B. J. Summers' Pocket Guide to Coca-Cola: Identifications, Current Values, Circa Dates

This is a very interesting little book and was the perfect gift for my son, a life-time coke fan and a guy who has everything. Thanks.

I recently had the opportunity to review another company's Coca Cola collectibles book, they too a well respected publisher of antique and collectibles books and there's no doubt about it, the B.J.Summers Sixth Edition guide has got that one beat hands down. This is a thoroughly beautiful book. Hardcover, thick, glossy stock pages, and fantastic photography highlight this book. The introduction provides legend keys to the condition as well as the source of the item's value which I think is very important. Summers lets the reader know if the value came from a collector, a completed auction, a dealer, or the author himself. The book then presents 46 different item categories, everything from signs, bottles, calendars and trays, to more eclectic items like Jewelry, no-drip protectors, and ashtrays. There's also a miscellaneous chapter for items that don't fit into one of the other 45 categories. I was absolutely fascinated by the number of items pictured in the book. With nearly 300 pages and as many as 10 items pictured per page, there are literally thousands of different Coke items pictured. The signage is simply fantastic, particularly those featuring celebrities such as Eddie Fisher and jazz musician Lionel Hampton. In all there are 82 pages of signs alone. Does it picture EVERY Coca Cola sign ever made? Of course not, but what book does? Still even if you have one that isn't pictured, you should be able to find one similar that you can use as a basis for value. I really enjoyed the section on coolers and those bright, red coolers of days gone by. I remembered the old Coke cooler we used to have back in the early 70's. Like a lot of people, I love the Coke Santa items, especially those great ads by Haddon Sundblom which look great framed and are still very affordable today. The problems are few and minor. The categories could have been laid out in alphabetical order but instead there seems to be little rhyme or reason to the order. That said, it's still a truly wonderful book that will delight collectors or just plain fans of nostalgia. Reviewed by Tim Janson

Este ha sido uno de los mas completos libros que he visto sobre coleccionables de Coca Cola, aunque la mayoria de ellos nunca los haya visto en mi pais. Muy recomendable para darse cuenta del amplisimo mundo de los productos relacionados con esta marca.

This beautiful 304 page hardbound library volume with colorful laminated covers will be a welcome addition to every Coke collector's library. There are more than 1,400 full-color, large, sharp photos, thousands of listings and more than 3,000 up-dated prices. Many of the items included are new to the guide and a joy to look at. Topics range from signs, art plates, mirrors, carriers, radios and clocks to menu boards, door pushes, wallets and dispensers, etc. etc. Sufficient descriptions are provided. It is a treat to see many of the signs, variety of paper goods, and wallets that I never saw before. This is an updated, quality book, Coke collectors are sure to enjoy. Enjoy, Enjoy.

I was very happy to receive this book. I know many people go only by the Alan Petretti price guides, but I do not think this one should be overlooked. While the Petretti guide has more total info, Alan himself says he ignores certain items and de-emphysizes others simply because he isn't interested in them. I believe that does a disservice to the collectors out there who may have other tastes. That is why I believe that the new Summers book is so important. Aside from being all color and very beautiful to look at, it allows collectors to get estimates for items they couldn't find anywhere else. Just because certain items have been produced in the past 30 years, it doesn't mean that some of them are not extremely collectible, as Summers demonstrates. I believe that any serious Coca-Cola collector needs to add this book to their library to be able to round out their references. Thanks again B.J. for another job well done!