Welcome to The E-sylum: Volume 2, Number 18:  May 2, 1999:  
an electronic publication of the Numismatic Bibliomania Society.  
   

SUBSCRIBER UPDATES   

    Our newest member is Tsan-Sheng Hsu of Taiwan who  
    wrote: "I collect numismatic books and enjoy browsing  
    your web site.  Please add me into your email list."   

    "I live in Taiwan, but had stayed in the US for more than  
    5 years several years ago. I began my collecting of numismatic  
    books more than 15 years ago, mainly on oriental numismatics.  
    First I collected books written in Chinese, but am now  
    including books written in English and other languages.  I am  
    interested in any numismatic book related to the oriental, in  
    particular Taiwan and China.  I participate many US numismatic  
    book auctions year round, including G. F. Kolbe, R. Bourne  
    and the Katens."  (Email address: tshsu@iis.sinica.edu.tw)  
   

FRANK KATEN UPDATE   

    Speaking of Frank Katen, Remy Bourne reports that Frank is  
    "Doing just fine but slowing down with age."  Frank, now in his  
    90's, is probably no slower than many of us half his age.  The  
    late Ken Lowe of The Money Tree often stated that "Frank  
    will outlive us all", and at this rate, maybe he will.  
   

RESEARCH REQUEST   

    NBS member W. David Perkins, an early silver dollar  
   (1794-1803) collector and researcher, requests assistance  
    from anyone who might know the answer to the following:   

    "According to a copy (with buyer's initials) of the Lester  
    Merkin September 18, 1968 Public Auction Sale, lot 272,  
    a 1799/8 B-1 silver dollar in About Uncirculated (lot is  
    plated in the sale catalog) was purchased by a collector or  
    dealer with the initials "J.O.K."  Does anyone know who the  
    initials J.O.K. stand for?   

    [This same specimen was later offered in the Bowers &  
    Merena Mann & Smedley sale, September 13, 1988:363  
    (lot is plated in this sale also).  It is unknown if more than one  
    person owned this silver dollar from 1968 to1998.]"  
   

17TH CENTURY NUMISMATIC LITERATURE   

    Christian Dekesel writes: "Having published a comprehensive  
    bibliography of 16th century numismatic publications (Spink  
    1997),  I am currently working on the 17th century.  I would  
    like to hear from any of your members who are willing to  
    inform me about their 17th century holdings. I am willing to  
    enter into correspondence concerning that matter.  My e-mail  
    address is :  bibnumsil@pandora.be  
   

1802 HALF DIME MYSTERY SOLVED   

     In an email message that disappeared into the ether before  
     reaching your editor last week, Joel Orosz wrote to clear up  
     the apparent mystery surrounding the Levick sale coin:   

    "Actually, David, I can solve that small problem right now.  I  
    forgot to mention, in my message below, that the entire line --  
    lot number, description, price realized, and Wilson's name --  
    is crossed out in pencil in my copy of the Levick sale.  This  
    confirms what the other respondents have said about it being  
    a no sale.   

    Sorry I omitted that rather important point!"  
   

EARLY COPPER ROBBERY   

    John Baumgart posted the following notice to other internet  
    mailing lists, and since the nature of the material is very  
    specialized and of interest to many of our readers, I'll repeat  
    it here:   

    "Tom Reynolds, one of the premiere dealers in early American  
    copper (colonial issues, large cents, half cents) was robbed of  
    approximately $1 million in inventory in Omaha Sunday night.  
    Please watch for any choice early (pre-1857) U.S. copper  
    being offered for sale.  A reward has been offered for return  
    of material Contact Tom Reynolds or the Omaha (Nebraska)  
    Police Department with any information."  
   

FEATURED WEB SITE   

    There's a first time for everything, and I believe this will be  
    the first time we repeat a featured web site - the United  
    States Mint:  http://www.usmint.gov/   On April 21st, your  
    editor had the pleasure of visiting Philip Diehl, Director of  
    the United States Mint, in his Washington, D.C. office. The  
    purpose of the visit was to promote the return of the U.S.  
    Assay Commission, a concept being promoted by the  
    Pennsylvania Association of Numismatists under the leadership  
    of Chairman Don Carlucci, who arranged our visit.   

    In our conversation Diehl noted that on May 4th, the mint  
    web site would feature a live "webcast" of the unveiling of  
    the new dollar coin design in a ceremony at the White House,  
    with First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton officiating.  So, be  
    sure to check out the mint web site on Tuesday, May 4th.   

         http://www.usmint.gov/  
   

  Wayne Homren  
  Numismatic Bibliomania Society   

  The Numismatic Bibliomania Society is a  
  non-profit organization promoting numismatic  
  literature.   For more information please see  
  our web site at http://www.coinbooks.org/  
  There is a membership application available on  
  the web site.  To join, print the application and  
  return it with your check to the address printed  
  on the application.   For those without web access,  
  contact Dave Hirt, NBS Secretary-Treasurer,  
  5911 Quinn Orchard Road, Frederick, MD 21701   

  (To be removed from this mailing list  
   write to me at whomren@coinlibrary.com)