Tim Corio writes:

I am anxious to attempt to contact all of the those who read my oldfriend Dick Johnson's review of my book Agricultural and MechanicalSociety Award Medals Of The United States, Second Edition in yourpublication.

Please forgive the incomplete offering I presented through lulu.com. Iam a collector and historian obsessed with a 40+ year project of greatchallenge. Most of my project was completed before eBay came along.With the assistance of several people supplying me from eBay, I broughtthe collection's loose ends essentially together in recent years.

I thought that my findings would have to be shared through an estateauction. However, good friend Tim Corio, fellow member of the RochesterNumismatic Association, caught me by surprise.

I am 76 years old and have been in declining health for ten years. Timoffered to assist me with his wonderful expertise in photography and inpreparing the essentials of my collection for a book.

I took on the task of organizing a complete type grouping of the medalsand preparing the catalog numbering system and he did the rest � GodBless him! It took us a year.

We knew that our offering had warts. But it's the best I can do at thisend stage of life... a first effort to catalog this subject in thefinest quality paper we could find.

But our consciences are clear because any viewer of our lulu.com pagecan review the entire book for free on line!!! If you need the qualityphotos, you'll have to cough up the purchase price.

I do have much support data and enthusiasm stored in my library and inmy head and love to discuss the subject. I am available most evenings7:30-9:00 to talk at 585-248-3899.

Sincerely,
Andrew Harkness

P.S. I must warn any caller that I break into tears whenever some oneasks me to destroy the collection's integrity by selling him the piecesfrom some state or region.

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:BOOK REVIEW: AGRICULTURAL AND MECHANICAL SOCIETY MEDALS OF THE U.S.(www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v13n51a07.html)