From Esylum-- the new QDB Encyclopedia on colonial and early American coins is in manuscript phase

Longacre

I was taking a read through the latest issue of Esylum, and I read this tidbit posted by Dennis Tucker, from Whitman:

"BOOK PREVIEW: BOWERS' ENCYCLOPEDIA ON COLONIAL AND EARLY AMERICAN COINS

Dennis Tucker of Whitman Publishing writes: "In other news:
Q. David Bowers has submitted to Whitman his manuscript for a monumental new encyclopedia on colonial and early American coins and tokens. This is a massive and detailed work that was started from scratch (not building on previous works). It gathers Bowers'
own vast knowledge of the subject as well as all the latest research and insight from colonial-coin experts around the country.

"The book will be illustrated in full color with thousands of images, and is projected to land around the 500-page mark. Many E-Sylum subscribers have contributed their time and talent to the manuscript, sharing their collections for study and photography, offering feedback and opinions, etc. This is going to be the magnum opus of the colonial field.""


Is anyone else excited about this book? I am deathly afraid of colonials, but hopefully the soft, soothing writing of QDB will ease me into this area of numismatics that I have been avoiding for ages. I look forward to a well-made product, that will certainly be the magnum opus that we need to bring these interesting colonial coins to the masses.

RYK

Is anyone else excited about this book?

Abso-frickin-lutely!

I am deathly afraid of colonials...

I was, also. It is curable.

A Colonial Type Set for the Masses™

Michigan

Glad to hear this book is coming. I remember him briefly mentioning it in one of his writings probably 20 years ago, sometimes these
book projects take a long time to happen.

messydesk

I take it this is not a Redbook-series book, then, but something of stature more suited to the non-smoking smoking jacket and brandy, what with it being dubbed Magnum Opus™, and all.

Longacre

<< <i>I take it this is not a Redbook-series book, then, but something of stature more suited to the non-smoking smoking jacket and brandy, what with it being dubbed Magnum Opus™, and all. >>




I think it will be different from your Redbook series book. Perhaps Dentuck can comment. Does anyone know if there will be any special printings of this book (like full leather, etc.). And I suspect when I peruse this book, quaffing only the finest cognac will do.

Dentuck

Perhaps a special Longacre Edition, complete with brandy decanter and velvet slippers?

Longacre

<< <i>Perhaps a special Longacre Edition, complete with brandy decanter and velvet slippers? >>




I like how you think, Dentuck.

RYK

Dentuck,

Any timeline or projection for date of release?

messydesk

<< <i>Dentuck,

Any timeline or projection for date of release? >>


The dog that brings the slippers is still working toward his UDX title, so it may be a while.

MidLifeCrisis

<< <i>Is anyone else excited about this book?

Abso-frickin-lutely! >>



Ditto. Should be a great addition to the library.



<< <i>A Colonial Type Set for the Masses™ >>


You're building a great set RYK...and rather quickly too! I'm looking forward to the pics and your comments about each coin.

thisnamztaken

Sounds good. I've been thinking about getting a copy of Sylvester Crosby's book on Colonials, but may wait now. Will it be mass-produced or just a limited edition?

How long will it be before it will actually be published?

Dentuck

The encyclopedia will be available this year.

You'll be amazed at the wealth of information and the sheer number of images it contains.

RYK

The encyclopedia will be available this year.

WooHoo!

Dennis88

Any update on this?

Dennis

Dentuck

A special advance copy will be auctioned by the Colonial Coin Collectors Club later this month.

Auction description:

"The coins and tokens of colonial America and the early United States present a unique chronicle of our nation’s birth. They bear witness to Paul Revere, George Washington, and Benjamin Franklin . . . to distant European tyrants bent on empire, and cash-strapped merchants trying to make a living. If these historic coins could speak, they would tell of generations of hardworking, independent, and innovative Americans, both famous and obscure.

Collectors of these fascinating coins have never had a single, authoritative reference for guidance. . . until now. Q. David Bowers, the “Dean of American Numismatics”—drawing on the expertise of dozens of specialists from around the country, including many C4 members—has written a book so comprehensive and authoritative that it redefines the genre. The Whitman Encyclopedia of Colonial and Early American Coins explores:

Collecting, grading, and attributing colonial coins .. Money in early America .. Minting and distribution .. Silver coins of Massachusetts .. Early British coins and tokens for America .. American coins and tokens from 1783 to 1788 .. Other early American pieces .. Later European coins and tokens for America .. Early George Washington coins and tokens .. Unrelated foreign coins .. 19th-century colonial copies and fantasies

Bowers’s engaging text is supported by nearly 2,000 full-color photographs, extensive auction data, market values and commentary, historical price trends, rarities, a selected bibliography, and a comprehensive index with hundreds of entries.

