The E-Sylum:  Volume 5, Number 24, June 9, 2002, Article 13

PERIODICAL NUMBERING SCHEMES

  Paul Withers writes: "A heart-felt plea, but it is almost
  surely too late.   I read with horror your item:
  "Volume 1, Number 1 of American Numismatic Society
  Magazine has appeared."

  Why, oh why Volume 1  Number 1 ?

  Why don't the people who get these ideas learn that
  numbers are (a) sequential and (b) unique, so only ONE
  number is necessary for identification ?

  You might wonder why I am concerned enough to write
  about this - well, as a cataloguer of books for sale,  I have
  to deal with journals of various societies.  The one that I
  hate most is the Journal of the Society of Antiquaries of
  Scotland.  The society's Journal has issue and volume
  numbers.   Then it got late, and out of phase and several
  issues were bundled together - thus, to identify one that
  you want, with absolute accuracy you have to give the
  issue number, the volume number, the date of publication
  and the year when it should have been published.  All of
  this is incredibly confusing - and all because a wazzock
  who thought that they'd make their journal look posh and
  give it two numbers when only one was really necessary.
  Now you have to quote four numbers to be absolutely sure
  that you are giving the client what he needs.

  Those who collect communion tokens will know what I
  mean !"

  Wayne Homren, Editor

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