Literature Dealer

(b. 9/9/1941 L2019)

Born in Yonkers, New York. His family moved to Pasadena, California, in 1943. Attended Loyola University in 1959 and 1960. Married to Linda Loiselle August 12, 1961. They have three children. Employed in retail food management prior to 1980.

Kolbe was a part time coin dealer in the 1960's. He began selling numismatic literature part time in 1967. His first mail bid sale was February 28, 1976. His first public auction was held in 1979. In 1980 the business became full time. He soon became the leading numismatic literature dealer in the country. He claims the largest stock of rare literature and the highest dollar value in annual sales among literature dealers.

He was one of the founders of the Numismatic Bibliomania Society. In 1985 he was elected president of the NBS. Received Glenn Smedley Memorial Award in 1995. He is a life member of the ANA, a member of the International Association of Professional Numismatists. In 2019 he was honored with the ANA Lifetime Achievement Award.

In 2010 he formed a partnership with David Fanning.

bio by correspondence, 1991