ROSENBLUM OFFERS COLLECTION OF ISRAELI, PALESTINE, EGYPTIAN RARITIES

William M. Rosenblum LLC of Littleton, Colorado will be offering “The Philadelphia Collection” in two or three different auctions with the first auction scheduled for December 4, 2014. The collection consists of major rarities of Israeli, Palestine, Egyptian, WWII material and other documents collected by a Philadelphia businessman and collector for more than 40 years. Rosenblum believes that this the best overall collection he has ever offered via auction in his 44 years as a professional numismatist.

“Mr. Philadelphia” was a true collector and received as much joy in assembling his large collection of early small-change tokens as he did when buying the famed 1927 Palestine Double Proof Set”. Rosenblum first sold him coins in 1973 and continued to sell him coins, paper money, tokens and medals until late 2011. If it was not for his early untimely passing Mr. Philadelphia would still be adding material to his collection.

Among the many, many highlights of the sale is the 1927 Palestine Double Proof Set in original case. The set has an impressive pedigree as it was part of the famed Sidney Olson collection sold by NASCA in August of 1978. Rosenblum purchased the set for Mr. Philadelphia at the sale and his notes that he wrote in his copy of the catalog are still true today. “Nice!”. Virtually all of the regular Palestine coins from the collection are mint state including one of the nicest 100 Mil 1931 coins Rosenblum has seen in years. Other pre-State of Israel Holy Land metallic items including a wide array of 19th century tokens, choice Ottoman and British Protectorate coins of Egyptian and a number of Palestine Mandate error coins including accompanied by a letter from the Royal Mint.

Palestine Currency Board notes in high ground abound in this collection including high grade examples of 500 Mils, 1, 5 and 10 Pound notes. Also being offered is a 5 Pound 1927 color trial note in blue not the issued orange, an uncolored 5 Pound Proof and a set of 6 Thomas de La Rue & Company specimens from their archives which include all 6 denominations with 000000 serial numbers, 4 of the notes including the 50 Pound note are dated 1927 while the legendary 100 Pound note is in green.

Among the colorful Egyptian notes being offered is a 50 Piastres note of 1918 in very high grade with a sphinx at left, a lovely uniface 50 Pound Proof depicting a caravan of camels with tombs in the background, a large and high grade 100 Pound note featuring the citadel at Cairo, a mosque and a sail boat and an incredibly choice, bright and original 5 Piastres Currency note of 1917.

Israeli coins, paper and medals for the crux of the collection and include the famous provisional issues of 1948, the rare and important inverted signature of the 100 Pruta Neeman-Eshkol fractional of 1952 and perhaps the most important and inclusive offering ever of Israel specimens, trials, proofs, progress notes and errors. One of the most intriguing lots is a group of 5 early Israeli fractional notes all with the exact same low serial number. Occasionally 2 notes with the same serial number are seen and Rosenblum has once seen 3 notes with the same number offered. He has never seen five fractional with the same serial number ever. And the set was sold by Rosenblum’s father to “Mr. Philadelphia” almost 30 years ago.

The coins and medals in this section are equally as rare and attractive. Included are numerous patterns, specimens, errors and other rarities. The collection consists of 4 different 1960 Eight-grain 1 Agora patterns, off-metal issues of coins and medals, some patterns that Rosenblum believes may be unique, others that less than 5 are known and numerous other seldom seen coins and medals including the very rare Berne Die issue of the 1971 Let My People Go 10 Lirot commemorative coin.

“Mr. Philadelphia” also collected tokens and paper issues of concentration camps, ghettos, displaced persons camps, transit camps and other issues associated with World War II and later. Among the seldom seen items being offered in this section are lead patterns from the Lodz Ghetto, two different issues of Cyprus Canteen chits, a note from Gross-Rosen and many other very rare items. Also in the collection is an “error or test” 50 Mark Lodz Ghetto which was printed on a note with an extra wide margin and without a serial number. Rosenblum first offered this note for sale in the November 1982 NICE III sale, later purchased it again and sold it a subsequent auction prior to 1995 and is now offering via auction for the 3rd time. It is the plate note in   Silent Witnesses: Civilian Camp Money of World War II by the father and daughter team of Ray and Steve Feller.

The sales will also contain perhaps the largest and most varied offering of “Kollel” notes ever assembled. “Kollel” notes are basically promissory notes issued to support students studying in the Holy Land during the last years of the Ottoman Empire. The notes were usually backed my either communities in Europe or notables living in the Holy Land. A few other areas that are especially strong in the collection are emergency small change tokens used in both the British Palestine Mandate as well as the young state of Israel from the early 1940’s through the early 1950’s, stock certificates and other large financial instruments used in the Holy Land during Otttoman and British rule and a number of letters, documents and signed photographs.

Rosenblum has been issuing price lists and conducting auctions since 1971 and continues to be a leader in the field of Jewish and Holy Land related numismatic material. His sales do not have a buyer’s fee. The printed catalogs were mailed this past week, and are available in both the printed version and an on-line version.

Virtually all lots will be available for viewing at Rosenblum’s table at the November 20-22 National Currency and Coin Convention (formerly the PCDA show) at the Crowne Plaza Chicago O'Hare in Rosemont, IL and at the November 29th Aurora, Colorado Show being held at the Radisson Hotel.

For more information contact Bill Rosenblum at Bill@Rosenblumcoins.com or via phone at 720-981-0785. Other details will be announced from time to time at www.rosenblumcoins.com. The firm can also be reached by mail at P. O. Box 785, Littleton, CO 80160-0785. The printed version of the catalog will be sent gratis to Rosenblum’s regular clients, others can reserve the catalog (with prices realized to follow after the sale) for $15 for US delivery or $25 everywhere else.

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