ASYLUM SPRING 2020 ISSUE PUBLISHED

The Asylum
Spring 2020
Volume 38 Number 1

Table of Contents

• ASSOCIATIONS: Autographs • Annotations • Inscriptions: Samuel Breck on… Massachusetts Coinage?" By Joel J. Orosz
• "A Chance Encounter" By Pete Smith
• "The Coins of the Fisherman: Two Books on Papal and Vatican Numismatics Including a Review of Vatican City Coins 1929–1978 by Peter Jencius" By William Van Ornum
• "That Other Book Club" By Pete Smith
• "Throwing Light on the Past: Roman History from Coins by Michael Grant" By David Pickup

Message from President Tom Harrison

Numismatists, by nature, are a generous fraternity with NBS members, past and present, among the foremost in the hobby. For example, in 1988 at the NBS Board Meeting in Cincinnati, the treasurer reported the coffers were nearly exhausted. So at the General Meeting, a plastic bag, "the hat," was passed resulting in a $1607 boost to the treasury. In the past, the NBS has made financial contributions to the ANA and ANS libraries. Many members have generously donated items for the benefit auction and openhandedly purchased lots to support the NBS.

Historically, in addition to financial support, the NBS has been fortunate to have members step forward to serve on the Board, as Treasurer, The Asylum Editor and The E-Sylum Editor. Friends of the NBS have provided engaging articles for The Asylum, spoken at our educational forums, hosted the club table, served as auctioneer, and the list goes on and on.

In the most recent example of generosity, several anonymous members donated the extensive George F. Kolbe archives sold in the Kolbe & Fanning sale of George's library, to the ANS library on behalf of the NBS. This treasure trove of correspondence, photographs and ephemeral items that focus on prominent literature personalities and events, is now available for current and future numismatists to explore and enjoy. Additionally, NBS members donated two other significant lots from the sale. NBS Vice President Len Augsburger donated several limited edition volumes by Remy Bourne detailing United States fixed price and premium lists. Also, NBS past President and current board member Dan Hamelberg donated George Kolbe's complete set of his own special hardcover auction catalogs. In a fitting tribute, NBS board members Dave Steine and Dan Hamelberg presented George with his unique large paper copy of The Reference Library of a Numismatic Bookseller at the New York International Numismatic Convention.

These thoughtful gestures continue to demonstrate the willingness of NBS members to share their passion for numismatic literature with the greater collecting community. The NBS is truly grateful for this enduring tradition of generosity of time, talent and resources that sustains and defines our amazing organization.

I hope everyone enjoyed listening to the first NBS podcast, "NBS Bibliotalk: The Coin Book Lover Podcast," produced by Lianna Spurrier, that featured an entertaining and informative interview with NBS Historian Joel Orosz. We are delighted to report that Dennis Tucker, award-winning numismatic researcher and author and publisher at Whitman Publishing, will be featured in our upcoming podcast. Please watch for an announcement of the podcast's release in The E-Sylum.

May your numismatic library provide investigation, discovery, and most of all, enjoyment.

From The Asylum Editor Maria Fanning

"Evolution of a Numismatic Library"

Thank you, NBS members, for another great year of The Asylum. Your contributions made our 40th Anniversary issue one of the best yet!

The theme of the next issue will be "Evolution of a Numismatic Library." Dan Hamelberg so generously shared his library with NBS members last August ("Invasion of Champaign," The Asylum vol. 37, no. 3) and we want to learn about yours.

We want to read about how your library has grown and changed over the years. Have you built an addition to your home, rented a storage unit or filled your spouse's china cabinet to hold your expanding collection? Has the focus of your collecting changed over time or have your studies piqued your interest in completely different areas? We would love to read about how your library is arranged and decorated with unusual numismatic art and ephemeral items, too. As always, please share lots of photos of your inner sanctum and treasures.

Please send submissions to asylum@coinbooks.org by May 1 to be included. Thank you in advance for your contributions!

To join NBS or renew your membership, see:
https://www.coinbooks.org/about/membership.html

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