About Us

Kolbe & Fanning Numismatic Booksellers is the largest and longest currently active rare numismatic literature firm in the world. Established in 1967 by George F. Kolbe, our first mail-bid sale was held in 1976 and today we average four mail-bid or public auction sales per year. 
Kolbe & Fanning Numismatic Booksellers LLC is a licensed auctioneer corporation by the State of Ohio Department of Agriculture (license 2025000025) and is bonded as required by law in favor of the State of Ohio. We are a member of the International Association of Professional Numismatists and the Independent Online Booksellers Association.

 

David F. Fanning holds a Ph.D. in English Language and Literature from the Ohio State University and has been a student of numismatic literature since childhood. He is a life member of the American Numismatic Association and is an elected Fellow of the American Numismatic Society. Fanning has been named a member of the honorary Rittenhouse Society and is a founder of the Attinelli Fellowship. In addition, he belongs to many specialized and regional numismatic organizations in the U.S. and abroad. Currently, he serves as a Board member of the Numismatic Bibliomania Society, of which he is also a life member. He has published widely on numismatic literature, North American colonial coins, medals, U.S. federal coins, Islamic coins and other topics.

David and Maria at 136
Maria Fanning uses her design and photography skills to create our print catalogues, as well as managing our retail stock, accounts payable and packing. She is also the editor of the Numismatic Bibliomania Society's quarterly journal The Asylum, for which she has won several American Numismatic Association Barbara J. Gregory Outstanding Specialty Publication awards. She is licensed by the State of Ohio Department of Agriculture (license 2024000216) as an auctioneer, and is bonded as required by law in favor of the State of Ohio.

Our founder, George Kolbe, was a life member of the American Numismatic Association and a member of several other numismatic organizations. A founder of the Numismatic Bibliomania Society and the Attinelli Fellowship, he has been honored with election to the Rittenhouse Society and has been named a Fellow of the American Numismatic Society. Kolbe is the author of The Reference Library of a Numismatic Bookseller and numerous articles on numismatic literature. He retired in 2023.

While public auctions and mail-bid sales are an important part of our business, we also actively buy and sell rare numismatic literature. Our stock of rare numismatic books is among the largest in the world and we are always pleased to receive serious want lists.

Awards

Numismatic Literary Guild, Best Catalog, Books or Exonumia:

Sale 172: Important Numismatic Books, 2025

The Richard Margolis Library, 2021

The John W. Adams Library, 2019

The New York Book Auction, 2018

The New York Book Auction, 2017

The New York Book Auction, 2016

The New York Book Sale, 2012

The Dennis Mendelson Library, 1993

The John W. Adams Library, 1990

Kolbe & Fanning Publications Awards:

Korchnak, Lawrence. Siege Notes of the World: 1793–1913, 2025, IAPN Book Prize short list nomination.

Augsburger, Leonard and Joel J. Orosz. The Publications of Eric P. Newman: A Collector's Guide, 2025, NLG Book of the Year.

Fanning, David. Thian's Masterpiece and the Early Literature of Confederate Paper Money, 2019, Society of Paper Money Collectors Wismer Award Runner-Up.

Margolis, Richard. Benjamin Franklin in Terra Cotta. Portrait Medallions by Jean-Baptiste Nini at the Chateau of Chaumont, 2015, NLG Book of the Year.

 
In this video, David speaks to CoinWeek about the importance of maintaining a numismatic library
at the Early American Coppers Show.