ASYLUM SUMMER 2026 ISSUE PUBLISHED

Welcome to The Asylum's Summer 2026 digital edition.

In this issue:

• Dr. John F. Rainey, MBE, 1950–2026 Remembrances by Darryl Atchison, Douglas Saville and David Fanning
• Getting Started with Ancient Greek Coins: The Essential Literature By William E. Daehn
• David Muirhead: Pioneer Collector of Mexican Revolution Coins (1913–1917) By Adrián González-Salinas
• S. Hudson Chapman and the Beginnings of "Gradeflation" By Harry E. Salyards
• Alvin Rust, Mark Hofmann, and the Mormon Church Forgeries By Mike Costanzo
• Admiral Smyth and His "Vast Quantity of Coins" By David Pickup
• Numismatic Bibliomania: Symptoms of the Affliction By Mike Costanzo

If you are anything like me, your library is in a constant state of flux with piles of books dotting the house, awaiting integration into ever decreasing shelf space. Other volumes might get pulled for the latest research project, which never seems to come to fruition, until the pyramid of books resembles archaeological strata that documents the wandering thoughts of the bibliophile. Such disorganization is not to be feared but rather represents a necessary step in the production of creative and enduring research. Writing articles and books is never perfectly efficient, and, if it were otherwise, would be rather boring. It is often the unexpected byways that lead us toward new discoveries, and the seemingly random assortment of books strewn about our libraries is a sure sign that our brains are open to new possibilities. At least, this is what I tell my wife Debra.

On the NBS front, it's not too early to think about the upcoming ANA convention in Pittsburgh, August 25–29. The NBS will host our usual club table on the bourse floor, where we will exhibit items for sale in the annual fundraiser auction scheduled for Friday, August 28 at 11:30AM. We do solicit donated material for this sale, please contact myself or David Fanning for further details. On Thursday, August 27, at 1:00PM, the NBS Symposium program at the ANA convention welcomes Cassie Brand, Rare Books Curator at Washington University, who will advance our understanding of connoisseurship in book collecting. I'm not sure she will agree with my thoughts on library organization, but it will make for an engaging debate!

 

Each year at the ANA World's Fair of Money, the Numismatic Bibliomania Society conducts a benefit auction to raise funds for the organization. All items sold are donated to the NBS by members and 100% of the proceeds go to the NBS treasury. Suggested lot value is $100 and up, but smaller donations may be accepted. A catalog will be compiled and distributed prior to the auction and absentee bid may be placed for those who cannot attend.

Please contact David Fanning at df@numislit.com to discuss possible donations.

NBS Membership Renewal Time!

Please renew your membership in the NBS to continue receiving The Asylum. Go to coinbooks.org to pay by PayPal or download a membership form today. Your current expiration date is printed to the right of your name on your subscription envelope, which should be arriving soon.

   

 

	NBS (coinbooks.org) Web