Search results for ""schiffer""

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 A full color section of heretofore unpublished photos of original headdress, equipment and accessories used by the armed forces provides valuable information on materials, markings, stamps and construction.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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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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This book presents vintage, often whimsical, and one-of-a-kind wooden figurine carvings by ANRI, the world-renowned company founded in 1912 in the Dolomite Mountains of northern Italy. Among the more than 2,500 carvings featured are bottle stoppers, bottle openers and corkscrews, bar sets, calendars, letter openers, bookends, humidors, ashtrays, lighters, cigarette boxes, pipe rests, salt and pepper sets, pepper mills, napkin rings, timers, toothpick holders, brushes, salt and serving spoons, spoon and key racks, door knockers, and figurines, including monks and characters from novels by Charles Dickens. Collectors with a wide range of interests will be delighted with the amazing number of woodcarvings shown. This book will amuse and inspire today’s woodcarvers and collectors, novices and experienced devotees alike.

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Here is an assortment of carving projects unlike any other! This book captures the magic and fun of a street-corner band, with eight different personalities jamming away, heart and soul, for passers-by. The whimsical characters are irresistable—you’ll want to clap your hands and sing along with them. Al guides the reader step-by-step through the carving of “Hurricane” Brown, the saxophone player for this wonderful ensemble, from using the pattern, to carving the figure, to painting and finishing it. In addition to the actual project instructions, some very helpful tips and techniques are presented in the introductory section. Beginning and advanced carvers alike will learn a great deal from Al’s many years of carving experience! A colorful gallery introduces you to other members of the band and a chapter of patterns provides the specifics for carving all eight characters.

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The ancient and wonderful art of direct stone sculpture is brought to life in this comprehensive new book by the noted sculptor, Milt Liebson. After a brief, informative historical overview of stone sculpture, he leads the reader through the hands-on experience of sculpting in stone. This is an invaluable book for artists and would-be artists in stone. The types of stone used in sculpture are covered, as well as the basic tools for hand sculpting and the techniques for their use. For the advanced sculptor there is detailed information on power tools and their use, the methods of lamination and repair, the business side of stone sculpture, and other helpful information gleaned from years of experience. Detailed photographs take readers from rough stone to the polished and mounted piece. Already a standard reference, **Direct Stone Sculpture now includes 47 new pictures, updated stone-working techniques, and a gallery of students' work.

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Here’s the help you need for one of life’s most critical undertakings -- making your own coffin. Author and craftsman Dale Power revisits one of his most popular woodworking projects with additional embellishment, adding finery and fancy to what could easily become your final resting place. Easily, that is, since, more than 230 color photos and detailed instructions have been provided to help guide you step by step toward your own casket. This project might truly be your life’s finest accomplishment. The installation of working coffin hardware, both exterior and interior, is explored and the proper application of finishes and linings are explained. Patterns for the coffin are provided, along with two lid designs. The color photo gallery and detailed instructions will challenge the novice and inspire experienced craftsmen.

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Smaller-scale replicas of dream vehicles capture the imagination and touch the child in each of us. Here are Jaguars, Bugattis, Ferraris, Jeeps, MGs, and many, many others, made from 1900 to the present day, powered by pedals, electricity, or gasoline. It covers a spectrum of cars made from the turn of the century to the present day. Over 300 photos of children’s automobiles make this book valuable to collectors, restorers, and researchers alike. Detailed captions for each car explain the model, its unique qualities, current value, and interesting restoration information. A large supplement loaded with catalog material presents children’s vehicles produced by the Tri-Ang company. Both toy and full-size vehicle enthusiasts will stop to enjoy this interesting corner of the automotive world.

