Probably beacuse I've been busy signing copies of the Antiques Price Guide 2009 I've been asked today when the new 2009 edition of the Collectables Price Guide is coming out. Well it won't be long; In fact it's out on 7 October and has been fully revised and updated - we think it's our best yet. It has 512 pages and for more information you can see it here at Amazon.
Comments
4 | Mark Hill | 11th Nov 08 at 16:00 PM
Dear Therese,
Thank you very much for posting such a detailed comment about what is a wonderful snuff box. For reader's who want to see what Therese has helped us with, look on p329 of the UK edition Miller's Antiques Price Guide 2009, or p330 of the US edition of the same book. It's these sorts of stories that make the world of antiques and collecting so rich and fascinating,
Thank you Therese, we'll certainly be updating our records,
Mark
Mark Hill
www.millerantiquesguide.com
3 | Therese Prieur | 18th Oct 08 at 09:57 AM
Hi, allow a French reader to share with you the details regarding the French snuff box p.329 of your guide.
You noticed a detail but did not dig further. Indeed, the ugly looking chap has a cap , but also pantaloons . And we are in 18th cent. France. So we have a rather unfriendly man with a cap.a rather shaven head, no breeches, rather sailor-like pants, short coat. Where does this lead you?
Somewhere which did not exist in the UK. But existed in France prior to the french Revolution, and which disappeared only around 1950... though no more on continental France?
ANSWER:
The sad memory of the dreaded Bagne of Toulon or Brest. You have indeed a typical Bagnard in his best attire, this is his legal uniform. Shaved head, a cap, a long coat, a short coat, annd sailor pants, as he is doing is daily work at the arsenal as the judge has condemned him for 10 20 or life enprisonment.
In those days, those labourers who were -lets hope indeed hardened criminals as to imagine an innocent condemned to the Bagne is atrocious. hence the cunning look of your chap.. And Brest and Toulon are military harbours. To sweeten his ordinary fare, he is doing on the side little trinkets, taken from small unused pieces of wood, mahogany, straw etc and sculpt , weave little objects he then sells to visitors and tourists. Because in the 18th and 19th century, people would visit and not only the families. And those tourists whio did see nothing wrong in visiting these dismal places bought souvenirs from the bagnards. Indeed, one of those intrepid tourists was mine ancestor... I have 3 straw-woven cigarette holder boxes made by your man. No they are not for sale, I keep them as though modest , they are worth a very good story and a stark reminder never to go ashtray from the heavy handed arm of the Law.
I am quite surprised no one recognized him as he is really typical.
2 | Mark Hill | 19th Sep 08 at 11:46 AM
Hi Denise,
Thanks for your message. I'm co-author of the Collectables Price Guide with Judith, who is filming an Antiques Roadshow right now and has asked me to respond to you. I'm so sorry to hear that you've had trouble finding our book. If it has sold out at any major bookshop, they can certainly order it for you. You can also easily order a copy from your local independent bookshop too. Alternatively, you can buy it online by visiting www.octopusbooks.co.uk, and clicking on the 'Antiques & Collectables' tab. However, I am sorry to say that we're no longer publishing the book in hardback. This is due to the fact that material costs have risen dramatically, meaning we would have had to increase the price, which we did not want to do. We also feel strongly that slimmer softbacks are more 'green' and eco-friendly. However, we have revised the size and shape this year, making it much bigger, and packing in more colour and helpful information than ever before. The 2009 edition will be published on October 2nd, and I really hope that you'll enjoy it. Please let us know if you have any trouble finding a copy,
Kind regards,
Mark Hill
1 | Denise Braham | 16th Sep 08 at 17:18 PM
Last year I bought both collectables price guide and Miller's collectables in Hardback.This year it has taken me forever to find one of them and only in paperback.As I buy these books every year could you please make it easier to find them and can you please ,please let me have the option of a hardback version.I also subscribe to collect it mag where I finally discovered the publishers had changed.Can you also confirm if only one book is being published this year to save me searching any more,huge fan of the books have all editions from the nineties to present.