In a sign of the strength of the coin-collecting hobby, dramatically higher than usual demand has caused Whitman Publishing to go back to press with the spiralbound version ofthe Guide Book of United States Coins, 73rd edition.

The Guide Book, published since 1946 and popularly known as the "Red Book," is the best-selling annual price guide for the coin-collecting hobby. More than 24 millioncopies have been sold since the first edition.

"We plan our print runs very carefully, benchmarking against previous years' sales," said Whitman president Mary Burleson. "With years of data to analyze, we can control ourinventory by printing to anticipated collector demand. This year's demand has unexpectedly been much stronger than normal. Not since 2006 have we had to go back to press to meethigher than expected demand."

From casual hobbyists to longtime collectors and professional numismatists, Whitman estimates that coin collectors number in the millions nationwide. The American NumismaticAssociation, the country's largest hobbyist organization, has 25,000 active members.

"The Red Book is distributed nationally in bookstores and other retail locations, and online," said Burleson. "The increased demand suggests to us that many newcollectors and potential collectors have entered the market over the past year. This is a positive sign for the hobby."

Whitman publisher Dennis Tucker said that many hobbyists acquire the Red Book as a collectible itself, seeking one of every edition. To help them identify books in theircollections, Tucker noted, "The new press run of the spiralbound format has SECOND PRINTING on its copyright page."

Collectors can check their local bookstore or hobby shop, or call Whitman's Customer Service number at 1-800-546-2995, to order a copy of the spiralbound Red Book for$15.95. Copies of the first printing will be shipped as long as it's in stock, and the second printing will be added to Whitman's inventory distribution when available.

A Guide Book of United States Coins, 73rd edition
464 pages
Full color
By R.S. Yeoman; senior editor Jeff Garrett; research editor Q. David Bowers;
editor emeritus Kenneth Bressett.
$15.95 convenient lay-flat spiralbound
$17.95 classic red hardcover
$19.95 spiralbound hardcover
$29.95 Large Print Edition
$49.95 expanded Deluxe Edition (1,504 pages)