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There's still time to order a book or two on collecting vintage Christmas ornaments, decorations and lights, either for a gift or for yourself. These books are a sampling of what's available at Amazon.com, and ordering two or more together will give you free shipping!
This paperback from Schiffer Publishing was published in November, 2002, and is already difficult to find. If you are interested in ordering it from Amazon as a gift for the holidays, you might consider giving a gift certificate instead, so the recipient can order the book after Christmas. Robert Brenner is a respected authority on collecting vintage Christmas ornaments, and has written other titles for Schiffer. Following upon his Christmas: 1940-1959, this volume focuses on the second half of the twentieth century, from the 1960's to the present. You'll be especially interested in his focus on the highlights of each decade in respect to the technical innovations. The values are given as current as of the time of publication. There are over 500 photos to help you identify ornaments and decorations. This is a good reference volume for collectors of modern ornaments. The list price is $29.95, although you may find a better price among the used listings. Constance King's book, published by the Antiques Collectors Club, is a little older than Brenner's volume, as it appeared in 1999. The author follows the evolution of the modern celebration of Christmas from the mid-1800's to the present. She includes traditions such as the Yule log, Nativities, angels and fairies, and the Christmas tree. Using her own collections, she relates these "modern" artifacts to their roots in ancient pagan ceremonies and medieval celebrations. Vividly illustrated, the book covers far more than just collectibles and ornaments. Amazon carries it for $27.65, and you can probably order it now and receive it by Christmas. You'll want to take this new (2004) edition, published by Collector Books, with you to the antiques shows and flea markets, although in its 400-page hardcover version you might decide on a backpack! This is really a directory or price guide, without much narrative. With nearly 2000 illustrations, the descriptions include size variations, manufacturer, reproduction information, rarity, and current values. There are brief notes on history as well. Available from Amazon for $20.97, with quick delivery. Go To Page: 1 2
For a complete listing of article comments, questions, and other discussions related to Barbara Nicholson Bell's Antiques & Collectibles topic, please visit the Discussions page. |
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