World Famous Comics: Christopher Radko Ornaments: Value Guide 1986 Thru 2000
Christopher Radko Ornaments: Value Guide 1986 Thru 2000
From: Bangzoom Publishers Publisher: Bangzoom Publishers Average Rating: Binding: Hardcover Label: Bangzoom Publishers Number of Items: 1 Number of Pages: 320 Publication Date: October 19, 2007
Product Description: Christopher Radko, named the Czar of Christmas Present by the New York Times has been designing and producing exquisite ornaments for over 20 years. Now you can determine the value of your collection when you own this beautiful guide. With over 5,000 full-color items, it is also the perfect accompaniment to a gift of a Radko ornament!
Neutral I've found the overall picture layout of the book and the indexes very helpful and well thought-out. However, it is not by any stretch a complete cataloging of the Radko line, as some of the ornaments I'm aware of were omitted. And I'm certain there must be more. Also several pages of the book were improperly cut in the binding process creating short pages. The proofing of the book prior to publishing is also suspect since I've found several problems. Most of the secondary market values are not representative of values I've tracked in the past 6 years in that they way too low.
Book: Great! Book Condition: Not so great. Shipping: SLOW The book itself is fabulous, my mom was totally happy to get it Christmas morning. The book condition was poor. The book was $55 and was in a flimsy package when it arrived. It had dents all along the edges. Also, though there was a huge storm in the Pacific NW, the shipping took an extra 5+ days (without a single e-mail notification I might add.)
YOU WILL FEEL LIKE A KID AGAIN! One of my fondest memories of Christmas growing up in the 60's and 70's was decorating the Christmas tree with the wonderful glass ornaments that my parents had. My mom would constantly remind me and my brothers to be careful with them because they were very delicate, and very old, passed down to her from my grandmother. I got the most reminders because I was the youngest. Now these were not Christopher Radko ornaments of course, but Radko has produced many ornaments that look like exact replicas of the ornaments we had thirty, forty years ago. My wife and I still have many of those ornaments although sadly, many were damaged in a basement flood some years ago.
The Radko ornaments have captured the hearts and imaginations of many baby boomers like myself as their popularity and collectibility grows every year. Bangzoom publishers have met the demand of collectors with the first of two volumes covering Radko history. The first volume covers 1986 through 2000, and a second volume, due next year, will cover 2001 through 2006. The book begins with a Radko 101 introduction to the ornaments. What makes them so popular and so collectible is the sheer variety of lines. There are limited editions, various series', charity ornaments for causes such as the fight against breast cancer, special event pieces, store exclusives, as well ornaments geared towards various cultures and ethnic groups. It is this diversity which provides something for nearly everyone who wants to collect the Radko line.
The 300 plus page book is packed with thousands of color photos of the ornaments for each year of release. The guide lists the name of the piece, the size, style number and two prices which reflect the value of a single, loose ornament, and a second value reflecting the price for the set. The book also notes how many of a particular ornament came in the set. The first piece that caught my eye was the first page of the 1986 line with the large, round ornament called "Checkers". This is exactly like ones we had those many years ago. It's so simple in its design yet still so beautiful. There are many great examples of those reflector type ornaments. Those are the ones that have a sort of pushed-in indentation with silvery or other color paint that shimmered and reflected light.
As you page through the book, you'll start to see Radko get more bold with his designs as there were more figural ornaments produced. The line got bigger and bigger with each new year. It has never ceased to amaze me at how much care and detail go into these pieces and go into making them look like they may have been made in the 40's or 50's. The first 236 pages display the regular, year-by-year release before getting into the special series lines like Disney, Sugar Frost Follies, and garlands. The book concludes with a comprehensive index. It's a simply gorgeous book from cover to cover. If you're a Radko collector, or want to start a collection, this book is the place to start.
REVIEWED BY TIM JANSON
Radko Price Guide Volume I 1986-2000 This book is beautifully done. There is an alphabetical index as well as a numerical index, so one way or another you can probably find what you are looking for. The ornaments are divided into "chapters" by year and are listed alphabetically within each year. There are special sections for finials, garlands, and Disney. The original price, the Radko product number and a "secondary market" price are listed under each ornament - which is helpful to a certain extent. Nowadays most people are unwilling to pay the "secondary market" price, so it is just there to make you feel good if you own a special ornament (for example the Partridge in a Pear Tree). If I had to list one personal disappointment with this book, I would have to say that I was unable to find some Radko that I own which should have been in here! I was hoping to find a name or number for them but couldn't. If you like Radko, and collect it - buy this book!
Christopher Radko Ornaments: Value Guide 1986 thru 2000 A terrific reference book for anyone who collects, or just enjoys Radko vintage ornaments. Great pictures and just a treat to look through. Good info on each ornament, and this book has helped me quite a bit in evaluating my collection, and pricing some of it for resale. I feel you get alot of information for the money. Can't wait for Volumn Two in September!! Kudos to David Olsen!
Anything Goes Trivia
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