Locating an out-of-print numismatic book is as easy as counting to three.
One – determine the book you want; two – seek out an informed and trusted source; three – order the material.
OK, finding a unique title or author may not be that simple, but the journey of hunting for a special item can be a fun experience, and there is help along the way.
According to Charles Davis of Numismatic Literature in Wenham, Mass., "Searching for books is no different than searching for coins, stamps, Tiffany glass, or used cars. Ask those you know in the hobby for the names of dealers, Google the Internet, read the hobby's periodicals and buy one of several numismatic bibliographies."
Davis has been a full-time dealer in numismatic literature for 18 years. He sells books on three Web sites, through print catalog auctions and at major shows including the Baltimore conventions, the American Numismatic Association conventions and the New York International Convention.
Davis can be reached by mail at P.O. Box 547, Wenham, MA 01984, or telephone at (978) 468 2933. His fax number is (978) 468 7893.
Fine books numismatic dealer George Frederick Kolbe said: "Nowadays common titles are easily obtained via the Internet; scarcer titles may often be obtained from dealers specializing in the field (some of whom also offer them and commoner titles online). Numismatic book auctions (of which we have several a year) are also an excellent source."
|
Click on image to enlarge
|
|
Cornelius Vermeule's book, Numismatic Art In America, is one out-of-print title readily available from numismatic literature dealers and Internet Web sites.
|
Kolbe's Web address is at www.numislit.com. By mail, he can be reached at Box 3100, Crestline, CA 92325-3100, or telephone him at (909) 338-6527.
Kolbe is a founding member of the Numismatic Bibliomania Society, a group of collectors whose passion is numismatic literature – books, auction catalogs, fixed price lists and more. The society publishes a quarterly journal called The Asylum and a free weekly e-mail newsletter called E-Sylum. NBS also sponsors a numismatic literature forum at the summer ANA convention, and other meetings are held at major regional coin shows throughout the year.
NBS was founded in 1980. The society's Web site is located at www.coinbooks.org.
In addition to Davis and Kolbe, other numismatic literature dealers and their Web addresses include Orville J. Grady at gradybooks.com and Fred Lake at www.lakebooks.com.
ANA resources
Amber Thompson, ANA research librarian, writes that "if someone wishes to purchase out-of-print materials, they need to contact a numismatic book dealer. You can try searching the Internet, but there is a definite chance that you will not be able to locate specific materials, in which case a book dealer is your only option."
During the Summer Seminar, the ANA library conducts a yearly book sale of donated and deaccessioned materials that are not needed in the collection.
Thompson said: "We do not know what items will be available for sale and do not keep a listing of those which are sold. Anyone who wishes to purchase materials must be at the sale as it is on a first come first serve basis. We did recently do an auction of duplicates from the rare book room, but that kind of an auction happens very rarely."
Books can be borrowed for six weeks by contacting the ANA library. Members are asked to cover the cost of postage. To browse the Online Library Catalog, go to www.money.org/Content/NavigationMenu/ExploretheWorldofMoney/Library/default.htm.
The ANA Library can be reach by mail at 818 N. Cascade Ave., Colorado Springs, CO 80903-3279; by telephone at (719) 482-9867; and by fax at (719) 482-9802.
Searching online
Community libraries are a good place to access the Internet for individuals who may not have a computer. Internet search options abound.
Online sites with purchasing options include these:
Abebooks Inc., at www.abebooks.com, offers new, used and out-of-print books.
AddAll, at www.addall.com, a free online service, allows readers to search for books offered by a wide variety of booksellers.
Alibris, www.alibris.com, is an online service offering hard-to-find books, movies and music from its own shelves and from a worldwide network of independent sellers.
Amazon.com, at www.amazon.com, offers new, used and out-of-print books.
Barnes & Noble, www.barnesandnoble.com, offers new, used and out-of-print books.
Book Finder, www.bookfinder.com, is a free book search tool that allows users to view the collections of more than 60,000 sellers of new, used, rare and out-of-print books. The firm doesn't sell books. It provides readers with a list of the name of the bookseller, a description of the book and its condition, and the price.
eBay, wwweBay.com, is an online auction site that requires individuals to register. Numismatic literature can be found in sales at the site.
