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There is one thing wrong with this book -- it's not long enough to cover all the reproductions out there! Chervenka, publisher of "Antique & Collectors Reproduction News" (a monthly newsletter), is a well known authority on reproductions. As a collector, you owe it to yourself to find out everything about your particular area of collecting. But what happens when you are interested in an item out of your field of expertise. How can you tell if it's been reproduced or is a fake? Unfortunately many items are made to deceive and even the best collectors can get fooled.

This book is an excellent resource for spotting reproductions in various collecting fields. There are clear pictures and important information about specific pieces. Although it is not a complete encyclopedia of reproductions (no single book could be) it can help start you on the road to identifying those fake pieces.

A short chapter on Scientific Instruments tells how this is a "major new category to the growing list of reproduced antiques". This chapter includes more tips on how to figure out whether a piece is old or new -- look for hidden plastic parts. Chervenka also explores the increasing field of Digital Fakes and suggestions on how to catch them -- think black-light. Other chapters include art pottery, black memorabilia, bronze, funiture, lighting, napkin rings, silver and toys.

Several years ago I found a black string holder for a bargain price, I've been fairly sure it was an old one and the book confirmed it for me. Now if I do decide to sell it, I would feel fairly confident about describing it as "old". This one tip is worth the price of the book alone!