NNP Blog
Jul
28
2025
Newman Portal Adds Star Rare Coin Encyclopedia
Recently added to Newman Portal is a selection of editions of B. Max Mehl’s Star Rare Coin Encyclopedia. Apart from the Guide Book of U.S. Coins, the Encyclopedia is likely the largest selling numismatic book of all time. Although dismissed by Breen as “numismatically worthless,” the Encyclopedia captures B. Max Mehl’s genius for self promotion, which in turn overlapped with the explosion of U.S. coin collecting in the mid-20th century. The 61 editions range from 1906-1959, with the most complete listing published in the E-Sylum in 2003.
The Encyclopedia was technically a “prices paid for” list, printed on cheap paper and hawked by Mehl at a dollar per copy. To be sure, Mehl was capable of handling any premium coins acquired as a result, but the profits simply from sales of the book must have been considerable. In the secondary market, the copies of the Encyclopedia are almost too ubiquitous to attract collectors, but deluxe examples attract attention when found. The most significant offering seems to be a partial set of Mehl’s personal copies offered by Geroge Kolbe in 2014.
Link to Star Rare Coin Encyclopedia on Newman Portal: https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/publisherdetail/553758
Link to listing of Star Rare Coin Encyclopedia editions: https://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v06n29a09.html
Link to 2014 Kolbe FPL offering Mehl’s copies of the Star Rare Coin Encyclopedia (lot 83): https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/book/572577
The Encyclopedia was technically a “prices paid for” list, printed on cheap paper and hawked by Mehl at a dollar per copy. To be sure, Mehl was capable of handling any premium coins acquired as a result, but the profits simply from sales of the book must have been considerable. In the secondary market, the copies of the Encyclopedia are almost too ubiquitous to attract collectors, but deluxe examples attract attention when found. The most significant offering seems to be a partial set of Mehl’s personal copies offered by Geroge Kolbe in 2014.
Link to Star Rare Coin Encyclopedia on Newman Portal: https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/publisherdetail/553758
Link to listing of Star Rare Coin Encyclopedia editions: https://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v06n29a09.html
Link to 2014 Kolbe FPL offering Mehl’s copies of the Star Rare Coin Encyclopedia (lot 83): https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/book/572577
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