"Some books are undeservedly forgotten; none are undeservedly remembered" - Wynstan Hugh Auden

Since the invention of the written word, books have played a crucial role in the development of civilization. They have spurred revolutions, influenced ideas, spread concepts, enlightened masses, and shaped societies. The humble book is uncontested by any other medium in terms of power, even with the advent of new means of communication. In short, books have been instrumental in the formation of today's world. Similarly, books have played a critical role in the development of the numismatic world. Literature has advanced the study of coins, currency and medals from a mere curiosity to a sophisticated science. Indeed, the works and writings of pioneering numismatists have laid the framework for the contemporary field of numismatics.

In ancient and medieval times, coins were not regarded as collectors' items or objects of interest. Therefore, little effort was made to document the history of early coinage. This remained true for the Middle Ages as well, when only royalty, or those who could afford them, collected coins. The Renaissance saw a mild rise in interest as people began to appreciate classical traditions, ideas and artifacts. Commensurate with this revival of classical ways, ancient Roman and Greek coins became desirable to the wealthy. The collector base was also fueled by a Renaissance-era invention: the printing press. For the first time ever, information could be easily disseminated to multitudes of people, including coin-related texts. Early numismatists of the time took advantage of that innovation and began to distribute literature on coins and other forms of money. This ignited even more collectors and, to this day, Europe remains a center for numismatics.

America was quite different from Europe in terms of numismatic curiosity. In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, coins were collected only by a select few. They were viewed as objects of commerce, not as collectibles. Nevertheless, the people of early America were interested in the designs and circulation of their coinage. Newspaper articles reported sightings of new coinage types, often with pointed opinions as to their beauty and symbolism. In addition, the government frequently gave coins to foreign diplomats and dignitaries as gifts and struck special pieces to inaugurate special events. It appeared that collector interest had not yet taken effect, though citizens and the government had a true interest in their circulating coinage.

A few works on coinage were published in the early 1800s, though not one was engineered towards the collector. The year 1806 marked the publication of Jacob Perkins' booklet on Massachusetts's currency. The six-page pamphlet is considered the earliest American numismatic work, though it certainly was not designed for numismatists. Joseph B. Felt published a book on the same subject in 1839, though it was no more scholarly in nature. The first true reference work on numismatics came three years later, entitled A Manual of Gold and Silver Coins and Bullion. Compiled by William E. DuBois and Jacob Eckfeldt, both United States Mint Collection officials, the work was the first attempt at a reference catalogue of coins. However, it was still mainly intended for economic use.

Other authors attempted to catalogue various areas of numismatics. John L. Riddell, for example, authored a monograph in 1845 on the subject of silver dollars. While the work was mainly a compilation of pictures and patently incorrect facts, it was a definite start. Additionally, Thomas Wyatt wrote a work on the subject of congressional medals, the first to outline some of the basic types and varieties. However, far more effort was placed in writing biographies of the medal recipients than on the medals themselves. Despite what these early publications lacked, they were courageous endeavors in a very immature field.

The 1850s saw an explosion in numismatic literature, which fomented an equally impressive surge of collectors. In 1852, E.H. Ludlow of New York sold one of the first collections of coins and medals at auction, a group that realized a then impressive $837.88. Even more surprising was a group of numismatic books that brought $166.50. Later that year, Lyman and Company of New York offered a sale of various items including two lots of coins. While insignificant by today's standards, it marked the first time coins were sold individually as collectibles.

Later that same decade, several dealers began to issue fixed price lists. Antiquarians and art dealers continued to publish in the absence of any full-time coin dealers. However, the situation soon changed. Edward Cogan established the first professional coin dealership in 1858, thus marking the beginning of an era. His first mail bid sale was on November 1, 1858 and was the first auction entirely devoted to coins. The sale was a relative success with nineteen successful bidders competing for 77 lots. The total proceeds were $128.63, indicating a true demand for coins as collectibles.

In response to the growing collector market, the United States Mint began to sell proof coins to collectors. However, it does not appear that the proofs were a complete success on the market. While some of the 80 proof sets were purchased, many went unsold and later were melted. While demand was increasing, the hobby was not yet widespread. This would change dramatically the next year with the publication of a very important numismatic text.

In 1859, Dr. Montroville Wilson Dickeson published one of the most significant works on coins ever: The American Numismatical Manual (the al was later dropped). Unlike the aforementioned works, Dickeson's Numismatical Manual was strictly focused on the collecting of coins. The book was a breakthrough in that it was the first ever to document American coins with extensive historical background, variety listings, and collecting information. A true encyclopedia it was, considering its incredible detail and comprehensiveness.

