Collecting Antique Marbles by Paul Baumann (2004)

The author of this book really knows his stuff. Not just a very informative price guide, but a very good history of the beginnings of playing marbles, all the way up to the modern contemporary marbles made today.
There are tons of colored pictures to help you recognize each type of marble. The chapters are set up in chronological order according to the marble history, from ancient influence and gaming through hand-made marbles to machine made marbles and finally todays artistic contemporary marbles. Each picture gives you a synopsis of what to look for and how to determine if the marble you have is authentic, along with a price guide for each one. Not only by make and manufacture, but also by size.

As the prelude to the book notes Paul Baumanns books are considered the "bible" of marble collecting. I would have to agree.

Highly Recommended!

verry nice photos for identification and a wide verity of marbles , nice job helping to deturman fakes and reproductions. Price of marbles seams high but I probley dont put as much value on them as they do.

I was pleasantly surprised to find not only great photos for identification and values, but also quite in depth histories and background for the production or manufacture of all the different types of marbles. Whatever your favorites are, from sulphides to german swirls , clay , china , lutz, etc etc, the history of each is in a chapter of its own. Carpet bowls are even covered. You won't be disappointed!