Gene Florence, author of the great series on depression glass and elegant glass, also penned this work, Collectible Glassware From the 40s, 50s, 60s: An Illustrated Value Guide to cover glass from the later, vintage era. Gene co-authored this with his wife, Cathy.
So…. What is in this book and why should you buy it?
- Mass-produced glass, patterns like Moroccan Amethyst, Capri from Hazel Atlas, Anniversary and Floragold from Jeannette.
- Some Fire King dinnerware lines
- Elegant glass made after 1940-ish from Fostoria, Cambridge, Heisey, Viking
This book is essential if you intend to collect (or sell) glass from this era. And why would you do that? Put simply, it is available, relatively inexpensive and you will probably have a piece or two in your home already. It’s fun to collect. In fact eBay has a special category for the mass produced glass with many, many subcategories.
The elegant glass is particularly useful to people like me who enjoy the gorgeous etched lines and high quality of vintage stemware and dinnerware. (Or who sell it. Like me.) This glass is in general less costly, and just as well made, as the popular patterns like Fostoria June or Cambridge Rose Point.
You’ll find patterns that can be confusing are well photographed and described. The Florences include price lists and piece lists that are invaluable. Of course the prices are incorrect now, but they are directionally accurate.
In all his later books Gene Florence included a photo legend. This helps any of us match a piece name to a shape. It’s very difficult for beginners to tell a 6″ nappy apart from a 6″ cereal and the photo legends make us all experts.
I highly recommend this book.