PREV ARTICLE
NEXT ARTICLE
FULL ISSUE
PREV FULL ISSUE
FIRST EDITION WHITMAN COIN FOLDER SETDave Lange has long been collecting, researching and writing about coin boards and coin folders, those longtime staples of the hobby for collectors to store and display their acquisitions. He submitted
this report on a new milestone in his own collecting quest. Thanks, and congratulations! -Editor
   I achieved something this week that would likely go unnoticed by most in the hobby, but it was memorable for me. I added two missing titles to my collection of First Edition Whitman coin folders, leaving me with just two remaining to complete it. The newly acquired folders were No. 9022, HALF CENT COLLECTION 1793 to 1857 and No. 9020, MORGAN HALF DOLLAR LIBERTY HEAD COLLECTION 1904 to 1915. To date, these are the only examples I've ever seen. As indicated on the end flap of the folder in the attached photos, there were a total of 22 titles in Whitman's First Edition of coin folders. All but five of these had been part of the Whitman line of 11" x 14" coin boards, and most titles were discontinued in board form when the folders debuted in 1941. The First Edition folders are identifiable by their deeply textured cover paper, which a fellow collector describes as "lizard skin." Unlike later folders, this paper was somewhat glossy when new, and it's extremely rare to find examples that retain this shine. The onset of World War II brought with it rationing of most materials, including paper. Whitman was forced to shift to a cheaper cover stock that was plainer in pattern and matte in finish. The First Edition folders were in production only during 1941 and the opening months of 1942, accounting for their great rarity. At present the only titles still lacking in my collection of First Edition folders are No. 9023, SILVER THREE CENT COLLECTION 1851 to 1873 and No. 9019, MORGAN HALF DOLLAR LIBERTY HEAD COLLECTION 1892 to 1903. The first of these may never be found, since it was a poor seller in any edition, though I entertain hope of finding the half dollar title. The folder in the photos was annotated by its original owner, who wrote what I assume to be the date of acquisition and source for several of his coins. While some would consider this folder to be defaced, I'm pleased to have this personalized piece of coin hobby history. Numismatic ephemera has long been a favorite collecting area of mine. Flyers, pamphlets, notes, letters, and hobby supplies like coin boards and folders tell the story of the history of our hobby and the
collectors who have gone before us. Dave's reached an important milestone, and his work will long be used and referenced by future numismatists. Below are links to his web site and earlier E-Sylum articles about
his books on the topics. Copies are still available, and I recommend them to any collector of the coins once held within. -Editor
To read earlier E-Sylum articles, see: To visit Dave's web site, see:  Wayne Homren, Editor The Numismatic Bibliomania Society is a non-profit organization promoting numismatic literature. See our web site at coinbooks.org. To submit items for publication in The E-Sylum, write to the Editor at this address: whomren@gmail.com To subscribe go to: https://my.binhost.com/lists/listinfo/esylum All Rights Reserved. NBS Home Page Contact the NBS webmaster 
|