Perhaps the most notable aspect of the Numismatical Manual's publication was the impact it had on the coin market. Unquestionably, the book spurred tremendous collector growth, as it was the first to mass-market the collecting of coins. There is no shortage of further evidence underscoring the tremendous influence of this book, including a plethora of new dealers and a rise in proof mintages. In 1859, 1860 and 1861, the U.S. Mint produced mass quantities of proof coins in response to a burgeoning collector market. It was also during this time when dealers such as W. Elliot Woodward began to venture into the new coin market.

Woodward was one of the first dealers to hold regularly scheduled auctions. He started slowly, as his first dozen auction catalogues were tersely worded slapdash publications. However, the quality of his cataloguing improved as the quality of the content increased. The 1864 sale of the John McCoy collection, for example, was a well-catalogued auction that contained one of the finest collections of coins. Woodward's career (and his cataloguing style) climaxed in 1867 with the landmark sale of the Joseph J. Mickley collection. Mickley, a piano repairer, was one of America's first collectors. He began his accumulation of coins during a time when no one even gave thought to saving coins. In fact, he purchased four proof 1827 quarters from the Mint at face value, a testament to Mickley's interest and the general public's lack thereof.

Another major event in the world of numismatic literature was the inception of the American Journal of Numismatics. Published by the American Numismatic Society, which was founded in 1858, the Journal was the first American serial publication on coin collecting and the study of numismatics. Started in 1866, the AJN has been hailed as the most prestigious periodical in numismatics with well-researched articles adorning its pages. Another periodical that started soon thereafter was Ebenezer Mason's witty Coin and Stamp Collector's Magazine. Mason's magazines are always entertaining reading not only for their insights into the market of the 1860s and 1870s, but also for the debates in which he engaged with other dealers.

The late 1860s and 1870s also featured the very first in-depth research on copper coinage. In April 1869, Sylvester S. Crosby published an article entitled “The United States Cents of 1793” in the American Journal of Numismatics. In this article, Crosby outlined the various obverse and reverse dies used on the 1793 chain and wreath cents, which was the first analysis of an issue by die variety. Remarkably, the document is still completely accurate today. Dr. Edward Maris later published Varieties of Copper Issues of the United States Mint in 1794, another landmark book for die varieties. The book was well received and is still a fine reference today. Some of the terms Maris coined for the varieties are also, in fact, still used.

By the mid 1870s, the coin market was active and flourishing. Many dealers had entered the scene and quite a few major collections were sold. There were developments in the field of literature, too, as collectors and dealers sought to learn more about the history and varieties of their coins. Sylvester S. Crosby, already a notable researcher for his article on 1793 large cents, published his magnum opus: The Early Coins of America. A mammoth undertaking, the book has been lauded as the masterpiece of 19th century numismatic literature. Crosby defined varieties of nearly all colonial and early American issues in amazing detail for the time. Despite the fact that the book was released in the 1870s, the book is still a prerequisite for any numismatic library.

Starting in the 1880s, auction catalogues slowly evolved from simple lists to somewhat scholarly guides. While the sales of the late 19th century are a far cry from the catalogues of today, there was obvious progress, nevertheless. As the catalogues became more and more erudite, dealers became more concerned with their content and accuracy. A prime example was the Bushnell sale, auctioned by Henry and Samuel Chapman of Philadelphia. Both brothers were involved in coinage from an early age and were eager to start their own dealership and auctionhouse. In 1882, with both Henry and S.H. Chapman in their mid-20s, the duo released their first major catalogue for the Charles Ira Bushnell sale. While the sale was a noble attempt, the two brothers were scrutinized for their numerous inaccuracies. They were blasted in most coin periodicals for the shoddy cataloguing, since most dealers began to value catalogues as true references. In response, the Chapmans released a supplement to the Bushnell catalogue. The supplement was meant to appease their critics who were inordinately jealous of the two new dealers.

The Chapmans managed to escape the Bushnell fiasco relatively unscathed and continued on to become the most successful dealership of the late 19th century. They continued to release superb catalogues, including those for the Dohrmann, Cleneay, John G. Mills, H.P. Smith, and W.B. Wetmore sales. However, the two brothers parted in 1906 but continued to deal in coins under their separate names. Henry Chapman sold the famous Mathew Stickney sale the next year, which was one of the greatest numismatic assemblages of all time. Henry Chapman's other major sales included the Zabriskie, Earle, Bement, Jackman, and J.S. Jenks collections, the last one being his "magnum opus." Samuel Chapman's later career was not as illustrious, though he still handled several major collections.

