The E-Sylum:  Volume 8, Number 29, July 10, 2005, Article 14

PHILATELIC WEST AND THE HUB COIN BOOK

[The following is a note written by David Slocum to Q. David
Bowers. Dave forwarded it to me for The E-Sylum; perhaps
one of our readers can shed light on the two subjects. -Editor]

David Slocum writes: "Recently I acquired about 25 issues of
a curious publication. It is entitled "Philatelic West and Collectors
World". It was published at Superior, Nebraska. My issues
seem to be in the years 1915 and 1916, and November 1915
indicates that it is in Volume sixty-seven. It professes to be for
collectors of stamps, coins, curios and postcards. I notice that
the back cover has the standard ad of B. Max Mehl. The center
sheet, making four pages, consists of photos of curiosities,
collectibles and people.

My small collection of the magazine commences in Oct. 1913.
For that month and the next it is entitled "The West and Collectors
World" and the cover proclaims Numismatics, Stamps, Medals,
Relics, Coins, Curios, Post Cards. It and it's successor title are
published at Superior, Neb. The content is mainly stamps. In
Dec. 1913 it is the "Philatelic West and Collector's World. My
copies carry through until May 1916. I can't say how many
issues there are a year. The volume numbers do not correspond
with the calendar year. They are priced at 10 cents, or 75
cents per year.

I also have a softback version of the Red Book. I say that only
because the cover is red. It is the "New HUB Coin Book of
American & Foreign Coins, 30th Edition". It was published
by I. & M. Ottenheimer of Baltimore. It was entered by Act of
Congress, 1912. I don't know if that was the year of publication
or if you add 30 years to that date.

Any information you might have would be much appreciated."

Dave Bowers writes: "The Philatelic West and Collectors World
may have been widely circulated in its time, but it certainly is
elusive today! It would be interesting to see a copy of one of
the issues.

The “Hub Coin Book,” so called, takes its name from Boston,
the “Hub City,” where at least two people distributed it in the
late 19th and early 20th centuries. Apparently, this could be
ordered with various imprints, and even B. Max Mehl, who
soon had his own Star Rare Encyclopedia, had a “Hub”
catalogue early in his career."

[So - can any of our readers shed further light on these two
publications? I have a few copies of the Hub books in my
library, but never attempted to assemble a set of the various
editions. I was unaware that Mehl had distributed one.
-Editor]

  Wayne Homren, Editor

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