The E-Sylum:  Volume 9, Number 27, July 2, 2006, Article 30

LOS ANGELES TIMES ON EARLY CITY DIRECTORY, DANA LINETT

The Los Angeles Times published an article June 26 about an
autograph and manuscript auction at the Bonhams & Butterfields
auction house in West Hollywood.  The article mentions a rare
city directory (a recent E-Sylum topic) and includes an interview
with coin and currency dealer Dana Linett of San Diego.

"There are some pieces in here that I would be willing to pay 10
times the asking amount for," said George Hollingsworth, a New
York manuscripts dealer, who flew to Los Angeles to preview the
items Sunday.

Hollingsworth spent hours examining a photo album of a sailor
dating to the 1860s. He pulled pictures from the album and
flipped them over in search of handwritten notes."

"He said that book and manuscript collectors are no longer satisfied
with once sought-after autographs of historical figures. They're
looking for full letters and books that "tell a story."

"One of the most valuable pieces in the sale is an 1850 San
Francisco City Directory that Catherine Williamson, an auction
director, dubbed "the Holy Grail" of western Americana collectibles.

Valued at $80,000 to $120,000, it is believed to be the city's
first directory, listing the names of 3,208 early residents.

"It's not a very pretty piece," Williamson said, "but it's one
true rarity of San Francisco history."

Dana Linett, a Colonial-era collector with a penchant for
historical currency, found the directory interesting.

But that's not the reason he drove from San Diego for the preview.
He had his eye on 1850s Gold Rush currency, including four early
California checks for $50, payable in coin or gold dust. They are
now worth an estimated $500 total.

Linett's fascination with old currency began when he was 8 years
old. As his friends collected sports cards and comic books, Linett
collected buffalo nickels and Indian head pennies."

To read the complete article, see Full Story

  Wayne Homren, Editor

	coinbooks.org Web

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