Powells.com, www.powells.com, offers the ability to search and purchase new and used books, rare books, books on technical subjects, textbooks, children's books and e-books.
Used Book Central, www.usedbookcentral.com, is a used-book online marketplace helping booksellers and buyers connect.
Looking for specific titles
A Dec. 21 Internet search for five out-of-print numismatic books resulted in a variety of prices. All searches on the Internet were instantaneous, offering information on prices and condition. Not all books were available at all sites.
The searches included these works:
A hardcover copy of Walter Breen's Complete Encyclopedia of U.S. and Colonial Coins (1988) – Five hardcover books were available for prices ranging from a low of $246 (Used Good condition) to $575 (new condition) at Amazon. BookFinder offered 15 sites to purchase this title that include Zephyr Inc., Amazon, Alibris, Lost Books, Cheshire, Hurley Inc. and Half.com. Prices ranged from a high of $1,034.50 to a low of $228.50.
Silver Dollars and Trade Dollars of the United States, A Complete Encylopedia (1993) by Q. David Bowers – A set of the hardcover Volumes 1 and 2 was offered on eBay for $799.99. The seller described Volume 1 as having dings on the front cover corners. Two used sets were offered on Amazon for $425 (Used Good condition) and $399.99 (Used Good condition). Five copies were located at BookFinder with prices ranging from $343 to $456.
U.S. Mint and Coinage: An Illustrated History from 1776 to Present by Don Taxay (1966) – Taxay's book was originally published in 1966 and reprinted in 1983. A "new condition" 1983 edition hardcover copy was available on eBay for $40. Several copies of the 1966 and 1983 issues were available at AbeBooks.com, where prices for two 1966 books in Fine condition ranged from $40 to $12. Several copies of the 1983 issue were also available at Amazon with prices ranging from $54.99 to $24.95 for two "New" condition books. Used Book Central offered one copy for $20, while BookFinder listed nine copies ranging in price from $15, for a 1966 copy, to $47.50 for a 1983 issue.
Numismatic Art in America: Aesthetics and the U.S. Coinage by Cornelius Vermeule (1971) – Five softcover copies were offered for prices ranging from $43.22 to $58.04, while seven hardcover issues were available for a low of $48 in Acceptable Used condition to $151.43 in Used Good condition. One copy at Used Books Central was offered for $100. At BookFinder, seven copies were offered at prices ranging from $39.27 to $191.26. (A new, expanded, edition of this book was published in late 2007.)
Standard Catalog of United States Obsolete Bank Notes by James A. Haxby (1988) – On eBay the complete four-volume set in "Like New" condition was available for $750. Amazon offered the four-volume set in Very Good condition for $1,450. Six copies of the set were available at BookFinder, ranging in price from $856 to $2,392.41.
Numismatic literature
Karl Moulton (www.coincats.com/) offers American numismatic literature (specializing in auction catalogs) from an inventory of more than 10,000 pieces.
He writes: "Numismatic literature is a rather specialized segment of the hobby that requires some background reading to become familiar with the material, but it has its own rewards, such as true rarity (there are quite a few items which have less than 10 known), and most importantly – gaining knowledge. The real history of numismatics can be found in the printed materials, rather than what is presented online."
He adds that "collecting interests can often change, but the need for knowledge doesn't. To become a numismatist, you need to have a reference library – the more extensive the better."
According to Moulton, "Everyone knows there were five 1913 Liberty Head nickels created. They sell for millions of dollars when offered. Bibliophiles (book people) know there were reportedly five deluxe, leather bound copies of The Early Quarter Dollars of the United States 1796-1838 by A.W. Browning made by publisher Wayte Raymond in 1925. However, today, we know of only four such editions. If the 'missing' one should ever turn up, it would probably sell for over $25,000. This limited edition is destined to become the highest priced book ever regarding American numismatics."
The late numismatic literature dealer Aaron Feldman's advice was "Buy the book before the coin." With the help of a computer or numismatic literature dealer, that is an easy task to accomplish.
