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1947 Tribute Edition Red Book
Dentuck
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Step Back in Numismatic Time With the 1947 Tribute Edition Red Book
The 1947 first edition of R.S. Yeoman’s Guide Book of United States Coins totaled 18,000 copies -- a small quantity by today’s standards. The "Red Book" quickly grew into the world’s most popular numismatic reference, and one of the best-selling nonfiction books of all time. Today an original first edition is a rare collector’s item, eagerly sought, and worth hundreds of dollars.
In December Whitman Publishing will release the 1947 Tribute Edition Red Book: a special commemorative reissue of the first Guide Book of United States Coins. Every page is exactly as it appeared back then: every word, every photograph, every coin value. It’s like opening a time capsule of numismatic history.
At the back of the book you’ll find a full-color section comparing coin collecting of 1947 with the hobby of today. Which coins have skyrocketed the most in value? What significant coins have been discovered since then? Which coin series have seen the most activity?
----
Some Background
The first print run of the Red Book, which debuted in November 1946, totaled 9,000 copies. These sold so quickly that another 9,000 were printed in February 1947.
By 1959 more than 100,000 copies were being printed annually. The 1965 (18th) edition reached a peak of 1.2 million copies. That year the Red Book was ranked fifth on the list of best-selling nonfiction -- ahead of Dale Carnegie's How to Win Friends and Influence People (at no. 6) and John F. Kennedy's Profiles in Courage (no. 9). Since then production levels have followed the ups and downs of the coin market. Perhaps even R.S. Yeoman, the book’s original author, could not imagine that, by the 60th edition, collectors would have purchased a total of well over 21 million copies.
"R.S. Yeoman" was the pen name of Richard S. Yeo -- the man behind the first Guide Book of United States Coins. Yeo had already proven himself a talented commercial artist and marketing wiz in the 1930s and early '40s. He distributed Western’s Whitman line of "penny boards" to coin collectors through department stores, along with children's books, puzzles, and other games that were popular during the Great Depression.
Soon Yeo realized that coin collectors needed other resources and supplies for their hobby, and he began to compile data for what became the Handbook of United States Coins With Premium List. With the "Blue Book" (so called for its distinctive cover color), collectors had a coin-by-coin, grade-by-grade guide to the prices that dealers were paying for U.S. coins. The first edition was published in 1942. After World War II ended, Whitman and Yeo introduced a retail-pricing version of the Blue Book. Thus was born the Red Book.
Red Book editor Kenneth E. Bressett has been involved in numismatics since the 1940s. He has written many numismatic articles and is author or editor of more than a dozen related books; a past governor, vice president, and president of the American Numismatic Association; and a highly accomplished teacher and researcher. He has served for many years as the editor of the Red Book. As a former consultant to the United States Mint, he was instrumental in originating the 50 State Quarters Program, and in selecting many of the coins' reverse designs. Ken is an inductee in the Numismatic Hall of Fame (at ANA Headquarters in Colorado Springs) and has won numerous literary awards. He continues to write books for Whitman Publishing, including the recent award-winning Money of the Bible.
The 1947 first edition of R.S. Yeoman’s Guide Book of United States Coins totaled 18,000 copies -- a small quantity by today’s standards. The "Red Book" quickly grew into the world’s most popular numismatic reference, and one of the best-selling nonfiction books of all time. Today an original first edition is a rare collector’s item, eagerly sought, and worth hundreds of dollars.
In December Whitman Publishing will release the 1947 Tribute Edition Red Book: a special commemorative reissue of the first Guide Book of United States Coins. Every page is exactly as it appeared back then: every word, every photograph, every coin value. It’s like opening a time capsule of numismatic history.
At the back of the book you’ll find a full-color section comparing coin collecting of 1947 with the hobby of today. Which coins have skyrocketed the most in value? What significant coins have been discovered since then? Which coin series have seen the most activity?
----
Some Background
The first print run of the Red Book, which debuted in November 1946, totaled 9,000 copies. These sold so quickly that another 9,000 were printed in February 1947.
By 1959 more than 100,000 copies were being printed annually. The 1965 (18th) edition reached a peak of 1.2 million copies. That year the Red Book was ranked fifth on the list of best-selling nonfiction -- ahead of Dale Carnegie's How to Win Friends and Influence People (at no. 6) and John F. Kennedy's Profiles in Courage (no. 9). Since then production levels have followed the ups and downs of the coin market. Perhaps even R.S. Yeoman, the book’s original author, could not imagine that, by the 60th edition, collectors would have purchased a total of well over 21 million copies.
"R.S. Yeoman" was the pen name of Richard S. Yeo -- the man behind the first Guide Book of United States Coins. Yeo had already proven himself a talented commercial artist and marketing wiz in the 1930s and early '40s. He distributed Western’s Whitman line of "penny boards" to coin collectors through department stores, along with children's books, puzzles, and other games that were popular during the Great Depression.
