JOSEPH EDWARD POTTS ABBOTT (1840-1914)

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V21 2018 INDEX E-SYLUM ARCHIVE

The E-Sylum: Volume 21, Number 26, July, 1, 2018, Article 13

John Lupia submitted the following information from the online draft of his book of numismatic biographies for this week's installment of his series. Thanks! As always, this is an excerpt with the full article and bibliography available online. This week's subject is American silver coin collector J.E.P. Abbott of New Jersey. -Editor

Joseph Edward Potts Abbott (1840-1914), was born on August 20, 1840 at Tuckahoe, Cape May County, New Jersey, the third child and son of Judge John Chattin Abbott (1803-1891), and Ann Godfrey Treen Abbott (1812-1864).

He attended the public schools, after which he taught at the public schools for three years. He studied law under George Spofford Woodhull, N. J. Supreme Court Justice (1866-1880), and was admitted to practice law in November 1865, and counsellor in June 1870. He was admitted to practice in U. S. Courts in 1869.

In 1876, he exhibited his mineral collection comprising nearly one thousand specimens at the Centennial Exhibition at Philadelphia.

He began corresponding with the Chapman Brothers in 1881 based on records found in the Lupia Numismatic Library, Special Collection, The Chapman Family Correspondence Archive.

It was at this period he began amassing an extensive coin collection over the next thirty years. In 1910, Francis Bazley Lee reports that his collection of American silver coins was considered one of the finest in the country.

In 1885, he was president of the Mays Landing and Egg Harbor City Railroad Company.

Abbott served as Atlantic County Prosecutor in the Court of Pleas beginning March 7, 1898 at the behest of Governor Griggs.

In 1903, he was reappointed by Governor Murphy. He remained in office until 1908, retiring at age 68.

He died on May 24, 1914. He is buried at Union Cemetery, Mays Landing, Atlantic County, New Jersey.

Interesting mystery! Would anyone have any leads on the whereabouts or disposition of Abbott's collection? -Editor

To read the complete article, see:
ABBOTT, JOSEPH EDWARD POTTS (https://sites.google.com/a/numismaticmall.com/www/numismaticmall-com/abbott-joseph-e-p)

The entire inventory of the Lupia Numismatic Library is for sale. Individual items will be available before the remaining archives are broken up into parcels sold at philatelic auctions in the U. S. and Hong Kong. Check NumismaticMall.com frequently as dozens of new items with estimates will be posted daily until everything is sold.

All inquiries will be given prompt and courteous attention. Write to: john@numismaticmall.com .