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“Vigorous training, hazardous duty.” These were the words that lured prospective volunteers to the First Special Service Force, and that promised, for those who measured up, the chance of getting into the war quickly. Unique during World War II, the First Special Service Force evolved as the amalgam of two Armies, Canadian and American, and the men who filled its ranks were among the hand-picked best from throughout North America. Their diverse and intensive training took them from the dust-covered prairies of Montana, to the bitterly-cold peaks of the Great Divide, to the waters of Chesapeake Bay. Their skillfulness, their remarkable esprit de corps, and their legendary endurance saw them through tough combat missions in both the Asiatic-Pacific and the European Theaters of operation. The Supercommandos chronicles the organization, training, and combat operations of the First Special Service Force during its brief but exhilarating history. Accompanying the broad text are nearly 400 black and white images, most unpublished, including a photo-essay by renowned combat photographer, Robert Capa. As well, there are more than forty extraordinary full-color wartime images of the Force both in training and in the combat zone. Beautifully rendered full-color maps, highly detailed Order of Battle graphics, charts, and numerous facsimiles of noteworthy original Force documents are also included. Completing this volume are over eighty full-color images of exceptionally rare, authentic First Special Service Force uniforms, insignia, weapons and equipment. The Supercommandos offers an unparalleled view of one of the world’s all-time military elites, and will prove to be an invaluable resource for any collector, reenactor, veteran, or historian.

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Holder of the Knight’s Cross with Oakleaves and Swords, Otto Weidinger was the last commander of SS-Regiment “Der Führer.” Among the best field officers of the Waffen-SS, he graduated from SS officer school and served throughout the war. This fully revised and expanded edition of his authorized biography provides a wealth of information for the historian and military collector. Lavishly illustrated with more than 130 photographs and documents, many never before seen, the volume covers Weidinger’s military career and life in complete detail. This vastly expanded classic is an essential study of one of the most decorated officers of the 2.SS-Panzer-Division “Das Reich.”

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The worldwide Studio Glass Movement has stimulated a fresh look at the ancient material by sparking dramatic developments in its use as a vehicle for making contemporary sculpture. In the last 20 years, an incredibly diverse group of important artists and designers have been associated with UrbanGlass: New York Center for Contemporary Glass, influencing the character and shape of the Studio Glass Movement in many different, and sometimes profound ways. This gorgeous volume documents the work of 173 of these artists and designers in over 500 lush color pictures, and celebrates their achievements in art and design using the most exciting art medium being explored today. This book illustrates glass in its full expressive range and suggests exciting future possibilities. An authoritative text by prominent curators, critics, and writers round out this definitive survey.

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The finer points of beer advertising appear with over 500 color photographs of the many sharp or pointed objects associated with beer. Here are beer promoting knives, letter openers, ice picks, scrapers, tongs, forks, cigar and box cutters, scissors, writing instruments, screwdrivers, nail clippers, toothpicks, can openers, fishing lures, sewing kits, combs, golf tees, and much more. Informative and truly entertaining, this book is peppered with beerbits, bizbits, and bullbits, information about the breweries and brands advertised, the makers, a price guide, and a detailed index.

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This new book contains not only a history of the legendary Lafayette Flying Corps, but also detailed biographies of the 269 volunteer American airmen and gunners of France’s Service Aeronautique who flew in sixty-six pursuit and twenty-seven bomber/observation squadrons over the Western Front – also included are the thirty-eight pilots of the Escadrille Lafayette. It is an accurate and absorbing account of the lives and combat experiences of the men who later formed the nucleus of the American Expeditionary Force squadrons. This ground breaking work contains comprehensive research, including details of war casualties and survivors, and many unpublished photographs.

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A hot, new collectible has gone international as great M&M's*r items are being released all over the world! Now M&M's fans can see lists and values for all known M&M's dispensers, toppers, tins, and other items, plus related ads and displays from the USA and around the world. NASCAR M&M's items, French pocket surprises, and examples of earlier collectibles are all included in this expansive and colorful guide. Get in on the ground floor of this fast-growing hobby and join the hunt for "the collectible that smiles back at you!"

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Rich in history and valor, the multicolored woven art known as "tartan" is centuries old but has been codified only since the late eighteenth century. Conjuring images of kilted warriors and lively bagpipes, tartan has survived hundreds of years to become the very fabric of the Scottish nation--as popular today as in years past. "All Scots are color coded," it is said, and in this third of three alphabetically arranged volumes you will find over 400 examples of vividly striped tartans covering the names MacNichol to Yukon. "What are my colors?" is the most frequently asked question of the International Association of Tartan Studies, and chances are you will find them in this beautifully illustrated book. Compiled from the nearly 5,000 tartans in the Association's database and selected by two leading authorities, this outstanding assortment ranges from the simplest to the most complex. Includes brief historical background, definitions of related terms, and thread counts for the tartan weaver. An invaluable resource for families, clubs, historians, and designers.

