The down side of collecting on the Darkside

shirohniichan

I wonder if it's just me, but I've been finding the books I want to buy relating to my collection (not necessarily numismatic books) all cost at least $90. I've been looking for books on the US international coinage movement from the 1860's through the 1870's and related topics. I was glad to find that Josh had a book for sale on the Latin Monetary Union in German and French for only $28, but the two books in English I've found sell for about $125 each. The ANA Library doesn't have any books on the topic, though I did have them copy a pamphlet on the English commission reporting on German monetary reform in the 1870's.

Do you find it hard to locate and purchase reference works for what you collect?

The upside is that there is plenty of room for further research. Maybe I can write my own $125 book some day.

JamminJ

Tried a, interlibrary loan?

SYRACUSIAN

Do you find it hard to locate and purchase reference works for what you collect?


Very hard.


I was glad to find that Josh had a book for sale on the Latin Monetary Union in German and French for only $28,


I would have liked this, I wonder if he has another copy.


Maybe I can write my own $125 book some day.


I would have liked that too.

shirohniichan

<< <i>Tried a, interlibrary loan? >>



I looked for a book called Money and Politics that deals with the Latin Monetary Union. In my title search for the Orange County Public Library, none came up with that title. All that show are hysterical leftist propaganda books about how America is being destroyed by right-wing theocrats. Searches for the "Latin Monetary Union" show nothing on the subject. The exercise showed me that there are far more questionable polemical books available than scholarly ones.

shirohniichan

Forget public libraries. Check out this international library search site.

I can't borrow it, but I can go to a local university and read through it.

Refrema

I have the same problem with expensive books. I currently have 11 books on Scandinavian coins, and their monetary system during the 1600s to 1900s that were more than $100 each. Sometimes www.bookfinder.com finds some of the rare books at decent prices, but lately they seem to all be higher than a couple years ago.

Just recently there was a book about Danish monetary policy from 1600 to date that was in a Swedish auction for about 150 Dollars US, but I bought the same book thru bookfinders for 68.00 with shipping included. It was even in English. Try them because they seem to have listings from around the world.

You can never have too many books.

Bob

laurentyvan

I've never encountered an activity (read hobby in this case) where it is harder to obtain specific authoritative information that is granted a consensus view-i.e. virtually everyone considers it as the source and references it without too much contention.

Now I understand why dealers can spend between $25,000 to $50,000 and more, sometimes way more to obtain a really good numismatic library.

Having said that, few hobbies need to reference a subject that can span 3,000 years and number in the billions and have so many varieties...

sumnom

Have you tried abebooks.com?

shirohniichan

<< <i>Have you tried abebooks.com? >>



Yes, and also Alibris.

sumnom

And addall.com?

Teg

Hi,
I find Galata very good - wide selection and they really know their stuff.

Teg

theboz11

I just picked up a 3 Vol. set of British Historical Medals and was surprised how hard they are to find. They are getting as expensive as the collections.

shirohniichan

<< <i>I just picked up a 3 Vol. set of British Historical Medals and was surprised how hard they are to find. They are getting as expensive as the collections. >>



I borrowed them from the ANA Library, photocopied the pages I needed, and took lots of notes.

WillieBoyd2

Most California libraries support a free inter-library loan program called "Link+".
Some other states may have it.
I have borrowed several old or hard to find numismatic works through Link+.

It's URL is at:
Link+