In response to my request forinformation about Dave Hess in last week's issue, I received afew emails from various readers of The E-Sylum. Onecorrespondent mentioned the fact that Dave Hess "sold out toSpinks in 1969" - a fact apparently stated in his final pricelistissued in that year, and a fact that was unknown to me.

Well, that reminded me that I started working at Spinks inearly September of 1969- so this month marks my 45th yearconnected with numismatic literature.

Howard Linecar, who had by that time been at the old companysince the mid-1930s, was then Manager of the Book Department.Howard had worked with Leonard Forrer in the Coin Department for15 years or so, and had been "promoted" to become Manager of theBook Department, a post that had been more or less created forHoward since he had proved himself to be a better numismaticeditor and writer than a coin-dealer.

I learned much of what I know about the numismaticbook-publishing business (as it existed at that time) from Howard- and Spink were of course the largest and most importantpublisher of numismatic books during those years. Spink & SonLtd. were also one of the leading coin and medal dealers not onlyin London, but also in Europe. Working in the Coin Departmentwere Douglas Liddell, Patrick Finn, Andre de Clermont, MarkRasmussen and George Muller, amongst many others; Edward Joslinheaded the Medal Department.

However, that is by the by, and for anyone interested, moredetails about my first 34 years at Spink can be found in TheAsylum, Volume XXII, No. 3. Summer 2004. (pp. 307-337):Recollections of 34 Years at Spink, 1969-2003.

I left Spink in 2006, and started my business the followingyear. On my website I have listed for sale some 800 books. Tomark my 45 years of dealing in numismatic books, anyone whoorders anything from my website (assuming it hasn't been soldalready!) by 12 September will receive a 25% discount on theprice asked - it is best to email any orders to me: info@douglassaville.com

To visit Douglas' web site, see:
www.douglassaville.com

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
NOTESFROM E-SYLUM READERS: AUGUST 31, 2014 : Query: Information onDave Hess Sought(www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v17n36a07.html)