Blue Book of Pool Cues Buy?
- Thread starter Dwalk70
- Start date
middleofnowhere
Registered
Not in terms of values, but you can find a lot in their information about logos and lots of pictures of cues where the cue makers lives some of the contact information may even still be current.
If you like cues it's fun to have anyway.
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Any of the 3 are great for pics. The values are way off these days, but the prices kinda give you a idea of what’s cheap and what’s not, that hasn’t changed much. So there is some value to the numbers in ranking values not assigning a value.
The author posts here and most likely respond to this thread, he’s a great guy.
Take care
Fatboy
The author posts here and most likely respond to this thread, he’s a great guy.
Take care
Fatboy
If you are new to pool cue collecting then I would recommend that you make some decisions initially as to how you want to structure your collection. Are you interested in collecting cues for any of the following reasons: appreciating cue designs, appreciating cue playability characteristics and differences, appreciating cue construction methods, appreciating cue making history and evolution, and/ or looking to make money buying and selling cues,
You may want to focus on a particular era of cue making , you may want to focus on particular cue makers themselves, you may want to focus on certain lines of production cues such as Adam, Huebler, Meucci, etc. , you may want to focus on certain cue designs - points, no points, box cues, particular inlay designs, etc.
In any case, I think that owning, reading and understanding the Blue Books is a very good way to achieve an overview of this great hobby that many of us here share. I think that the first Blue Book edition is a great introduction to a newbie in this field and that the third edition will give the most complete sampling of cues up until the year 2005 or so. For more current cues and cue makers that came after the third edition you will have to keep current on cue sites such as this, Facebook has many cue sites, and Ebay, among others.
So, yes, go ahead and buy the 1st and 3rd editions if you can find them for sale here, Facebook, e bay etc. - you can list a WANTED to BUY ad on this site as well. As others mentioned- the Blue Books available are not current at all on cue market values, you would have to check current internet selling sites for cues to receive actual market values in real time cue markets.
You may want to focus on a particular era of cue making , you may want to focus on particular cue makers themselves, you may want to focus on certain lines of production cues such as Adam, Huebler, Meucci, etc. , you may want to focus on certain cue designs - points, no points, box cues, particular inlay designs, etc.
In any case, I think that owning, reading and understanding the Blue Books is a very good way to achieve an overview of this great hobby that many of us here share. I think that the first Blue Book edition is a great introduction to a newbie in this field and that the third edition will give the most complete sampling of cues up until the year 2005 or so. For more current cues and cue makers that came after the third edition you will have to keep current on cue sites such as this, Facebook has many cue sites, and Ebay, among others.
So, yes, go ahead and buy the 1st and 3rd editions if you can find them for sale here, Facebook, e bay etc. - you can list a WANTED to BUY ad on this site as well. As others mentioned- the Blue Books available are not current at all on cue market values, you would have to check current internet selling sites for cues to receive actual market values in real time cue markets.
You might also get Stein and Rubino's Billiard Encyclopedia, which has the best collection of cue pictures I know of. They were involved with the Blue Books. The Billiard Encyclopedia was published in 1994, 1996 and 2008 with cue info added for the second and third editions. Much of the book is about the history of the game, but at almost 10 pounds there is plenty of room for pictures of cues as well as biographies of the cue makers.
I have a 3rd (most recent) edition new in the box for $150 shipped. You can get them for under $100 if you are patient. For each edition, there was a special boxed version, which was about $400 at the time of publication.
The 3 books offer insightful, meaningful information about the cue makers and their history of cue making.
As far as using it to value a cue, aside from the tier rating for design intricacy, it offers little help in determining
the sale value of pool cues. These 3 books were never intended to be a pricing guide so don’t try using it as such.
Prices are way understated in so many ways since deceased and retired cue makers are a whole other category.
As an example, Tim Scruggs pool cues are selling for a whole lot more than the values the Blue Book indicates.
