Customer Reviews

Depression Glass: A Collector's Guide (A Schiffer Book for Collectors)

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

 

 

This is the one glassware book that sits on the regular bookshelves and not with the others above my computer. While there is some information not regularly included in other glassware books such as brief histories of some of the glass companies and some historical perspective on depression era glassware, the book fails with respect to scope and accuracy. There are misidentifications, unknowns, anachronisms and far too much repetition. The writing style is somewhat amateurish and contains too much irrelevant information like how the author came to own a particular item or how festive this set looks at Christmas. We don't need to see the same berry set in every color that the author has acquired. Much of the glassware shown in the book is not from the depression era and it seems that the book is more of a showcase of one person's mediocre collection rather than a comprehensive guide that collectors would find useful

The book is very nicely done, the pictures are fantastic and clear, prices and info are good. The book, over all is very helpful. The only fault, which is very minor, is it really could use an index! It would make using the book so much easier. But still well worth the money and still very helpful!

I have a big pile of glass reference books because I am always anxious to get more knowledge about pieces I own and their names and manufacturers. I was recently disappointed with this purchase however. The pictures are what attracted me to buy it, but there is no logical order to any of them, and many are repeated after awhile leaving you feeling cheated. Under the pictures, you are lucky to make out which ones are the names of each, and hardly ever does Yeske tell you the actual manufacturer with it and never the years these items were made. For example, she'll say left to right, Anniversary, cake plate $12. No mention of the manufacturer Jeanette. Why not? Takes up not much space in the text! Moderntone, sherbet, $6 with no mention of Hazel Atlas though. I find that very annoying and if this is a reference, how can it be so lacking in information readily found in other books on the subject. At the end she shows a Swedish Modern bowl by Anchor Hocking, but this time she calls it a "bowl by Anchor Hocking" because this time she knows the manufacturer but not the pattern name! She also doesn't know that the production of the piece is mid 60s to 70s and not even depression at all! That is really sad. I may know the information, but if I didn't already learn through other research, I would be learning only a PIECE of the puzzles I was trying to solve. She goes on with some errors as well, for example, she lists a classic Indiana grape candlestick that any milk glass collector would know, as Westmoreland! I own both and there is a BIG difference. These errors and incomplete information makes the reader wonder how this got published as a reference book.

The other major fault here is that too much text is wasted on Yeskes personal taste and opinions, which are fine to offer, but all her garage sale experiences devoted to chapters? Thrift stores, fleamarket experiences, and the bargains she thinks she has gotten comes off more like she is gloating about her finds than sharing. She voices her distaste for those who show up before the garage door opens, like she is annoyed the goodies will be pre-scooped. A book is not the forum to vent these opinions, we came for glass information only.

Toward the end she reviews the same material, a waste of space. I know how to turn back the pages and do my own reviewing. I would like to see OTHER pieces. We leave this book knowing one thing for sure, Doris Yeske loves depression glass. Particularly, the Miss America line from Anchor Hocking in PINK. Her folded top bowl she touts as the beginning of her "addiction" is one of the big focal points of this book, while her price guide I believe is more her own prices SHE paid for the pieces, or got from Gene Florences much more indispensible volumes which are glass collector must haves. His books and others are listed as "research" references in the back, of course.

While I can say this book has some entertainment value for a person who already has a good amount of knowledge, it is useless for the beginner. If you want this as a supplement, that is fine. If you want REAL info concisely structured pattern by pattern, manufacturer, price guide and years of production ON THE SAME PAGE, do like I do, buy more Gene Florence volumes. His are by far the most useful and accurate collectors guides of all.

I am a collector and fan of Depression glass. Doris Yeske's books are excellent references for the beginning collector who is attempting to gain a general knowledge of Depression glass. The chapters range from introductions to the Great Depression through how to find depression glass through specialty topics, such as decorating for the holidays, miscellaneous serving pieces, and more. The pictures support the chapters and do give accurate representations of the patterns and current prices. Her books are not intended to be alphabetized price references - there are plenty of these good books already on the market. Her books provide a refreshing change of pace and a very educational overview of the entire topic. I own every edition of each book, and have never been disappointed in the content or the pictures. Her books, being softcover, are also very affordable as opposed to some of the hard back price guides. I highly recommend these books as great general references.

I bought "Depression Glass: A Collector's Guide" long after I had acquired several pieces. Then I wanted to know their names and types. This book adequately identifies pieces and provides not only their history, but also a history of Depression Glass in general.

Another reviewer said the prices are accurate (2005), but the most accurate prices come from the internet. What this book does is give a starting point and to provide pattern labels. I identified a gorgeous piece from the book that was not identical, but went to the internet, found the pattern, and finally the piece and its worth. There's nothing simpler--just a little detective work is required.

The author explains the popularity of Depression Glass--color and mementos, how to become a collector and where to find pieces, and what to avoid. Depression glass is so-called because it was made during the Depression in bright, bold colors to create bright, cheerful table settings against the bleakness of the economy. Popular colors include light green, pink, ruby, iridescent, amber, white, dark green, cobalt, light blue, topaz, yellow, amethyst, and crystal.

My favorite chapter is about patterns and the displays of so many patterns and types of dishes. This is where you go to find the piece you just bought or are considering for purchase. An interesting piece the author concentrates on is the berry bowl and shows its patterns and colors.

Others popular to collect are creamer and sugar bowls in their array of colors and variety of designs.

Finally, the book concludes with Tips for Collectors, How to be Your Own Detective, and a Glassware vocabulary. Although it can get expensive, this is a fun hobby. Needless to say, I don't buy expensive-- I buy for the fun of collecting. The excitement of finding an affordable piece is priceless!

i bought this book because I was interested in learning more about the various patterns of depression glass that I own and I'm intersted in owning. Ms. Yeske does a great job explaining how her passion for glass began and the things she loves to collect (such as candlesticks and sherbets) and the various ways she uses her pieces and how she displays them.

I have to say that I did not buy this book with the assumption that it was an accurate price guide. It is not. Many of the prices quoted appear to be what Ms. Yeske paid for the pieces herself. And the photos are not as clear and vibrant as those contained in price guides. But if you go into this book knowing that, it is an enjoyable read for any glass collector who knows what it's like to inherit a piece and feel the passion grow.