Soon Yeo realized that coin collectors needed other resources and supplies for their hobby, and he began to compile data for what became the Handbook of United States Coins With Premium List. With the "Blue Book" (so called for its distinctive cover color), collectors had a coin-by-coin, grade-by-grade guide to the prices that dealers were paying for U.S. coins. The first edition was published in 1942. After World War II ended, Whitman and Yeo introduced a retail-pricing version of the Blue Book. Thus was born the Red Book.
Red Book editor Kenneth E. Bressett has been involved in numismatics since the 1940s. He has written many numismatic articles and is author or editor of more than a dozen related books; a past governor, vice president, and president of the American Numismatic Association; and a highly accomplished teacher and researcher. He has served for many years as the editor of the Red Book. As a former consultant to the United States Mint, he was instrumental in originating the 50 State Quarters Program, and in selecting many of the coins' reverse designs. Ken is an inductee in the Numismatic Hall of Fame (at ANA Headquarters in Colorado Springs) and has won numerous literary awards. He continues to write books for Whitman Publishing, including the recent award-winning Money of the Bible.
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Comments
Can you swing reprinting QDB's Silver Dollar Encyclopedia? I can get excited over that!
Didn't wanna get me no trade
Never want to be like papa
Working for the boss every night and day
--"Happy", by the Rolling Stones (1972)
<< <i>Can you swing reprinting QDB's Silver Dollar Encyclopedia? >>
But I think the 1947 Reprint is nifty, too!
-Amanda
I'm a YN working on a type set!
My Buffalo Nickel Website Home of the Quirky Buffaloes Collection!
Proud member of the CUFYNA
" You see right here Mr. Jones, your 1893S dollar is worth $4.50 in that condition"
<< <i>I really like Whitman's books and what it is doing for the coin world, but I just cannot get excited over this book. >>
No frothy frenzy?
Personally, if it's priced like a normal redbook (ie under $10.00 at Wal-Mart), I think I'd like to go back and look at how things have changed over the years, would be a neat addition for me.
"You Suck Award" - February, 2015
Discoverer of 1919 Mercury Dime DDO - FS-101
Fine 1793 large cent (Chain variety): $125
Very Fine 1794 silver dollar: $650
Number of contributors to the 1st edition: 14 (compared to 100+ today)
Number of grade values per coin: 2 or 3 (compared to up to 9 today)
An authorized PCGS dealer, and a contributor to the Red Book.
Didn't wanna get me no trade
Never want to be like papa
Working for the boss every night and day
--"Happy", by the Rolling Stones (1972)
An authorized PCGS dealer, and a contributor to the Red Book.
<< <i>What effect do you predict the 1947 Tribute Edition will have on the value of original 1st editions? Increase? Decrease? No effect? >>
Decrease as folks will not have to actually buy the first edition to get all the information from it.
Tom
<< <i><< What effect do you predict the 1947 Tribute Edition will have on the value of original 1st editions? Increase? Decrease? No effect? >> >>
<< <i>Decrease as folks will not have to actually buy the first edition to get all the information from it. >>
Perhaps, but then the 1948 and subsequent issues issues into the 1950's will be worth that much more as folks will now want to dig up the information from all the intervening years!
I wonder if, similarly, the 1947 Tribute Edition might actually increase collector interest in early editions of the Red Book (already a strong and steadily ramping field).
I just ordered mine. What a neat idea!
peacockcoins
Which version of the 1st edition does it recreate? First printing, or second printing?
The 1947 Tribute Edition Red Book is a commemorative reissue of the first edition, first printing.
What will stop scammers from selling the Tribute Edition as an original?
In addition to a 32-page section in full color, the 1947 Tribute Edition Red Book has a separate, up-to-date copyright page that differentiates it from the original. These elements are very obvious features that make the Tribute Edition easily distinguishable from the vintage book.
Didn't wanna get me no trade
Never want to be like papa
Working for the boss every night and day
--"Happy", by the Rolling Stones (1972)
Could it be considered a 1947 3rd edition or 1947 tribute edition?
The regular edition will be a normal print run --- however many are needed to satisfy collector interest.
As I recently told RWB, we pondered a while on what to call this new book. "Replica" didn't seem right, and "reprint" didn't really capture its essence... "Tribute Edition" is a good description, and "commemorative reissue" starts to get to the heart of it.
-- Dentuck
<< <i>I really like Whitman's books and what it is doing for the coin world, but I just cannot get excited over this book.
Can you swing reprinting QDB's Silver Dollar Encyclopedia? I can get excited over that! >>
Coin's for sale/trade.
Tom Pilitowski
US Rare Coin Investments
800-624-1870
<< <i>I bet coin dealers are salivating over using this book to value coins.
" You see right here Mr. Jones, your 1893S dollar is worth $4.50 in that condition" >>
Delivery to dealers is not expected until next week.
Experience the World through Numismatics...it's more than you can imagine.
Steve
My Complete PROOF Lincoln Cent with Major Varieties(1909-2015)Set Registry