As the Chapmans' career waned, a series of new dealers appeared on the scene. Thomas Elder, Ben G. Green, William Hesselin, B. Max Mehl, and Wayte Raymond were all quite active during that time. Thomas Elder sold an impressive 292 sales between 1903 and 1940, including the celebrated collections of Peter Gschwend, James B. Wilson, Peter Mougey, William H. Woodin, William Summer Appleton, and Henry C. Miller. Elder's catalogues tended to be well researched and comprehensive for their time, though not always 100% accurate. The catalogues were also diverse in content, ranging from ancients to Americana to colonials.

Other dealers were not blessed with as many superb consignments or willing to write authoritative sales. Examples include Ben Green's auctions. They have been characterized as dull by numerous authors, with sales that were tersely written and thin in content. William Hesselin's sales were no better, with mediocre being the best descriptor. Although the catalogues of Wayte Raymond and his affiliated businesses contained better material, their writing style was hurried and colorless. Descriptions were short and usually lacking in details, which is surprisingly considering Wayte Raymond's vast stores of knowledge.

Another active dealer in the teens and 1920s was the great B. Max Mehl. Perhaps the most amazing rags-to-riches story in numismatics, Mehl's auspicious career was largely the result of his wildly successful advertising campaigns. A Jewish immigrant who landed in Fort Worth, Texas, B. Max Mehl was separated both physically and demographically from all other coin dealers. However, his personality and ambition broke both barriers. Mehl was the first coin dealer to advertise in non-numismatic periodicals, which broadcast his name across the country. Additionally, his ads were flamboyant and showy, making it known to the world how big his business was and how much money he would pay for rarities. Consequently, Mehl bought and sold more major collections than any other rare coin outfit of the time.

B. Max Mehl's publications are fascinating and amusing reading. His annual guide, the Star Rare Coin Encyclopedia, was published by the hundreds of thousands. Although it is of little numismatic value, it was instrumental in making coin collecting even more popular. His catalogues, however, are numismatically significant for their superb content. Only a few major collections escaped Mehl's grasp during his heyday, the notable exception being the Boyd holdings. His finest auctions were the Granberg, B.W. Smith, Wilharm, Ten Eyck, Reese, Dunham, Roach, Atwater, Geiss, Neil, Farouk and Kern sales (plus, he handled the Waldo Newcomer collection privately). Mehl's catalogues were not at all authoritative. They were short on technical information as well as accurate grading. When Mehl did attempt to include some facts, there were usually grossly exaggerated or simply incorrect. It was quite obvious that Mehl was more adept at selling coins than describing them. Despite this, no set of catalogues boasts as much choice material or enjoyable reading.

Contrary to conventional wisdom, the coin market benefited from The Great Depression and World War II. Paradoxically, hobbies were more popular than ever during the Depression, perhaps as a way to distract oneself from financial hardships. Then, as rationing was put into place during the war, people found themselves with disposable income. Subsequently, prices for rare coins skyrocketed and this provided collectors with an impetus to sell their acquisitions. In 1944, the venerable firm, Stack's, sold the Colonel James W. Flanagan collection, one of the finest assemblages of gold ever sold. On the heels of that memorable auction, the magnificent J.F. Bell (pseudonym for Jacob Shapiro) collection was auctioned in December of 1944. One month later, Abe Kosoff sold his first of many blockbuster collections: The World's Greatest Collection. Anonymously and appropriately named, the "WGC" was actually F.C.C. Boyd's extensive holdings. In 1948, Kosoff sold the "Memorable" Collection of U.S. gold, which has been assumed to be the property of Charles Williams.

Many new books were published during the 1940s as well. In 1944, Howard Newcomb released his text on late-date large cents, which still is considered the standard work. In 1949, Dr. William H. Sheldon published his landmark work on early cents, thus it is entitled Early American Cents. After several reprints and a change of name, the book is still the undisputed standard reference on early large cents, pending the forthcoming publication of Walter Breen's tome on the subject (edited by Mark R. Borckardt). While these two books were significant, the 1940s' most important contribution to numismatic literature was not a research work. Rather, it was but a simple guide of United States coinage. This influential book was Richard S. Yeoman's A Guidebook of United States Coins, or the "Redbook."

The guidebook was not a new concept. At the time, the coin guide of choice was Wayte Raymond's Standard Catalogue. Indeed, both were essentially identical from the standpoint of information. Both listed all coin types, all known dates, major varieties and their approximate values. However, Yeoman engineered the book towards a broader audience. Firstly, the price of the book was half of the Standard Catalogue's. Secondly, Yeoman eliminated many insignificant varieties and patterns about which the average numismatist would not need to know. Finally, the “Redbook” was published on a timely annual basis. While the Standard Catalogue was also issued yearly, it was not done with quite the same consistency.

