Customer Reviews

Hagen-Renaker (2nd edition) : The Charlton Standard Catalogue

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Charlton Press, a noted publisher of collector's guides, uses authors who are also collectors, as the company feels this provides important insights needed in a collector's guide. From what I've seen, book height and format are consistent between guides. Each book starts with a blurb about the collectible, such as information on the company or the modeling artists. Item listings come next. These include photo (if available), the item name, number, designer, height, color, issue date, and price. Prices are listed in three currencies: U.S. Dollars, Canadian Dollars, and U.K. pounds. An index is located at the back of the book. Also, included are ads from companies, clubs, and magazines that specialize in the particular collectible.

An important aspect of any collector's value guide is the basis of the valuations. Charlton uses a method based on the actual going price in each quoted region. They gain this data by contacting dealers in the various countries and getting the actual prices the applicable collectibles are going for in that area. This method eliminates the fluctuations of currency exchange rates that would occur if the item was listed, say in U.S. dollars, and than an exchange rate applied to calculate the prices for Canada and the U.K. Now we can move on to specifics.

I was very happy to finally see The Charlton Standard Catalogue of Hagen-Renaker, 2nd edition by Gayle Roller. Back in Dec/Jan 1994, I reviewed the Hagen-Renaker Handbook, the book Gayle co-authored with Kathleen Rose and Joan Berkwitz. It was a handy book, but had a big problem. It was out-of-print.

The Charlton Standard Catalogue of Hagen-Renaker, 2nd edition obviously built on the Hagen-Renaker Handbook foundation, but it has some major improvements. The Charlton has the pictures with the listings, instead of separately. The history section has been expanded. A section on production steps has been added. Restoration is discussed. And, of course, the Charlton has more current information. If you've been looking to replace your old Handbook or just to add a H-R guide, the Charlton is a good choice.

No collector of Hagen-Renaker, California Pottery, or animal figurines should be without this exhaustively researched book. The book contains a detailed company history, explanation of the production process, discussions of identification and dating techniques, and more. It is loaded with close-up photographs of almost every figurine produced by this prolific company throughout its 50+ year history. A must have!

Hagen Renaker collectors have waited a LONG time for someone to put together a book like this. With wonderful pictures showing the majority of manufactured pieces, dates produced and the designers, it's a must have for the Hagen Renaker collector. A BIG thank you to Gayle Roller for sharing the time and research that went into the book so that everyone can marvel over the variety and beauty of these creative masterpieces!

This is wonderful book full of photos (black & white) and information about the marvelous pieces from Hagen-Renaker. A resource you'll be glad you have. As a collector & frequenter of flea markets, I don't leave home without it! It's excellent for all levels of collectors from beginner to advanced.

This reference book contains accurate descriptions and black and white photographs of virtually all work issued by Hagen-Renaker from its inception to current as of the date of publication. The catalog is organized in a very easy to use manner, grouped by category (Designer's Workshop, Miniatures, Specialties, Disney, etc) and subcategory (Birds, Cats, Dogs, Horses, Wild Animals, etc), and indexed for fast reference. Also included is a very interesting history of the company, information on restoration processes, and separate sections on associated companies.

I never leave home without my copy, because you never know when you are going to need it. In the last 2 years it has flown across the country several times, and visited Canada a couple of times as well. It's dogeared, pieces I own are highlighted, and current eBay and dealer prices noted in margins, across the tops of listings, or wherever I can fit them. The condition of my copy is the best review I can give it.