By Tim Shuck

Unless you’ve been on a trek to a remote section of the planet you’ve likely seen the announcement of Apple’s most recent product, the iPad. Much larger than an iPod or other portable phone/ data device but slightly smaller than a typical laptop computer or netbook, the iPad is a computer tablet.

Tablets of course are not a new concept, but Apple has blended power, portability, and elegance into the design of this device. As an advocate of digital data access, I followed the pre-launch announcements and wondered if this might be a computer useful for numismatics.

So, when my son, an IT professional, told me he had preordered an iPad and asked if I wanted to go with him to the Apple Store to pick it up on the first day of sales, I readily agreed. The nearest Apple Store is a 45-minute drive from home; which was followed by a 45-minute wait in line at the mall. There were two lines actually, one for those who had reserved an iPad and the other for those who were willing to gamble that there would still be iPads in stock when their turn came at the head of the line.

Not that the wait wasn’t without it’s comforts. The good folks at Apple (or maybe I should say the clever marketing staff at Apple) provided coffee, water, scones, and muffins to those waiting in line. Most of us don’t like lines, but there was a festive sense of camaraderie among those waiting, and the crowd was as diverse as you could find – young, old, male, female, internationals, even a couple of folk in wheelchairs.

Also present was a TV crew, recording and interviewing the strange fanatics, er, I mean the technologically astute, who came out early in the morning in their pursuit of the latest in consumer technology. When my son and I reached the head of the line, we were ushered into the store by the friendly Apple staff, and just a few minutes later were on our way home with an iPad safely tucked inside the distinctive Apple backpack/ bag.

But what was it like to use an iPad? My initial reactions were two: wow, what a bright, easy-to-read, and fast screen; and it’s smaller than I expected, though surprisingly hefty. I won’t review the specs, easily obtained online at apple.com, but in general appearance it strangely reminded me of the writing slates often shown in school-house scenes of a century or more ago – about the same size and people tend to hold it the same way. Of course the iPad is a much more sophisticated design, but the juxtaposition of imagery was surprisingly strong in my mind. (more…)

David F. Fanning Numismatic Literature will hold their third mail-bid auction of numismatic literature, closing on Thursday, December 3. The auction features a wide variety of material from around the world, including works from the libraries of John J. Ford, Jr. and Douglas Ball. Some highlights of the nearly 700 lots include:

F.C.C. Boyd Inventories of His Connecticut and New Jersey Coppers, with Additional Notes Pertaining to Continental Currency Dollars and Immune Columbia Pieces

1836 Manuscript Court Records of a Counterfeiting Case with the Bad Bill in Question Attached

Correspondence from John J. Ford and Paul Franklin

1795 Supplementary Mint Act Signed in Ink by Secretary of State Edmund Randolph, Establishing Position of Melter and Refiner, Authorizing Reduction in Weight of Cents and Half Cents, and Providing for Their Distribution

Third and Fifth Edition Red Books Inscribed by Yeoman to Contributor Hubert Polzer

John J. Ford, Jr.’s Set of Inscribed Red Books

The Very Scarce 1917 ANA Sale, Signed by Cataloguer Wayte Raymond

A Complete Set of Hardcover Ford Catalogues (Stack’s)

ANS Library Catalogue, Complete in 11 Volumes, Including the Rare Third Supplement

The First 40 Volumes of the Canadian Numismatic Journal

A Substantial Run of Spink’s Numismatic Circular

Quarto Charpentier on the Medals of Louis XIV (more…)