WHAT WOULD YOU SAVE? Público Deposited
The E-Sylum: Volume 6, Number 48, November 9, 2003, Article 2
WHAT WOULD YOU SAVE?
Last week I asked, "If you could save just one item from
your numismatic library, what would it be, and why?" Here
are some of your responses:Tom DeLorey writes: "My autographed copy of Taxay's
"The U.S. Mint and Coinage." It is my favorite numismatic
work. Second choice would be Vermeule's "Numismatic
Art in America."Denis Loring writes: "My copy of Penny Whimsy, which
I 've had since I started collecting large cents in the 1960's.
It's autographed by Sheldon, Paschal, and (with a full-page
inscription) Breen. The book is heavily annotated and falling
apart from use. It's obviously not the most valuable item in
my library, but certainly links to the most memories."Bruce Perdue writes: "Regarding your question in the v06n47
E-Sylum as to what book one might take while leaving a
burning house: Since I don't have any valuable numismatic
books, or valuable books period, (although I do have a number
of first additions) I'd grab my checkbook."Dick Johnson writes: "One item? One book? How about
one shelf, or one bookcase? Then I realized almost everything
can be replaced. Then I got to thinking. What do I have that
is unique, really irreplaceable? My own manuscripts? They are
still in the computer. Jerk the cords off the CPU and throw it
out the window to be retrieved later. Grab the backup disks.To answer your question: The one book I would save because
it is irreplaceable is "The Fantastic 1804 Dollar? " one of the rare
first edition -- that was the only copy signed by both authors in
two different cities on the same day. Sixteen copies were
delivered to Ken Bressett at an ANA convention in Detroit. He
gave me a copy because I was flying back to Kansas City that
day with a stopover in St. Louis. If Eric Newman could meet
me at the airport I would deliver his first copy. Both authors
signed my copy. That's irreplaceable."Ralf Böpple of Stuttgart, Germany writes: "The most important
numismatic book for me was the 1995 North American Coins
& Prices. Although outdated, heavily annotated and earmarked,
it still holds a special place on my bookshelf. Why? While I
surely cherish each and every item in my library, I would not be
where I am today if I had not discovered the world of Mexican
numismatics through this catalog (and this even though the
fascinating world of Mexican Revolutionary coinage is not even
covered!). And from there I wandered off into the world of
auction catalogs, special references, pamphlets, die studies,
coffee table books, mint reports, periodicals, etc. Not to forget
the non-numismatic part of Mexican, world, economic and bank
history.So while it was not the first book or catalog on coins I
possessed, it was the one that laid the foundation of the collecting
and study interest I am pursuing today. And I still love to go back
to the book and look at the innocent comments and annotations I
made there at a time when I, as am absolute beginner, knew
absolutely nothing about the subject."Bob Christie writes: "In response to the question asking which
book to save from your library if faced with the disaster of the
California fires; the first one that popped into my head was The
Standard Catalogue of Encased Postage Stamps since I collect
them and any memorabilia connected to them plus the fact that I
like the simple easy way it's written. But then I thought that in
such a situation, I'd want something unique, meaningful, and
brings back memories. In 2000 I attended the ANA summer
seminar in Colorado Springs, brought the American Numismatic
Association Anthology (which was written to celebrate the l00th
Anniversary of the ANA) with me and had many people autograph
it. With a clear mind, that's probably what I'd choose. However,
in such a situation, who thinks clearly?"Your editor was dying to know, so I put the question directly to
George Kolbe, who actually lived this nightmare scenario. He
writes:"To respond to your query, not counting personal items such as
clothing, financial records, photo albums, and other treasured
belongings (including our two dogs), we were able to take 21
banker's boxes of books with us. Seven of them contained GFK
stuff, including runs of our fixed price lists and auction catalogues.
Early numismatic bibliographies were packed in another carton
and, from there on, it was pretty much whatever came to view.
The remaining fourteen boxes were packed with items from the
John J. Ford, Jr. library, mainly the highlights of items already
catalogued, along with an extensive run of plated large format
Chapman sales being readied for cataloguing. As items in both
categories were being placed back on our shelves, many
"shoulda taken" items were noted. I know it sounds self-serving
but I could have stood the loss of my own material; as to the
Ford library and other significant consignments on hand . . ."- 2003-11-09
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