BOOK REVIEW: A GUIDE BOOK OF U.S. PAPER MONEY, 4TH ED.

A Guide Book of United States Paper Money, “The Official Red Book,” Fourth Edition, 2014, Authors: Arthur L. and Ira S. Friedberg, Published by Whitman Publishing, LLC, Reviewed by John & Nancy Wilson

This fourth edition of, “A Guide Book of United States Paper Money,” by Arthur and Ira Friedberg has incorporated many improvements since the last edition three years ago. The reference is soft-bound and has 416 pages with full color plates of the face and back of each note. Market values from very good to uncirculated 63 are given along with Friedberg numbers. Dennis Tucker, the publisher at Whitman Publishing, LLC said that, “We’ve seen a dramatic increase in interest in paper-money collecting since the first edition was published in 2005.”

Arthur and Ira Friedberg have over 30 years’ experience and their vast knowledge, experience and expertise is once again being put to great use with this book by Whitman.

The reference covers notes from $1 denomination to $10,000 along with error notes, signatures on U. S. currency, uncut sheets and other products of U. S. currency offered by the BEP. Quoting the media release for this book, “The fourth edition is even stronger than the critically acclaimed first, second, and third editions.”

As in the past three references of this book, you will find an introduction by past ANA President David L. Ganz, and chapters on the $2 bill, the Civil War years, The Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP), the buck starts here; the world at our fingertips, The Bank of the United States, how to collect United States paper money, grading U. S. currency; storage and care of paper money, types of U. S. currency which covers all the different types of paper money from 1861 to present including World War II issues, star notes, fractional currency, specimen notes and shields. Specimens are mentioned but not priced. Maybe in the future, a 5th edition can price them. The War of 1812 issues are covered, but they don’t cover a War of 1812 4 subject $3 sheet of which one is known which was in the Ford collection. Many of the collections of encased postage stamps have been sold in recent years so the prices listed are realistic and accurate. Maybe a future edition can include a chapter on the postage stamp envelopes.

Whitman has brought to the collecting community a reference that is easy to carry (the size of an actual Red Book), with U.S. paper money covered completely. Quoting the back cover of the book, “Market valuations are compiled from recent sale and auction records, real-world analysis of the paper-money field, and the knowledge of recognized hobby leaders.” For more information on this reference which retails for $24.95 (same as the last edition) you can contact the publisher at: Whitman Publishing, LLC, 3101 Clairmont Road, Suite G, Atlanta, GA 30329, Phone (404) 235-5300 or fax to (404) 235-5350 or visit the Whitman web page at: http:/www.whitmanbooks.com

Wayne Homren, Editor

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