Look at Abraham Lincoln through others' eyes, seeing history in an entirely different light. While historical text details what Lincoln thought or did and how he planned his actions, the collector of Lincoln holds tangible items, revealing how society saw or portrayed the president. Through collectibles, Lincoln is revealed not only as politician, but also as the subject of painters and sculptors. His influence on society and politics is brought to life in a way which can't be produced in a purely historical or biographical text. The first president to be photographed and have his photographs...

The Incredible Ball Point Pen tells the story of the ball point pen's painful development, its cacophonous launching, the public hysteria accompanying its debut, and its outrageous and scandalous promotion. It recounts the fabulous riches which followed, the public's rapid and total disillusionment with the product, the collapse of the market, scientific breakthroughs in the 1950s, the industry's resurrection, myriad improvements occurring from 1950 to 1959, and the modern period from 1960 on. This is the most exhaustive work available on early ball point brands, manufacturers, and models. It...

This wonderful book has become the standard pocket guide in the field. It is just what collectors need for quick and easy reference...and its newly updated prices make it invaluable. Both handy and beautiful, it shows over 500 pens and pencils in nearly full-size color photos and provides short histories of nineteen main manufacturing companies. Concise, helpful information with each photo includes a guide to the price of each pen and pencil.

Ronson's place as a leader and pioneer in the manufacture of fine decorative metal wares from the 1900s to the mid-1930s is documented here. In addition to cigarette lighters, for which Ronson is most readily known, the company, then known as Art Metal Works, also produced a diverse selection of metal bookends, hood ornaments, statuary, aquarium and plant stands, clocks, pipe holders, desk sets and accessories, figurines, novelty items, lamps, boxes, toys, incense burners, and much more. With descriptive captions and information from original company catalogs and advertisements, alongside...

This book chronicles the history of Halloween in the 20th century through the evolution of related costumes, Jack-O'-Lanterns, decorations, candy containers, and other treats. One could easily view 20th-century Halloween costumes as being a road map through popular cultural history--they reflect fads, television, space exploration, movies, comics, and personalities that shaped the past hundred years. Historians, collectors of Halloween items, and students of popular culture will find this book offers delightful insight into the styles, variety, and current values of ever-popular Halloween...

The rich and diverse world of fluorescent minerals is explored in this sweeping survey. Breathtakingly pure colors, with their ethereal glow, immediately capture your attention. Did you know that color television is a result of the study of fluorescing minerals? Fresh finds of fluorescent minerals are showing up regularly around the globe, and their collection is an entertaining and popular pasttime. To help the collector, over 825 photos display the minerals both as they might be found in daylight and in under the effects of ultraviolet light. Written for the collector and the merely...