The special book that you see here is a one-of-a-kind, full-color advance galley. No other advance galleys will be created or made available to the hobby community. This unique copy has been autographed by Bowers, and comes with a certificate of authenticity from Whitman Publishing. As the Whitman Encyclopedia of Colonial and Early American Coins takes its place in the canon of numismatic literature, this advance galley will attain the status of a centerpiece for the advanced collector of colonial coinage or rare books.

Dennis88

<< <i>A special advance copy will be auctioned by the Colonial Coin Collectors Club later this month.

Auction description:

"The coins and tokens of colonial America and the early United States present a unique chronicle of our nation’s birth. They bear witness to Paul Revere, George Washington, and Benjamin Franklin . . . to distant European tyrants bent on empire, and cash-strapped merchants trying to make a living. If these historic coins could speak, they would tell of generations of hardworking, independent, and innovative Americans, both famous and obscure.

Collectors of these fascinating coins have never had a single, authoritative reference for guidance. . . until now. Q. David Bowers, the “Dean of American Numismatics”—drawing on the expertise of dozens of specialists from around the country, including many C4 members—has written a book so comprehensive and authoritative that it redefines the genre. The Whitman Encyclopedia of Colonial and Early American Coins explores:

Collecting, grading, and attributing colonial coins .. Money in early America .. Minting and distribution .. Silver coins of Massachusetts .. Early British coins and tokens for America .. American coins and tokens from 1783 to 1788 .. Other early American pieces .. Later European coins and tokens for America .. Early George Washington coins and tokens .. Unrelated foreign coins .. 19th-century colonial copies and fantasies

Bowers’s engaging text is supported by nearly 2,000 full-color photographs, extensive auction data, market values and commentary, historical price trends, rarities, a selected bibliography, and a comprehensive index with hundreds of entries.

The special book that you see here is a one-of-a-kind, full-color advance galley. No other advance galleys will be created or made available to the hobby community. This unique copy has been autographed by Bowers, and comes with a certificate of authenticity from Whitman Publishing. As the Whitman Encyclopedia of Colonial and Early American Coins takes its place in the canon of numismatic literature, this advance galley will attain the status of a centerpiece for the advanced collector of colonial coinage or rare books. >>



Great news. Any idea when the product will be available for the general market? I'm hoping for FUN...

Will there be a special hardbound/signed edition as with other major works recently published?

Dennis

RYK

I am in a frothy frenzy over it all.

Longacre

<< <i>The special book that you see here is a one-of-a-kind, full-color advance galley. No other advance galleys will be created or made available to the hobby community. This unique copy has been autographed by Bowers, and comes with a certificate of authenticity from Whitman Publishing. As the Whitman Encyclopedia of Colonial and Early American Coins takes its place in the canon of numismatic literature, this advance galley will attain the status of a centerpiece for the advanced collector of colonial coinage or rare books. >>

>>




Like the dresses at the Oscars, what are the chances that some printer in China will start churning out copies of this galley, seconds after the auction?

Dentuck

The special one-of-a-kind advance galley was lovingly and carefully hand-crafted in the United States of America. It bears the official signature of Q. David Bowers, which cannot be duplicated by counterfeiters.

Dennis88, the regular edition (which is a hardcover) will be available before FUN.

Dennis88

<< <i>Dennis88, the regular edition (which is a hardcover) will be available before FUN. >>



Great. That's another amount gone from the coin side of my FUN checking book and into the book side.... Argggggggggggh!

Just kidding. I have been waiting for a good reference on colonial American coins for quite a few years now. Looking forward to this one

Dennis

Coinosaurus

<< <i>It bears the official signature of Q. David Bowers, which cannot be duplicated by counterfeiters. >>



Remember when Prince said he wasn't going to have a name anymore, just a symbol? That's sort of what QDB's autograph looks like

These folks in Atlanta (and Wolfeboro) are a bookmaking machine. The problem seems to be that QDB can write faster than any human being can read. I have been compiling the NBS's survey of the hundred greatest works of American numismatic literature, and it appears that Whitman is going to singlehandedly obsolete the article before it is even written!

firstmint

I thought QDB's autograph was simply a line coming from the bottom right side of a circle...