Customer Reviews

The Complete Cookie Jar Book (Schiffer Book for Collectors)

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Mike Schneider has provided an invaluable service to cookie jar collectors everywhere. Mike was the first author to include the dimensions of the cookie jars and to shoot the cookie jars from the top of the finial. With all of the reproductions out there today, it is hard for beginning collectors to know which cookie jars are original and which ones are reproduction.

Mike's innovative approach to photographing the cookie jars from the top of the finial gives collectors a whole new perspective on what the cookie jars look like and I think this is important.

Other authors of collectibles books owe Mike a debt of gratitude. His detailed descriptions of cookie jars, including their dimensions, make his cookie jar book the standard by which all collectibles books should be written. I find that many authors miss the small details when it comes to writing about their collectible of choice. Information pertaining to the year of production and the dimensions, along with the color variations it was produced in, are the key to educating collectors. Mike Schneider delivers all this and more in his book.

This is one book that no serious cookie jar collector should be without.

Now in its fourth edition, The Complete Cookie Jar Book by Mike Schneider is a 312-page catalogue and price guide of collectible and antique cookie jars. Filled from cover-to-cover with full color photographs illustrating each of the more than 2000 cookie jars featured, The Complete Cookie Jar Book is a superbly organized, expertly informative, and inherently fascinating resource for collectors and curiosity seekers with an interest in this traditional piece of kitchenware.

The book is excellant on coverage of McCoy and American Bisque. However it is weak on several makers-- Sierra Vista, Metlox, Lefton etc. The pics are outstanding. I find the values assigned to be too high generally. It is a beautiful book,but there are more comprehensive books out there.

As of July 2007 cookie jar values have plummeted on Ebay. I would estimate people are willing to pay 50 % or less than in 1999 or 2000. The cookie jar collecting bubble burst. Examples-- A Hull Barefoot Boy did go for 200 easily. One recently started at 79 dollars and received no bids. A Shawnee Smily or Winnie dressed up in Shamrock or Chysanthemums (sic) etc was about 200-225 in 2000. I got each for about 100 DOLLARS this summer.
If you like cookie jars-- the time to buy is now. For folks that bought jars in the late 90s, your collection is worth 50-60% less.
Point-- this book's values are way out of date and using them will result in your paying way too much. Better to go on Ebay and watch for awhile or look at what jars you want went for recently via Searching History.
The pics are great-- but as i said in late 1999, the coverage is not comprehensive of all makers-- focusing mainly on McCoy and American Bisque

Book was o.k. but I felt it was a little outdated. The pictures could be update to look more visually enticing. Still great as a reference tool.

close to the same volume as schiffer had a few years earlier.i would recomend this book to the beginer cookie jar collector

"The Complete Cookie Jar Book" is exactly what is advertises - an excellent guide to cookie jars. The author provides substantial background on each featured manufacturer, as well as providing good photos and physical dimensions of many jars. There is even some advice on how to spot fake jars, which can be invaluable to a new collector. While the prices are a tad out of date, this is to be expected in a currently fluctuating market. Although there are some errors in this reference book, they are so infrequent as to be inconsequential when compared with the over-all value of the text. For new and old collectors, this book is a Must Have.

This book helps price cookie jars before you buy, plus it gives you ideas on what you would like in your collection. Well worth the price of the book.

Mike Schneider put his all into this book and it shows. Seamingly weaved full color pictures with nice insight make this book a must for true collectors. Mr. Schneider's price quotes for the pieces featured are quite accurate, I have found. Schneider's pictures are illustrative and of very high quality. Having taken all the pictures himself, he shows talent on both sides of the book writing job. I collect many things and I am glad to see that Mike Schneider has written other books to cover these collectibles.

This is to collector's books what the Bible is to religion. That means that this book covers it all. The pictures are precise and wonderful and I find the prices listed to be extremely accurate. Schneider has done it again with this gem. His other books are just as good.