Today’s market is strong for rare coins, paper money, old medals, artistic sculpture, paintings, and similar objects of material culture. Over the past year and a half, retail and auction prices for many collectibles have risen—and in some areas even skyrocketed. Coin dealers, antique shops, auction firms, and related businesses are hiring in this active […]
Notes Published: A new cartoon book for coin collectors—“Franklin’s World”
You might not immediately think of cartoons when you think of coin collecting. But the hobby has had its share of humorists over the years, including cartoonists. Edward C. Rochette—the late “Mr. ANA,” executive director emeritus of the American Numismatic Association, for whom its national museum in Colorado Springs is named—drew a cartoon called “Numismapest” […]
Notes Published: A rich and substantial Revolutionary War diary
Last year Kenneth Bressett introduced me to a fascinating New Englander named Abner Sanger. Never mind that Sanger has been dead for 199 years. Ken and I and the Whitman Publishing team (including freelance editor Barbara Gregory) were working on his manuscript for A Penny Saved: R.S. Yeoman and His Remarkable Red Book. This volume […]
Notes Published: Harry Potter and the evergreen book
Publishing Trends releases a monthly analysis of international best-seller lists in fiction books. Traditionally their studies have been Eurocentric, focusing on France, Germany, Italy, and Spain. More recently they’ve added the Czech Republic and, for the first time this month, a non-European country: Mexico. The Publishing Trends data for its October 2021 report were gathered […]
Notes Published: Challenges ahead in numismatic publishing
Even before early 2020, when the novel coronavirus pandemic hit the numismatic community (along with every other community, worldwide), the publishing world was facing alarming challenges. I remember having many conversations in late 2019 about the ongoing global paper shortage, and the strain it was putting on publishers. Paper supply is still an urgent problem […]
Notes Published: Writing your numismatic life
People in the coin-hobby community know me mostly as a publisher, writer, editor, and numismatist. Some know that I’m also a cartoonist, though not as active in that field as I used to be. Alongside my numismatic library is a collection of books on various cartooning subjects—compilations, history, theory, analysis, and the like. In one […]
Notes Published: A book about numismatic publishing — A Penny Saved
Most numismatic books are about coins. A smaller number are about paper money, or tokens and medals (descending in quantity in that particular order). Fewer still focus on numismatic personalities, markets, specific historical factors, technology, and other aspects of the hobby (or art or science) of money. Two weeks ago, at the American Numismatic Association […]
Notes Published: The high value of personal integrity in numismatic publishing
Warren Buffett has said that he looks for three things when he’s hiring: Intelligence, energy, and integrity—” and if they don’t have the latter, the first two will kill you.” On August 3, 2021, the numismatic world lost someone with all three qualities, when Keith Zaner passed away. Keith built a high-profile career over the […]
Notes Published: What’s new in numismatic publishing? Find out in The E-Sylum!
When I meet people for the first time and they ask what I do, many are intrigued by the idea of book publishing. To some, it seems charmingly old-fashioned, like meeting a chimney sweep or a calligrapher. Makes me feel like I’ve stepped off the pages of a storybook. But I try not to get […]
Notes Published: More on children’s books and coin collecting
In a “Notes Published” column last month, I talked about the perennial question “How can we get more kids interested in the hobby?” This question often brings up the potential role of children’s books. I’ve read thousands of books to my daughter over the past few years (starting even before she could walk or talk). […]
