Originally published in book form in 1985 by Leo S. Olschki of Florence in Italian, this edition, translated by Elizabeth Saville, has been carefully revised and updated by the author. It is a delightful collection of easily read scholarly essays, written from both a numismatic and bibliophilic perspective.

These essays will be of considerable interest to anyone interested in the literature of numismatics, particularly its landmark works. A great many of the earliest numismatic books were printed in Italy, and Dr. Bassoli does not neglect significant works printed in other countries, ranging from the sixteenth to the mid-nineteenth century.

Starting off with a lengthy chapter on "Sixteenth century numismatics," the author also discusses, among other topics, classical numismatics in the seventeenth, eighteenth and nineteenth century, numismatic bibliography from its origins to 1850, classic works on Italian coins and medals, and the utility of coin auction catalogues. "Libraries of interest to the numismatist," and a general bibliography are followed by author and publisher indexes.

Dr. Bassoli’s work is the first in a projected series of publications devoted to the study of numismatic literature published jointly by George Frederick Kolbe and Spink & Son Ltd.

The next title, Ernest Babelon’s "Numismatics and Its History," originally published in French as part of his monumental Traité des monnaies grecques et romaines, is in translation and is scheduled for publication in 2002.

2003 May 1