BOOK REVIEW

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VZÁCNOSTI A ZAJÍMAVOSTÍ CESKOSLOVENSKÝCH ZNÁMEK

(RARE AND REMARKABLE CZECHOSLOVAK STAMPS)

Nakladatelství Merkur-Revue, Brno 2000

By Ján Karásek

Ján Karásek, the leading expert on Czechoslovak stamps, has prepared a most handsome book will be the perfect Christmas or birthday gift for any collector of Czechoslovakia. This coffee table sized book (8 ½ by 12 inches) is in full color and covers all the major rarities of Czechoslovak philately. While it could be argued that not all rare philatelic items are included, it can be safely said that it does depict all the important items.

The book is printed on glossy paper. The color of the reproductions is quite good. The layout is excellent using white space generously, but not to access. Each depicted item is described well, if briefly in Czech, English, and German. On the bottom right of each items space is its catalog number (if it has one), its catalog value and the range of prices it has brought at leading auction houses in the Czech Republic. The book is organized into sections on the Hradcany issue; the POTA CESKOSLOVENSKÁ 1919 issue; the Legionnaire, Masaryk 1920, and allegory issues; regular Masaryk, castle and palaces, and the issues after 1928; air mail, newspaper, and postage due issues; SO 1920, scout, and issues; issues; and the post-1945 rarities.

One does not have to be an advanced collector to leaf through this book and dream of what your collection may be some day.

Jaroslav J Verner