The E-Sylum:  Volume 9, Number 28, July 9, 2006, Article 13

ON UNWANTED AUCTION CATALOGS

Bill Burd writes: "I can relate to Pete Smith's problem with
auction catalogs.  I just threw out two large boxes full of
foreign auction catalogs that seemed to have less reference value
than the value of the space they were taking up.  I have about 500
more foreign catalogs and over 2,000 US auction catalogs that I
have to seriously look at and make some hard decisions.  I will
keep any known name auctions and any with pedigreed coins like
the 1804 dollar, etc.  The problem is with the catalogs that fall
in between - the ones I would rate from a 4 to a 7 on a scale of
1 to 10."

Mike Greenspan writes: "Relative to Pete Smith's query about what
to do with unneeded catalogs, I always take a short stack of them
to my local and regional coin club meetings and leave them for
anyone who wants them -- gratis.  Invariably, they are all gone
by the end of the meeting."

Paul Landsberg writes: "One way that I have used very successfully
is to arbitrarily lot them up into boxes (sometimes the fix rate
priority boxes at the PO work) and then announce to lists of
interest that anyone interested in X catalogs can have them for
$10 apiece.  That covers media or priority fixed rate shipping
and I've gotten rid of 60 pounds at one point."

Richard Goodman Schaefer writes: "I'm running a project which
is producing die studies for all Roman Republican (RR) struck
issues.   This comprises all the issues in Crawford less the
Aes Grave and about 5 others which already have die studies
(BVRSIO, L. PISO FRVGI, et al.), plus the two Antonivs
cistophorus issues.  The results are available to all.

As you can imagine, there are still quite a few catalogs I need.
Most are European, but some are American.  The condition is
unimportant as long the plates containing photos of RR coins
are intact.

I must state that, due to the great labor in this project, I
cut out the RR photos and tape them on pages in binders.  Some
people prefer not to have the catalogs cut, but since die studies
are the proper research end of catalogs, however, I've been able
to convince most that this project is a good use of them.  I don't
cut rare or pre-WWII catalogs since they aren't necessary and I
don't wish to harm the numismatic literature business.

To be complete, let me mention that Ted Buttrey at the Fitzwilliam
Museum in Cambridge, England, loves all catalogs and has built up
a formidable collection.  His list of auction catalogs on the
Fitzwilliam website is the best known to me-- an invaluable
research tool.  He would welcome your catalogs."

[Ted Buttrey and other readers have expressed interest in Pete's
catalogue hoard, and I've forwarded their inquiries to him.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER: No catalogues or Internet pages have been
harmed in the cutting and pasting of this issue of The E-Sylum.
-Editor]

  Wayne Homren, Editor

	coinbooks.org Web

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