The friendly text and hundreds of colour photographs of beads from around the world bring order to this awesome field of growing popular interest. This book helps makes the identification of beads possible. Written to encourage collectors and clarify the origins and uses of beads in their native settings, this book provides the best and broadest reference available to date. Furthermore, revised pricing information makes this book useful in today's marketplace. Beads of organic, stone, and glass materials are individually discussed. Then the author traces certain types of beads to their origins in Europe, the Middle East, India, the Far East, Southeast Asia, North and South America and Africa--literally circling the globe. Jewellery makers and collectors, artists, hobbyists and serious historians alike will find Mr. Francis's personally researched and clearly stated explanations fascinating. A price guide in US Dollars is included.