Marble Books Page

(This page is dedicated to books that are in my personal collection and some are currently out of print.  Their are many more marble books that I can put on this list but I decided on selecting the books that are worthwhile to read and to use as a reference for the hobby of marble collecting). Please click the thumbnail to enlarge the marble books pictures.

Book #1 Greenberg's Guide to Marbles by Mark E. Randall and Dennis Webb.  First edition printed in 1988.  This books is signed by both authors and is numbered 10.  This book is extremely hard to find of late and is out of print.  You can find information about marble company's in this book along with some pictures of marbles from various companies.  A must for any collector and a prize in my collection.

Book #2 Greenbergs Guide to Marbles by Dennis Webb.  Second edition printed in 1994.  This is an update to the famous first edition that was published in 1988.  This has a little bit more information than the first book.  Including information on different marble company's and how different marbles are made.  This book is getting harder to find and is out of print.  If you are a marble collector you must have this book in your collection.

Book #3 Marble Mania Edited by Stanley A. Block.  This is by far the bible of marbles in general.  Many, many pictures of marbles from all the different marble companies.  You can still get a hold of this book but in time it will be out of print.  This book is broken down into 5 sections.  Section one consist of various non-glass marble types, section two early handmade glass marbles, section three machine made glass, section four contemporary handmade glass, and section five games, toys and other uses.  This book is marvelous.

Books #3 and #4 Marbles Identification and Price Guide by Robert Block.  The first book was published in 1996 and was the first book published by Robert Block.  This book contains prices and pictures of marbles from all the major marble companies that produced marbles.  This book is an excellent book to have and a new third edition just came out.  The second edition was published in 1998 and contains just about the same pictures as the first edition but with updated prices.  A section on cat's eye marbles was also added.  Get this book if you are just starting to collect marbles. 

Book #5 Antique and Collectible Marbles Third Edition by Everett Grist.  This book was published in 1996 and contains many pictures of old handmade marbles.  If you collect many handmade marbles then this book is a must for you.   Currently this book is out of print.

Book #6 Machine Made and Contemporary Marbles second edition by Everett Grist.  This book was published in 1995 and contains only pictures and prices of old machine made marbles.  I love this book and this has helped me through the years of collecting mainly machine made marbles.  The pictures of the marbles are kind of small but a wonderful resource to have.  A must to have for the serious machine made collector.  This edition of this book is out of print.

Book #7 Marbles The Guide to Cat's-Eyes Marbles by Marlow Peterson and Larry Castle.  This book was published in 1998 and is the first to be made based on the lowly cat's-eye marbles.  My edition of the book is signed by both authors  289/500.  It is a small book but very complete and accurate.  This book contains prices and a lot of information about cat's-eye marbles.  A must for a cat's collector and I think this book is out of print.

Book #8 The Great American Marble Book by Fred Ferretti and I also think Jeff Carskadden.  This book was published in 1973 and I think was the first published based on different types of marble games.  (Their is not a black border around this book, this picture is the result of my scan and brings the picture of the book out more).  This book contains over 50 different marble games and is a must for any collection.  This book is out of print and is extremely hard to find.  A wonderful book to have, and a prize in my collection also.

Book #9 Collecting Antique Marbles Second Edition by Paul Baumann.  (The black border around this picture is again the result of the scan).  I love this book and this book can supply you with so much information about marbles and marble companies.  Their are a few pages in this book that consist of marble pictures and towards the end of the book list the price guide.  This book was published in 1991 and is out of print.  A must for the serious collector. 

Book #10 Sulphide Marbles by Stanley A. Block and M. Edwin Payne.  This book was published in 2001 and is the bible of sulphide marbles.  I have never before had a book that outlines all of the different types of sulphide marbles that were produced.  This book also has a small section on newer contemporary sulphide marbles, the California and Florida sulphide marbles that appeared on the market, and Italian sulphide marbles that were produced in the 1960's.  My book is signed by the author Stanley A. Block.  This is a must if you are thinking, starting, or you might me an avid marble collector of sulphide marbles.

Book #11 Everett Grist's 4th Edition Big Book of Marbles presents the wide variety of styles and types of these alluring playthings. Everett Grist and Lloyd Huffer, a new collaborator, have produced a wonderful presentation of marble collecting. There are many new photos and updated text on both machine made and handmade marbles. New information about everything from Indian Swirls to the latest Jabos has been added. Lucious Lutzes and delicious Onionskins are on the menu. The wide spectrum of round shooters depicted in this edition will show that marbles have captured the imagination of children for hundreds of years and now fascinate collectors as well. 2011 values.  This book was published in 2010.

Book #12 Everett Grist's 3rd Edition Big Book of Marbles shows many new color photographs showcasing thousands of machine-made and contemporary marbles have been added to make this book an even bigger Big Book of Marbles. This third edition brings marble collectors even more information, with added discussion on marbles at auctions, art glass and new comics, and listings of marble clubs. Grist has also drawn from one of his other books, Machine-Made & Contemporary Marbles, for this new edition. Now with almost 400 large, detailed full-color photographs, this book is the essential resource for the marble collector. Fifty new shots have been added to the 400 detailed color photographs, and over 1,000 marbles produced by West Virginia companies have been identified for this new edition. The author enlisted the help of knowledgeable historian Ron Shepherd, co-founder and past president of the West Virginia Marble Collector's Club for this volume.  This book was published in 2006.

