http://www.planetdiecast.com/ 88831-958 http://www.planetdiecast.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&catid=152&id=88831:plastic-toys-dimestore-dreams-of-the-40s-and-50s&Itemid=2596 Wow, I really enjoyed this book! It's a little bit old-fashioned in its layout, having been first published in 1993, but I think that adds to its charm. It is a very impressive volume with a nice glossy jacket and lovely images for some very unusual items that I had certainly never seen before. It's also very informative about an area of collecting that has not been covered in much depth to the best of my knowledge. Obviously this does not cover every toy made by every company ever, which would likely be impossible, but it's a great overall look at the area. Very entertaining also for those who are not necessarily collectors but are nostalgic for this era and area. ]]> Fri, 29 Jun 2012 16:37:20 +0000 88758-950 http://www.planetdiecast.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&catid=152&id=88758:ernst-paul-lehmann-patentwerk-geschichte-einer-spielwarenfabrik-ernst-paul-lehmann-patentwerk-history-of-a-toy-factory&Itemid=2596 Given how long this book goes back it is incredibly complete (I guess only the folks at the Nuremberg toy museum could really do this given their collection and connections). Unusual for an almost "academic" book it also has plenty of very good photos of Lehmann toys. Overall did the book have a really nice flow and read more like a novel than a history book. ]]> Sun, 18 Mar 2012 22:06:01 +0000 88757-949 http://www.planetdiecast.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&catid=152&id=88757:spielwarenwerbung-der-30-er-60er-jahre&Itemid=2596 This is a fun book and "reading" is almost the wrong term; it is a great book to browse. You will enjoy it if you like toys or graphic design and you will absolutely love it if you are into both. ]]> Sun, 18 Mar 2012 21:49:53 +0000 87907-902 http://www.planetdiecast.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&catid=152&id=87907:plastic-novelties-and-toys-of-the-40s-50s-and-60s&Itemid=2596 This is a really delightful read, written by an avid collector with a huge collection (much of which is used to illustrate the book). The text, while relatively sparing, contains a lot of ideal introductory information for the beginning collector and the illustrations give an excellent overview of what's out there. ]]> Tue, 29 Mar 2011 16:00:00 +0000 87908-899 http://www.planetdiecast.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&catid=152&id=87908:a-schiffer-book-for-collectors&Itemid=2596 This book is a fascinating snapshot of the products from a unique era - toys made in Japan immediately after WW2. The products range from fluffy clockwork animals to cars and are made of all sorts of substances from celluloid to tin. The book is pcked with great pictures and a price guide. ]]> Tue, 29 Mar 2011 13:31:09 +0000 87909-894 http://www.planetdiecast.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&catid=152&id=87909:fast-food-toys&Itemid=2596 Concise and preented in straightforward format, this updated guide covers all the major US fast food outlets (plus a few other restaurants like Denny's, which are sort of on the cusp!) Some international items are listed as well. Not exhaustive in terms of the toy ranges covered, but a good guide to what's in here. ]]> Tue, 29 Mar 2011 12:20:18 +0000 87911-893 http://www.planetdiecast.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&catid=152&id=87911:amusing-playthings-from-the-past&Itemid=2596 A nice mixture of great illustrations and entertaining historical text, this book isn't too heavy on the intricate details of the brands' histories, but does provide a nice overview of the various eras of Japanese toymaking. The items illustrated are fascinating, well-photographed and well-described and range from the beautiful to the bizarre to the downright disturbing (check out the creepy clockwork kids on the back cover!). A particualrly nice touch is the gallery of company logos which will be a boon to anyone looking to get into identifying/collecting these great pieces. ]]> Tue, 29 Mar 2011 12:15:35 +0000 86729-803 http://www.planetdiecast.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&catid=152&id=86729:the-unauthorized-batman-collectors-guide&Itemid=2596 A great guide to Batman stuff from comics to coins and figures and beyond. Text and lists are good, but a wider variety of pics would have been nice although what's there (mostly showing comics) is really good. ]]> Mon, 17 May 2010 13:21:18 +0000 83236-662 http://www.planetdiecast.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&catid=152&id=83236:james-mays-toy-stories&Itemid=2596 While most TV-show tie-in books are little more than cash-in attempts to sell some merchandise off the back of a TV series, this one is a little more imaginative and better thought out. The stories behind the individual episodes of the Toy Stories series are told in droll fashion by May, giving us a really good look into the logistics of staging the show. However, the book doesn't stop at that. It also gives us the histories behind the individual toys used (Airfix, Lego, Plasticene, Scalextric etc), which are decently-researched and well written in an informative yet entertaining way. It also adds numerous interesting and useful appendices, including lists of Airfix kits and Scalextric cars issued by year, a graphical depiction of Lego brick colours and more, plus some more similar sections that are purely for infotainment - like the list of unusual practical applications Plasticene has been used for. A genuinely excellent gift book for Xmas, this is one you won't be seeing 20 copies of in the charity shops come Boxing Day! ]]> Fri, 13 Nov 2009 17:41:38 +0000 77873-448 http://www.planetdiecast.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&catid=152&id=77873:toys-and-prices-2009-toys-and-prices-2009-&Itemid=2596 That must be a tough assignment, recording all toys! I think the effort is mastered almost as good as can be. But of course the problem is that the book only touches the surface on almost all brands. I would think it would be a good tool for general antic dealers but not useful for collectors. ]]> Thu, 19 Mar 2009 16:58:07 +0000