BOOK REVIEW: CHECK LIST AND RECORD BOOK OF UNITED STATES PAPER MONEY

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V13 2010 INDEX E-SYLUM ARCHIVE

The E-Sylum: Volume 13, Number 1, January 3, 2010, Article 6

John and Nancy Wilson, NLG, submitted this review of Whitman Publishing's new Check List and Record Book of United States Paper Money. -Editor

Check List and Record Book of U.S. Paper Money

We were very pleased to see that Whitman Publishing, LLC has published a very nice check list and record book for United States paper money from 1861 to present. This soft bound book contains 248 pages and allows you to catalog your U. S. paper money collection utilizing the Friedberg and Whitman numbering systems. Each entry has a place for a check mark, as well as a space to list the grade and make other comments. This extra space for comments will be a great place to put important information regarding the notes in our (and your collection). You can list in the comment space: price paid, dealer name or auction purchase, serial number, date purchased, or other information such as a graded note.

This check list and record book covers all federal issues from $1 to $10,000, fractional currency (including regular issues, specimen issues and shields), postage currency, encased postage stamps, mule notes (with many star numbers listed) and one page to list your errors. One page is also available for you to list your miscellaneous items such as War of 1812 issues, or other U. S. paper that might not be listed in this book. We especially liked seeing the printages of the notes along with rarity and extant of issues known. To say the least this is invaluable information and can actually be used when you are looking at auction catalogs, dealer stocks at their stores, coin shows or even the Internet.

Over the past 15 years we have seen many more dealers and collectors come into the market place for U. S. paper money. This reference has all the information you need regarding all issues and will assist you with your buying and selling of them. This will be another best seller for Whitman and is available from them for $9.95. For information on purchasing this check list and record book they may be contacted at: Whitman Publishing, LLC, 3101 Clairmont Road, Suite C, Atlanta, GA 30329 Phone No. (800) 546 – 2995 or visit their web page at www.whitmanbooks.com.

I agree that the book can be very useful for those who own collections of this material, but I was a little surprised to see a hardcopy checklist - it seems like an anachronism today, in an age where computers and spreadsheets rule the day. These kinds of checklists were popular decades ago, but I don't recall seeing one published in the last several years.

With the advent of the Smartphone (basically a small, handheld networked computer that happens to also make phone calls), I would think there would be a market for an application that implements the functions of a collector's checklist. This is an area I would encourage Whitman and other numismatic publishers to enter, perhaps through partnerships with seasoned phone app providers. Anybody got an app for that? Hope so! -Editor