Antique Diamonds

Sterling Flatware Identification and Value Guide

Book Description
2002-2003 Price Guide. This identification and value guide has many major manufacturers of silver illustrated throughout. Makers such as Gorham, International Silver company, Kirk-Steieff, Oneida Ltd., Reed & Barton, Saart Bros., Tiffany & Co., and many others. There is also catalog reprint from the Towle Silversmiths Company of their Old Colonial Pattern. This revised second edition is 8 1/2 X 11". The book is completely indexed and pricing is found in the front of the book after the table of contents.

The Antique Hunter's Guide to American Furniture: Chests, Cupboards, Desks and Other...

Product Description
The Antique Hunter's Guide to American Furniture is an indispensable reference and collecting tool for novice and experienced collectors alike. Expertly researched, each of the 334 representative examples of chests, cupboards, desks, racks, stands and other pieces-from Federal to Colonial Revival to Mission to modern-are photographed in full color and accompanied by an authoritative description of the variations, materials, origin, and (if known) maker. Price listings and tips help both casual and serious collectors find great buys and identify valuable pieces. An extensive reference section includes a checklist for identifying styles, a discussion on construction and types of woods, an illustrated glossary, a list of public collections, tips for buying at auction and much, much more.

Back Cover Copy
This handy, authoritative guide contains over 300 premier examples of American case furniture-chests, cupboards, and desks-built from the seventeenth century to the mid-twentieth. From Federal, Chippendale and Empire styles to country, Mission and mid-century modern, this splendid array of furniture has been photographed, appraised, and categorized specifically for the collector. Each photograph is accompanied by an extensive caption that examines the maker, year of manufacture, materials of the piece, and hints for collectors such as the scarcity of the piece, demand, condition, and points to check before buying. An up-to-date price guide rounds out this indispensable guidebook.

The Antique Hunter's Guide to American Furniture: Tables, Chairs, Sofas, and Beds

Product Description
The history, price range, manufacturer background accompanied by a photograph of each piece of furniture allows both first-time collectors and experienced connoisseurs to identify and appraise American antique tables, chairs, sofas and beds whether they have been found in the basement, at a garage sale, consignment shop or flea market.

From Shaker to Mission to mid-century Modern, these antiques from the seventeenth century to the 1950s -- 347 in all -- are described by an in-depth text. An index, upholstery guide and list of public collections help readers evaluate antiques like pros.

Publisher Description
Also available in this series: THE ANTIQUE HUNTER'S GUIDE TO AMERICAN POTTERY & PORCELAIN, THE ANTIQUE HUNTER'S GUIDE TO AMERICAN FURNITURE: CHEST CUPBOARDS, DESKS & OTHER PIECES, and The ANTIQUE HUNTER'S GUIDE TO AMERICAN SILVER & PEWTER

The Diamond Makers

Product Review
"Utterly absorbingHazen makes the story profoundly exciting, conveying the scientific passion of the researchers.It's a gem." The Washington Post

"Glittering prize.Read it and spread the word." New Scientist

"Hazen tells the very interesting and gripping story of the manufacture of artificial diamonds in this find book." Choice

"illustrate[s] some of the best attributes of science writing" Bloomsbury Review

"a first-class, fascinatingly well written history of the exciting developments that led to the creation of diamonds even from peanut butter." Science Books & Films

"Robert Hazen's The Diamond Makers is a compelling, nontechnical narrative covering centuries of history related to diamond, centered mostly around brilliant, often eccentric and controversial pioneers of research at high pressuresThe Diamond Makers is the first mahor publication to cover the whole period from the human point of view, while maintaining scientific integrityHazen gives a thorough and exciting account of the history of diamonds and the efforts to synthesize themAs one of the surviving diamond-makers, I an able to vouch for the thorough and open-minded interviews Hazen conducted." Physics Today

"this book will appeal to the interested laypersonIt was immensely satisfying to be able to put their entire story on context and have it come alive through Hazen's book." American Mineralogist

"There is virtually no way that The Diamond Makers could miss being an excellent work of great interest to geologists, mineralogists, gemologists, and science historians as well as the layman who enjoys a good reada fascinating bookThe story of diamond synthesis research is so excitingly told that any lay-person, even relatively young ones, would have a hard time putting it down once started and by the time he or she gets to the last page they will have painlessly picked up a lot of science and, most important, have come to realize that science can be pretty exciting stuff." Earth Sciences History

Product Description
Since time immemorial, we have treasured diamonds for their exquisite beauty and unrivaled hardness. Yet, most of the earth's diamonds lie deep underground and totally unaccessible to us--if only we knew how to fabricate them! In The Diamond Makers Robert Hazen vividly recounts the very human desire to exceed nature and create a synthetic diamond. Spanning centuries of ground-breaking science, instances of bitter rivalry, cases of outright fraud and self-delusion, Hazen blends drama and science to reveal the extraordinary technological advances and devastating failures of the diamond industry. Along the way, readers will be introduced to the brilliant, often eccentric and controversial, pioneers of high-pressure research who have harnessed crushing pressures and scorching temperatures to transform almost any carbon-rich material, from road tar to peanut butter, into the most prized of all gems. Robert M. Hazen is the author of fifteen books, including the bestseller, Science Matters: Achieving Scientific Literacy, which he wrote with James Trefil. Dr. Hazen has won numerous awards for his research and scientific writing.

