Beachcombing Books
A few books on beachcombing for Japanese glass floats are available. Here is a list of the books that I've found that are currently in print. On those that I've read, I'll give a small review.
If you have a beachcombing book that should be included, let me know...
Glass Fishing Floats of The
World
(The Collector’s Price Guide and Identification Handbook)
by Stu Farnsworth & Alan D. Rammer
2nd Edition, Published 2005
Spiral bound softcover $10.49 (directly from the publisher at www.glassfishingfloats.com)
64 pages with black and white illustrations
This book is the first price guide available that is dedicated to glass fishing floats. This edition contains information on European, Japanese, Korean, Russian, and American floats.
Table of Contents:
- Foreword
- What is a “Real” Glass Float?
- Guide to glass float identification notation used in the book
- European Glass Fishing Floats
- Japanese Glass Fishing Floats
- Korean Glass Fishing Floats
- Russian Glass Fishing Floats
- “The American West Coast Collection”
- Looking Out To Sea – What The Future Holds
About 20 pages of the book are dedicated to European floats, about 20 pages for Japanese floats, and the remaining sections typically run 2-4 pages each.
The book is a good introductory guide that will help one estimate the price for most floats. It contains enough specific examples and general price guidelines for float types, sizes, colors, and common features (nets, markings, water, spindles, double ball) that the reader should be able to create a reasonably close estimate of most any float. I’m pleased that it covers glass floats from the major float producing nations with a total of about 160 different identification markings in all.
It includes a short introduction and a description of the differences between a “real” glass float and other types of floats. This is welcomed as I have received many emails from people expressing disappointment in having purchased imitation (or curio shop) floats.
The markings are not photographs, but hand drawn illustrations which are clear and appear accurate. I prefer the drawings as an aid for quick identification as I’ve seen many attempts to photograph markings with mixed results.
The book is spiral bound which is a very good choice for a price guide as it allows sections to be opened and laid float for reference without stressing the binding.
I liked this price guide, will referenced it often, and I recommend it. If I had any criticism, it would be for a few minor suggestions:
The guide utilizes codes for glass float sizes and colors that make the guide a compact and efficient reference for frequent users. Special letter and number codes are used for floats sizes [ex: “1” for 1 to 1.5” (golf ball sized) floats and “2” for 2 to 3.5” (baseball sized floats)], float colors (ex: A for clear, B for aquamarine, C for light blue, D for blue, E for cobalt, F for green, etc.), and the location of the identification marking. For the casual user, this coding makes the book a bit harder to use than necessary and although it appears to be done for compactness, there seems to be plenty of space to utilize the actual size, name, and location descriptions as needed. Even if abbreviations are used, it would improve readability to the casual collector.
The book mentions that only a sampling of the many markings of Asian floats is listed. The guide lists other references, such as Wood’s or Pich’s glass float books, which provide additional information on markings. However, I wanted to see what type of coverage this guide gives me so, as a test, I parsed through a small collection of Pacific floats that I had saved in a basket that each contained a unique marking. Of the 26 floats in the basket, 6 of them weren’t marked clearly enough to make identification possible. That left 20 with clear markings of which 11 were in the book and 9 were not. Of the 11, some of these were very common markings and of the 9 that weren’t, I’m fairly sure that a couple are uncommon, and may warrant inclusion in the book. The fact that only 55% of the markings were located in the guide is not to say that only 55% of Asian floats with markings will be in the book because the guide contains most of the very common markings which make up the bulk of all marked floats. However, it does indicate that of all the unique markings in my collection, which represent a random sample of beachcombed floats, this book probably contains slightly more than half of them. This guide would benefit from including a larger number of markings, even if it were simply to provide a condensed list of common markings that only add the nominal addition to a float’s value.
I cannot comment on the coverage on European floats as this is not my area of expertise. Suffice it to say that it appears to be substantial, with about 80 unique European identifications.
