Firecrackers: The Art and History (Paperback)

by Jack Mingo (Author), Warren Dotz (Author), George Moyer (Author) "IT TOOK GUNPOWDER to make the modern firecracker, but long before there was gunpowder, there were firecrackers..." (more)
Key Phrases: Company Made, Hong Kong, Fourth of July (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
“A stunning book replete not only with fascinating history, but with the deep colors and unusual artistry of pyrotechnic labels.” -- The Associated Press

“As history and browser’s delight, this is excellent.” -- Booklist

“Fascinating! The same beautiful labels you once blew to smithereens.” -- Forbes

“The artwork is amazing. I got a real bang out of this book!” -- Asian American Journal

“The pictures of vintage firecracker labels alone make it worth the price.” -- Playboy

Review
“As history and as a browser's delight, this is excellent.”—Booklist“Difficult to put down even if you have no interest in the topic . . . it's the glorious art that makes this book shine.” —Associated Press“This is a book of interest to both the historian of the art of popular culture and to the collector of ephemera. . . . This volume has been crafted by a team composed of a writer, a researcher, a collector and a publisher. Its admitted purpose is to display the extensive collection of labels assembled by George Moyer, with the hope that the ‘synergy of talents' of this select group would produce a valuable addition to our knowledge of popular culture and its artifacts. It does.”—Visual Resources

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Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Ten Speed Press; illustrated edition edition (March 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1580081517
• ISBN-13: 978-1580081511
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 9.9 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #287,823 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Experience the Thrill, August 3, 2000

By	Joseph W. (Cupertino, CA) - See all my reviews

This book shows great insite into the history of the firecracker and the intricate artwork involved with the packaging of them. The clarity of the illustrations are wonderful, its hard to believe some of the labels are as old as they are. I highly recommend this book to anyone who can remember the excitement of being able to "set off" these firecrackers on the 4th of July, without worrying about breaking the law. Those of you who were not as lucky to experience this thrill, will definitely find this book fun.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Things you were afraid to ask about firecrackers, July 26, 2000

By	Gary Stewart (Galion, OH USA) - See all my reviews

(As noted in the last pages of this book, firecrackers are now politically incorrect, suffering the wrath of do-gooders, safety mavens and law enforcement. For those of us old enough to remember a pre-"nanny state" summer, this book brings back wonderful memories. By the time I was old enough to get real cherry bombs, they were outlawed. But I could tell a few stories...)

I always wondered how even today, firecrackers in their millions could be produced. The answer, documented in his book, surprised me. This book reveals the fate of the companies whose names appeared on the labels I saw in the 1960s. Ever wonder what happened to Kwong Hing Tai? The authors reveal how the firecracker trade developed in China and made its way to the United States. Even some of today's importers are mentioned.

Technically speaking, the book is well printed and the illustrations are crisp and sharp, not bad for paper originals that may be most of 100 years old. Although not exhaustive, there is good reference for collectors. I'd recommend you to get a copy of this book while it is still available. I look forward to many hours of pleasure leafing through my copy.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A delightful book that will spark your imagination!, July 25, 2000

By A Customer

Just received this stunning book, "Firecrackers: the Art and History" by Warren Dotz, et al and George Moyer. It has brought back a flood of memories of the "good ol days" of my youth. Although I fondly recall blowing off "Black Cat" and "Red Devil" crackers, I had no idea that there were so many other beautiful brand labels produced by so many countries. The images of exploding crackers are reproduced in such vibrant color that you almost have to cover your ears. The authors have apparently gone to great lengths to include archival quality illustrations that really bring to life the historical lineage of firecrackers, from "bursting bamboo" to "atomic bombs". I wholeheartedly recommend this book!