Pin Trader Handbooks

Want Lists Made to Order (Special 10% discount for early requests thru March 1st)

If you enjoy the hunt for pins on your Want List and become excited when you find one that's on the list BUT become upset when its discover later that its another duplicate of what you have.  When its a $1.00 or $2.00 pin its not too upsetting, BUT when its a $50.00 or $100.00 pin the cursing begins.

To help everyone that has traded for or purchased a scarce pin only to find out you already had it--relief is here!!!  All you need to be do is send me your want list and I will develop an actual size color pictorial listing that can be easily carried around.  You will have all rights to the list which means you can make as many copies as you wish for backup. 

So what's the cost for all the work in developing these specialized lists?  The cost is $5.00 per page but it includes everything from pulling images/designing/assembling/inserting the images, typing the dates, inclusion of brief notes to help eliminate duplication, plus adding your name and address to each page to better facilitate recovery if lost.

All requests received between now and March 1 will receive a 10% discount.  Once these lists are seen everyone will want them, so get your request in early to be certain you have the listing for the next pin swap/convention.

Volume I - Regular State/Multiple District Issue Pins  (2nd Edition in development)

This volume starts with a brief history of the development of pin trading.  The brief History section starts with Melvin Jones' first organizational pin and continues with the development of award/recognition, "Friendship", and then the pins traded today.  The Pin Types section discusses the most common manufacturing styles of pins since the 1960s.  As each manufacturing style is discussed an actual size/color image sample is included to aid traders in identifying pin types. 

States are listed alphabetically followed immediately by Multiple District (MD) pins.  Only official State issued/authorized pin images are illustrated in actual size/color.  Each State/MD starts with recognized Friendship pins and is immediately followed by official issues through 2003.  Production numbers are included when available.  There are 156 pages of illustrations, plastic sleeves, and binder.

Volume II - Prestige/Mini/Medallion/Charms/Stickpins/Lioness/Leo/Variations State/Multiple Issue Pins  (2nd Edition in development)

This volume contains actual size color images of official State/Multiple District prestige pins, minis, medallions, charms, stickpins, Lioness, Leo pins, and a Variations Section.  Coverage includes all items issued through 2004.

The Variations section includes brief discussions of the types of pin variations and the most common causes for them.  Actual size/color images of regular and variations are illustrated next to each other for quick comparison.  When variations are difficult to see, even when side-by-side, distinct areas of the images are enlarged for easier viewing.  Volume II includes 121 pages of illustrations inserted into plastic sleeves. 

Volume III - Non-USA/Multiple District Issue Pins (Special request option under development)

Countries are listed in order by Multiple District/District number with their name prominently listed in the header.  Each country within this volume starts with a brief history.  Official Country issued/authorized pin images are illustrated in actual size/color and dated whenever possible.  Pins freely passed out during parades/Conventions are separately recognized as "Friendship" pins/items.  There are 159 pages of illustrations inserted into plastic sleeves.

Catalogs Developed By PTCs and Individuals

Georgia (MD-18) - This catalog contains all known MD-18 District, Club, District Organizations, and related memorabilia.  Images are in actual scale black/white.  There are xxx pages of illustrations.  Lion Ray Moore has done a good job in putting this catalog together.  Price for this catalog and ordering are through:  Lion Ray Moore; 1499 Sweet Bottom Circle; Marietta, GA 30064.

Iowa (MD 9) - This catalog was only reviewed briefly but contained all known MD-9 District, Club, District Organizations, and personal issue pins.  Images appear to be actual scale and in color.  Catalog is printed on standard paper to keep prices reasonable.  There are 54 pages in the base catalog, and another 9 color pages in the first update.  Lions Charles Boeding, Linda & Kenneth Reed have done a good job in putting this catalog together which is a must for anyone collecting Iowa pins.  Cost is $25.00 for the basic catalog and $5.00 for each annual update which includes an extensive Index of the pins.  Orders may be placed with:  Lion Charles Boeding; 107 Sunnyside Drive; Montezuma, Iowa 50171; email telephone 641-623-2134; email cboeding@netins.net

