THE E-SYLUM'S 24TH ANNIVERSARY

PREV ARTICLE NEXT ARTICLE FULL ISSUE PREV FULL ISSUE

V25 2022 INDEX E-SYLUM ARCHIVE

The E-Sylum: Volume 25, Number 36, September 4, 2022, Article 2

On September 4, 1998 the first issue of what we now call The E-Sylum was emailed to a list of members and friends of the Numismatic Bibliomania Society. Now archived on our web site as Volume 1, Number 1, that first message started the ball rolling. That email went to 49 people. As the word spread, subscription requests arrived from around the world and by September 15 there were 90 subscribers.

WHAT'S WITH THE FUNNY NAME? Well, our organization is the Numismatic Bibliomania Society, a group for people who love coin books and are crazy for any and all information about numismatics. Our print journal is The Asylum, so our electronic publication naturally became The E-Sylum. While The E-Sylum is free to all, only paid members of NBS receive The Asylum.

"A number of folks signed up at the meeting in Portland. To that initial group we've added the addresses of other current and former members that the Board is aware of, plus a few numismatic pen pals we thought might be interested.

This is intended to be a moderated, low-volume mailing list, with no more than one message every week or so. Its purpose and use will evolve over time - please send us your comments and suggestions.

In the meantime, please visit our web site, and forward this note to any other email pen-pal you think might have an interest. Remember, the list isn't limited to only NBS members. Don't assume they're already on the list; we're starting small, but with your help we can grow."

And grow and evolve we did. Each issue now contains 25 to 30 (and sometimes more) articles, and our subscription list includes some 7,000 email addresses. Rather than just a vehicle for announcements about the Numismatic Bibliomania Society, we've become a weekly forum where "numismatic bibliophiles, researchers and just plain collectors" congregate to exchange information and ideas about numismatics and numismatic research. Most of the top numismatic authors, curators and collectors around the U.S. and the world are subscribers and contributors. Here are some reader comments:

"Each week The E-Sylum is my most eagerly awaited read. The brightest minds in numismatics contribute to it over such a varied range of topics. While numismatic literature is the driving theme, I find that peripheral anecdotes and objects still find ready acceptance. Since I collect and study items that pertain to the history of the numismatic hobby, I appreciate being able to share these with readers, and their inclusion often launches a variety of responses the following week that add to my own knowledge."

"I live in Ireland and the nearest coin club is over 200 miles away from me. Still, I never feel isolated! Every Monday morning, I get to hang out with some of the finest numismatists from around the world through the pages of The E-Sylum which is by far the best numismatic publication out there. Got a question? Ask away. You're almost sure to get an answer - no matter what the topic! In fact, you'd be hard pressed to find a friendlier, more knowledgeable group of people anywhere. And besides all that, it's free!"

Along the way we've won multiple awards including the Burnett Anderson Memorial Award for Excellence in Numismatic Writing and back-to-back First Place awards in the electronic category of the American Numismatic Association's Barbara J. Gregory Outstanding Club Publications competition on 2021 and 2022.

Despite the work that goes into each issue, it's always fun to put together. Our readers and fine advertisers are what keep me going - you folks are the best any editor could dream for. It's been a great 24 years, and we're not done growing and evolving. Thanks for all your kind words and support.

For other reader comments, or to read our online archive, see:
http://e-sylum.org/