The E-Sylum:  Volume 6, Number 27, July 6, 2003, Article 4

STAR COIN BOOK AND ENCYCLOPEDIA DATING

  Chris Hoelzle of Laguna Niguel, CA writes: "Perhaps your
  readers can help me figure one thing out - The numbering of
  the Editions vs. the year of publication of The Star Coin Book
  published by dealer B. Max Mehl..

  It appears that first there was The Star Coin Book, and I
  believe from what I read that this began in 1906 (first edition)
  and then there was the Star Rare Coin Encyclopedia.

  I have an Eighth edition which has the date of 1913.
  I have a Thirteenth edition which has no date but another
  owner has written it up as 1920.
  I have a Twentieth edition which I bought from a fellow who
  thought it was 1917.
  I have just bought a Twenty-Seventh Edition with no date.
  Lastly, I have a Thirty-Seventh Edition that states "In the same
  place, same business, same ownership for over 38 years" with
  no date.

  Then there is the series of The Star Rare Coin Encyclopedia
  and Premium Catalog. These seem to be very good at having
  a printed date of publication along with their Edition number.
  My Earliest is 1926 (29th Edition) and my latest is 1959
  (61st Edition).

  One edition of note is 1938 the 45th Edition which has the
  same phrase on the title page "In the same place, same
  business, same ownership for over 38 years" .

  So it appears that the books were published concurrently,
  but the frequency of the release of the Editions may not
  have been on a purely annual basis.  Does anyone happen
  to have any information that might help me crack the
  "Edition / Year" code on The Star Coin Book?"

  Wayne Homren, Editor

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