The First Time Investor : How to Start Safe, Invest Smart, and Sleep Well

Product Description


From the end of the 1990's bull run to today's point-and-click electronic trading, investors face a radically transformed trading environment. The First Time Investor has been updated to teach beginning investors everything they must know in this new, high-speed investment arena. Along with the basics, it now features in-depth discussions on day trading, decimalization, the expansion of the global marketplace, and more--as well as a valuable new section on the top 10 things people must do to protect their 401(k)s.

Download Description
From the end of the 1990's bull run to today's point-and-click electronic trading, investors face a radically transformed trading environment. The First Time Investor has been updated to teach beginning investors everything they must know in this new, high-speed investment arena. Along with the basics, it now features in-depth discussions on day trading, decimalization, the expansion of the global marketplace, and more--as well as a valuable new section on the top 10 things people must do to protect their 401(k)s.

The Great Book of Guns: An Illustrated History of Military, Sporting, and Antique Firearms

Product Description
From the invention of gunpowder more than 1,000 years ago in China to the latest Metal Storm firing system with electronic ignition, The Great Book of Guns presents a historical approach to the development of firearms and their place in world events. In chapters on Pistols and Revolvers, Rifles and Shotguns, Submachine Guns, and Heavy Machine Guns, individual weapons are featured in chronological order. Each entry is superbly illustrated with color photography and has detailed specifications and individual descriptions of the gun and its historical context. With an extensive index, up-to-date glossary of technical terms, and historical timeline of firearms, it's easy to chart the history and development of firearms with this superb treatment of more than 1,000 internationally produced weapons.

The Hamptons Survival Guide

Book Description
The Hamptons Survival Guide reviews and rates over 600 merchants and service providers in over 300 catagories: everyone and everything from A-to-Z. From accomodations, airport travel, animal hospitals, art galleries and museums through rentals and restaurants to the ten best ways to have fun in the Hamptons. The Hamptons Survival Guide covers practical advice, who's the best and where you should be spending your time and money.

About The Author
Phil Kieth, long time Hamptons resident, lives in Sag Harbor.

The Heartless Stone: A Journey Through the World of Diamonds, Deceit, and Desire

From Publishers Weekly
Starred Review. After his fiancée dumps him and he's left with a diamond ring to unload, Men's Health contributing editor Zoellner crisscrosses the globe unlocking the mystique of this glittering stone "that brings misery to millions of people across the world." Zoellner probes how "blood diamonds" are used to fund vicious civil wars in Africa; how De Beers, seeing new markets to exploit, linked diamonds to the ancient yuino ceremony in Japan and played on caste obsession in India; and how India is pushing Belgium and Israel out of the gem trade. The author is expert with vivid prose: Australia's Argyle deposit is "shaped a little like a human molar"; impoverished urchins in the diamond-smuggling haven of the Central African Republic get high on bread-and-shoe polish sandwiches; and a Brazilian miner finds a rich concentration of river diamonds but fritters away much of the loot on prostitutes and booze, and eventually is ruined by a dishonest money changer. Politically conscious consumers can now avoid African and Brazilian mines teeming with human rights abuses. Canada pulls $1.2 billion worth of rough diamonds out of the tundra every year while enforcing tough environmental laws, and a Florida company uses Siberian high-pressure chambers to create low-cost chemically perfect diamonds. This is a superior piece of reportage. (June)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From School Library Journal
Adult/High School–Historically, the workings of the diamond industry, heavily controlled until recently by the De Beers cartel, have been filled with clandestine meetings and covert operations, and its mythos even pervades popular culture. Zoellner has traveled the globe learning about the remarkably large supply of diamonds both mined and manufactured for industrial cutting and the jewelry trade. In the countries where they are mined, they represent both auspicious wealth and abject poverty. The citizens have long been exploited by international corporate investors and bloodthirsty local warlords anxious to supply the public with a token of eternal love. Teens may be surprised to learn that the must have diamond engagement ring is the result of a brilliant 1930s De Beers marketing strategy, which sought to influence the thoughts, tastes, habits, and fashions of Middle America. Heavy promotion and forced scarcity continue to fuel our inclination for the gems. Readers will be alternately fascinated and reviled by this exposé, which is equally well suited to casual reading and research.–Brigeen Radoicich, Fresno County Office of Education, CA
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

The Illustrated Book of Guns: An Illustrated Directory of over 1,000 Military, Sporting,...

Book Description
Five centuries of small arms development are encompassed in this superbly illustrated directory which features more than 1,000 of the most important pistols, rifles, revolvers, submachine, light, and heavy machine guns made and used throughout the world. With the use of hundreds of specially taken photographs, accompanied by a brief technical description of each weapon, this huge volume is the most comprehensive directory of its kind ever published.