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As the Luftwaffe’s standard fighter, beginning in 1937 the Bf 109 was produced in large numbers and after the outbreak of the Second World War saw action over every front. With this light, high-performance aircraft Professor Willy Messerschmitt had created a ground-breaking design. The Bf 109 had to remain in continuous development in order to keep pace with advances in Allied fighter design. 1941 saw the advent of the Bf 109 F, a clearly improved version, which was soon replaced by the more powerful and better armed Bf 109 G. The Bf 109 H high-altitude fighter reached a ceiling of 14,000 meters, and the Bf 109 K, the most potent of all the variants of this fighter aircraft, entered production in the last year of the war. This is a complete summary of all versions from the Bf 109 F to K with many photographs, some never before published, and details.

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Here for the first time ever, is a book dedicated to the head-dress worn by the British Heavy Cavalry, both regular, and volunteer of the period 1842 to the present day. It is lavishly illustrated with both colour and black and white photographs of helmets, most of which have never previously been published, together with contemporary black and white photographs of officers in full dress uniform. Each pattern of helmet is fully described, including the type of materials and metal used, the number of component parts, and method of construction for both the officers, and the other ranks pattern of helmet. The head-dress includes the three Household Cavalry regiments from the c. 1842, the seven regiments of Dragoon Guards, and three of Dragoons from 1847, and some twenty-seven regiments of yeomanry from c. 1848 to 1914. Additionally there is a brief description of the pattern of helmet worn by many of these regiments prior to 1842/47, a 'thumbnail' description of the full dress uniform worn, together with the address of the Regimental Headquarters of each yeomanry regiment as at 1914. This book is an essential source of reference for both the established, and new collectors of heavy cavalry head-dress of both the regular cavalry and the yeomanry regiments, and to the student of cavalry full dress uniforms of the period c. 1850 to 1914.

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Monsters of all shapes and sizes stalk the pages of this entertaining and informative "creature-feature." Over 600 color photos capture the incarnations of all the ghouls, mutants, and vampires that ever sent chills up your spine at the theater or in the den, from Alien r to Z-Ton r. Monstrous banks, board games, costumes, fiendish figures, model kits, and wind-ups are included! The collectibles covered in this book range from the early 1960s, when monster toys were first introduced, through the decade of the 1980s and touch upon the recent fare of the 1990s. Whether you prefer monsters from Hollywood or Japan, the silver screen or the small screen, there is something in this book for you. Prices for every item displayed are found in the captions, often with loose and mint-in-package prices.

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This book provides a review of the history behind colourful Depression glassware, descriptions of specific pieces along with their values, and information on how to collect and display Depression Glass. Illustrated with nearly 300 colour photographs, individual chapters highlight premium give-aways, children's sets, unique pitchers and pitcher sets, butter dishes, serving pieces, the decorated Swanky Swigs, reproductions, and much more. Also included are a vocabulary list, a review of important glassware companies, and a bibliography. This book is an excellent guide for all lovers and collectors of Depression Glass.

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In 1983, Cabbage Patch Kids*r inspired a nationwide craze unlike any toy before them, inviting children to "adopt" their very own Kid. Of course, parenthood is a real responsibility--a new baby needs toys, clothing, diapers, and countless other items! Coleco and a host of other toy companies were happy to supply a massive assortment of merchandise for these child "parents" that created a multi-million dollar market apart from the dolls themselves. Now this merchandise is part of a new Cabbage Patch craze among collectors. Here is a guide devoted entirely to the thousands of items surrounding the dolls, including doll furniture and clothing, jewelry, games, miniatures, and school supplies. The book includes almost 600 color photos and up-to-date pricing information.

