Customer Reviews

Warman's Matchbox Field Guide: Values and Identification (Warmans Field Guide)

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

It's hard to believe that so much information is packed into such a little book. It's the big little book for Matchbook collectors. The photo quality in this book is second to none. Although the prices of these gems are always in flux, it is great to have an updated price guide. The history, collecting tips and listing of online resources contained in the book are treasures in and of themselves.

Most Matchbox guide books are encyclopedic in size. This is the first one I've found that is easy to take with you to toy shows, garage sales, and flea markets. The photos in the book are outstanding. The helpful collecting tips are well-written and are sound advice for collectors. All in all, I'm very pleased to recommend this book. Mine already has considerable wear, and I'll probably be needing another one by Christmas (hint to family)!

This is one fine little book. The pictures are superb and the text is short and concise. This book would work well for the seasoned collector as well as a collector that is new to Matchbox.

Awesome purchase. This little book is wonderful for any car
lover of any age. I am very happy with this purchase. My 5
year old never leaves home without it.

Only includes the basic models and does not address the many color, wheel, and other variations that exist. For exampple it shows that #30 is worth $60, but there is a variation that has sold for as much as $13,000 so don't rely on this book because you wouldn't even know that variations existed.

This just arrived today. I bought it for my dad for Christmas. He is new to Matchbox collecting and I think he will enjoy looking through all the full-color pictures. Caveat: the book is about 5x5 inches square. I thought it was bigger, but no problem. It's still a fun book. The best part is I bought it from a private seller on Amazon for only $.19!!!! You cannot beat that price!

I recently started collecting die cast vehicles so the primary reason I was interested in this book was to know just what's out there. This book mostly covers the real old stuff, there's only a brief coverage of the post Lesney produced vehicles. Maybe collectors like Larson are mainly interested in the old stuff of their youth and this certainly would be a great little flick through book (it's not small enough in size to fit in even the pocket of the most obese sized person's clothing) for collectors of that era but a lot of us younger "newbies" are also interested in the newer stuff too. This book is published in 2008 so there really is no excuse for at least a good sample of vehicles up to 2007 not being here. Every Matchbox car I own is not listed in here.

I'm more into the entertainment themed vehicles myself and I was really interested to know what other Character Cars were manufactured besides the ones I've come across. I've stumbled across a few different Matchbox vehicles marketing various movies and wondered if Matchbox has a range that rivals what Johnny Lightning has out there. I am familiar with the Star Cars but whenever you come across there on an online site they are still in the blister pack and I would have like to have been able to see what they look like loose to see how close resemble actual vehicle in show/movie. I really just wanted a guide that shows a wide selection of what's out there (I realise a complete guide is all but impossible). This book holds none of those answers that those like myself interested in later vehicles are after.

This book does have very nice photographs of the small number of vehicles it does cover. It's size does mean it fits nicely into the palm of your hand if you want to carry it around a garage sale or something but as mentioned it's way to big to fit in a pocket. It is also fairly heavy meaning elderly people who struggle to hold thicker heavy books (a demographic that is where the older Matchbox models make up a large percentage of collectors) would struggle to flick through this. Those readers would be better of getting the full size version instead.

Upon reading this new book from Tom Larson,it has finally shown that there is room for a pocket guide amongst all the other "big" heavy Matchbox collector books. This book can be carried easily anywhere you want. Study up on your Matchbox hobby as you go about your travelling. Carry it to Toy Shows, diecast conventions, and even to the local antique auctions. It is small,light, full of brightly colored, well shot photos of all your favorite Matchbox cars and trucks. There is even some rare vehicles,sets, and other accessories shown. With accurate Price quotations for "Mint In Box" models,you are surely to enjoy this work for years to come.
For the price, you can't beat it!
Definitely worth every penny.
Finally, a beautifully compiled Matchbox toy car collectors guide.
It will be a hit, Just watch.
Thanks Tom :)
just another fine book in the Warman's series.
Kudos to Krause Publications for jumping on this one.:)

sincerely
Burney Reid
"Diecast Enthusiast"
Coquitlam, B.C.
Canada

It can help any Matchbox Collector. The highligh is the set of photos. So complete.

This book is very welcome as it will increase many people's enjoyment of collecting Matchbox models. Due to its easy availability and reasonable price it may even attract some more people to this wonderful hobby.

With its compact size it is ideally suited for carrying around to toy shows and flea markets, where it can be used as an aid in identifying models one might come across.

While experienced collectors may be slightly disappointed at the lack of detail and some embarrassing and sometimes misleading mistakes (which have no doubt been caused by the tight deadline pressure under which the book was written), this book is perfect as an introduction for beginners.

The quality of the many pictures is first class, and the introductory pages in the front section of the book, including a well-written summary of Matchbox history and useful collecting tips, are a must read for anyone interested in the subject.

Congratulations to Tom Larson on this fine achievement!