The E-Sylum v6#38, September 22, 2003
whomren at coinlibrary.com
whomren at coinlibrary.com
Mon Sep 22 19:57:15 PDT 2003
Welcome to The E-Sylum: Volume 6, Number 38, September 22, 2003:
an electronic publication of the Numismatic Bibliomania Society.
Copyright (c) 2003, The Numismatic Bibliomania Society.
BACK IN BUSINESS
This issue is a day late due to a problem which allowed
incoming email but not outgoing, leaving me in an editorial
comatose state. All seems back to normal now. Several of
you wrote to inquire about your issue, and it's nice to know
we're missed. No one has been accidentally dropped, nor
has a hurricane flattened the E-Sylum War Room or cut the
power. All is well. Thanks for your concern and patience.
-Editor]
NUMISMATIC WORDS ADDED TO OXFORD DICTIONARY
Col. Bill Murray writes: "Perhaps NBS members and readers
of The E-Sylum might be interested in knowing two new, well
relatively new, numismatic words made it into the fifth edition
of the Oxford English Dictionary. Exonumia (but not exonomist),
and scripophily (but not syngrapics nor lignadenarist). We
need to promote our hobby more, it appears.
Keep up the good work, Wayne. The E-Sylum continues to
inform and titlliate. Also, congratulations to all the newly elected
and re-elected NBS Board members. Thanks for serving."
UPCOMING KOLBE SALES
From the Press Release: "George Frederick Kolbe/Fine
Numismatic Books will conduct their 92nd auction sale of
rare and important numismatic literature on Thursday,
November 13, 2003. The sale features 1635 lots covering
a wide range of numismatic topics. Featured is the interesting
and notable library of a “Sage Old Roman,” selections from
The Money Tree archives, and material from over fifty other
consignors. The firm’s next sale will not be held until June 1,
2004 when, in association with Stack’s, George Frederick
Kolbe will conduct the first public auction of the superb
American numismatic library formed with dedication and
great care by John J. Ford, Jr. over many years.
A few November 13th sale highlights follow: a collection of
175 bound Sotheby auction sale catalogues, 1830-1900,
assembled by the renowned British coin collector Henry Platt
Hall; an 1879 catalogue of Berlin coin dealer Adolph Weyl
containing the previously unreported, earliest European
appearance of an 1804 silver dollar at auction; many early
Yeoman “Red Books,” including a complete set; an unbound
set of “The Numismatist,” 1894-2002; classic works on
ancient Greek and Roman coins; a complete set of B. Max
Mehl auction sale catalogues, also very fine deluxe
leatherbound copies of the Dunham and Morse, Faelton &
Todd sales; an important selection of works on Napoleonic
and other medals; legal documents and correspondence
pertaining to the Roy E. Naftzger, Jr. versus American
Numismatic Society litigation concerning the Clapp/Sheldon
large cent controversy; important Walter Breen
correspondence; rare works on Serbian numismatics;
important antiquarian numismatic books dating from 1557;
an original copy of Miles’ “The Numismatic History of Rayy,”
along with many other important works on foreign coins and
medals; the paper money archives of Dr. John A. Muscalus;
etc.
The sale may be viewed at www.numislit.com. Copies of the
printed catalogue are available for $15.00.
The firm has already started work on the public auction sale
of the John J. Ford, Jr. Library. To be held in association with
Stack’s, this landmark sale will take place on Tuesday, June 1,
2004... Periodic reports about the many rare and interesting
things that will be in the sale will appear in the E-sylum, weekly
electronic newsletter of the Numismatic Bibliomania Society.
Those interested in subscribing, free of charge, are invited to
visit the society’s web site: www.coinbooks.org. Regular
updates will also be posted on the firm’s web site:
www.numislit.com.
[Many thanks for George for keeping us up to date and for
promoting NBS and The E-Sylum via his press release.
The first of his Ford Library updates follows. -Editor]
KOLBE FORD LIBRARY UPDATE
George Kolbe writes: "This past week, cataloguing began
on the John J. Ford, Jr. Library. Slowly. Delightful surprises
abound. Among items catalogued from several cartons
randomly unpacked are the following:
F. C. C. Boyd's deluxe leatherbound 1941 Dunham sale
catalogue, the finest example we recall ever having encountered.
Three leatherbound volumes of Bureau of Engraving and
Printing vignettes, any one of which would be the finest,
condition-wise, compared to any previously encountered.
Two are official productions, issued circa 1876, each with
nearly 150 superb engravings. The third is a monumental
volume, containing over 200 BEP engravings assembled
privately by Joseph K. Edgerton,who served in Congress
from 1863 to 1865 and presumably obtained them as
perquisites of office.
Several unique Chapman brothers bid books. Among them:
Colin E. King with plates; Boeing-Bridgman with plates; and
McCoye with a handwritten note stating that “The plates for
this catalogue proved failures and were not issued but were all
destroyed.”
S. H. Chapman's priced and named Stickney sale catalogue
with superb plates no doubt handpicked by the photographer,
i.e., S. H. himself.