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This book covers Gulf Oil Company items from by-gone years. Arranged in easy-to-follow alphabetical sections, it has over 700 color photos and descriptions of popular Gulf-related service stations, blotters, signs, pumps, globes, toys, and many more items with current market values. Collecting the advertising, promotional items, and products from Gulf Oil provides a colorful, nostalgic, and never-ending hobby.

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The enigmatic science of military intelligence is examined in this personal record, written by Brig.Gen. Oscar W. Koch, who served during World War II as chief of intelligence for General George S. Patton, Jr., one of the most colorful military leaders in American history. General Koch traces the growth and development of the infant science through detailed accounts of the intelligence role in some of the most celebrated battles of the war, and through his personal remembrances of Patton and his relationships with members of his intelligence staff. His story moves from the African campaign through Sicily, into France on D-Day and on to the Battle of the Bulge, pointing out how the work of the intelligence staff made the differences in the final reckoning. General Koch’s book is more than a historical study, however. It is the exciting story of the operations behind the cloak and dagger illusions.

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French Aeroplanes Before the Great War is a catalog of the aeroplanes of the nearly 700 French builders who worked before the onset of World War I. Most of these aeroplanes flew – some did not – some were never even finished – but all of them reflect the extraordinary vitality and sense of optimism that powered the aeronautical world before the future of the aeroplane began to become clearer in wartime. If the Wrights had not flown in 1903, one of the early French builders would very quickly have won the laurels for the first flight. Some of the machines appear in these pages probably for the first time in print; others are rarely seen. This collection serves as a kind of super Exposition Internationale de Locomotion Aérienne; readers are invited to enter the Grand Palais, as they might have in 1908 or 1909, to enjoy these marvelous aircraft.

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Two thousand nine hundred forty-five men lined up in four motorized columns immediately behind the German Army on June 22, 1941 as it prepared to launch Operation Barbarossa – the German attack on the Soviet Union – an attack designed to win the war. Their mission – for the glory of Greater Germany – was to butcher as many human beings as they could get their hands on – men, women and children who were at that very moment peacefully sleeping in their warm beds in dozens of large cities and scores of small hamlets from the Gulf of Finland to the Black Sea, and from the border with old Poland to the outskirts of Moscow. The field men of the Einsatzkommandos, the men of Bach and Beethoven, Grimm and Gutenberg – and now Hitler and Heydrich – were very thorough at what they did. Over the course of the next two years, by means of machine-guns, carbines, gas vans, explosives, rifle butts or ax handles, the field men would slaughter 1,300,000 people. The Field Men, a companion volume to MacLean’s The Camp Men: the SS Officers Who Ran the Nazi Concentration Camp System, covers the entire gamut, from the organization of the units, to the SS officers who served in this scourge on the Eastern Front. Some 380 SS officers are described in full detail and extensively analyzed. The photographic section of the book contains over 175 photographs, while detailed maps show the locations for each unit throughout the campaign.

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Willy Messerschmitt (1898-1978) was indisputably one of the most significant of Germany’s aeronautical design engineers. This book examines Messerschmitt’s life as a designer, aircraft builder, and businessman; it begins with the Harth-Messerschmitt gliders (1913-1923), winds its way through the sportplanes of the 1920s and 1930s, the M 18 and M 20 passenger airliners, the Bf 108 Taifun commuter plane, the Bf/Me 109, 110, 210, 410 military aircraft, and continues on to the Me 261, 264, 321, and 323 behemoths, as well as the Me 262 jet powered combat plane and swing-wing P.1101. The activities of the Messerschmitt AG after World War II, with the forced interruption of German aircraft production and Professor Messerschmitt’s foreign developments in Spain and Egypt, are also given a thorough treatment.

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Happiness is...a whole new book of Peanuts collectibles! Attention Peanuts Gang lovers! Here is another huge volume of treasures from our favorite crowd of kids. Jan Lindenberger has made another visit to the massive collection of Cher Porges to bring back over six hundred full color photographs of "Peanut-phernalia" not seen in any other book! In the enormous field of Peanuts collectibles, this series is a must, providing the photography, information, and up-to-date prices you need to keep your collection at its best. This is a fantastic book for the serious collector, but it's also a great Peanuts tribute-if you'd rather just play catch with Charlie Brown, get advice from Lucy, play a duet with Schroeder, fly with Snoopy against the Red Baron, or hang around the pumpkin patch to get philosophical with Linus. This book celebrates the wonderful innocence, cleverness, and unique humor of Charles Schulz's Peanut Gang.

