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The Numismatist 'Birth of the Blue Folder'

ECHOESECHOES Posts: 2,974 ✭✭✭✭✭
edited December 10, 2020 2:23PM in U.S. Coin Forum

Being a collector of these Folders, as well as other products by Whitman,
I found this article to be very informative, I am always on the look out for
the older folders as well as the Bookshelf Albums. My collection is rather
small compared to the Author, but fun non-the-less.
Check it out...



~HABE FIDUCIAM IN DOMINO III V VI / III XVI~
POST NUBILA PHOEBUS / AFTER CLOUDS, SUN
Love for Music / Collector of Dreck

Comments

  • Tom147Tom147 Posts: 1,485 ✭✭✭✭✭

    My 1st " blue folder " was purchased for me by my father in 1964. Lincoln Cents. I still have it. Good read. Thank you for posting.

  • SmudgeSmudge Posts: 9,808 ✭✭✭✭✭

    My avatar says it all. How I started in the early 60’s.

  • ECHOESECHOES Posts: 2,974 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @Tom147 said:
    My 1st " blue folder " was purchased for me by my father in 1964. Lincoln Cents. I still have it. Good read. Thank you for posting.

    Yes, my first 'Blue Folder' was purchased by my Dad as well, 1974/5, Lincoln Cents.
    I still have the folder too...

    ~HABE FIDUCIAM IN DOMINO III V VI / III XVI~
    POST NUBILA PHOEBUS / AFTER CLOUDS, SUN
    Love for Music / Collector of Dreck
  • CameonutCameonut Posts: 7,361 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Still have my blue folders. Lincoln cents vol 1 & 2. Indian cents. Canadian cents (common in change in Wisconsin at the time). Jeffersons. All given to me circa 1960 or 1961. Even got one as a trick or treat offering from someone in the neighborhood that worked at Whitman publishing.

    “In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock." - Thomas Jefferson

    My digital cameo album 1950-64 Cameos - take a look!

  • DBSTrader2DBSTrader2 Posts: 3,498 ✭✭✭✭
    edited December 10, 2020 2:26PM

    I started collecting Lincoln pennies & Jefferson nickels in blue Whitman folders in the early 60's, with the encouragement of my grandparents. Over the years/decades, I expanded my collection to include more denominations, earlier & subsequent series, & foreign coins (Canada/Newfoundland/Types, Mexico, Great Britain, Australia, & New Zealand), never straying to albums or other brands (unless Whitman folders were unavailable). I still have each and every one of my original folders!

    I was also lucky enough in the past decade to have been asked by another Forum member who works in that division at Whitmans to help review proofs & make pre-printing suggestions for enhancements/revisions to upcoming new releases of several denominations of Canadian folders. THAT was a really cool & gratifying experience, especially to see the results in their final product!

    Not as my icon, but a Whitman-blue-folder fan for life!! :)

  • yosclimberyosclimber Posts: 5,028 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited December 10, 2020 9:14PM

    Thanks - interesting stuff.
    Would you mind posting the prior pages in the article?
    I am curious as to what exactly defines a first edition folder.

    I have a Silver Three Cent folder which has the lighter blue color,
    but the list of titles is 25 instead of 22.
    The title list does include "Morgan Dime".

    I have slightly newer ones which have a darker blue color,
    still with no title on the spine,
    but the title list is up to about 86, including Canadian.
    I imagine these are Second Edition or later.

    I found this article by David Lange which I think answers my questions about the different editions.

    Whitman’s First Edition of blue folders was produced for just one-and-a-half years before wartime paper shortages forced a transition to cheaper, less attractive materials. Only 22 titles were included in the line during this edition, which is distinguished by glossy, leatherette covers, and jet black backing paper.

    https://coinweek.com/coins/supplies/whitman-coin-folders-as-collectible-items/

  • CaptHenwayCaptHenway Posts: 32,695 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Bought my first blue folder, Lincoln cents #2, for 19 cents at Woolworths. Probably 1963 as I had a job that summer delivering advertising flyers twice a week for $1 per delivery.

    Numismatist. 50 year member ANA. Winner of four ANA Heath Literary Awards; three Wayte and Olga Raymond Literary Awards; Numismatist of the Year Award 2009, and Lifetime Achievement Award 2020. Winner numerous NLG Literary Awards.
  • SmudgeSmudge Posts: 9,808 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Do NOT use them for zinc cents.

  • ECHOESECHOES Posts: 2,974 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @yosclimber said:
    Thanks - interesting stuff.
    Would you mind posting the prior pages in the article?
    I am curious as to what exactly defines a first edition folder.

    I have a Silver Three Cent folder which has the lighter blue color,
    but the list of titles is 25 instead of 21.
    The title list does include "Morgan Dime".

    I have slightly newer ones which have a darker blue color,
    still with no title on the spine,
    but the title list is up to about 86, including Canadian.
    I imagine these are Second Edition or later.

    I found this article by David Lange which I think answers my questions about the different editions.

    Whitman’s First Edition of blue folders was produced for just one-and-a-half years before wartime paper shortages forced a transition to cheaper, less attractive materials. Only 22 titles were included in the line during this edition, which is distinguished by glossy, leatherette covers, and jet black backing paper.

    https://coinweek.com/coins/supplies/whitman-coin-folders-as-collectible-items/


    ~HABE FIDUCIAM IN DOMINO III V VI / III XVI~
    POST NUBILA PHOEBUS / AFTER CLOUDS, SUN
    Love for Music / Collector of Dreck
  • koynekwestkoynekwest Posts: 10,048 ✭✭✭✭✭

    First one-Lincoln Cents, Vol 2 in the summer of 1961.

  • rickoricko Posts: 98,724 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I have no idea when I acquired my first blue folder.... many, many years ago. Have a few, but never really built on album sets.... I still look at them, about once every couple of years. Cheers, RickO

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