Book #13 This book discusses the manufacture and identification of ceramic and stone toy marbles available to American children from colonial times through the first half of the 19th century, using examples from archaeological sites and from private marble collections.  This book was published in 1998.

Book #14 Over 580 beautiful color photos display a stunning array of contemporary handmade and design marbles by a variety of talented artists, along with handmade, and machine-made examples. Swirl, Clambroth, Banded Opaque, Indian, Lutz, End of Day, and Single-gather handmade marble designs are featured, along with machine-made examples by M.F. Christensen & Son, Christensen Agate, Akro Agate, Peltier, Master Marble, Marble King, Ravenswood, and Vitro Agate. Also included are original marble packaging, games, and tournament pins. The useful text provides essential information on marble valuation, definitions of marble conditions from mint to collectible, tables with pricing for a wide variety of marbles by size, form, and condition, and current values in the captions. This book is essential for every marble fan!  This book was published in 2005.

Book #15  With this book, readers will discover machine made marbles from the early 1900s to the 1930s that revolutionized the glass marble industry. Over 700 beautiful color photos display marbles produced by both Ohio-based companies, M. F. Christensen & Son Company and Christensen Agate Company. Among the examples displayed are bricks, cobras, guineas, opaques, slags, single pontil slags, swirls, and hand-gathered swirls. Additionally, early slag marbles known as "transitionals" are featured. The text includes histories of these two important glass marble companies, descriptions of their various marble types, and their methods of manufacture. Values for the marbles displayed are found in the captions. This book will be treasured by all those who collect and enjoy marbles.  This book was published in 2003.

Book #16 Marbles evoke memories of childhood and simpler times; perhaps this is why they are collected with such enthusiasm! Marble fans won't want to go without this fantastic reference, which has been the standard collecting guide since its first publication nearly 35 years ago. Collecting Antique Marbles not only provides up-to-date pricing information, it provides collecting tips and advice on the hobby every collector should know.  This long-awaited 4th edition provides a full-color look at the rarest and most collectible marbles in the world, aiding in identification and giving marble enthusiasts an eyeful of what's out there. A history of marble types and manufacturers is included in the book, as well as important information on spotting fakes and reproductions. A new chapter on Carpet Bowls joins updated chapters on German Swirls, Onionskins, Clambroths and Indians; Lutz; Sulphides and End-of-Day; Transition and Machine-Made, and many more.  This book was published in 2004.

Book #17 This is the definitive guide to marble collecting, with over 1,400 color photographs identifying marbles and explanations. It features the main areas of interest on makers and manufacturers of marbles made of stone, minerals, and early hand- and machine-made glass. It covers many games, toys, and other uses for marbles; and includes a useful glossary, lists of clubs, societies, marble shows, and museums. This book was published in 2010.

Book #18 More than 500 color photos display marbles of all types in this informative, highly popular, revised guide. Most of these photos, over 400, are new to this edition and the text is entirely rewritten. Covered in this reliable guide that has stood the test of time are handmade and machine-made marbles of all types, including Indians, Aggies, Steelies, transitionals, M.F. Christensen & Son, Akro Agate, and more...every major category of marble is presented. Included among the handmade marbles are old marbles of glass, earthenware, minerals, and steel; machine-made marbles are identified by their manufacturers; and contemporary handmade glass marbles by artisans recapturing the old styles and creating exciting new styles all their own. Today's marble pricing is explained in detail. The author describes the four factors to look for when determining the value of a marble, and presents an accurate guide to the modern market. This book is a reliable source book for anyone with an interest in marbles.  This book was published in 2012.

Book #19 The sprawling scope of machine-made marble production in the twentieth century is illustrated in over 590 eye-catching color images that comprise the most extensive collection of marble packaging ever assembled. Historical photos from a variety of factories are also provided. Products and packages for Akro Agate, Christiansen Agate, Davis Marble, Heaton Agate, Kokomo Opalescent, Libbey-Owens-Ford, Marble King, Peltier, Ravenswood, and Vitro are included, among others. The fascinating text, providing a history of the marble companies and their wares, was nearly 40 years in the making, involving interviews with over 100 individuals and insuring the accuracy of the listings. A bibliography and index are included, along with values in the captions. Marble collectors and glass lovers alike will be thrilled with this detailed reference work. This book was published in 2006.

Book #19 Collecting Marbles A Beginner's Guide (5½x8½", softbound book, 68 pages, April 2012) by Richard Maxwell provides step-by-step instruction,  along with over 120 full-color marble images, to help beginners identify the key marble features. The complete guide also introduces, what Richard Maxwell calls, the “Twelve Classics.”  As a bonus, the author includes illustrations of the unique ways he displays his marble collection.

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