Finally, although not required for a price guideline, it would have been very interesting if the book gave some information about the source of each identification mark, such as the manufacturer or period in which the particular float was made. This would add a great deal of interest to collectors and beachcombing enthusiasts.
Despite these nits, this is a valuable glass float guide and certainly reasonably priced. When I received the guide, I eagerly looked up some of unusual markings and odd shaped floats that I own to ascertained their value. I also noticed that my copy was signed by both authors which was a pleasant surprise. I look forward to new editions with expanded coverage of the many markings that are probably still out there, floating around in the ocean, waiting to be discovered.
Beachcombers Guide to The Northwest
by Walter C. Pich
Published in 1997
Softcover $19.95 (directly from the publisher)
200 pages and 127 B&W photos, charts, and illustrations
ISBN #0-9657108-0-7
Not since Amos Wood's "Beachcombing for Japanese Glass Floats" was published in 1967 has there been a reference considered a "must have" for avid beachcombers. But Walt Pich's recently released book titled "Beachcombers Guide To The Northwest" is destined to fall into this once exclusive category.
Even better, both books complement each other and together they give a complete treatment on the subject:
About "Beachcombers Guide To The Northwest":
The tone of this book is clearly derived from the feeling one gets when beachcombing. It's a magical combination of the beautiful natural elements of the beach, the mystery of the sea, and the thrill of the hunt. Walt does an excellent job of explaining why beachcombing is an addictive pastime. When reading the book, I often found myself thinking: "That's how I felt when I beachcomb" or "That happened to me too!".
In his chapter "Wonders On The Beach", he is able to put down in words, something I've felt for a long time: Although glass floats are man made, the fact that the sea has claimed them for years makes them seem like a natural element of the ocean. Seeing them lying on the tideline coated with marine growth lying amongst the kelp and other natural elements of the ocean makes them appear like a shining jewel produced by the ocean.
Walt goes on to talk about not only glass floats but all
varieties of things found on the beach, both common and strange. He devotes a
whole chapter on Ambergris, the mysterious "excretion" from sperm
whales that for many decades was literally worth it's
weight in gold. In the chapter "Natural Littoral Elements" he covers
natural elements that you may find beachcombing and those you may find in the tidepools. He lists most of the major species of intertidal animals found in
The remaining chapters are basically a "how to beachcomb the Northwest" guide and this where Walt's book is unmatched. Quite simply, he divulges the virtually every beachcomber's secrets to anyone willing to read these chapters. His tips and techniques mirror exactly my experiences and the advice I give new beachcombers.
Walt's book is well written and enjoyable to read. If you
are interested in beachcombing in the
Table of Contents:
- Wonders On The Beach
- Glass Balls
- Myriad of Treasures
- Ambergris
- Natural Littoral Elements
- Techniques, Approaches and Gear (for beachcombing)
- Timing
- Geography
- Safety On The Beach
- Beauty and The Beach
If you ask me which book is the best beachcombing book, I can't make that kind of distinction between Wood's "Beachcombing For Japanese Glass Floats" and Pich's "Beachcombing Guide To The Northwest". However, there are a few differences that can be pointed out:
- Amos Wood's has more information on the sizes, types, and identification markings of glass floats, plus good historical information on the manufacture and use of glass floats. This may be the best book for glass float collectors.
- Walt Pich's book gives a full treatment on the complete essence of beachcombing and gives some of the best information on "how to beachcomb". This is the best book for beachcombers.
If you are really into both glass floats AND beachcombing, get both books.
This book isn't widely available yet, in the near future it should be available through REI Co-Op. If you can't find it in stores you may order it directly from the publisher:
Pich Publishing
Purchase price is $19.95 which includes postage and handling.
Beachcombing for Japanese Glass Floats
(1971 cover art)
by Amos L. Wood
Originally published in 1967, last updated in 1985.
Hardcover $24.95
Softcover edition may still be available
Approximately 250 pages and 150 B&W photos
For thirty years, this has been the best single resource for beachcombing
for Japanese glass floats along the
The book includes an appendix that contains well over 100 glass float markings with the sources and translations for many of the markings.