The “Redbook” was an instant success. Its ease of use and cost attracted many new people to the hobby and likely rejuvenated the interests of those already in the hobby. Many veteran collectors recall waiting anxiously each year to see which coins increased in value in the “Redbook”. Plus, it was the only major price guide on the market and collectors tended to follow its valuations religiously. Simply put, it was the biggest support to the hobby to date.

The 1950s continued to be a time of prosperity for the coin market. With that, of course, came more monumental auctions. Abe Kosoff continued his success in the previous decade by selling the distinguished Menjou, Hester, T. James Clarke, Melish, Donlon and Sloss collections. The catalogues were passable in quality, but still contained some of the finest material ever sold. Stack's was as active as ever, auctioning impressive collections such as the Guggenheimer, Davis-Graves, Anderson DuPont, Baldenhofer, and Empire holdings. The DuPont sale in particular was important for its superb large cents and its cataloguing by guest writer William Sheldon.

It was also during the 1950s when the New Netherlands Coin Company established its superb reputation for authoritative cataloguing. After a slow start in the 1940s, Charles Wormser single-handedly turned his firm around with the hiring of John J. Ford in November of 1950. Ford has been praised as one of the greatest numismatists ever and his catalogues prove this. His first masterpiece was the 1952 ANA sale, held in conjunction with Hans Schulman, Henry Grunthal and Numismatic Fine Arts. Included in the auction was Homer K. Downing's outstanding set of large cents, expertly described by Ford. Even the more obscure items, such as O.K. Rumbel's Lesher dollars, were meticulously catalogued. The 1952 ANA would be only one of many excellent sales from New Netherlands, especially with the addition of Walter Breen to the staff. Even after Ford and Breen left many years later, the tradition of masterful cataloguing continued with Jon Hanson writing the balance of the sales.

While the coin market turned into an investment arena in the 1960s, numismatic research continued. Walter Breen was actively writing sales for New Netherlands and composing his monographs on U.S. gold, finding many new varieties along the way. Other researchers, such as John J. Ford and Don Taxay, continued studying coins ardently and published their findings in popular periodicals or sometimes in book format. In Taxay's case, his extensive research on the coining process and the history of the United States Mint Collection resulted in the groundbreaking book The U.S. Mint and Coinage. The 1970s were no different; Breen continued to wow numismatists with his cataloguing in the Lester Merkin and Pine Tree sales. While not considered in the leagues of New Netherlands, the catalogues of Lester Merkin and Pine Tree were still superbly executed. As if Breen had not already established himself as a world-class numismatist and writer, he released his long-awaited Encyclopedia of U.S. and Colonial Proof Coins. Although the book is somewhat laced with error, it was a formidable effort and a model for future volumes.

It was also during the 1970s that almost all catalogues began to improve in quality. Bowers and Ruddy's team of writers produced some of the finest catalogues of the decade, with research-grade descriptions and excellent photography for the time. The Garrett sales, for example, skillfully blended history, technical information and pedigree data into the descriptions. Other firms followed suit and, by the mid-1980s, scholarly catalogues were no longer the exception. Catalogues such as the Frederick B. Taylor or Robinson S. Brown sales have become standard works in and of themselves on account of their completeness, adroit cataloguing and clear photographs. In fact, one researcher scoffed at the 1988 release of Walter Breen's Encyclopedia of United States Coins, as he exclaimed, "why do we need that when we already have the Norweb catalogues?"

Specialty clubs also produced excellent information, usually in the form of a periodical or perhaps a book. A group of researchers from the John Reich Collectors Society, for example, published a new standard reference of U.S. dimes in 1984. The Colonial Newsletter Foundation, as another example, brought much in the way of new information to the collecting public. The Early American Coppers Society, similarly, has consistently published its outstanding newsletter, Penny Wise. To add to this, independent writers have put out more specialized books on American coinage than ever.

Now, the limelight has shifted to the books themselves. Although coin research is still as dynamic and active as ever, the collection and study of numismatic literature has recently gained popularity. Bibliophiles such as Charles Davis, George Frederick Kolbe and Remy Bourne have advanced the field of book collecting from a curiosity to a hobby in itself, just like the collecting of coins in the 1850s. With Davis' American Numismatic Literature in 1992, Martin Gengerke's databases of sales, and John W. Adams' two volumes on 19th and 20th century catalogues, the field now has its own set of standard works. Additionally, the Armand Champa catalogues and the Harry W. Bass, Jr. sales have broken new ground in the cataloguing of literature.

In the time span of just under two centuries, numismatics in America has transformed from non-existence to a complex art, science and business. This tremendous development has been and will be the direct result of literature, even with the onset of the information age. If this intense pace of research is maintained, the future will undoubtedly be a bright one for numismatic literature and the hobby of numismatics in general.