Following the news of Mr. Burns' death, McBride said he and Wayne Homren, editor of The E-Sylum, the online publication of the Numismatic Bibliomania Society, had discussed what needed to be done, as they considered themselves Mr. Burns' oldest friends.

McBride said arrangements are being made for cremation and the sale of Mr. Burns' book inventory to pay off any debts.

"I've known him since 1984 and he was a good friend," McBride said.

He said he plans to return to Florida soon and make arrangements to claim Mr. Burns' vehicle and the inventory from his table that FUN officials have placed in storage.

Cindy Wibker, FUN's convention coordinator, confirmed that FUN has Mr. Burns' books in storage and personal items that were at his table.

McBride said PAN officials are planning on setting up a John Burns Memorial Fund to support numismatic research.

"He would tell people at shows when they asked him what he had to sell, that he sold knowledge," McBride said.

To read the complete article, see:Numismatic literature dealer John Burns dies at FUN show(www.coinworld.com/articles/numismatic-literature-dealer-john-burns-dies)

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:THE JOHN H. BURNS MEMORIAL FUND(www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v17n04a02.html)