Dear Collector,

Hello and welcome to another platform. I am now back again after having had a painfull start on the millenium. The new year being just a few days old, I accomplished one of my sons for visit at the dentist. This was not exactly a pleasant experience, as I fainted and hit my head. This has kept me passive for more than six weeks. So this is the answer, if you are waiting for a reply.

Maastricht

Time is flying away and soon coming up is the annual paper money show at Valkenburg near Maastricht in the Netherlands. As always it is organized by Jos F. M. Eijsermans. It seems - according to my information - that this year's show will make another record. At present there has been booked nearly 130 booths from many different countries. My opinion is that if the show this year is just half as good as last year it will be a success. No matter what items you collect it is a huge possibility to get enriched. There is value for the money! Unfortunately, I will not make it this year....

However, it is not only Europeans that are able to organize attractive shows. From a Danish friend I have gotten the news that shows as Expo in Chicago and the same in Memphis are a great and interesting event.

New Collectors

Collectors of Paper Money have for quite a while claimed that there is more focus on collecting than ever before and a lot of younger collectors are joining in. My view is that it has been hard to find proof for this claim. Anyway, in the medias - also here - it seems that collecting in general and also collecting notes is in focus. In the EU-countries it has probably something to do with all the focus and discussion so far on the Euro. It is a discussion not suitable for this page. However, I just wish that it will be a real good chance to get more people involved in collecting. This is the aim, if you ask me. What the occasion is, I do not consider so much, still, the most important thing is to welcome new collectors.

My two oldest sons have now started collecting at an age of 6 and 9. they came up and told me that they wanted to start and therefore asked for help. Thus I have been helping and they see it as very interesting to learn about other countries. One day I asked my oldest boy, if some of his classmates had considered starting. He replied "no" and I asked "why no?" That was when I heard his point - and it is a point. If you want to start collecting it takes someone to guide you when you are not older. If you do not have such a person, you will not start. So if I had not been a collector, he would not have started. It has made me reflect how it is possible to make it more easy and attractive for youngsters to get started. So far I have not found any brilliant idea, but I promise to let you know when...

Internet

For some years now the Internet has been caracterized as the media of the future. There is something about it. Do not under estimate this media, and on the other hand do not over estimate this media, as it takes both hardware and software in your house to use. But no doubt about the fact that it is a media with a prosperous future. Still, it cannot stand on its own, but is an excellent supplement to printed medias in terms of marketing.

However, it seems that more collectors and even dealers are getting on the Internet with both homepages and e-mail addresses. This is a good development, as it promotes a close contact between collectors around the globe. Therefore my advice is to use this opportunity. If you have access to a computer, then use this great opportunity to communicate with others. there are also other types of benefits. The efficiency and costs of using e-mail can save you a lot of money on postage. I trust this will be the same for dealers, so in the future we will probably see notes offered at even more attractive prices, or am I dreaming??

With this as the last comment, I want to wish you great fun in collecting. Do not miss it, if there is a show in your neighborhood. I have thus started counting the days until the show in the neighboring town.

Best wishes, Peter

P.S. I do not want to use this column for personal promotion activities. However, if you have any interest in paper money from the Scandinavian and Baltic area, send U.S. $1.00 and I will send you a free sample of my quarterly newsletter SBPM.