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Rating: 
Summary: Great Reference, Why Publish The Beckett Annual?
Review: An absolute must for the advanced collector. This comprehensive volume combined with Krause's Annual Standard Catalog Of Baseball Cards, are the two most important tools for anyone serious about baseball card collecting. My only gripe is Beckett simultaneously publishing their inferior 'Baseball Annual' at the same time. It's clearly inferior to their Almanac and borders on customer abuse offering a "lite" version for the ignorant just to make more money. Still, that problem issue aside, the Almanac is a must-have if you're going take your collection to the next level.
Rating:
Summary: The Bible of Baseball Cards
Review: If you collect baseball cards you absolutely must have this book. It catalogs virtually every baseball card ever made, including variations and errors. Why only four stars and not five? Subtle reasons, mostly. The main reason is that this book, despite being released recently, does not do a very good job of covering the professionally graded baseball card market. This is even more surprising as Beckett does have a grading service of their own. As such, the sections covering the history of baseball cards and how to grade cards is lacking and is pretty much a reprint of what's been appearing in Beckett books like this one for over fifteen years. They really could have done a better job of modernizing those sections. However, as a reference book to help identity cards and give approximate values, this book cannot be beat. Buy it now!
Rating:
Summary: The Bible of Baseball Cards
Review: If you collect baseball cards you absolutely must have this book. It catalogs virtually every baseball card ever made, including variations and errors. Why only four stars and not five? Subtle reasons, mostly. The main reason is that this book, despite being released recently, does not do a very good job of covering the professionally graded baseball card market. This is even more surprising as Beckett does have a grading service of their own. As such, the sections covering the history of baseball cards and how to grade cards is lacking and is pretty much a reprint of what's been appearing in Beckett books like this one for over fifteen years. They really could have done a better job of modernizing those sections. However, as a reference book to help identity cards and give approximate values, this book cannot be beat. Buy it now!
Rating: 
Summary: It's ALL Here--Almost
Review: This almanac continues to expand -- and become better. Each year, it has added more sets, more details and more areas of collectibles. It is about to ``outgrow'' its covers. But that will be a long-range bonus for collectors. Beckett and able company will be forced to split the book, probably taking out minor league cards. The editors have become particularly adept at adding team-issued sets. A complete checklist of McCarthy baseball cards -- rumored for No. 6 -- would be a great addition. The only improvement I would like to see would be for more details on some sets and certain variations in a set (how to tell them apart). If you are a serious collector of baseball items, this is one of the few MUST books for your book shelf. And it's getting better and better with each edition.
Rating:
Summary: It's ALL Here--Almost
Review: This almanac continues to expand -- and become better. Each year, it has added more sets, more details and more areas of collectibles. It is about to ``outgrow'' its covers. But that will be a long-range bonus for collectors. Beckett and able company will be forced to split the book, probably taking out minor league cards. The editors have become particularly adept at adding team-issued sets. A complete checklist of McCarthy baseball cards -- rumored for No. 6 -- would be a great addition. The only improvement I would like to see would be for more details on some sets and certain variations in a set (how to tell them apart). If you are a serious collector of baseball items, this is one of the few MUST books for your book shelf. And it's getting better and better with each edition.
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