Customer Reviews

The Handbook of Historical Documents, A Guide to Owning History

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Designed completely to make you purchase goods from this pirate king of the autograph world, this book is amateu5rish and ingnorant. The author's father pioneer handbooks for tropical fish, ripped off people for their rare violins, and went to jail for income tax evasion; the son is well on his weay of following suit. All the illustrations are for sael, if you want to pay fifty times what you can buy a similar item selsewhere. His shop is in just the right place to sell Ameriucan history---Las Vegas---and his business is actually on the New York Stock Esxchange, which says more about the flaws in that institution's due dilligence, than it spoeaks to the reliability of the business. Avoid this at all cost; buy something by Rendell instead.

I'm collect rare books and antique manuscripts and this book title is rather misleading. This is hardly a "handbook" on historical documents. You will learn very little about how to start a collection, or the important aspects of collecting. You will learn nothing about telling a forgery from the real thing. You will learn nothing about how to do research on manuscripts or rare books. Most of the book involves autographs and memorabilia and how to display these pieces in frames. The book is written is very large font with lots of glossy pictures and very little actual info. If you want to learn how to frame your rare baseball card or autograph of Derek Jeter, run out and get it. Other than that, pass on this book. I gave mine away.

While I agree with the previous reviewer that Mr. Axelrod's item can be pricey, I feel this book is very informative and comes illustrated with many interesting (albeit high-end) collectibles.

Mr. Axelrod makes many good points regarding details about the hobby not found in other periodicals and he adds a sections on how to consider collecting autographs as a potential investment vehicle.

I feel the previous reviewer was too harsh on this book and I consider it to be one of the better books that I own on this hobby.