PRICED AND NAMED EDWARD MARIS CATALOG SOUGHT

Ray Williams writes:

Ray adds:

The October 1886 issue of the American Journal of Numismatics reported that, "although the name of a New York dealer [Smith] was placed on the title page, that gentleman did 'not own a single piece in it,' and Dr. Maris was 'driven to the necessity of placing it there by the attitude of other dealers, who protested against a collector cataloguing his own collection.'" Smith's name appears on the separately printed Preface, but only at the bottom of the title page of the catalogue itself (which reads "With the Compliments of H.P. Smith"); and on most copies seen, even that line is lacking.

Charles Davis, in his catalogues of the Champa library, has suggested that it was the Chapman brothers who protested at Maris preparing his own catalogue, noting that they ceased holding their auction sales at Henkels shortly after this sale. Smith's Preface acknowledges "material assistance from the owner, in the preparation of the Catalogue." (There are also references throughout the sale referring to Maris in the third person, though these may have been written by Maris.)

Smith discusses the issue of plated catalogues, stating that "I have had 50 Catalogues made, containing six plates." It is generally felt that far fewer than this were issued, as the number of surviving copies has been estimated as fewer than ten. The New Jersey coppers were purchased en masse by T. Harrison Garrett through his agent Harold Newlin for $551 (he had been offered the collection directly by Maris for $1000 earlier). One of the most important sales of the 19th century.

To read the complete lot description, see:
The Maris Sale, with Preface and Circular (www.icollector.com/The-Maris-Sale-with-Preface-and-Circular_i22956866)

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