SOME EARLY U.S NUMISMATIC EPHEMERA

1046 Mason & Co. LARGE BUSINESS CARD. Philadelphia, circa 1881. 78 by 13.6 mm. Printed in black ink on cream card stock. Fine. [with] Mason & Co. STAMPED & POSTMARKED DECORATIVELY PRINTED MAILING ENVELOPE, ADDRESSED IN INK TO HENRY W. HOLLAND. Philadelphia, circa 1870. 77 by 139 mm. Printed in dark blue ink on cream stock. Green 3¢ Washington stamp. Very good. (50.00)

Two delightful bits of Masoniana. The first, designating No. 32 North Street, Philadelphia as "numismatic headquarters" is indicative of Ebenezer's brashness (or verve?). It is attractively printed, incorporating a handsome cut of both sides of a chain cent, and a summary of the firm's focus, relatively routine for the time: "Dealers in Coins, Medals, Stamps, Minerals, Indian Relics, Early American Imprints, &c."

The firm's premium catalogue is also offered for sale at 25¢ and the final line notes: 'Coin Collectors' Herald, $1.00 per annum, Vol. III, 1881, Now Ready." The return address ("Removed to 139 North Ninth Street, Above Arch") on the front of the mailing envelope is quite decoratively printed in a quasi-numismatic motif with flourishes, incorporating information on the firms activities as "Publishers of Masons Monthly Magazine" and both coin and stamp priced catalogues. Alas, the enclosure to the noted Boston numismatist, Henry W. Holland, is no longer present.

612 Mickley, Joseph J. DATES OF UNITED STATES COINS AND THEIR DEGREE OF RARITY. Philadelphia: Auner, printer, July 1858. 8vo, original pink-orange printed wraps. (4) pages. Fine. (125.00)

Mickley's only published numismatic work, its slight size and fragile wrappers has made this a very scarce item. Although obviously brief, it summarized in convenient form important information that was largely lacking from the numismatic community. Attinelli 111. Davis 695.

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