Welcome to The E-Sylum: Volume 3, Number 7, February 13, 2000:
an electronic publication of the Numismatic Bibliomania Society.
Copyright (c) 2000, The Numismatic Bibliomania Society.
SUBSCRIBER UPDATES
We have two new subscribers this week: Duane Feisel of
California and Bob Leonard of the Chicago Coin Club.
Welcome aboard! Gregory Leitschuh's email address is
no longer valid, and Iram Rolon has dropped out, so this
keeps our net subscriber count at 278.
DAVIS CATALOG AVAILABLE ONLINE
Charles Davis notes that the full text of the catalogue of
his upcoming numismatic literature sale is now available
for viewing at The Maine Antiques Dealer Website. The
closing date is March 4, 2000.
http://www.maineantiquedigest.com/adimg/davis.htm
COINS OF THE KHAZAR EMPIRE
Author Glen Shake writes: "My new coin book "Coins of the
Khazar Empire." has been released for shipment. The Khazar
Empire (circa 700AD - 1100 AD) converted to Judiaism in the
Year 750 AD and minted coins of Islamic designs. Photos and
illustrations and the location of Khazar coins in collections and
museums are provided in the book. Price is $15 postpaid to
US and Canada. For more information contact Glen at:
ipp@ticnet.com
COIN FINDS IN ARMENIA
Georges Depeyrot of France writes: "The first volume on
Coin Finds in Armenia (antiquity) was published in January
2000 (Greek, Roman, Parthian, first Sasanian, etc. coins).
The second volume is now in print. This volume contains
two parts; one is the coin finds in the Mediaeval Capital of
Armenia, Duin (Greek, Roman, Parthian, Armenian, Sasanian,
Byzantine, Islamic coins mainly 4th-13th c.). The other is the
inventory of Sasanian coins found in Armenia and the inventory
of Byzantine (pre Islamic) coins in Armenia (hoards and single
finds). This book will be available in April 2000 and you can
order now at: http://www.cultura-net.com/moneta"
CRITIC'S CORNER: ANCIENT COIN REFERENCE REVIEWS
Robert Wilson Hoge, Curator of the numismatic collection of
the American Numismatic Association in Colorado Springs
writes: "I always look forward to seeing the latest issue of The
E-sylum when I come to work in the ANA Museum each
Monday morning. I just wanted to mention this and say that I
think Dennis Kroh's reference work on ancient coins is a very
good choice for reviewing from a bibliophile's point of view. It
is certainly a most useful tool, and I routinely use it and cite it
for my students in the ANA Summer Seminar course on
coinages of the ancient world.
Henry Bergos writes: "The layout is simple and straight forward.
This keeps the price down and makes the book easy to use.
After Seaby's four volume set this is the most important book
on Roman coins. With this book we have the tool build a
library. Prior to his book, which I have used extensively, I
used my own resources. I agree with ALL his recommendations
and all his conclusions. When I (try to) teach numismatics this
book tops the list of needs."
Allan Davisson writes: "Ancient Coin Reference Reviews is one
of the few major references that sit right beside my desk. Dennis
Kroh's book is the best (only?) reference there is to cover and
evaluate ancient references in one volume. Dennis's enthusiasm is
only part of this publication's strength. He also solicited the help
of Basil Demetriadi who has the finest privately owned (if not the
finest PERIOD) library on ancient Greek coins in existence. Basil
also has a full-time librarian for his library. This is an exceptional
book that sold for a very small sum ($25 as I recall). Everyone
should have it. We need a second edition that takes into account
new publications and addresses current availability."
Here are your editor's thoughts: While I agree that the content of
the book is very useful, the layout and indexing make it very hard
to use for reference. Suppose I want to look up the review on a
book by Kraay. The index lists 13 page references, with no
indication of which page holds which title. The only way to find
a specific listing is to read all thirteen pages in hopes of locating it.
The book's contents were originally published in serial form in
The Celator. Each chapter holds up well on its own, but the
book's value as a reference would have been greatly increased
with the addition of an improved layout, numbering system, and
index.
CRITIC'S CORNER: BREEN'S ENCYCLOPEDIA
The critic's corner has generated a great deal of interest.
Next week we'll focus on a book on U.S. Numismatics:
"Walter Breen's Complete Encyclopedia of U.S. and
Colonial Coins" Remember, our intention is not to discuss
content, but to take the bibliophile's perspective.
What are the book's best and worst features? What could
have been done to improve it? Would you have changed
the illustrations? The text? The layout? The arrangement?
The numbering system? What features could have improved
its usability, readability, or reference value?
OTTILIA BUERGER COLLECTION
In reference to last week's featured web site, Robert Hoge
notes: "Part of the research work and cataloguing of the
marvelous Ottilia Buerger collection at Lawrence University
was done by our own ANA Museum Registrar Kelly Swett
while she was still an undergraduate at that institution (you
will note her initials following the entries which she prepared),
before she went to the ANS as the Frances Schwartz fellow.
GEORGE MALLIS OBITUARIES
Marilyn Reback reports: "Obituaries for George Mallis ran in
the January 18 issue of Numismatic News (page 4) and in the
February 7 issue of Coin World (page 76). An obituary also
appeared in the Springfield, Massachusetts, Union-News on
January 1.
According to these reports, George died on December 30,
just five days after his wife died, on Christmas Day (reportedly
their wedding anniversary).
George was an award-winning author for The Numismatist,
and his "Numismatic Primer" from the July-December 1988
issues of the journal were reprinted in the ANA's pamphlet
"The ABC's of Money."
SEEING DOUBLE DOUBLE
Russ Logan writes: "I was pleased to see Charlie Davis’
most recent Numismatic Literature catalog arrive in today's
post, although I could hardly believe my eyes when I
discovered that the center leaf was included twice. Really,
Charlie, are you trying to keep pace with Brad Karoleff or
do you think all the lots in the center four pages will receive
twice as many bids?
FEATURED WEB SITE
This week's featured web site is the Congressional Medal
of Honor Society. The site has much information about the
medal and its recipients. 'The Medal of Honor is the highest
award for valor in action against an enemy force which can
be bestowed upon an individual serving in the Armed Services
of the United States. Generally presented to its recipient by
the President of the United States of America in the name of
Congress, it is often called the Congressional Medal of Honor."
http://www.cmohs.org/
Wayne Homren
Numismatic Bibliomania Society
The Numismatic Bibliomania Society is a
non-profit organization promoting numismatic
literature. For more information please see
our web site at http://www.coinbooks.org/
There is a membership application available on
the web site. To join, print the application and
return it with your check to the address printed
on the application. For those without web access,
contact Dave Hirt, NBS Secretary-Treasurer,
5911 Quinn Orchard Road, Frederick, MD 21704
(To be removed from this mailing list
write to me at whomren@coinlibrary.com)
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