Product Description

Award winning author Pierre Fricke released the new portable Confederate States paper money guide that people have asked for! This is a full color, 454 page, approximately 2.5 pound guide that is easy to use and carry around.

This book includes history, grading, rarity and values for all 70 types, all significant known varieties, all major contemporary counterfeit types, and CSA bonds!

I've recieved input from over 150 people and more than 30 people reviewed a draft of the book giving feedback on information presented and usability. One new element of this review phase was that we included people not directly involved in collecting or dealing in CSA paper money which added significant value in terms of usability.

There are several innovations present in this book, not found in any other paper money book. The regular issue and contemporary counterfeits are presented side-by-side, helping people tell the difference. There is a summary of both the type and variety condition census contained within, but in a format similar to what Dr. Sheldon used in his 1949 Early American Cents portable book to save space. We'll update the detailed condition census and provenance in a future 2nd volume. A price guide for CSA bonds is included as there is no current plans for an update to Dr Ball's book, but new pricing information is needed. There is new information regarding the evolution of the hobby which has been quite dramatic this decade - moreso than in any time in the past with the possible exceptions of the 1880s and 1950s. Some of this includes more about how to navigate the different styles of grading - including a table mapping equivalent grades across collector-oriented, market-oriented, CC&A, PCGS and other grading services.

This is a must have book for anyone with more than a couple of hundred dollars worth of Confederate paper money and bonds!

Unlike mass-market, discount books, this is a high value book designed to give the collector an edge!

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #377537 in Books
• Published on: 2008-06-27
• Binding: Hardcover
• 454 pages

Review

CC&A believes that Fricke's system will form the basis of future collecting and provide collectors with a method to describe all varieties of Treasury notes, those known today and those discovered in the future. Simply put, whether you are looking to identify the variety, rarity, or value of a Confederate Treasury note, this new book is the best resource for the beginner or advanced collector.

--Mike McNeil, Manager CC&A, Confederate Paper Money Grading Service

Mr. Fricke s last book, Collecting Confederate Paper Money was a major advancement to the hobby that standardized and revitalized Confederate currency collecting. His work has established itself as the gold standard for all levels of collectors.

This next book, Collecting Confederate Paper Money - Field Edition 2008 is a smaller size and more portable, thus easier to carry as a reference. The quality and detail are still present, as well as some nice additions. One of note is the section on Confederate bonds. The updated price list reflects the most current market values. This book is a must for collectors of every type and level.

--Bob Clark, Collector

Pierre brings passion and excitement to the hobby of collecting Confederate currency by clearly identifying condition census rare varieties that few know exist. Imagine the fun you will have in the searching for these notes! Whether you are a beginner or the most advanced collector, this book will astound you with the depth and scope of information it offers. All Confederate currency collectors will find the knowledge learned to be indispensable. You simply can not afford to be without this book!

--Keith Edwards, Collector

About the Author
I started my numismatic travels in 1969, when my grandmother gave me a box of old coins that I found to be fascinating. By 1973, I was an advanced collector of early American large cents by variety. My first great find was an 1800 Sheldon 198 large cent (a rare variety) in nice Good+ for $12, which I proceeded to sell for a nice profit a few weeks later. Today, that large cent is worth at least $3,000, and is in the condition census.

I earned spending money as a vest pocket dealer in the late 1970s into the 1980s buying and selling US silver dollars and 20th century type coins. It was during the rare coin bust of the early 1980s, I learned about the value of old time, durable collector-oriented grading standards vs. anything goes, market grading standards. Later in the 1980s, after another round with large cents, I moved from early American coppers to bust half dollars. I began publishing a price guide for bust half dollars known as Bust Half Quotes . I sold all of my large cents and bust halves in the mid-1990s to purchase a house in Westchester County, near New York City, when my wife and I moved from Texas.

After doing research into my family history in Louisiana going back to the 1700s, learning more about the history of the early U.S.A and the South in particular, and after attending a few War for Southern Independence (so-called Civil War ) re-enactments, I decided to change my focus from early American coins to Confederate fiscal paper notably Treasury notes and bonds. In particular, beyond my love of history and the South, I was impressed with the depth and opportunity Confederate paper offered the modern collector. I was also recovering from the financial shock of buying New York real estate. The prices of Confederate paper seemed low compared to those in the rapidly-advancing coin market. I decided to begin my own Confederate paper money and bond collection in 2001.

