The work of a librarian is endless, with an ever-changing backlog of uncatalogued material and the constant need to prioritize and process the most important content.The American Numismatic Society (ANS) library is no exception, and ANS librarian David Hill has the Sisyphean task of sorting it all out. Among the uncatalogued material, manyfixed price lists have not been entered into the ANS library catalog (DONUM). Interestingly, some of these can be found in the ANS multi-volume dictionary catalog (1962 plus latersupplements), but for whatever reason, were not included in the eventual computerization of the library catalog. This situation is somewhat relieved with the recent cataloging andscanning of the St. Louis Stamp & Coin Company fixed price lists, c. 1903-1930.

Fixed price lists are among the most bibliographically challenging of numismatic literature as they often come undated, and without regular titles or sequencing. CharlesSteigerwalt, the 19th century Pennsylvania dealer, is especially noteworthy (notorious?) in this regard. The situation is somewhat better for the St. Louis Stamp & Coin fixedprice lists. Although published without dates, most are numbered and can be attributed within a year or two of publication. There are three distinct series, beginning with the"Special stock reduction circular" (c. 1903-1905), followed by the "Special bargain list" (c. 1903-1908), and then the better-known "Fixed price list" (c. 1905-1930). Alsoincluded in the series are unnumbered and undated items such as the "Great Snaps (Not Ginger)" edition, illustrated here.

Link to St. Louis Stamp & Coin Fixed Price Lists on Newman Portal:
https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/publisherdetail/528772