Whitman Publishing Receives Exemplary Service Award
The American Numismatic Association will present Whitman
Publishing, LLC, of Atlanta, with its Exemplary Service Award in
recognition of services on behalf of the Association that are
"above and beyond" the call of duty. The award will be presented
Aug. 9 during the World's Fair of MoneySM in Philadelphia.
Whitman Publishing supports ANA educational programs with its
monetary donations and by supplying books for outreach programs. In
2010, it signed on to provide up to $3,600 in prizes annually for
the ANA's Young Numismatist Literary Awards competition.
Perhaps best known for publishing A Guide Book of United
States Coins (the "Red Book"), Whitman also produces
Official American Numismatic Association Grading Standards for
United States Coins and the popular "100 Greatest" series
showcasing the best in numismatics, including ancients and currency
notes, errors, medals and U.S. coins.
The story of Whitman Publishing begins in 1932, when numismatist
Richard S. Yeo (aka "Yeoman") was hired as a commercial artist by
Western Publishing Company in Racine, Wisc. One of Western's
subsidiaries was Whitman Publishing Company, which specialized in
children's books, puzzles and greeting cards. In 1940 Yeoman
redesigned the company's coin boards to make them easier to handle,
incorporating folding panels and adding new titles to accommodate a
wider variety of coin denominations. He helped advance the hobby
among the public by giving novice collectors a simple, inexpensive
method of storing and cataloging their coins.
Yeoman also compiled information about coin values and the
numismatic market. Handbook of United States Coins: The
Official Blue Book of U.S. Coins was first published in 1942.
Then and now, the "Blue Book" has provided reliable information
about coin history and pricing for dealers buying and selling
coins. In 1946 the "Red Book" was published to provide collectors
with pricing information for buying and selling coins to
dealers.
In 1959, Western hired Kenneth Bressett, who helped Yeoman write
and edit numismatic books. Together, they created more than 300
titles and products for the hobby until Yeoman's retirement in
1970. Bressett continues to edit the Red Book and the Blue Book and
consults on other titles.
In 2003, H.E. Harris & Company bought Whitman Coin Products
from St. Martin's Press. Since H.E. Harris also manufactured and
sold coin albums, folders and accessories, this acquisition was an
ideal way to consolidate the leading numismatic supply companies.
H.E. Harris changed its name to Whitman Publishing, which features
three, distinct product lines: Whitman, H.E. Harris, and the U.S.
Mint.
Whitman since has hired author and numismatist Q. David Bowers as
its director of numismatic publications. Under his stewardship, the
company launched the "Guide Book" series, each of which highlights
a specific denomination or design and provides a complete history
and an extensive price guide.
In June 2004, Whitman Publishing hosted its first national coin
show, the Whitman Coin and Collectibles Atlanta Expo. The event has
grown and branched out, with five shows scheduled annually: three
in Baltimore, one in Nashville and one in Philadelphia.
To learn more about Whitman Publishing products and events, go to
www.whitman.com.
The World's Fair of Money is the nation's premier money show. The
event features more than 1,000 numismatic dealers with the best
inventory anywhere; the ANA Museum Showcase exhibiting some of the
world's most valuable and beautiful coins and paper money; a Mint
Promenade with mints from around the world; the Collector Exhibits
area; a world-class auction by Stack's Bowers Galleries;
educational presentations and seminars; and special events
including the ANA's annual awards banquet.
The American Numismatic Association is a congressionally chartered
nonprofit educational organization dedicated to encouraging people
to study and collect money and related items. The ANA helps its
28,000 members and the public discover and explore the world of
money through its vast array of education and outreach programs, as
well as its museum, library, publications, conventions and
seminars. For more information, call 719-632-2646 or go to
www.money.org.