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Bohemian and Czechoslovakia Porcelain and Crystal Books (the book links open in a new window)
The book "Bohemian Decorated Porcelain" by James Henderson (1999) I have. It has about seventeen pages of interesting information about porcelain and Bohemian porcelain overall, and twenty-five pages of information about the import and export of china. The book focusses on factories in the Karlovy Vary (Karlsbad) area, which is not all of the Bohemian factories. Each factory may have a few sentences to maybe a couple of paragraphs. There are a few marks for each factory, but it is confusing as to which factory which mark belongs. It has much information about the porcelain he collects, Oscar & Edgar Gutherz. If you are researching dinnerware, the book is not that expensive. I do not want you to be as disappointed as I was by the lack of information on factories other than Oscar & Edgar Gutherz. Now that I have had this book for a few years, I find it very useful!
Someday I will buy "Czechoslovakian Glass & Collectibles" the first book, by Dale and Diane Barta and Helen M Rose.
Another book is I have is "Czechoslovakian Glass & Collectibles Book II" by Dale and Diane Barta and Helen M Rose, published in 1997. It focuses on the years 1918 to 1938 and contains many photos of pottery, porcelain, glass, crystal, beads, and costume jewelry. There are three pages of ceramic marks. Neither the marks nor the photos have information with them as to which factory they are associated. It is fun to look at though. - Sometimes Amazon.com is out of this book.
The book "Czechoslovakian Pottery - Czeching Out America" has a little bit of information, as well as Marks and piece photos. However, the authors of the book make incorrect assumptions. Most of the Marks illustrated do not have factories associated with them. It is the first book that has both Marks and pieces for my Grandmother's china, Fine Bohemian China, with no factory association. This is another book of pretty pictures lacking substance.
I am very disappointed in the two Kovel books on marks. They are inexpensive so it is no big loss. The first is "Kovels' Dictionary of Marks Pottery & Porcelain 1650 to 1850" (1953, 1986, 1995). Of the Bohemian marks I saw in the book, the country was listed as Germany; it should have been Austria, Czechoslovakia, or Czech Republic.
The second book is "Kovels' Dictionary of Marks Pottery & Porcelain 1850 to present" (present is 1986?), by Ralph and Terry Kovel (1986). Last resort resource - use it for clues where to look in other materials. It is cheap though.
Ruth Forsythe's book "Made in Czechoslovakia" (1982 or reprint 1994?) I have. It has a small historical reciting and covers ceramics, glass, and crystal. This book does not have factories associated with the pieces or Marks. It has nice simple explanations of the different types of glass, porcelain, and pottery. There are a few pages of hand drawn marks, but no factories. This is a fun book, regardless of the lack of hard facts.
Ruth Forsythe has a newer book "Made in Czechoslovakia: Book 2" - paperback (1993), or hardback. One of these days, I will buy it for fun; who knows, maybe I will be surprised and find lots of information.
"Marks on German, Bohemian, and Austrian Porcelain: 1700 to the Present," Second Edition, by Robert E Rontgen -- the present means 1980. There are no pictures in this book, only facts and Marks. It includes over 3,300 Marks for 1300 factories and decorators, including the time period the Mark was used, and Marks for US importers.
Still though with 3300+ Marks included in this book, it is still missing many Marks, and I can find contradictions with other sources. Personally, it was another disappointment; it does not mention or have a Mark for my Grandmother's china Fine Bohemian China. For the person who wants to collect porcelain from various factories, and especially for the person who wants to buy and sell porcelain, this book is essential, and worth the $90.
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