Pickford's Starting to Collect Antique Silver is splendidly innlustrated, clearly and entertainly, not to say gracefuly, written (with just a touch of irony in a few spots!), well laid-out, and very useful and informative.
Pickford includes short chapters on the history of silver and its production, the history of hallmarks, a discusion of how silveware is made, and one of the most useful and well-presented tables of date and place marks I have seen. There are generous color and B&W plates illustrating different kinds of silverware and the evolution of each type. Pickford gives valuable hints as to how to begin collecting (and what is collectable) as well as very useful information about the care and cleaning of old silver.
The book does not include a list of silversmiths and their marks, for which the interested reader must go elsewhere, but these are perhaps beyond the intended scope of the book. Make no mistake, this is a splendid achievement and a very valuable book, and no one with an interest in the subject should hesitate to buy it.
Highly recommended.