What are the differences,in your opinion,between the red book,blue book,and black bk.

I met a man in the book store at the coin book section today. He asked me what was the difference between the Red Book and the Blue Book since they are written by the same author.
All I could say is that the Red Book is considered the beginner's bible. It has tons of good illustrations which is better than a thousand words. It is easy to read and track down your coin/s. But it's coin values are not as close as they could be for someone who needs accurate up to date values. That was not meant to be a putdown of the Red Book.
I told him that I refer to the Black Book for that. I don't know anything about the Blue Book.
What are your opinions, please?
zeke

 

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The Blue book contains wholesale prices, or what a dealer would pay you for a coin, and the Red book has mostly retail values. I don't know anything about that black book. Those are the only differences I know. I have never owned a Blue book, but my first copy is on its way.

 

Red Book= Retail prices, also a lot of research info.

Blue Book= Wholesale Prices


Black book = paperweight.

 

• Color of the covers
  red
  blue
  black​
• Coverage
  red/blue - US coinage only
  black - US & World coins and currency (in multiple separate volumes)​
• Publisher
  red/blue - Whitman
  black - Random House​
• Author/Editor
  red/blue - Yoeman/Bressett
  black - Hudgens​

Depth of coverage - information beyond date, design, metallic content and guesstimate of value - is greatest in the red book and least in the blue book.

For coin values all three are equally unreliable IMHO.

 

Basically true except the Red Book has retail prices for a future not yet here.

 

I think I'll buy a blue book. See ya black book.

 

The greysheet is the best for wholesale prices.
vnickels

 

For knowledge:

Get the Red Book.