In view of the recent expanded coverage of the S.S. Central America by Paul Gilkes and others in Coin World, and of dynamic interest in ingots and coins from the SSCA, it might be relevant to make a note that my book, A History of the California Gold Rush Featuring the Treasure from the S.S. Central America is completely sold out. There was a printing of about 4,000 copies, all hard cover, plus an additional 400 or so in deluxe red leather to accompany one each of the ingots found.

Most of us involved at the epicenter of this consider the SSCA treasure, absolutely unique as no greater treasure was ever lost at sea (and thus no greater can ever be recovered), to be a high point of our numismatic careers. Absolutely incredible. Absolutely unforgettable! And, we are all delighted that the coins and ingots have continued to be highly treasured in the aftermarket.

The auction of a portion of David Bowers' library is I feel a very important auction. In the years to come the auctions of the Stack Family Library and the Bowers sales and others of course, at the start of this new century, will have been a bit of American history. The baton is passed to another generation, as it were. If you have read Bowers' work on the Garrett collection, there were similar auctions at the turn of the last century where those great collectors from the 19th century passed on to greater glory, leaving us mere mortals with their business.

I think Bowers will go down as the greatest numismatic historian of the past century. He brought the 19th century to life in his volumes and for that I am grateful, as I am sure others are too. It looks like it might be up to someone else to write the histories of the 20th century. The 21st century lies before us and history lies waiting for that someone to make it.