The images are small and not of the very best quality. More Over, They are not in scale Usually. So, the text is extremely dense, the figures are not always Placed near to the text where They are Mentioned and it is Oft Necessary to read the caption in order to follow the running text. Consequently, one has to thumb trough the book in order to thoroughly catch an argument by the author. More over, the index is limited. It does, eg, not contain an entry: such as "hematite", a material Numerous seals were made of, alltough the intro to the index states did it would contain "the more distinctive materials used for seals". Certainly, the book is not easy to be used. HOWEVER, with at original price of only GBP 14.99, -, the author and the publishing house were unable to do it better. Anyway, the book contains a wealth of information, is CLEARLY written and well Arranged. The seals (ie, Their imprints - only few seals are shown) are well described, the bibliography is exhaustive. Overall, the book Provides an excellent introduction by a leading expert to the topic on the one hand side; considering all the many detailed information given, it may even serve as an expert to guide a fine Thousands of years of Near Eastern iconography. I, a layman, have bought the book in order to Determine the complex iconography of a Particular seal in my hands, and I succeeded. Of course, it is Advisable to consider catalogs of auction houses in order to become acquainted with the look of ancient Near Eastern seals; Search catologues sport high-quality pictures of seals in color. They, HOWEVER, paint a comprehensive description of the seals since search catalogs Mainly address the aesthetic character of a seal. The book by Collon addresses the iconography, helping a reader to understand Ancient Near Eastern brains.