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Adversary takes an inside look at the dedicated adversary tactics units within the U.S. Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps. Every unit in this highly specialized group, from the Navy's well known TOPGUN program to the US Air Force's elite 414th Combat Training Squadron is reviewed. The Marine Corps Sniper squadron and Navy reserve units are also covered. Over the course of a two year time-frame, authors Rick Llinares and Chuck Lloyd were afforded unprecedented access to each of the five remaining aggressor squadrons. Join the authors as they go inside the best air combat training units anywhere in the world. Fly with USAF F-16 Vipers, Navy F/A-18 Hornets and Marine F-5E Tigers during actual training missions. Hear directly from actual aggressor pilots as they describe what it's like to simulate the bad guy. Learn how they fly their 'Soviet fighters' against American airman in mock air battles. The book covers the history of the adversary programs in the American military as well as exploring the current air combat environment Modern threat aircraft flown by the former Soviet Union as well as the three American aggressor fighters are also included. Playing the role of the 'bad guy' in the dangerous environment of aerial combat is not an easy task. Adversary pilots must first be superb fighter pilots. They must also be excellent teachers of the art of air combat, masters of their trade. Their job is to teach, to take the best fighter pilots in the world and make them even better. Adversary tells their story in dramatic photography and fascinating text.

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Following the tremendous success of his first book on the subject, The Queens of Burlesque, Len Rothe has again pulled from his collection of original photographs of entertainers this delightful selection of over 100 images of Burlesque stars. Together with a revealing text that introduces burlesque to today's new audience, these photographs retain the surprise and teasing elements that endeared the dancers on stage in the heydays of burlesque shows, before television. In theaters throughout America, striptease dancers entertained grateful audiences. Here are Tempest Storm, Scarlett O'Hara, Lili St. Cyr, Georgia Sothern, and Zorita and her doves. With this book, they look out again with timeless beauty and show you the Bare Truth.

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Slovakia split from Czechoslovakia and formed its own state on March 14, 1939. The Slovak State was born under the auspices of Hitler’s Third Reich and became its first ally on September 1, 1939, when it took part in the invasion of Poland. The Slovak army inherited its weapons, equipment, training manuals and its doctrine from the defunct Czechoslovak Army. Though hampered by a shortage of specialists in its air force, armored units and artillery, it managed to field several division-sized units and sustain them during the initial three years of combat on the Eastern front. Its Mobile division fought its way all the way from the Carpathian Mountains to the Caucasus. In the last years of the war, the Slovak people became more and more disillusioned with the war and with their own semi-fascist government. These feelings led to mounting desertions in the fighting units, and culminated in the Slovak National Uprising in August 1944. Though the uprising was liquidated after two months of bitter fighting, it gave the Slovak nation the right to join the victorious allies and be accepted back into the restored Czechoslovakia. Though the Slovak army was by far the smallest of the armies of Germany’s allies on the Eastern front, it was part of this grandiose “clash of titans” and deserves thus a place in the history of the Second World War. This book describes in detail the composition, dislocation and equipment of all branches of the Slovak army (infantry, artillery, armored and air force) and its operational history through the war years.

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The final stage of the Second World War, with the enemy across the Reich’s borders, saw final desperate battles for numerous “fortified places” and blocking positions. Hitler ordered the defense of these fortified places such as Königsberg and Breslau, Wesel and Kolberg, Danzig, Posen and many others. In these isolated bastions the war-weary German units offered desperate resistance, offered for good purpose. This stubborn holding-on to the last round saved hundreds of thousands of women and children, made possible the evacuation of hospitals and the transport out of surrounded Wehrmacht female auxiliaries. The fates of German soldiers were realized in bunkers and caves, in tunnels and fields of rubble. In the Hürtgenwald as in the Reichswald, during the crossing of the Rhine between Wesel and Emmerich, in the Remagen bridgehead, on the hill at Keppeln, in the Ruhr pocket, as well as in the east of the Reich in the East Prussian pocket, in Pomerania, in Silesia and in the Reich capital. Shocking scenes of apocalyptic battle were played out wherever Hitler’s last bastions held out against the onrushing enemy, whether at the frontiers of the Reich or inside Germany itself.