New Jersey (MD-16) - This catalog contains all known MD-16 District, Club, personal, and PTC issued pins.  Catalog is in black/white but a color edition is being developed.  Unfortunately this catalog hasn't been reviewed personally but is probably very accurate since Lion Frank McLain developed it.  Current catalog may be ordered from:  Lion Frank McLain; 415 Harmony Station Road; Phillipsburg, NJ 08865-9430; telephone 908-859-2606; email jerseydirtdigger@entermail.net

New York (MD-20) - This catalog contains all known MD-20 District, Club, personal, and PTC issued pins.  Images are all in color but have been reduced in size in order to keep the price reasonable.  There are over 60 pages averaging 48 images per page.  Lions Mike Morris and Bob de Normand have done a good job in putting this catalog together.  Cost is $30.00 for the basic catalog and $5.00 for each annual (September) update, and may be ordered from:  Lion Mike Morris; 673 Whittier Road; Spencerport, NY 14559; telephone 585-594-1414; email mgmorris@usadatanet.net

North Carolina (MD-31) - This catalog contains all known MD-31 District, Club, and personal issue pins.  Images are in actual scale and color.  There are 33 pages averaging over 12 images per page.  Lion John O'Malley has done a good job in putting this catalog together.  Price for this catalog is $35.00, plus $5.00 if shipped.  Order may be place by contacting:  Lion John O'Malley; 8233 Schooner Lane, Charlotte, NC 28270; email johndo8233@aol.com

Oklahoma (MD-3) - This catalog contains all known MD-3 District, Club, and personal issue pins.  Images are in actual scale and color.  There are 18 pages averaging over 25 images per page, plus several borrowed pages of State-level and Attendance pins.  Lion Kent Clovis has done a good job in putting this catalog together.  Price for this catalog and ordering are through:  Lion Kent Clovis; P.O. Box 270; Stroud, OK 74079.

Virginia (MD-24) - This catalog contains all known MD-24 State, Sub-District, Club, PTC, and personal issued pins.  Images are in actual scale/color and updated annually.  There are approximately 300 pages, including an index for the more than 1,100 personal issues.  Lion William A. Smith, for the PTCV, has done an excellent job creating this "must" for all collectors of Virginia pins.  Cost is whatever the price is charged by the printer to PTCV.  Specific pricing and other information may be obtained  from: Lion William A. Smith; 3643 Osborne Drive; Warrenton, VA 20187; email Tabs52@juno.com

Australia (MD-201) - The Australian Lions Pin Trading Club's "Catalogue of Australian Pins" is now in its 5th Edition.  The latest updated color version was issued in May (2007) and is available on CD.  Cost is $10.00 (plus s/h) and contains over 1,500 images of all known ALPTC, MD, District, MD/District Conventions, Club, special project, and personal pins.  Catalog may be ordered through: Lion John Gillham; P.O. Box 183; Huonville Tasmania 7109; Australia; telephone 036-239-6823; email vsbtas@bigpond.com

New Zealand (MD-202) - This catalog contains all known MD-202 District pins.  Images are in actual scale and color.  Lion Boyd Hopkins has done a fine job in putting this catalog/CD together.  Cost is $10.00 for the CD but USA Multiple District pins may be substituted for payment.  Catalog may be ordered through: Lion Boyd Hopkins at email  boydhop@xtra.co.nz

Pin Trading Clubs - This catalog contains the most up-to-date images/listing of pins issued by Pin Trading Clubs from around the world.  The color catalog is available in printed or CD versions.  Most images are very good and appear to be actual size but some are misshapen/sized.  If you are into PTC pins this is a must have.  Cost varies as to the number of updates/supplements and format desired.  Catalog may be ordered through: Lion Dick Hall, 3481 E 61st Street, Long Beach, CA 90805-3805, email dickghall@earthlink.net (Checks should be made payable to CLPTA.)

Topic References/Handbooks - Recognized topic pin specialist Lion Jerry Romig has developed some nice clear color references/handbooks which are now available to pin traders.  If you are a topic pin collector these handbooks are a must.  Topics currently available are:

The price for each handbook is based on the number of pages printed.  Printing cost is $1.00 per page plus shipping which typically costs from $2.00 to $4.00.  Orders should be placed with: Lion Jerry Romig; 1307 Southwind, Raymore, MO  64083; telephone 816-331-4807; Email pdgromig@comcast.net

If someone in your State has developed a catalog, please let them know about this website and to provide basic description/ordering information.