BOOK REVIEW: BRITISH COMMEMORATIVE MEDALS, 2ND EDITION

What precipitated the discussion on separated plates was the recently published book British Commemorative Medals, the second edition by Christopher Eimer. This is a fantastic book, with perhaps, this one major complaint.

I wrote a 5-page analysis of this book (for my own use). I listed content, format, scope, what I liked and disliked about the book. (I frequently do this analysis for important books I want to remember what information is available and where it can be found.)

[I learned this from a college professor who said if you want to remember what's in a book, write a book report as lengthily and as fully as you can. Polish it, correct all typos. Then throw it away, delete all copies. By knowing in advance you are going to dispose of it, your mind will be challenged to remember it.]

Eimer's book illustrations are superb, all 2000 plus. How did he find such medals without a single scratch, dent or ding? A few early medals may have a rubbed nose, cheek, or breast, but the answer is medals were selected from seven museums and such, even "commercial and private sources." A major task.

I liked his descriptions, and his supplemental information for most medals, found in what he called "footnote data." This was smaller type in paragraphs following the description.

Speaking of small type, this was my second major dislike: too small type size for these old eyes. But I understand why -- to include everything for 2,230 medals to keep in one volume.

In his review of this book in The E-Sylum (vol 14, no 14, art 5) John Adams praised the list of medallists in the appendix. It is so comprehensive, I did not discover a single medallist not included! (Both personal artists and medal producers are called medllists. and so listed) Of the 629 medallists total I found 101 of American interest and 19 British producers who made medals of American interest.

I also recorded this trivia: William Wyon had more entries than any other medallist -- 70. David Pickup had more entries in the bibliography than any other author, all were articles in The Medal -- seven.

Okay, I criticized the plates separated from the descriptions, but I would highly praise this book for the author's superb knowledge of this field and this British series, plus his commendable scholarship at every level of the book.

Oh, if we only had a Chris Eimer to write the book for every medal-issuing country of the world!

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see: BOOK REVIEW: BRITISH COMMEMORATIVE MEDALS AND THEIR VALUES, 2ND EDITION (www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v14n14a05.html)

Wayne Homren, Editor

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