American Vecturist Association
The American Vecturist Association (AVA) is an organization of transportation token collectors in the United States and Canada, as well as world-wide. Members of the AVA receive the Fare Box, the monthly newsletter of the AVA. The Fare Box contains ads, stories, and information about various tokens, as well as resources to buy, sell, and trade tokens. AVA members are also eligible to join the New Issue Service, which mails new transportation tokens to its members for a nominal fee.
History
In 1920, Mr. F.C. Wentworthy began cataloging his transportation token collection. Five years later, Mr Wentworthy handed his work off to Mr. R.W. Dunn. In 1932 Mr. Dunn printed his list of US and foreign transportation tokens. Shortly after printing, Dr. Dunn passed the task of cataloging transportation tokens off to Ronald C. Atwood. In 1948, Mr. Atwood had his National Check and Premium List of All U.S. Transportation Tokens published by the American Numismatic Company of Los Angeles.
Meanwhile, Mr. R.L. Moore began publishing the Fare Box, a monthly newslettter about transportation tokens. On October 31, 1948, the American Vecturist Association was formed in New York City out of interest sparked from Mr. Moore's Fare Box newsletter. Two months later, Mr. Moore turned over the Fare Box to the newly formed American Vecturist Assocation.
Convention
The AVA holds its annual convention in a different US city every August. The most recent convention was held in Knoxville, Tennesee. At the convention, members are able to buy, sell and trade tokens as well as attend the auction and the banquet.
Publications
The AVA publishes a number of books available to everyone:
- Volume I – Atwood-Coffee Catalogue (845 pages, hardbound or looseleaf): 5th Edition. Complete listing of all known US and Canada transportation tokens, with collector values.
- Volume II – Catalogue (776 pages, hardbound): compendium of stories and articles about transportation tokens with thousands of photos, quantities struck, dates of usage, rates of fare, etc.
- Volume III – Catalogue (950 pages, hardbound): Volume of the Minor Die Varieties of US and Canada transportation tokens, with thousands of enlarged, high quality photos.
- Car Wash tokens of North America, 2nd edition (2001; 320 pages)
- Land Company and Real Estate Tokens (120 pages, hardbound)
Officers
- President: William A. Sowell
- Vice-President: Bill Weber
- Secretary: Karl E. Gabsch
- Treasurer and Convention Chairman: Joel J. Reznick
- Curator: Keith M. Haney
- FareBox Editor: John M. Coffee, Jr.