BOOK REVIEW: CATALOG OF BANKNOTES OF THE CIVIL WAR IN RUSSIA, VOLUME 3

Mikhail Istomin's much heralded work titled Catalog of Banknotes of the Civil War in Russia has recently taken another giant step forward with publication of his Vol. 3. This time he has covered the Southeastern Region, Crimea and North Caucasus, 1917-20.

Recapping briefly, Vol. 1, published in 2006, dealt with North and Northwestern Russia, Baltics, Central Russia and Byelorussia. This initial book contained 242 pages. Two years later the second volume with information on Ukraine 1917-20 and Western Ukraine 1914-19 was released. It was larger, with a total of 413 pages. It was thus a surprise to see that the present third volume came out only one year later. The first two have been reviewed in this column; now I want to concentrate on the newest of this planned seven-volume set. All three published so far have a number of full-color note images of issues pertaining to that particular volume on the inside front and back covers. Those notes shown on the inside are not in color.

Vol. 3 is the biggest so far written, as it contains 582 pages. All text is presented as before in both Russian and English, making the book quite easy to follow. The first section starts out with pages of text explaining in some detail the background behind Cossack issues of the "White South." There follow the broadly based issues of Rostov-on-the-Don and Southern Russia. Listings include many varieties, all with either estimates of value or dash lines. Illustrations are all marked with reference numbers for ease of identification in the listings.

The scope of this many-volume work appears very wide, with coverage of so many kinds of issues that it is virtually unbelievable. It is such a historic time for Russia and the world that it fully merits such a study. For the numismatist interested in this area of collecting it is a bonanza of tremendous proportions.

For my own reasons I wish Istomin had also provided full coverage of the business and private issues as well, though they are probably not so well known or documented. The only way we can find out what exists is to publish what we know and watch the additions and corrections flow in, as they almost invariably do.

If you would like to purchase a copy of this latest book or the earlier volumes, you may address Istomin through his e-mail address: istomin1956@rambler.ru. Cost of Vol. 3 will be around $60.

To read the complete article, see: Vol. 3 of Russian Civil War Issues Available (www.numismaster.com/ta/numis/Article.jsp?ad=article&ArticleId=9460)

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