There are countless examples where the Blue Book values are way off current prices even in down resale markets.
As far as using it to value a cue, aside from the tier rating for design intricacy, it offers little help in determining
the sale value of pool cues. These 3 books were never intended to be a pricing guide so don’t try using it as such.
Prices are way understated in so many ways since deceased and retired cue makers are a whole other category.
As an example, Tim Scruggs pool cues are selling for a whole lot more than the values the Blue Book indicates.
There are countless examples where the Blue Book values are way off current prices even in down resale markets.
Yes! Find a set for a reasonable price do it! (Or look for the 3rd edition if you can't get the whole set).
Like everyone has said (don't expect to use it for current cue values) but it's an awesome way to read about and see so many cues! I wish there would be a new 4th edition. Highly recommend getting it before you can't anymore! (I think they are all out of print?)
The third edition is being sold on Ebay for a pretty good price, including shipping. I imagine someone is clearing inventory....
The Billiard Encyclopedia -- Brand New -- Shows Antique Pool Tables | eBay
Hard cover, never opened, still in its original clear plastic wrapper.
www.ebay.com
We have a REALLY good thread here on "Pool Ball Collecting" that I have learned a lot from and used to help in my hunt for interesting sets and games.
Perhaps a "Custom Cue Collecting" thread is here somewhere, or needs to be started? I would certainly value a single place to learn and look at such information.
Perhaps a "Custom Cue Collecting" thread is here somewhere, or needs to be started? I would certainly value a single place to learn and look at such information.
Thanks! I just bought one. Wow, 52 shipped and still sealed. I think this is less than when they came out?The third edition is being sold on Ebay for a pretty good price, including shipping. I imagine someone is clearing inventory....
The Billiard Encyclopedia -- Brand New -- Shows Antique Pool Tables | eBay
Hard cover, never opened, still in its original clear plastic wrapper.www.ebay.com
View attachment 630057
I think the original price was at least $120. It's a big book. It will hold your coffee table down nicely.
xX-Wizard-Xx
Well-known member
i bought 1 just now as well ... thanks for letting us know
xX-Wizard-Xx
Well-known member
that cue on the cover ..... WOW
A signed version of The Billiard Encyclopedia 3rd Edition signed by one of the authors (Victor Stein) is being sold directly by the co-author Victor Stein for $55 shipped at the link below. The same guy from post #8 also has more new copies listed for sale again now too (his copies are the unsigned versions as far as I know) for $52 shipped if the signature isn't worth the extra $3 to you or they end up selling out before you get to them.
The Billiard Encyclopedia. Signed by Victor Stein | eBay
The first two editions have SOLD OUT quickly. The Billiard Encyclopedia has expanded to 660 pages and features new sections on Current Cue Makers; Cue Collectors, World Class Cue Collections, Billiard Tables, and, “The Beauty of The Cue”, a stunning pictorial containing over 500 cues made over...
www.ebay.com
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I bought the one that Bob linked a few posts back. I just opened the box today. It was professionally packed and in the original factory sealing. Wow, this thing is huge. Thicker than a pool table. I wonder if anyone ever actually read the whole thing. Flipping through it, I'd say the cue pictures are better than all 3 Blue Books (I have all).
The third edition is being sold on Ebay for a pretty good price, including shipping. I imagine someone is clearing inventory....
The Billiard Encyclopedia -- Brand New -- Shows Antique Pool Tables | eBay
Hard cover, never opened, still in its original clear plastic wrapper.www.ebay.com
View attachment 630057
Thanks guys for the link and feedback on the seller.
Just ordered one. Considering another as a gift. Still a couple left.
The Blue Books are only useful for pictorials. The last publication is 15 years old. Try and buy a Hemi Cuda with a 15 year old Hemmings and let me know how accurate it is. Just pay attention on sites, and look around. Best advice. The Encyclopedia's are good reference also.
JV
JV
I didn't know this was in the third edition. I have a first edition, signed by both co-authers.