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Posted By: Julie Vognar

Lew's Enclyclopedia (written in 1983-86) analyzes most of the early sets (19th century, early candy and gum, and tobacco cards)--and only as they were known to him at the time--later additions are or course not taken into considerartion (there's a price guide at the end of each volume, but of course it's mostly good for chuckles). The Standard Catalogue makes plenty of mistakes, but contains the best checklists, and a more-or-less approximation of current prices...very more or less!. But the checklists are invaluable--you can tear one out of an old catalgoue and use it for your own purposes...of course, then you need Lew's encyclopedia to tell you about the sets. The Standard Catalogue has been cutting back on vintage stuff--sad but true--to make room for yuk.

I still wouldn't be without either of them...