MORE ON THE 2013 NBS ANNUAL MEETING

The Numismatic Bibliomania Society annual meeting for 2013 was held at the ANA convention on Thursday, August 15, in Room 24 of the Donald Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Illinois. In attendance were approximately 40 hard-core bibliophiles, and the usual small complement of lost convention-goers wandering by seeking other meeting rooms. Outgoing President Dan Freidus handed the gavel to newly-elected President Marc Ricard, who promptly introduced Guest speaker Q. David Bowers, who was double-booked for the PCGS luncheon in an adjoining room.

Dave gave a brief, but fascinating history of the development of the hobby of collecting numismatic literature, starting with the early 1950s, when he developed a respectable numismatic library simply by saving literature that other collectors discarded. At the time, he could count all of the other serious collectors of numismatic literature on his fingers, but the hobby developed rapidly, so that by 1981 a Kolbe numismatic literature auction could be a front-page headline event in Coin World, then by the mid-1990s, a numismatic library could drive a suite of four major auctions by Bowers and Merena Galleries. Dave then dashed off to the PCGS luncheon, but not before leaving behind a series of autographed copies of his books for sale in the NBS fundraiser auction.

Awards were next on the agenda. By vote of the membership, the Jack Collins Award for best first-time author in The Asylum was presented to Chris Faulkner, for “The Man Who Slept in the Library of Parliament.” The Joel J. Orosz NBS Writer’s Award for best article in The Asylum was presented to Roger S, Siboni, John L. Howes, and Buell Ish, for “The Collectors and Their Collections: A Chapter from The State Coinage of New Jersey.”

The George Frederick Kolbe Award for lifetime achievement in numismatic literature was presented, appropriately enough, to past president Dan Hamelbergs superb, not only for the creation of his superb library, but also for his many efforts, often done quietly, behind the scenes, to support the hobby.

The report from Treasurer David Sundman showed the NBS again solvent and again running a surplus, albeit smaller than recent surpluses, due to smaller intakes at the NBS benefit auction, and the very popular decision to begin printing The Asylum in full color. Consequently, the NBS board made a decision to raise the annual membership dues for the first time since 1988 (although the raised dues of $20 U.S. and $25 foreign remain among the lowest of the specialty clubs).

Other speakers then took the podium. Elizabeth Hahn (who became, with her election to the vice presidency, the first female elected officer in NBS history), spoke in her capacity as ANS Librarian to thank the NBS for a donation, as did Kendra Johnson, ANA Library Manager. Bill Bugert then spoke on lessons he had learned as a writer, photographer, editor and publisher of a series of highly-regarded books on liberty seated coinage. Among the most important of these lessons regarded the photography of coins, and Bill offered to share the secrets of his home photography studio, which he assembled for less than $1,000.

The meeting closed with the traditional benefit auction. Seven donors contributed more than 30 lots of books, which the NBS members bid up to $3,500 for the benefit of the Club. (A more exhaustive report on the proceedings of the NBS Annual meeting will be provided for the record in the next issue of The Asylum).

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see: NBS EVENTS AT THE 2013 CHICAGO ANA (www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v16n35a02.html)

Wayne Homren, Editor

	NBS (coinbooks.org) Web