I write now because Russ Rulau's word "Exonumia" was brought up for discussion. But my letter has no further elucidation on how he came up with it; instead, years ago this word led me to think of a similar word but for paper-related items. That word is "Exographica."

The word encompasses all sorts of paper collectibles except actual paper currencies. The Professional Currency Dealers Association (PCDA) felt that it was a useful enough term that they allowed me to use it in the booklet I prepared in 1992 for their distribution to newer collectors, "The Wonderful World of Paper Money!" On p. 44 I explain what this new term means; I call it The Great Paper Periphery.

In the first paragraph I talk about the thousands of paper items of interest to paper money collectors that are not actual notes, nor were they ever intended to be notes. The second paragraph gets to the nitty-gritty of the discussion, this way: "Kinds of items which generally fit this exographic category include but are not limited to checks and other fiscal documents, stagecoach, horsecar and trolley tickets, railroad passes and tickets, food stamp change, receipts of all kinds, most engraved items of paper, lottery tickets, labels, coupons of all sorts, military passes, pictorial advertising, letterheads, souvenir cards, diplomas, announcements, autographs, insurance policy forms, various awards, and the like."

One can be an Exographist (accent on the o), collect Exographic items, have an interest in all or some aspects of Exographica. All of it fits to paper just as Exonumia does to the token-medal field. As far as I know, no one has picked up on it, but maybe its' time has finally come. What do you think?