DK Collector’s Guide: Costume Jewellery
Reference Crafts & Hobbies Antiques & Collectibles Art & Design Fashion & Textiles Consumer Guides Vintage & Retro Style
Judith Miller’s “Costume Jewellery” (DK, 2003) is the hard-cover bible that vintage-fashion hunters, Etsy sellers, and auction-room regulars keep within arm’s reach. Written in Miller’s trademark clear, price-savvy style and laid out in DK’s signature photo-heavy format, the book devotes more than 300 pages to every glittering era—from Victorian paste to 1980s plastic pop—so you can spot a rare Miriam Haskell or a signed Weiss at ten paces. Close-up macro shots show construction details, signature plaques, and condition red flags, while market-value panels give realistic price ranges that still hold up two decades on.
What makes this copy especially appealing is its collector-grade condition: a crisp, unmarked hardback that has never been written in, dog-eared, or exposed to smoke, so the colour plates stay as vivid as the day they were printed. Because the title has been out of print for years, clean first-edition copies are increasingly scarce, yet they remain the quickest reference to carry to fairs, estate sales, or when scrolling late-night online listings. The stitched binding lays flat for easy side-by-side comparison and the jacket’s gloss laminate resists booth-bag wear, meaning this guide can travel with you without falling apart.
Whether you’re curating a personal collection, sourcing inventory for resale, or simply want a beautiful coffee-table book that doubles as an investment tool, this very-good copy delivers the authority of a textbook and the pleasure of a fashion album—without the premium price of a signed or vintage-marketed edition.
Refer to our eBay listing for a full condition report and many more high-quality pictures of this item.
Buy Now