Elder, Thomas L. [editor]. THE ELDER MONTHLY / THE ELDER MAGAZINE. A nearly complete set, being Volume I, Nos. 1-11, complete, and Volume II, Nos. 1-5 and 8-12, lacking only the double issue 6-7 for completion. New York, March 1906-March 1908. 4to, original printed paper or card covers, as issued. Pagination irregular; illustrated throughout; frontispiece of the proposed American Numismatic Society building. Three of the Volume II issues are taped at the spine, with detached covers. Other issues generally near fine. Bourne 1900-21. Scarce, and rarely offered complete. A chatty, most interesting publication, providing considerable insight into its irrepressible editor. In addition to Elder's many commentaries, the issues feature a number of interesting articles (many authored by Edgar Adams), notes on upcoming Elder sales, auction reports, proceedings of various numismatic societies in the United States and Canada, biographies of famous collectors including James Manning, William Dunham, George Earle, and others. Elder's cantankerous nature occasionally cannot be restrained. Writing of J.C. Lighthouse, a "Historical Coin Collector" who "for reasons known only to himself returned, in a great huff, 44 lots secured by him at his bids," Elder notes: "It will be the aim of this publication to assist in ridding the field of one or two cranks and freaks whose consummate delight seems to consist in annoying the numismatic fraternity." Referring to Pinkerton, Deitrick, Ehlers and McGrath, "Historical Coin Collectors" all, "The editor makes no distinction between the thief and the man who will not pay his honest debts, both should be serving time in state's prison." In the June-July 1907 issue, Elder reprints a letter from "A Reader," headed "Where is Geoffrey" and reading in part: "Have any of your readers seen or heard of Geoffrey ‘Charlatan' [Charlton Adams], member R.N.S., etc., etc., etc.? he who formerly held a ‘suite' in the famous ‘Scrapiron.'" Elder could also be eloquent in praise of those he considered beneficial to the hobby. Of J.N.T. Levick, he wrote in the May, 1906 issue: "If the question ever arises as to who is the youngest coin collector in this country, we would beg to be consulted, as we think a thorough canvass of the field will result in a unanimous vote for our friend J.N.T. Levick, of this city. As with the smiling maiden, the question of age is to Mr. Levick a sensitive subject, but it was some time in 1852 that he began to get the interesting little discs together. Known from the early days of his collecting as a numismatist of prominence, he afterwards came into possession of a collection of cards and tokens numbering fully 20,000 specimens--the largest assemblage extant. By hard squeezing Mr. Woodward managed to squeeze the collection into about 3,000 lots and sold them over twenty years ago. An important point which we wish to make is that numismatics can hold a man in his later years--yes, can enthuse him with the fire of the raw recruit. Mr. Levick may be found at every sale, minutely examining the pieces, making careful pencil notations in his catalogue, buying whenever anything suiting his taste is offered, and pricing his catalogue with the precision of clockwork. We doff our hats to J.N.T. Levick, the ‘youngest' coin collector in America." Elder managed to bungle the numbering of the issues, skipping Volume I, No. 5, but making up for it with two No. 7s, though these errors are relegated to the masthead and are different on the original card covers. Crawford 540. Ex M. Bourne Library.