Collector's Encyclopedia of Depression Glass [Illustrated] [Hardcover]

Gene Florence (Author), Cathy Florence (Author)

Book Description

Series: Collector's Encyclopedia of Depression Glass | Publication Date: July 15, 2007

Since the first edition of Collector's Encyclopedia of Depression Glass was released in 1972, it has been America's #1 bestselling glass book. Gene and Cathy Florence now present this completely revised eighteenth edition with 156 patterns and more than 400 beautiful color photographs. With the assistance of several nationally known dealers, this book illustrates, as well as realistically prices, items in demand. Dealing primarily with the glass made from the 1920s through the end of the 1930s, this beautiful reference book contains stunning color photographs, vintage catalog pages, updated values, and a special section on reissues and fakes, discussing 13 different reproduction patterns. Once again all the pieces in all the photographs are identified and cross-referenced with their listings. This dependable information comes from years of research, experience, fellow dealers and collectors, and millions of miles traveled by full-time glass dealers Gene and Cathy Florence, America's leading glassware authorities. 2008 values.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Depression glass as defined in this book is the colored glassware made primarily from 1928 to 1940, in colors of amber, blue, black, crystal, green, pink, red, yellow and white. It also centers around the inexpensively made dinnerware turned out in bulk by machine and sold through small stores or given away as promotional or premium items. The authors have studied realized prices from many sources across the country and have tried to make them reflect today's market as accurately as possible.

About the Author

A collector since childhood, Gene Florence's hobby of buying and selling glassware turned into a full-time career. First writing a book on Depression Glass, Florence has gone on to author many popular glassware titles including books on Depression Glass; Occupied Japan Collectibles; Kitchen Glassware; Very Rare Glassware; 40s, 50s, & 60s Glassware;Elegant Glassware; Stemware; Glassware Pattern Identification; Anchor Hocking's Fire-King; Glass Candlesticks; and Salt & Pepper Shakers.

Cathy Florence, graduated with honors and a coveted voice award from high school, attended Georgetown College where she obtained a French major and an English minor, then married her middle-school sweetheart Gene Florence. In the mid-80s she authored a book on collecting quilts, harking back to skills taught her by her grandmothers; and she has since co-authored many books on glass with husband Gene.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Collector Books; 18 Revised edition (July 15, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1574325590
• ISBN-13: 978-1574325591
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 8.6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #400,054 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Dissapointing, April 30, 2009

By 

L. Balser - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Collector's Encyclopedia of Depression Glass (Hardcover)

I have been buying Gene Florence's glass books (Depression, Elegant, 40's-50's-60's, Kitchen, Fire king)since the late 1980's. I have kept them all to use as they have different pictures. I've seen him branch off from a few books to a lot of books. For years his books were the leading resource to buying glass. In the last few years I have noticed a decline in his materials. I started buying Barbabra Mauzys glass books to go along with the ones from Florence. Florence was sadly way behind in getting up to date reproduction news in his books-Mauzey was much more up to date with describing the fakes pouring on the market. Mauzy's book have WAY more pictures. Mauzy seemed to price items a little higher than I was seeing, while Florence priced items a little lower. I found a good medium in comparing the two. I have dealt in selling glass since the late 1980's-in Antique malls and on the internet. When this edition of this book & his new 40-50-60's book came out I rushed out to buy them. I have NEVER been more disappointed in a buying experience in my life. Florence slashed prices in both books on almost all of the patterns by 40, sometimes 50% or more (seriously-a cherry blossom pink dinner plate only listed as being worth $1 ?!)! I, and other dealers have been noting the fact that with each edition he is seeming farther and farther out of touch. I believe his age and time in the field is showing and he is getting ready to retire?....sad thing is it looks as though he's trying to take the glass business with him. I plan to never again buy any of his books (unless they're dirt cheap on here for picture value only). I say if you want a book with lots more pictures, more information, more patterns, and more up to date reproduction news-don't buy this book-buy Mauzys!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An Essential for New Collectors, September 6, 2007

By 

Bethany A. "badgrl352000" (Los Angeles, CA via WI) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Collector's Encyclopedia of Depression Glass (Hardcover)

Like many people who collect depression glass, I stumbled into it while breaking up housekeeping in my grandmother's house last summer. As we went through her cabinets and packed up the things she couldn't take to her assisted living facility, I found numerous pieces of pretty colored glass that I took simply because I enjoyed the various colors and patterns. When my mom suggested that some of it was depression-era glass, I went to the library and found a previous edition of the Florence's book and went nuts when I saw what these pieces were worth. My grandma did too! Later that fall, the book was indispensible when we were cleaning out my great-grandmother's house to put it up for auction. I found 5 large boxes full of glass. This book was very useful in helping catagorize what I had, and how much to insure all of it for.

This edition of the book is great because of it's photographs of each pattern. It makes it very easy to identify a lot of pieces just on sight. It also contains extremely useful information on reproductions which is fantastic to have when looking for glass, particularily at flea markets, estate sales and online where a lot of people mislabel patterns. The pricing is also helpful so you can see when people are simply trying to make a huge profit, rather than asking a reasonable amount.

The reason I only gave this book 4 stars, though, is because there are many patterns that are not included in this edition. In the foreward, it's stated that not all patterns are contained because it would cause the price of the book to increase. However, by excluding several patterns, you are forced to purchase another book which means spending more money as well. The book is also difficult to bring along to antique stores because of it's size--most stores won't let you bring in a large purse or bag. But overall, if you are a new collector or looking to become one, this is an important book to have in your library.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 19th Edition-Great except index & table of contents, December 3, 2007

By 

Brian S. Walker - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Collector's Encyclopedia of Depression Glass (Hardcover)

Updated for 19th Edition (last one, they retired):

Well, the 19th edition is almost identical to the 18th edition with the exception of prices. That is not a bad thing. (I created a real index for 18th ed, so when I updated it the 19th edition I saw only a few pages were modified). They have FINALLY gotten realistic with pricing, the common pieces dropped by 50% and the rarer pieces dropped by 25% or so. I know dealers and hoarders don't like it, but sky-high prices stopped casual collectors dead in their tracks. With shipping, eBay prices come out about right for MINT pieces. Prices at retail don't regularly sell above this book price (you'll see plenty marked higher, but they've been sitting on the shelf for years.)

This is the best book out there for dealers of depression glass, but the authors/publisher once again forgot a usable index or table of contents. To make matters worse, some patterns are still alphabetized as No. ###. No index of alternate names (some patterns have 3 or 4 commonly used names). The table of contents is the same as the alphabetical listing by page, totally useless. The official company name is the pattern name it is ordered under, regardless of the popularity of other names.

Pictures are great. Verbiage for patterns normally indicates the marketability of the pattern, but wish there was a prominent "popularity score" above each color the pattern comes in. Some colors in some patterns have absolutely no buyers, at any price above a buck or two, which is an extremely valuable piece of information. Would recommend using --,-,+,++.

They use a purist definition of depression, so you'll have to also buy the 40s 50s 60s book and the Elegant Glassware book to complete your reference of what is commonly known as depression glass (the Mauzy's book is much better at selecting patterns to include). There are pictures for about 1/2 of the pieces available, and generally a larger closeup for pattern identification. My success of pattern identification from the photos is probably 95% (best we've seen). Reproductions are listed in the back, not as useful as being integrated into the "real" pattern pages but still very useful.

If you are a collector, I would highly recommend purchasing this book before it goes out of print. The authors have retired. This is considered the "bible" of depression glass.