The Lighthouse: The Bell Rock

Book Description
The sea had filled the pit some time before, and driven the men out of it. These busied themselves in collecting the tools and seeing that nothing was left lying about, while the men who were engaged on those parts of the rocks that were a few inches higher, continued their labours until the water crept up to them. Then they collected their tools, and went to the boats, which lay awaiting them at the western landing-place.

Download Description
The sea had filled the pit some time before, and driven the men out of it. These busied themselves in collecting the tools and seeing that nothing was left lying about, while the men who were engaged on those parts of the rocks that were a few inches higher, continued their labours until the water crept up to them. Then they collected their tools, and went to the boats, which lay awaiting them at the western landing-place.

The Nature of Diamonds

Product Review
"If diamonds are a girl's best friend and you can't afford them, buy her The Nature of DiamondsIt's the next best thing." Playboy

"If the reader is scientifically inclined, a discussion of the most recent findings on diamonds will be satisfying while special sections on the world's great diamonds and the diamond treasures of Russia add to the adamantine luster of The Nature of Diamonds." Rock and Gem

"This is an engaging and scholarly work that contains a wealth of interesting and useful information about diamonds.It is certainly a worthwhile companion to a diamond exhibition that is undoubtedly one of the most anticipated and most comprehensive ever staged. Gemologists will welcome this addition to their libraries." Rocks and Minerals Magazine

"provide[s] a well-illustrated overview.the book succeeds eminently.Teachers of mineralogy may find the book helpful to recommend to students as an example of the relevance and usefulness of the subject." The Canadian Mineralogist

"Just about any question one might ask about diamonds is answered in this book. It is both a textbook and an encyclopedia but is written in a clear and entertaining style so that it is difficult to put down once one has started reading it. Certainly it is a reference that teachers can use and refer to students and gemmologists and that jewlers can use and refer to their customers and clientsThis book is a must for anyone interested in gem stones and should be in every geologist's and earth-science teacher's library. It is full of color plates and diagramsI recommend it highly. Journal of Geoscience and Education

"Written in an authoritative, but highly readable mannerevery aspect of the diamond from its origins to its modern role in movies is covered." Lapidary Journal

"Diamonds get a lot of pres, one could even say hype: George Harlow's edited volume touts the stone as a "mythic talisman of power and purity", a "symbol of regal structure", "a token of everlasting love", and so forth and so on." Isis

"suitable as a reference source; an ideal text for a semester-long seminar series that would have great appeal to science and non-science majors alike; a prize to deserving students; a millennium gift (in lieu of the real stone); and it would noy be out of place on a coffee-free table. Diamond has the allure, Harlow has provided the instrument, and the American Museum of Natural History has produced an absolute bargain by any standardthis is a superb and highly recommended volume." American Minerologist Vol 86

Product Description
The paragon of physical perfection and a sparkling example of Earth's forces at work, the diamond has fascinated all realms of society, from starlets to scientists. The Nature of Diamonds is a comprehensive look at nature's most coveted gem. A handsome, large-format book, The Nature of Diamonds is an authoritative and richly-illustrated tribute to the diamond. Leading geologists, gemologists, physicists, and cultural observers cover every facet of the stone, from its formation in the depths of the Earth, its ascent to the surface, and its economic, regal, social, and technological roles. Cutting-edge research takes the reader to the frontiers of diamond exploration and exploitation, from the Arctic wastes to the laboratories where diamonds are created for massive road shredders that rip up and then re-create superhighways. Here also is an overview of cutting, from the rough stones in Roman rings to the highly-faceted stones we see today, and a glimpse into the business of diamonds. Finally, The Nature of Diamonds chronicles scientific and cultural history and explores the diamond as both a sacred and a social symbol, including a picture history of betrothal rings. Wide-ranging illustrations explain the geology of diamonds, chart the history of mining from its origins in India and Brazil through the diamond rush in South Africa and today's high-tech enterprises, and capture the brilliance and beauty of this extraordinary gem. _

The Oxford Spanish Dictionary

From School Library Journal
Grade 7 Up--When the Oxford University Press produced the expanded second edition of its Spanish dictionary in 2001, it was broadened to include 275,000 words and phrases and contained 450,000 translations. The hefty tome covered both European and Mexican Spanish. This edition expands the second by 25,000 words (about half on each side of the dictionary) and 50,000 translations. To catch contemporary words and usages, a combination of Web-based technology and vetting by native speakers was employed, resulting in the addition of technological and business vocabulary, as well as slang and buzz words. Covering all 24 varieties of regional Spanish, the dictionary also sports a new layout, with words in blue and definitions in a clean, though small, black type. Cultural notes as well as boxes containing information on grammar and usage--such as phrasal verb forms--extend the coverage of the work. [] Collections with the second edition of the Oxford or with other unabridged dictionaries such as the Collins Spanish-English, English-Spanish Dictionary (HarperCollins, 1997) may not need to add the third Oxford. However, given the comprehensive coverage, it is worth consideration for most libraries.--Ann Welton, Grant Elementary School, Tacoma, WA
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Product Review

"Covering all 24 varieties of regional Spanish, the dictionary also sports a new layout, with words in blue and definitions in a clean, though small, black type.Clear definitions, both in English and in Spanish ."--School Library Journal