From the frontispiece:

"The Norman R. Saks Collection of jazz memorabilia is remarkable, both in size and scope. The emphasis is on Charlie Parker, including the Dial test pressings, autographs, photographs, handwritten notes, contracts, awards, letters and posters, but this collection also includes rare postcards, photo souvenir folders, matchbooks, ashtrays and posters from most of the major jazz clubs in the USA from the 30s, 40s and 50s. This fascinating collection is a delight for anyone remotely interested in Jazz history. The book has been documented and designed by Ken Vail author of Jazz Milestones, Swing Era Scrapbook and many more other books on jazz legends, with the invaluable assistance of Norman R. Saks, the obsessive curator of this wonderful collection."

Anyone interested in Charlie Parker will find this an important publication, not least for the quality and quantity of Parker and jazz related ephemera but it also has a much broader appeal for as a record of an era, a 'zeitgeist' document, capturing the spirit of the most popular jazz age. Norman has spent many years avidly collecting Charlie Parker memorabilia. Most of the Charlie Parker items were gathered methodically, before the internet, through exhaustive searches, and equally exhaustive negotiations. His determination to gather this collection together is a credit not only to the memory of Charlie Parker, but to Norman himself. He has become the custodian of all things Charlie Parker. If it were not for Norman, many of the items recorded in the book may have been lost for ever.

Highlights include the images of Charlie's copy of Bird With Strings, where Charlie has sketched what he thought would make a better cover. Another is the image of the only record of Charlie using 'Christopher' as his middle name on an offical document. The book is filled with images that bring to life the Charlie Parker age. It's a shame this won't be ready for Christmas as it would make a marvellous gift for any jazz fan.