collections throughout the United States, and offers a concise overview of a topic which promises to be must reading for collectors, modelers, and curators alike.

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California Raisins*t lovers no longer need rely on the grapevine for collector information. Here is the authoritative illustrated guide, complete with more than 500 color photographs of collectible items and their values. Born of popular advertising and projected to near stardom, the California Raisins*t held sway in the United States for nearly a decade. Begun as an advertising venture to promote a farm product, the Claymationr characters actually became their own industry. Starting with figural characters distributed in everything from fast food to fast car promotions, the California Raisins*t soon appeared on everything imaginable, from bed linens to wallets. They even starred in their own books, games, and, of course, videos. The entire range of Raisins collectibles is represented in this captivating and irresistible work.

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Children's printed handkerchiefs have a rich two hundred year history going all the way back to America's beginnings. Along with delighting generations of children with their colorful designs, these highly collectible items have also served a social and educational role. The earliest reflected Puritan influences, tending to be instructional, religious, and moralistic in nature. As industrial growth and prosperity changed, the very nature of childhood, sports and games, nursery rhymes, and fairy tales became more common subject matter. By the early twentieth century, storybook and comic strip characters began to appear, soon joined by such popular figures of mass culture as Mickey Mouse, Raggedy Ann, Davy Crockett, and Howdy Doody.

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