HELP SOUGHT FOR WHITMAN OBSOLETE PAPER MONEY PROJECT

Whitman Publishing announces a call-to-action for all collectors of obsolete paper money to pitch in and help build the best historical and market reference ever compiled in this field. Collectors, researchers, dealers, historians, and others in the hobby community are encouraged to get involved with this important project. Images, historical research, market analysis, and general insight are welcome for the Southern states, the Mid-Atlantic states, the Midwest, and territories.

In particular, “state editors” for the upcoming states of Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Texas are sought. Each state editor will work closely with author Dave Bowers, Whitman publisher Dennis Tucker, and Whitman senior associate editor Caitlyn Mitchell to track down facts, look into questions, scrutinize the historical record, gather and examine images, and otherwise act as that state’s expert. Editors have a chance to take a “co-starring role,” as C. John Ferreri has done with the states in New England, and join contributors the likes of the American Bank Note Co., the American Numismatic Society, and the Smithsonian Institution, all of whom (among other museums and private collectors) have shared images. Collectors active in the market of buying, selling, or trading, can volunteer to analyze valuations. Historians with knowledge of a particular state or region can review state, town, and bank histories—fascinating narratives soaked in Americana!

Received with warm welcome at its debut at the Memphis International Paper Money Show in 2014, the Whitman Encyclopedia of Obsolete Paper Money is continuing on strong with four volumes published to date. Within each volume is author Q. David Bowers’ knowledge on obsolete paper money—its history, how to collect it, and observations on the general market, including rarities, supply and demand, and pricing. Volume 1 is an introduction for collectors and historians. Volume 2 studies in detail the states of Connecticut, Maine, and New Hampshire. The two-part Massachusetts volumes, numbering 3 and 4, were released this past winter, and the last volume in the New England region is scheduled to arrive this spring, comprising of Rhode Island and Vermont. Now moving south and west, the monumental study on obsolete currency continues to unfold. The entire series will encompass 14 volumes of 400 to 800 pages each.

Obsolete notes are paper currency issued from 1782 to 1866, before the modern era of National Banks and the Federal Reserve. Over the course of these decades more than 3,000 state-chartered banks released their own paper money for day-to-day commerce, in thousands of colorful and ornate varieties. In the Whitman Encyclopedia of Obsolete Paper Money, each note listed is studied in detail, and thousands are pictured in full color, with information on grading, rarity, values in multiple grades, significant auction results, advice for collectors, and other valuable guidance.

Anyone interested in volunteering can contact Whitman Publishing at obsoletes@whitman.com. Volunteers will be credited in the books’ acknowledgments.

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