~ Early Web Links ~

Richard P runs this long-running blog dedicated to the joys of mechanical typewriters, covering everything from rare Olivetti and Smith-Corona machines to custom typewriter fonts and the broader typewriter enthusiast community. Posts blend hands-on reviews, restoration notes, and cultural appreciation for analog typing in the digital age.

An exhaustive reference database cataloging every known version and sub-version of Nikon lenses, complete with serial number ranges drawn from service manuals, catalogues, and years of community contributions. Covering everything from fisheye and micro lenses to rangefinder and industrial optics, this is an indispensable tool for Nikon collectors and photographers trying to date or identify their glass.

A curated digital archive of vintage US retail seasonal catalogs and Christmas Wishbooks, featuring scanned pages from iconic retailers like Sears, JC Penney, and Montgomery Ward. Nostalgia-seekers and collectors will find a treasure trove of holiday wish books spanning decades of American retail history.

Ed Snible's long-running numismatics blog covers ancient Greek and Roman coins, rare finds, and the history of coin collecting with a scholarly but personal touch. Posts range from public domain updates for numismatic literature to deep dives on specific historical coins and collectors like William Hunter.

Mine Direct (operated by Intimate Gems) is an online retailer and resource for faceting and cabbing rough gemstones, cut gems, and mineral specimens sourced directly from international mining regions including Pakistan, Afghanistan, Kenya, and Tanzania. The site offers an extensive catalog spanning dozens of rare and collector-grade stones like Afghanite, Hackmanite, Kornerupine, and Tanzanite, alongside buying trip adventures, gemstone treatment education, and client cut galleries.

NumismaticIndexes is a massive searchable database indexing over 87,000 articles from historical numismatic journals, including the American Journal of Numismatics dating back to 1866. Coin collectors and researchers can search by subject, author, source, volume, and year to locate specific articles on coins, medals, tokens, and related topics from centuries of numismatic literature.