Born on October 17, 1915, Maynard Sundman, founder of Littleton Coin Company, grew up in Bristol, Connecticut, where a childhood friend introduced him to stamp collecting at age 12. After graduating from high school in 1935, Sundman turned the hobby that had become his passion into a mail-order stamp concern, operating from his parents’ home.

By 1939, the Maynard Sundman Stamp Company had captured the attention of Bostonian H.E. Harris, founder of what was then the world’s largest stamp company. The encounter began a lifelong business relationship and personal friendship. Harris taught Sundman key lessons about the mail-order business, which contributed greatly to the latter’s long-term success.

In October 1945, Sundman and his wife, Fannie, moved to Littleton, New Hampshire, and established the Littleton Stamp Company. Soon their two-room operation in the Opera Block on Littleton’s main street included four employees.

In early 1947, the Sundmans began to offer world bank notes, their first foray into numismatic sales. Within three years, the company had 40 employees. By 1954, its numismatic business increased enough to warrant changing the name of the firm to Littleton Stamp & Coin Company.

Sundman branched out in 1974, purchasing Mystic Stamp Company of Camden, New York. In the 1980s, he melded his two enterprises, making Mystic Stamp Company America’s largest “stamps on approval” business. From that point on, the Littleton company was devoted to coins and paper money, utilizing the innovative advertising and marketing strategies, and trusted supplier and customer relations that distinguished Sundman’s career. Now in its 60th year, Littleton Coin Company has served hundreds of thousands of collectors and, under the direction of Sundman’s oldest son, David, continues to thrive.

With a generous donation of $100,000, David Sundman endowed a special ANA program to honor his father’s commitment to education and numismatics, and the Maynard Sundman/Littleton Coin Company Lecture Series was born. Held annually in conjunction with the World’s Fair of Money®, the lectures offer new perspectives on the science of numismatics. So that all might benefit from these presentations, high-lights are printed in ANA Journal, the Association’s quarterly publication of advanced numismatic studies.

For more information about Maynard Sundman’s remarkable life, read his 1995 biography,  A Decent Boldness, by Michael O’Traynor (ANA Library Catalog No. AA58.S9O8).

-Lane J. Brunner, Ph.D.