A fine example in the original printed card covers, with plates,
of the 1914 Foster Lardner sale of large cents, along with a
flyer promoting Lardner's skills as a magician and lecturer, and
a superb photograph of Lardner.
S. H. Chapman’s plated, priced and named 1915 Granberg
Sale, perhaps the finest of the four or five plated examples
that have come to market in the past quarter century.
A superb example of the 1925 W. W. C. Wilson sale with
the full complement of plates. Ex F. C. C. Boyd and perhaps
Henry Chapman, whose lengthy invoice for the sale - including
$15.00 for a plated copy of the catalogue - is included. Also
catalogued were priced and named copies of the second and
third Wilson sales.
David Proskey's 1885 bid book of the Thian sale of Confederate
paper money.
Quite a start. Will future reports be as exciting? I do not know.
Stay tuned."
LAKE BOOKS PRL AVAILABLE
Fred Lake of Lake Books writes: "The prices realized list for
our sale #70 which closed on September 16, 2003 is now
available for viewing on our web site at:
http://www.lakebooks.com/archive.html
When you reach that web page please click on the year 2003
(or scroll down) and you will see the two options for opening
the PRL (either PDF format or Word format).
Many thanks to our bidders and please note that our next
sale will be held on November 18, 2003 and features
selections from the library of the late Stuart Hodge plus Part
Two of the Dr. William Hopkins library."
GUTTAG BROTHERS COIN BULLETIN SOUGHT
Gregg Silvis writes: "I'm trying to track down an item for
research-related purposes: I'm looking for the August,
1928 issue of the Guttag Brothers Coin Bulletin. The
ANA Library has only the June, 1928 issue, which is
volume 6, number 4. The ANS Library has only 1928
volume 6, number 1. Any information on the whereabouts
of a copy of the August issue would be greatly appreciated.
I can be contacted at gregg at udel.edu. Thanks!"
SWEDISH EURO HOLDOUT
Bob Lyall reminds us that "Not only the Swedes but
a majority of the British population do not want to join
the Euro and throw away independence of financial
control."
Bill Swoger writes: "A note about another "holdout":
Great Britain didn't accept the "new" calendar until
1752. Therefore, 1752 was the shortest year in
U.S. history."
NUMISMATIC PLAGIARISM
Allan Davisson writes: "Another plagiarism note: Much
of the material in the Bell books on tokens ("Conders")
was taken, without acknowledgment, from Saumuel's
series of articles in The Bazaar Exchange and Mart published
from 1880-1889."
THE HISTORY DETECTIVES
Len Augsburger writes: "I did see an episode of "History's
Mysteries" while channel surfing. On the show I watched, a
family in the deep south who owned a house wanted to check
out some oral history which indicated a black man had owned
the same home in the 19th century. They wondered how that
could have been. The show visited 3 or 4 cities, and traced
the individual in question, a free black as it turned out. They
were able to come up with some detail of the man's
successful business, his family, and verified the story. The used
local professors and all the other usual historical resources (city
directories, census data, state and local archives and historical
societies, etc.)."
Gar Travis writes: "A much better "view" than Antiques Road
Show - the history sleuth's tell the truth to would be keepers
of history - was the pocket watch a gift from Mark Twain -
No!... and I enjoyed seeing the sleuth share the truth with the
watch's keeper.
We could use them on the newly "discovered" first dollar.
My bet is that it is a later restrike like the 1804's - but for a
collector later in the 19th century."
CALICO ENGLISH TRANSLATION ASSISTANCE OFFERED
Alan Luedeking writes: "Regarding Mr. Hulse's request
concerning availability of a translation to English of the
Calicó-Trigo catalogue "Monedas Españolas desde Felipe IV
a Isabel II - 1621 a 1868" , I am not aware of any such
translation, however, I'd be pleased to help him translate
anything he wants to/from Spanish/English, providing it's not
the whole book! What puzzles me though, is Mr. Hulse's
asking specifically about the third edition (1979) of this work:
each subsequent edition expanded this excellent reference a
little further, both forwards and backwards in time, to where
the current (9th) edition now covers the whole enchilada
from Ferdinand & Isabella to 1998 in one large volume.
Why that old edition Mr Hulse??"
1909 PHOTO UPDATE
Regarding the request for help identifying people appearing in
the 1909 American Numismatic Association photo, David
Sklow, ANA Historian adds: "Mrs. Zerbe's name was Bessie,
that was Farran's first wife -- he married her in 1908 and
married Gertrude in 1932. Mrs. Waldo Moore's name was
Imogene."
Karl Moulton writes: "In response to additional names for the
1909 ANA photograph, here are a few:
Number 1 is Paul Napoleon Breton, who earlier that day had
tried to disrupt the business meeting.
Number 2 is Judge William A Ashbrook, who was elected to
the board of governors.
Number 3, the taller gentleman with the gray hair is most likely
William Forrester Dunham, also elected to the board that year.
Number 4 may be J. de Lagerberg, board member.
Number 5 may be M. Belanger or M. Tessier.
Number 6, the older gentleman with the gray beard may be one
of the names mentioned in number 5. One of the other two
may be Mr. Mousseau or Mr. Richards, both were newspaper
reporters covering the convention. One of these reporters is
standing in front of the two ladies in the back row on the far right
side. The third reporter, of "La Patrie", a French daily, was Mr.
