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BOOK REVIEW: WEST VIRGINIA MERCHANT TOKENS BY DAVID E. SCHENKMAN The latest work published by the Token and Medal Society is West Virginia Merchant Tokens by Dave Schenkman. This hefty 500+ page book is bound in maroon cloth.Based on the collection of the late Jim Thompson, an avid collector of the series, together with the research assistance of Donald Clifford and some forty other West Virginia token enthusiasts, Dave's book fills a long-empty gap in the token book series. Like the other Token and Medal society volumes, the book catalogs the known merchant tokens of the state, arranged alphabetically by town name. Within towns, tokens are listed alphabetically by company or merchant name. Maintaining consistency is a tough challenge when faced with many tokens that include both a company and merchant name, and many others sporting only initials that may or may not have a known attribution. Regardless, the nineteen page index makes finding a particular token a fairly simple task. Black and white illustrations are throughout the book, with most pages picturing one or two tokens. No, the tokens aren't ALL illustrated, but even if that weren't a herculean task, picturing them all would expand the book to a multi-volume set. Also keeping the book to a manageable size is the editorial decision not to include coal mining company tokens, which are catalogued elsewhere. For the same reason, transportation tokens and Civil War store card tokens are excluded as well. The book's focus is merchant trade tokens in use from the end of the Civil War to the 1960s. This approach excludes car wash and parking tokens, wooden nickels and food stamp tokens, since these are of more recent issue. Congratulations to Dave and the Token and Medal Society for another great publishing effort. The book lists for is $55 plus $5 shipping. The TAMS member price is $44 plus $5 shipping. Quantity prices are available. Checks should be payable to TAMS and orders sent to: Mark Lighterman 5224 State Rd. 46, #408 Sanford, FL 32771 Dave Schenkman adds: Those not members of TAMS might consider joining now to take advantage of the members’ discount. For additional information or to get a membership brochure, contact me at dave@turtlehillbanjo.com . THE BOOK BAZARREWayne Homren, Editor 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@gmail.com To subscribe go to: https://my.binhost.com/lists/listinfo/esylum All Rights Reserved. NBS Home Page Contact the NBS webmaster 
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