Welcome to the latest edition of my Notes. I am playing catch-up from a week in Los Angeles attending Professional Numismatists Guild Day and the American Numismatic Association Convention, a very enjoyable experience. On hand from Stack's were Vicken Yegparian, Scott Mitchell, Jim Matthews, Melissa Karstedt, and Chris Karstedt.

At the Stack's table we did a nice amount of business, more than expected. There were times of inactivity, as was true of every other set-up on the floor, but quite a few transactions took place, and we all left with smiles on our faces. Everyone seemed to be in good spirits, although the show seemed to be very lightly attended by the public, with one observer saying it was the slowest he had seen in his professional career of twenty years. Others suggested that the downtown location was unfavorable (although to me the district seemed to be quite nice), and that had the show been held near the Los Angeles International Airport (as it was in 1975, the last time the convention was in this city), it would be different.

The exhibits at the show were spectacular. Our forthcoming Numismatic Sun, due to be published in September, will have a Photo Gallery of these and other convention happenings, including a record $7,500 paid by John W. Adams at the Numismatic Bibliomania Society's meeting for an autographed copy of the new Whitman Encyclopedia of Colonial and Early American Coins. Wow!

At the Numismatic Literary Guild Awards ceremony, high prizes were captured by our catalogue for the John W. Adams Collection of Indian Peace Medals and for my book, The Treasure Ship S.S. New York. This last book has been everlastingly popular-a favorite with just about everyone. While copies of this book are selling left and right (and you really should order one for yourself), this does not always happen. Some years back my book, The Waterford Water Cure, describing counterstamped coins issued by a facility in the State of Maine, was called the best book ever by the late John J. Ford, Jr. However, the marketplace did not agree, and sales were very slow. Of the print run, it was a long time before even 500 copies were sold.

The staff in New York City, as well as New Hampshire, are busy with our upcoming auction season, including our sale with the Whitman Coins and Collectibles Show in Philadelphia toward the end of September. At last word, some slots are still available, in case you'd like to consign. Just call John Pack or Vicken Yegparian, and they'll take care of it. I work with them very closely. Beyond that, our Anniversary Sale and other events are in the offing. Thinking of selling? We are ready at our end. Let us help you realize the highest possible price.

I hope you have been enjoying the summer.

All good wishes to you from all of us at Stack's.

Sincerely,