Given the stated criteria for the award, in my mind there are two worthy candidates who are clearly ahead of the pack, Lew Lipset and Rob Lifson. Lew codified existing knowledge, and added to it, in his seminal three volume work. He also published a newsletter for many years which also added to the knowledge base and enjoyment of the hobby. While at times not the friendliest guy in the world, his contribution to the hobby is undeniable.
Someone new to the hobby might ask why I included Rob Lifson. After all, didn’t he just run an auction house. Actually, Rob contributed incredibly to the hobby’s knowledge base through the lot write-ups in his catalog. Rob went beyond the usual drivel that is passed off as lot descriptions. He researched interesting pieces and wrote descriptions that were more research works than catalog fodder. He was thorough, factual and interesting. The catalogs he produced were reference books.
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