The E-Sylum:  Volume 8, Number 2, January 9, 2005, Article 14

NUMISMATIC POSTCARDS

Ralf W. Böpple writes: "Concerning the postcard publisher
Walter Erhard from Württemberg that David Gladfelter was
asking for: The name does not ring a bell with me, but I will
ask around at the next meeting of the Württembergischer
Verein für Münzkunde here in Stuttgart and see if somebody
can give more details. I suppose, though, that the postcards
are more popular with postcard collectors today."

Dick Johnson writes: "Dave Gladfelter asked about certain
coin postcards in last week#39;s E-Sylum. Here is what I know:
They were produced by Alfred Joseph Blumer [full name
from Library of Congress card]. Issued individually but
published in albums. An edition of ten -- bound in red cloth
book form -- was issued in 1926. One of these books was
donated to a U.S. president, another received by the Library
of Congress where it was cataloged: "The Coinage of Different
Countries; a Scientific Statement Dedicated to His Excellency
the President Calvin Coolidge." This is illustrated at 
Illustration

I have an album of these postcards. There is a sticker on the
inside back cover: "A.J. BLUMEL / VIII., Josetstadterstrabe
82 / Vienne - Wien - Vienna / Autriche-Osterreich-Austria".
A previous owner penned on the label "c.1930" missing the
issued date by only four years.

The postcards are uniform size 3 11/16 x 5 5/8-inch (9.3 x
5.2cm) printed in the color of the coins with metallic ink. A
separate card is devoted to the coins of one country. For
Germany, Sweden, Austria, Turkey and U.S. two cards are
required. For some unknown reason the last three cards in
my album are rubber stamped "Souvenir" (for France, British
India, Russia).

Their production was quite involved. Embossing dies were
made the size of the cards from casts of original coins (all in
great condition – I observe no wear on any coins). Only
one side of the coins are shown, but often several types
(e.g. both U.S. Liberty Head and Buffalo nickel). A center
panel was left blank on the embossing die, the coins are
arranged around this panel. A pebble background was
added around some of the coins (for a technical reason --
to balance the pressure when these were pressed). A
brief list was intended to be printed in that open panel.

The card stock was printed in postcard format. Black ink
on both sides was printed first. Then a separate press run
for each of the metallic inks. Finally the cards are then
pressed between embossing dies.

I have a "mint error" on the card of Norway. There are
22 coins shown on this card causing many of the coins to
overlap. In the lower left corner two gold coins were
intended to overlap a nickel 50 ore coin. However the
gray nickel color is shown where it was printed after
the gold ink press run on top of the gold. The embossing
shows the detail of the two adjacent gold coins of 10 and
20 kroner, part gold, part gray.

It is reported there are 48 cards in a complete set. I have
47 with a dozen duplicates. I have observed these cards
for sale among postcard dealers in the $15 to $25 range
each. I would love to know which card I am missing."

  Wayne Homren, Editor

	coinbooks.org Web

The Numismatic Bibliomania Society is a non-profit organization 
promoting numismatic literature. See our web site at coinbooks.org.

To submit items for publication in The E-Sylum, write to the Editor 
at this address: whomren@coinlibrary.com

To subscribe go to: https://my.binhost.com/lists/listinfo/esylum