I received an email from Dennis Tucker on Tuesday, May 2, asking about R. A. Wilson. Tuckerinquired about a book with a red cover that has similarities to other books with red covers.Tucker wrote:

This is a collection of items I found. If I had known where this was going when I started, I mighthave saved it for a feature article in The Asylum.

Rinaldo Alexander Wilson was born at Rochester, New York, on November 23, 1888. His fatherwas James Wilson and mother was named Balfour. I did not find them in the 1900 Census.

Wilson became interested in coins in 1907 while employed at The Sovereign Bank of Canada.

Rinaldo Wilson was a distance runner and a pedestrian, the popular term for people who walklong distances. In 1908 it was announced that Wilson planned to walk from the Flatiron buildingin New York to Takoma, Washington, a distance of 3400 miles in 90 days, beginning onFebruary 20. Newspapers reported on his departure but none reported completion.

In 1909 he participated in the Tacoma marathon as one of eight runners. When the third placewinner finished, the remaining runners, including Wilson, withdrew from the race.

In January 1910, Wilson planned to walk from Tacoma to New York, leaving on January 31.Apparently, he was unable to secure financial backing and abandoned the trip.

Later, in June 1910, he announced that he would run from Butte to New York, a distance of 2500miles, in 60 days. He planned to run at night. Again, there were no reports of completions.

In 1913, it was announced that Wilson would join Peter Terway and Victor Morman in a racethrough every principal town in the United States. This was expected to take two years. Terwayand Morman appeared at other events during that period suggesting that the distance event neverhappened.

It appears that Wilson was much better at promoting events than he was in getting sponsors andcompleting the events.

He was married to Ellie Berthanna Sathen (1891-1977) on March 4, 1916. They had fourchildren. His marriage license gave his profession as salesman.

He served as a private in the Marines during the First World War. He was stationed at Quantico,Virginia, and posted overseas in France.

In the 1920 census, his profession was listed as toy manufacturing.

In 1920 it was announced that Wilson would attempt to run from Seattle to New York, beginningon May 10. On his run he would wear his Marine uniform and promote the Corps. Again. nofollow-up reports. I doubt if he completed any of the events mentioned.

The 1922 birth record for his daughter lists his address at 8129 S. Figueroa and occupation atPowerplus Oil.

In the 1930 Census, his profession was listed as candy salesman.

In a 1962 recollection, Wilson mentioned that he was annoyed with advertising for the 1913Nickel and felt that a book was needed that had accurate information. He soon began publishinga series of coin books with various similar titles.

In 1930, the American Catalog was published. His publishing company was AmericanNumismatic Company, located at Box 11655, Wagner Station, Los Angeles 17, California.

In 1932, American Coin Book was published by American Publishing Company at 3959 WestSixth Street, Los Angeles 3. California. Some editions show a longer title, American Coin Bookand Standard Retail Premium List of All United States Coins. The twenty-fifth edition waspublished in 1957.

In August 1934, The Numismatist announced the membership application of R. A. Wilson withaddress as P. O. Box H, Hyde Park, Los Angeles, California. His collecting interests were HalfCents and Civil War Tokens. In September he was confirmed as member 4546.

In 1934 he released The Federal Catalog of all United States Coins.

A 1935 ad in the May issue of The Numismatist had a picture of a book with the title TheAmerican Catalog and Standard Premium List of All United States Coins. Alongside was thewritten description of The American Coin Catalog of all United States Coins. Wilson was notmentioned in the ad.

In 1936 he reported that he was teaching a class on coin collecting.

In 1938, Wilson sponsored Joseph Oberwise for membership in the ANA. Oberwise ran ads inWilson's American Catalog. Wilson. In turn, placed ads on the back of Oberwise coin boards.David Lange devoted page 178 of Coin Collecting Boards of the 1930s & 1940s to a discussionof Wilson.

Lange discussed the proliferation of premium books like those published by Wilson.

The 1938 edition of American Catalog of All United States Coins had an illustration of the 1918-S 8 over 7 quarter before this was generally published elsewhere. Wilson kept up with changes.

In the 1940 Census, his profession was listed as catalogue publisher.

At the 1940 ANA convention, R. A, Wilson was recognized for sponsoring the most newmembers as a lay member, (not an officer) He was unable to attend, having suffered anautomobile accident.

In 1946, Roland C. Atwood issued National Check and Premium List of All U. S. TransportationTokens. This was published by the American Numismatic Company of Los Angeles.

In 1951, R. A. Wilson, Sr. donated a copy of American Catalog to the A.N.A. It was described as

In 1957, The Numismatist described one of the books:

The title page of some books stated that Wilson was the president of the Collectors' ExchangeBank in Los Angeles. They issued wooden nickels dated 1946, 1947, 1948, 1949 and possiblyothers.

Wilson was an active member of the A.N.A. and in California organizations. He madepresentations to clubs and conducted radio interviews. In his time he was consulted on questionsof authenticity.

In 1962, Rinaldo retired and passed the business on to a new generation. Publication was takenover by James S. Wilson and the American Publishing Company at 3959 West Sixth Street, LosAngles. James was the second son of Rinaldo.

In 1962, Coin World stated,

American Standard Book of all United States Coins was issued with a cover date of 1964. It wasedited by R. A. Wilson and J. S. Wilson. James Sethen Wilson (1918-1964) was the son whoserved in WWII and Korea, rising to the rank of major. His death in 1964 may have brought theend to the business.

Rinaldo Wilson died in Los Angeles on October 23, 1978. His obituary in the Los Angeles Timeswas very brief and mentioned three surviving children, 14 grandchildren and 9 great-grand-children. He is buried at Inglewood Park Cemetery.

List of Wilson titles mentioned somewhere:

Raymond and Yeoman may have done it better, butWilson did it first. I believe Wilson's contributions over thirty years are under-appreciated bycurrent numismatists.

This article was compiled over a period of three days without access to any of the books. Isuspect a longer study with the books would clarify sources and what material was included andrepackaged across the various titles and editions.