Edmond Chasse and his young wife of a few weeks. They are
in the back row to the left of Ben Green.
Number 7 possibly Henry Chapman's wife, as she is sitting next
to Henry in the "official" convention photograph described below.
This photograph is just one of several taken at the convention.
As it was taken on a separate outing early in the proceedings on
Tuesday August 10, I doubt that it is the official convention
photograph, even though it is the one published in the September/
October issue of The Numismatist, p. 259. A more believable
"official" convention photograph was taken on Thursday, August
12 in front of the Cartier Normal School and was published in
Mehl's Numismatic Monthly, September 1909, p. 131."
PAPER MONEY LONGEVITY QUESTION
David Fanning forwarded this question from Lisa Mao,
Segment Producer, Indigo Films: "I had contacted you in
the spring regarding Ft. Knox when we were producing a
show on the gold depository.
Currently I am doing research on paper money and am looking
for an expert who can talk about its "shelf life". Do numismatists
deal only with coins or do they also take an interest in paper
money? I am interested in contacting someone who can tell me
how long paper currency can last, and under what conditions?
For example, if money is buried in the ground for 50 years, will
it still be intact or will it have disintegrated?
Thank you so much for your time and I look forward to your
response."
[Does anyone have some answers? We'll forward them to
Ms. Mao. Meanwhile, anyone wishing to experiment is
invited to deposit any sum of paper money in a hole I'll dig
in my back yard, free of charge. -Editor]
HANDLING HEAVY BOOKS
Regarding our earlier Topic of the Week, Bob Fritsch
writes: "I did not see many replies to this particular topic.
Q. David Bowers' book on the S.S. Central America
Treasure certainly needs special handling to prevent personal
injury. Several years ago I acquired a music stand from a
music store that was going out of business. Not one of those
flimsy fold-up things, but a good heavy chunk of bent metal.
Some call it a Concert Stand. It is not only handy as a
portable lectern, but is great to hold the Standard Catalog of
World Coins (for example) beside my work table while
cataloging those collections. It has held the aforementioned
SS CA book while I comfortably recline on the couch happily
absorbing the material. I paid about $30 for mine but imagine
the price has gone up as it has for everything else."
REVERSIBLE BANKNOTE SPECIMENS
In response to my query about Rene Laflamme's "reversible
banknotes," Alan Roy writes: "I had bid on one at a Jeffrey
Hoare Auction in 1997. It was a $1 note that went for $21
Canadian plus 10% commission. There is a picture in the
catalog if anybody is interested in a scan."
HAITIAN AUCTIONS
Alan Luedeking writes: "Regarding Bob Merchant's query
regarding Haitian coinage sales in E-Sylum v6#36, the 1998
Spink sale in question is the Spink America (New York) sale
of 1 December 1998. It is indeed an important sale for Haiti.
I can also recommend the Mangones Collection Sale by
Harmer Rooke, New York, 8 April 1976, as one of the most
important sales ever for Haiti. Two other good sales are
Spink London #87, 9 October 1991, important for Emilio
Ortiz's West Indies material, which included some good Haiti,
and Adolph Weyl's Auction Sale No. 80 (Berlin) of 4-6
January 1887, containing "...Eine Nahezu Komplette
Sammlung der Insel Haïti."
TOO MANY BOOKS? NEVER!
In response to a recent note on the Colonial Numismatics
email group declaring that "One can only have so many books
in one's library...", Dan Friedus replied: "I keep trying to find
the upper limit but have not discovered it yet. My bookshelves
are long since full but somehow there's always another corner
into which I can cram a book."
Ray Williams added: "I know what you mean about the size
of libraries. Attached is a picture of Diane's china cabinets
(2 of three - the third is also filled with books). Did I marry
well, or what!!! If there were a contest for "Numismatist's
Wife of the Year..."
WORD FUN
[Not numismatic, but E-Sylum readers include quite a
few word mavens, so I thought I'd pass this along.
-Editor]
David Cassell writes: "Aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at
Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the
ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoetnt tihng is taht the frist
and lsat ltteer be at the rghit pclae. The rset can be a total
mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit porbelm. Tihs is
bcuseae the huamn mnid deos nt raed ervey lteter by istlef,
but the wrod as a wlohe."
FEATURED WEB PAGE
This week's featured web page was mentioned on the
Colonial Numismatics email list by E-Sylum subscriber Ray
Turcotte. It's a page that is devoted to coin maker Abel
Buell and it includes good images of his counterstamp.
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~silversmiths/16/12130.htm
Wayne Homren
Numismatic Bibliomania Society
The Numismatic Bibliomania Society is a
non-profit organization promoting numismatic
literature. For more information please see
our web site at http://www.coinbooks.org/
There is a membership application available on
the web site. To join, print the application and
return it with your check to the address printed
on the application. For those without web access,
write to W. David Perkins, NBS Secretary-Treasurer,
P.O. Box 212, Mequon, WI 53092-0212.
For Asylum mailing address changes and other
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