The E-Sylum:  Volume 11, Number 14, April 6, 2008, Article 5

1847 JOHN RIDDELL PAMPHLET ON THE NEW ORLEANS MINT AUCTIONED

Mike Paradis forwarded photos and information about an 1847
John Riddell pamphlet that was in a recent sale by Bloomsbury
Auctions, Inc. of New York.  Here's how it was described:

John Leonard RIDDELL. The Branch Mint at New Orleans, with
an Account of the Process of Coinage and Fac-simile Impressions
of the Coins Manufactured [caption title].

Np [New Orleans?]: 1847. 8vo (230x140 mm). Facsimile impressions
of obverse and reverse of 8 different coins, on the terminal
leaf. Contemporary plain wrappers. Condition: minor creases;
minor tears and chipping to the wrappers. The New Orleans mint
began to make coins in 1838. Riddell served as one of its first
melters and refiners at the mint. The facsimile impressions
are quite intriguing, as the process by which they were
accomplished is unclear.

Mike writes: "I could not find any previous sale of this 1847
publication. I knew of his 1845 Monograph of the Silver Dollar
but not this 1847 publication.  It sold for $1200 to a floor
bidder on a $200-$300 estimate.

"The Numismatist has a similar pamphlet reproduced in the
April 1968 issue (pages 439 to 445) in an article by Eric
Newman. Both appear to be from Riddell and are about the New
Orleans Mint. Where they seem to differ, is with the one in
the Numismatist is titled 'The Mint at New Orleans' and dated
1845 and the one in the recent Bloomsbury auction is titled
'The Branch Mint at New Orleans' and dated 1847."

[I didn't find the pamphlet listed in Charlie Davis' 'American
Numismatic Literature' or in the Kolbe John Ford library sales.
-Editor]

George Kolbe writes: "I do not recall ever having handled
either edition although I have known of the work for some
time (perhaps from Eric Newman's article). Word on the street
is that it was sold to a telephone bidder and now resides in
a prominent numismatic library."

Riddell pamphlet title page
Riddell pamphlet title page

Riddell pamphlet illustrations
Riddell pamphlet illustrations

Riddell pamphlet illustrations (closeup)
Riddell pamphlet illustrations (closeup)

  Wayne Homren, Editor

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