Which books would you recommend?

[Oysterman]

Ok, I will admit that most of the reading I do is on a computer screen but I do have a couple of books about cigarette cards: The ubiquitous Murray's Guide (my copy's getting a bit old now) and Antiques and Their Values - Cigarette Cards published by Lyle.

The Murray's everyone must have so that must be a recommendation in itself. The Lyle book I'm not sure I'd go so far as to recommend. It's a small book with lots of pictures - but they're all in black and white and it only shows a selection from some of the major companies so I wouldn't call it comprehensive. A book for someone with a vague interest in cigarette cards rather than the serious collector.

So if I wanted to expand my library somewhat which books would you recommend? For general collecting or specialist themes?

[IanSammel]

The Cartophilic Society publishes a lot of specialist books depending on your interests.  Here is the current list:
http://www.csgb.co.uk/SiteFiles/Publications/Bookshop/bookshop.htm

LCCC also has a nice selection:
http://www.londoncigcard.co.uk/books.php

If you like German cards then Köberich has a good selection:
http://www.dassammelbild.de/html/literatur.html

[Smokin]

How about this one? I can't say it's in my library but you can buy a copy in good used condition on Amazon for one penny (plus £2.80 delivery  ). Got to be a good deal. Unless one of our members has read it and thinks otherwise?

[loose cannon]

American Tobacco Cards by Robert Forbes and Terence Mitchell. Excellent illustrations with well written information. Worth having if you collect American cards.

[mrp1017]

I have the Murray Guide which I find ok for general information
on sets themselves but I want a book that has better detailed
info. I definitely want a list of all cards in the set instead of just
"A 50 card set".... I want to know what card #17 is because in many sport issues
there are stars that have a greater value over the more common
card.
I would also like a brief history on the set. Where was it issued?
How was it issued? Could you buy a complete set with send ins? Etc.

ANYONE know a book like this?

[Smokin]

That kind of detail would probably only be possible on a website rather than a book. Perhaps that's a project this site could take on? A comprehensive list of all available cigarette cards with pictures and perhaps link up with a prominent dealer for a price guide?

[IanSammel]

If you want checklists, a lot are available from the House of Checklists:
http://www.nslists.com/jachlist.htm

[dant melys]

Hi Folks ,

In response to mrp's question , for US issues have you considered Watsons Non Sport Bible or on a less expensive scale Benjamins & Eckes Sport Americana Non Sports cards .

[Cedric1812]

There are 2 books (outside of the Murray's Guide -which in my mind is almost a given) that I couldn't collect without:

1. Parts 1 and 2 of 'The New World Tobacco Index' - I find them really useful for identifying some of the more obscure cards as well as for knowing what sets are out there (I think on a another thread someone mentioned that the Murray's book was based on his stock as opposed to being a full guide to all sets known). Knowing the correct dimensions of cards is also useful should a dealer try and pass off a card that you suspect has been trimmed...

2. The Ogdens Reference Book - before I even started to collect Guinea Golds I knew I'd need a copy! It has proved really helpful so far. I gather from the hardcore Ogdens men that it isn't without its limitations but as a guide I think it's as good as you'll find.

[magpiemick]

As a collector i allways like to read up about cigarette cards and trade cards even if that is not my own personal area of collecting i found the American Tobacco Card book by Forbes and Mitchell quite excellent in information and checklists for each and every set , its a pity that the same could not be done to the larger manufacturers players wills churchmans etc in the same format as the Amercian Tobacco book for history and back ground i would reccommend the following books

General : Collecting Cigarette & Trade Cards by Gordon Howsden
              Cigarette Cards and Novelties by Frank Doggett
                Collecting Cigarette Cards and other Trade Issues by Dorothy Bagnall published 1965
Football : Half Time Hero by David Thompson , very good for check lists
              : The Illustrated Footballer by Tony Ambrosen , excellent history and wonderfill colour illustrations
              : Swap Yer by Rob Jovanovic , excellent little insight and illustrations very good on trade/bubblegum issues
              : Huddersfield Town Cards and Stickers by Roger Pashby
              : Aston Villa on Cigarette and Trade Cards by Derrick Spinks
              : Nottingham Forest Football Clubd on postcards and cigarette cards by Grenville Jennings

I think i responded to this thread mainly due to the satisfaction of finally after a long time hunting i managed to get The Pinnace Collection book by RJ Spiller so if i outbid you then beleive me my conscience is perefectly clear Any other books members can reccomend i would like to hear
               

[ozron]

"Cigarette Cards. Australian Issues and Values" Dion H Skinner. is a good specific interest book. lots of illustrations and lists. The 1983 values are well out of date but that does not detract at all from the books usefulness.

[lachlan]

Having looked at the CSGB list of publications, I'm not sure which, if any, is the right one for me. I mainly collect pre-WWW1 British tobacco and trade cards and up to now have relied upon the LCC and Murray catalogues. Can anyone tell me whether the Index books or trade handbooks would be useful and what information they provide that cannot be found in the LCC/Murray catalogues? The CSGB lists, amongst others, the British Trade Handbook, the British Trade Index (various parts) and the Old World Trade Index (again various parts) but without apparently any explanation as to what they cover and the periods covered.

[wolfie]

Only got the one and thats the LCC cat. Saved me from overbidding on EBay so I consider that a good buy. Though I guess there will be others that other folk like better.

[Cedric1812]

I too collect tobacco and trade between 1880 and 1918 and although the book I refer to most often is Murray's Catalogue I think the CSGB books are invaluable if you are going for more obscure cards. The main reason I have the WTI Parts 1 & 2 is because they list all known tobacco issues; all the back varieties for a given series; the correct dimensions for the card and (for the very rare cards) how many have been seen. The main thing you need to know is that the CSGB books are purely reference/academic books and don't concern themselves with value. One nice thing is that every series is given a unique alphanumeric identifier that you can use to quick look up sets you see listed by that code and on top of that they also give the equivalent Burdick code (T206, E20, N42 etc) which is useful for eBay.com where the guys in the USA use these as standard (not to mention the fact that a copy of the ACC can cost hundreds of pounds). If you need a guide for market value for your eBay purchases then Murray's is still probably your best bet but is not, and wasn't intended to be a comprehensive guide so experience will no doubt tell you when something looks a bit expensive! Mindst you, I am sure guys in this forum would only be too happy to help if you weren't sure on how much a card was worth...

Regarding trade issues, I have found that the British Trade Handbook is a really useful one for finding the names/subjects of the cards that aren't numbered or back listed. Outside of that, exactly the same issue as the WTI is that it doesn't touch on values at all.

[lachlan]

Many thanks, Cedric; I appreciate your response to my query.