Firecrackers: The Art and History

Bright, colorful pages packed with color illustrations and photos chart the art and history of the firecracker, from their construction and advancement to the making of labels and items promoting them. Beautiful drawings pack an illustrated history which invites leisure browsers as much as researchers, and which is very highly recommended for general library collections.

This book shows great insite into the history of the firecracker and the intricate artwork involved with the packaging of them. The clarity of the illustrations are wonderful, its hard to believe some of the labels are as old as they are. I highly recommend this book to anyone who can remember the excitement of being able to "set off" these firecrackers on the 4th of July, without worrying about breaking the law. Those of you who were not as lucky to experience this thrill, will definitely find this book fun.

(As noted in the last pages of this book, firecrackers are now politically incorrect, suffering the wrath of do-gooders, safety mavens and law enforcement. For those of us old enough to remember a pre-"nanny state" summer, this book brings back wonderful memories. By the time I was old enough to get real cherry bombs, they were outlawed. But I could tell a few stories...) I always wondered how even today, firecrackers in their millions could be produced. The answer, documented in his book, surprised me. This book reveals the fate of the companies whose names appeared on the labels I saw in the 1960s. Ever wonder what happened to Kwong Hing Tai? The authors reveal how the firecracker trade developed in China and made its way to the United States. Even some of today's importers are mentioned.Technically speaking, the book is well printed and the illustrations are crisp and sharp, not bad for paper originals that may be most of 100 years old. Although not exhaustive, there is good reference for collectors. I'd recommend you to get a copy of this book while it is still available. I look forward to many hours of pleasure leafing through my copy.

Just received this stunning book, "Firecrackers: the Art and History" by Warren Dotz, et al and George Moyer. It has brought back a flood of memories of the "good ol days" of my youth. Although I fondly recall blowing off "Black Cat" and "Red Devil" crackers, I had no idea that there were so many other beautiful brand labels produced by so many countries. The images of exploding crackers are reproduced in such vibrant color that you almost have to cover your ears. The authors have apparently gone to great lengths to include archival quality illustrations that really bring to life the historical lineage of firecrackers, from "bursting bamboo" to "atomic bombs". I wholeheartedly recommend this book!

Anything that promotes that which is clearly an important part of American History should be applauded. The pictures are great, information good and overall a very enjoyable read. Definately something to share with the whole family!