cover image ANTIQUES ROADSHOW 20TH CENTURY COLLECTIBLES

ANTIQUES ROADSHOW 20TH CENTURY COLLECTIBLES

Carol Prisant, . . Workman, $34.95 (416pp) ISBN 978-0-7611-2887-8

This lavishly illustrated and enthusiastically written guide to modern collectibles is another success by Prisant (Antiques Roadshow Primer), capturing on the printed page the excitement of the top-rated PBS television series Antiques Roadshow. An excellent introductory essay, "Collecting 101," is a helpful look at the field of collecting itself that includes some tips that even the most experienced collector should remember ("Work on self-discipline"). But this is clearly a book for the novice, and Prisant makes it clear that this is not a definitive work but "a brief overview of the types of collectibles that are brought most often to Antiques Roadshow." Her selection is impeccable, and she provides highly informative chapters on ceramics, advertising, glass, sports collectibles, toys, fashion and textiles, dolls and doll accessories, wristwatches, photography, entertainment memorabilia and furniture. The true beauty of this volume is the hundreds of photographs of the collectibles themselves, everything from Picasso-designed pottery and Miriam Haskell necklaces to a Lou Gehrig–signed baseball and one of Mr. Spock's outfits from Star Trek. Even the more experienced collector will be surprised at the range of artifacts produced in the 20th century. (Aug.)

Forecast:This obviously has a built-in audience of Antiques Roadshow fans, who should make it a solid seller. But the quality of the writing and the illustrations should give the book a long shelf life with the potential to become a perennial favorite among books on collecting and collectibles.