People in the hobby.

Baltimore was a fine place to meet contributors and collector friends.

Firstly, I'd like to mention Mark Anderson and Scott Lindquist, contributors to our U.S. Paper Money catalogs, Mitch Battino contributor to our World Coin Catalogs, and Jon Morowitz and Art Matz contributors to our World Paper Money Catalogs.

It was especially nice to meet Art. He has been most helpful with organizing contributors with suggestions on Latin American notes, then sending them in on a regular basis. I've been corresponding with him for over ten years and this was our first face-to-face meet. We even made time to have a very nice lunch with good conversation.

Fellow railroad medal collectors Daniel Benice was in attendance with his son and we had a good first meeting. Another medal collector who I spend time with was Paul Johnson, current executive director of the recently re-named Royal Canadian Numismatic Association was also in attendance. Paul was an active exhibitor in the late 70s and 80s, we had first meet when I went up to exhibit at a Toronto TOREX show in 1977, and then later CNA conventions in London and Montreal.

Wayne Homren, editor of the weekly on-line e-newsletter on numismatic books and the hobby was honored with the Burnett Anderson award for writing. He and I worked together nearly 20 years ago as research assistants on Fred Reed's historic book on Encased Postage Stamps.

My former co-editor of the Standard Catalog of World Paper Money, Neil Shafer was inducted into the ANA Hall of Fame.

George

As final packing is being done by those traveling to Baltimore for the World's Fair of Money - the annual convention of the ANA, collectors should take a look at the show specific commemoratives.

Offered by the ANA are badges, 1.5 inch and 3 inch medal sets depicting Edgar Allen Poe. There is also the convention bar, a city name and tate item which you add on to existing bars, creating a railroad-tie type of hanger. It has generally lost favor in recent years, but as mine now number more than 25 (out of 35 years of ANA membership) I keep it up.

Exhibitors, judges and speakers get medals. Hard to get colectibles unless you participate.

The Token and Medal Society will have a Baltimore medal, as will many local clubs, and individual collectors.

The Bureau of Engraving and Printing has a twice daily drawing for an opportunity to purchase (at $50.) a spider press proof done at the BEP exhibit. A spectacular item.

About 14 international mints will have current items for sale and the ANA make available a Mint Passport to insert coins from participating countires.

Some dealers may have items at their tables, be sure to look! 

George

This summer has been very busy.

I have been out to the ANA summer seminar. In the office I have been working on the Standard Catalog of World Paper Money, General Issues, 12th edition. That volume for the first time will be fully electronic, thus our four year behind-the-scene project of getting some 50,000 paper money images into a digital format will see the light of day! The user of the book will see sharper images as illustrations, with more even tone.

The Book will also be released with a bound-in DVD.

My other summer project has been assisting with the editing of the 17th Century World Coin Catalog. This product is also a first pass thru on the digital production method, so there is always extra items to be careful about (mis-labeled images seem to come to mind).

Tuesday, I leave for 5 days in Baltimore at the ANA's World's Fair of Money, the national convention. I will be at the Krause Publications table most of the week, as well as doing a stint as an exhibit judge, and participation in a few of the educational talks.

Stop by and say hi!

George