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This third and final part of the narrative starts with the bitter fighting over Italy, where the Geschwaderstab together with I. and III./JG 53 had to face overwhelming odds in their struggle over both the front lines at Cassino and Anzio/Nettuno bridghead, and over northern Italy. I./JG 53 was later moved to Romania in order to protect the vital oilfields and refineries around Ploesti and later saw further action in Hungary, where it was to take part in the fierce fighting on the southeastern part of the Russian Front in the fall of 1944 and early 1945, eventually retreating into Czechoslovakia and Austria before it was finally disbanded in April 1945 – its remnants amalgamated into II./JG 52. II./JG 53, withdrew from Italy in October 1943, and was the first Gruppe of the Geschwader to be employed on home defense operations, being stationed near Vienna from October 1943 to March 1944 before moving to southwestern Germany, and was the only Gruppe of JG 53 to see action against the Allied invasion forces in the summer of 1944. III./JG 53 also returned from Italy in June 1944 and after a short period of rest and refit was active in the defense of the Reich. When the Allies launched Operation Market Garden both II. and III./JG 53 were called upon to take part in defensive actions. Autumn of 1944 also saw the addition of a fourth Gruppe to the Geschwader with Stab, II., III., IV./JG 53 based along the southwestern sector of the Western Front. For the remainder of the war the Geschwader – minus I. Gruppe – stayed in the southwest where it fought on until the end, retreating deep into southern Germany where the majority of the Gruppen and Staffen were finally disbanded a few days before VE-Day. This final volume of the epic saga of JG 53 concludes with a list of the officers in command of the Geschwader, its Gruppen and Staffeln, a listing of all known victories claimed by JG 53, strength returns, and other appendices.

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Here is the first book written about collectibles from the Standard Oil Company of New Jersey, including Esso, Humble, and affiliate companies. To complete this authoritative guide, the author enlisted help from other collectors and included photographs of their prized collections. The result contains photographs and comments about some items so rare that the only ones known are reproduced here for the first time-this may be the only time you will ever see them. Also photographs of common items are here with comments on their origins. Globes, pumps, cans, signs, map racks, banners, lighters, ashtrays, buttons, toys, knives, and credit cards all will bring back memories. Gas and oil memorabilia collectors and all those with an affection for Esso and Standard Oil Company of New Jersey memorabilia will want this valuable reference work.

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The collecting of Staffordshire figures, a particularly English folk art, has expanded from its origins to include much of the English speaking world. This work, in two books, details and illustrates the range and depth of figures made by the potters. Over 2,900 figures are illustrated in Book One and Book Two, virtually all in the brilliant color which was imperative for the beauty and simplicity of the figures to be fully appreciated. Many of these figures have never before been recorded. A history of the figures, together with many sources and relevant bibliographical details, are included, along with a guide to current prices. Victorian Staffordshire Figures 1835-1875, Book One is the definitive work on Portrait figures, and also includes Naval and Military, and Theatrical and Literary Characters (including Opera, Ballet, and Circus).

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From humble beginnings in the late 1800s, the popularity of cigarettes grew into the twentieth century, until they became far and away the favorite way to enjoy the pleasures of tobacco. To capitalize on the rising demand, new brands were introduced around the world, and every one had a distinctive, attractive pack. Most were executed in rich colors and with graphics designed to catch the eye and capture the imagination of the potential consumer. Today these miniature works of advertising art have attracted a large, international audience of admirers and collectors. This new book presents hundreds of cigarette packs from every corner of the globe, in full color, with vital information about manufacture and price that will be invaluable to the collector. The images themselves represent a fascinating visual history of more than one hundred years of cigarette manufacture.

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