I began building a type collection in 2001, but soon noticed that the much rarer Confederate note varieties seemed grossly undervalued when compared to Federal currency and American coins. Even major rare varieties and errors seemed overlooked while type was in the midst of a speculative boom. Recalling my love of the hunt for the truly rare as well as the desire to build a unique collection, I started adding major rare varieties to my collection when found. At the Gene Mintz sale in 2003, I decided to postpone acquiring the Big Six type notes and focused on building a major variety collection that would become the foundation for the 2005 book as well as this work. I sold my 64 note type set in 2004 through R. M. Smythe and moved forward with more rare varieties as they became available.

When Douglas Ball died in 2003 I knew that he had accumulated a wealth of information about Confederate paper money that was not available to the general collecting public. After securing the rights to Douglas research, I made plans to complete what he had started, a new Confederate paper money guide that would include his work as well as my own and others input.

Douglas Ball s library and research notes contained a great deal of raw material for this book. In addition to a partially developed manuscript, his library included information directly or indirectly from predecessors, correspondents and fellow collectors John Browne, Dr. Philip Chase, Sydney Kerksis, Grover Criswell, John Ford, Arnold Cowan, and others, too numerous to name here. Smythe auction catalogs containing Douglas research, my research (including contact with many people helping them sort out their type and rare varieties) and this other information provided key input and the foundation for the condition census work presented in this book.

Customer Reviews

Collecting Confederate Paper Money-Field Edition 2008
Mr. Pierre Fricke has provided another Great Contribution to the Collecting Community Organizing and Sharing years of Reserch by many Experts in Confederate Paper Money with his 2008 Field Edition. This Wealth of Reference is Invaluable to the New, Casual, or Serious Collector in starting or updating their collections.
I Highly Recommend Investing in this Book for information needed to help make knowledgeable purchases of Confederate Paper Money for your collection or if you have a interest in Confederate History. This book provides very interesting history on currency from the Confederate States of America during the War Between the States.
Deo Vindice,
Ronald Lee Perdue
Southern Heritage Collectibles

Collecting Confederate Paper Money, the Field Edition 2008
I first met Pierre Fricke and his friend Randy Shipley at the Nashville CW show a couple of years ago and ended up going home with a copy of a singularly large book on the subject of collecting Confederate paper money. Once I began looking through it, I could not put it down. It was not just a calalogue of prices or a "how to" opus, but instead contained the most detailed information I had ever seen on Confederate currency. In particular, I was drawn to the subject of error notes and found to my suprise that I had a couple of known examples in my own small collection. Though a weighty reference indeed, I manfully carried that book to every show I could make and wore a lot of dealers out looking things up. Pierre was patient enough to allow me to share my finds with him and he has been gracious enough to acknowledge my efforts.

At last a new "field" edition of that work has just been published with many updates and new finds and the pricing and rarity scales adjusted accordingly. The current work is perhaps the most useful guide and study of Confederate currency ever. It is easy to carry, look things up, and has superb color photographs of known error examples. Also contained within is a magnificent wealth of information designed to appeal to every collector from beginner to expert. The first 104 pages would have been a a worthwhile publication in and of themselves. I can only hope that as new finds are made and information uncovered that we can look forward to future updated editions. Well done!!

What's New in the Field Edition 2008?
1. Portable, light weight and easy to use. 6 inches x 9 inches. 2.5 lbs.

2. Tested by over 30 people before publication including some who do not collect CSA paper money.

3. Full color. 456 pages.

4. A lot of new and unpublished information - more than 150 people's input building on the 2005 book.

5. Added contemporary counterfeit types - side-by-side pictures - to help discern the different.

6. Up to date pricing on CSA type, varieties and counterfeits - based on real transactions as much as possible.

7. Rare variety and type condition census summaries - updated significantly as the 2005 book drew out a lot of new information.

8. CSA bond pricing.

9. Updated grading information including the latest positioning of different styles of grading including third party such as CC&A, PCGS and PMG.

10. Sample of Dr Ball's original manuscript.

11. More pictures to help identify varieties more easily including many pictures not previously available anywhere else.

12. $40 of coupons for Fricke ANA CSA collecting recorded presentation DVD - 1 hour, 2009 Type Edition, and Tremmel, Carson Thian DVD.