Most of the photos are from the 50's and 60's and include photos of interesting events and beachcombing finds plus a wide variety of glass floats. Unfortunately, none of the pictures are in color to give the reader an idea of the range of colors glass floats come in.
Amos Wood gives good advice on where to find glass floats and when to look for them. Although the number of floats found today is much smaller than when he originally wrote his book, his advice is generally still true today. However I must say the Walt Pich's books is a better guide on "how to beachcomb".
In his last edition in 1985, he removed some photos and added others, so the
newer book is a bit different from the older editions. A glass float fanatic
will probably want to have both editions, the older of which can be found in
used book stores such as Powell's Books
in
The only thing really outdated with this book is his price guide that hasn't been updated since the original publishing date of 1967.
Table of Contents:
- Pleasures Of Beachcombing
- Kinds Of Glass Fishing Floats
- Techniques Of Beachcombing
- The
- The
- How Glass Floats Are Manufactured
- Japanese Fisheries And Fishermen
- Tofino Interlude
- Where To Find Glass Floats
- Floats As Decorations
- Collectors And Collections
- A Summing-Up
- Trademarks And Imprints
I'd Rather Be Beachcombing
by Bert and Margie Webber
Published in 1993
Softcover $12.95
125 pages and 100 B&W photos
Bert and Margie Webber's book is another good introduction to beachcombing for glass floats. Much like Wood's "Beachcombing For Japanese Glass Floats", it covers the variety and sizes of glass floats, how to find them, how they are made, and has some beachcombing stories. In fact, this book occasionally quotes from Wood's book and uses it as a reference.
Although it doesn't go into as much depth as Wood's on how floats are made
and used, and it doesn't have the appendix on float markings, it devotes the
last 30 pages of the book to the beachcombing experiences of a Navy man
stationed in
Because "I'd Rather Be Beachcombing" is relatively new (1993), it demonstrates that glass floats are still made and used by Asian fisheries and that there will probably be many glass floats to find for years to come.
This book would also make a good addition to a beachcombing library although Amos Wood's and Walter Pich's books are, more complete.
The Table Of Contents:
- Why Beachcomb?
- Glass Balls and Oceanography
- Messages in Bottles (and in Coconuts)
- Sizes and Kinds of Glass Floats
- Significance of Velella
- Visiting A Glass Float Factory
- How Many Floats Still in the Ocean (from Amos Wood's estimates)
- Beachcomber's Sand Trap
- Happenings On Northwest Coast Beaches
- More Places To Look For Floats
- Amazing Beachcombing In
- Reflections
Beachcombing The Pacific
by Amos L. Wood
Published in 1987
Softcover $9.95
225 pages and 100 B&W photos
Beachcombing The Pacific was Amos Wood's last book on the subject. He
broadened his coverage to include beachcombing for items other than Japanese
glass floats. Although he touches on many areas of the Pacific, he concentrates
on beachcombing the Pacific coast of the
This book doesn't have the depth of "Beachcombing for Japanese Glass Floats" but adds coverage of all odd and interesting items that can wash up on the beach which his former book only touches upon.
Although he covers beachcombing for items such as agates, driftwood, and fossils, I don't think he attacked this with the rigor and depth he had for his original work on glass floats. This book is primarily designed to give the reader a taste for the wide variety and types of beachcombing experiences one can have and gives a general survey of the variety of items that have been beachcombed over the years.
Table Of Contents:
- The
- A Catalogue Of Pacific Treasures
- Beachcombing Techniques
- Beachcombing Areas - A
Detailed Analysis (From Baja to
- Displaying And Valuing Beach Items
- Safety
- Major Expeditions
- Armchair Beachcombing
Beachcomber's Treasure - Glass Floats
Published by Maverick Books
4" x 8 1/2"
Softcover $2.75
16 pages with 14 color photos
Based on the experiences from 15 years of beachcombing along
the
Maverick Book's Online Bookstore
