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STACKS BOWERS 2021 ANA SALE LITERATUREThere is a small but choice offering of American Numismatic Literature in the upcoming Stack's Bowers sale. Here are some selections - see lot 5214 - 5235 online. -Editor 
Lots 5215 and 5216
Lot 5215: American Journal of Numismatics Volume 1 This volume represents the beginnings of the shared published scholarship of all matters numismatic in the United States. The American Journal of Numismatics continues to this day in a second series, and the entirety of what has been published since 1866 is filled with original research, much of which remains relevant source material. An article by Frank Van Zandt in the Fall 1993 edition of The Asylum, noted that this large paper format was not generally known to the membership at the time of publication, and not brought to light until it was referenced in a letter by collector J. Carson Brevoort, who had received a large format from Frank H. Norton, director of the A.N.S. from 1864 to 1867. He had written to the secretary of the Journal asking for future volumes in this size. The reply was that they could no longer be produced.
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Lot 5216: American Journal of Numismatics Set Sizes vary, ranging from 11.35 inches x 7.5 inches to 11 inches x 8.25 inches. The early volumes, no's 1 to 35, are bound into 12, in half red morocco with marbled boards. Double ruled gilt ornaments line the borders of the leather. Five raised spine bands, with compartments two and six lettered in gilt. Various pastedowns and flyleaves among the volumes, some of which have had restorations of varying styles. Still, the bindings are respectably tight, and the interiors are quite clean. A well-used run clearly owned by a studious numismatist, the bookplate of George Merryweather inside each front cover. The later volumes, dated between 1904 and 1918, are hardbound mostly by year, in full maroon cloth with a simulated leather finish. Lettered in gilt on the spine. These volumes are generally Very Fine. Though incomplete, this set includes important content from the early years of the Journal. Volume 3 in particular is most desired for its inclusion of the 1854 photograph of the first United States Mint, the famous Levick Plate of 1793 large cents, and Sylvester S. Crosby's systematic discussion of same - a foreshadowing of what he would soon accomplish in much grander form with his publishing of The Early Coins of America in 1875. The images of the Mint and the Levick plate in the presently offered volume are clear and in superb condition. Even a brief survey of the early articles yields entries of interest and fascination.
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Lots 5217 and 5218
Lot 5217: The Numismatist. Volumes 1-6 8.25 inches x 6 inches. Contemporary hardbound in half red morocco with marbled boards, and matching pastedowns and flyleaves. Five raised spine bands, lettered in gilt in the second and fourth resulting compartments. Pages finished in gilt on the top edge. Housed in a custom book box by Alan Grace. Bookplate of Andrew Zabriskie inside the front cover. As noted in our Pogue Library offering, the acquisition of the "first six" is seen by many as the crowning achievement for an American numismatic library, as these rare volumes document to a degree the birth of the American Numismatic Association and the spark of the vibrant camaraderie amongst collectors of all means that is still widely enjoyed today through its promotion. Dr. George F. Heath, of Monroe, Michigan, began the publication years before the Association was formed, primarily as a vehicle to sell some coins, but also to encourage the exchange of ideas, scholarship and goods between collectors who were far away from the major cities and, likewise, active numismatic organizations such as the American Numismatic and Archaeological Society formed in New York, in 1858.
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Lot 5218: The Numismatist. Volumes 7-19 9 inches x 6.25 inches. Beautifully hardbound in six volumes by Alan Grace. Half blue-green calf with light green cloth boards. Blind stamped ornaments along the leather borders. Five raised spine bands with black morocco labels in the second and fourth compartments. Lettered in gilt on the spine. Pale greenish gray pastedowns and flyleaves. Original bookplates from the Carnegie Library variously pasted down or laid in upon the modern rebinding, the first two stating that that they were presented by Dr. George F. Heath. Mostly clean internally, but some issues are on acidic paper and appear aged. Some of these pages have occasional edge chips, and thumbing through the pages will reveal an occasional CARNEGIE LIBRARY punch stamp or a small "Discard" stamp. A most attractive set overall. Provenance: From the Carnegie Library; Armand Champa; our (Bowers and Merena's) sale of the Armand Champa Library, Part I, November 1994, lot 281.
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Lots 5219 and 5229
Lot 5219: Attinelli Numisgraphics 11 inches x 7 inches. Hardbound in green cloth, title and date gilt on spine. Original gray paper cover chipped but professionally reinforced at the time of binding. Original back cover with a corner chip, but internally quite clean and bright beyond a penciled catalog number on the title page. A rather lovely copy of this early and important work on numismatic literature through 1875, one that would be a standard reference until John W. Adams published his work, United States Numismatic Literature, more than a century later. It is believed that perhaps only 50 copies were printed, which one might expect to have been a sufficient supply for the leading collectors of the period, though John Adams noted that the work was on collector want-lists as early as 1879. Years can pass between offerings as survivors are very rare, and a number of them are in institutional libraries. Despite its age, the comprehensive nature of the study and Attinelli's commentaries on the collectors of the day make this a central work for any serious American Numismatic Library. This one bears an illustrious provenance to the famed library of Armand Champa.
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Lot 5229: Dr. Hall Connecticut Coppers 10 inches x 7 inches. Original half dark brown calf with brown cloth boards. Lettered in gilt on the cover and ruled in gilt along the leather borders. Ruled gilt ornamentation on the spine, mimicking spine bands. Rough at the lower right corner tip but only minor rub otherwise. Mostly bright and clean in the interior save for minor staining in the end papers. Reinforced inside the cover joints. One small, coded pencil notation on the corner of the front endpaper. A very pleasing copy of this early and notable effort to systematically categorize the complex Connecticut coppers, by one of the leading collectors of the day. This was intended as a preliminary effort, "privately printed, for additions and corrections," to be distributed among leading collectors and friends who could contribute to making the reference more complete in preparation for a larger and more comprehensive study of Connecticuts that was never completed. Dr. Hall's manuscripts for the other dates in the series are in the collection of the Connecticut State Library. Quite scarce. It is believed that perhaps no more than 20 copies were produced and that maybe half survive. This brought just shy of $2,000 in our (Bowers and Merena's) March 1995 sale.
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Lots 5230 and 5234
Lot 5230: Large Format Hickcox 10.25 inches x 7.25 inches. Original three-quarter black morocco with marbled boards, and matching pastedowns and flyleaves. Ruled in gilt along leather borders. Five raised spine bands, each ruled in gilt, with resulting panels bordered in gilt ruling as well. Title, author and date in gilt on spine. Large bookplate of Hickcox in the center of the inside front, with John J. Ford's sticker at upper left and his cost code penciled in at the upper right of the first endpaper. Minor rub on the edges. A lovely copy of this very rare edition, one of only five large-format copies produced, while just 200 were printed of the smaller format. This bears a manuscript presentation inscription from Hickcox to Jeremiah Colburn, at Albany, July 24, 1858. Colburn was an important Boston collector and a founding member, in 1860, of the Boston Numismatic Society. A lovely copy of this rare format with excellent historical numismatic ties.
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Lot 5234: Newlin on Half Dimes 9.75 inches x 8 inches. Original hardbound in maroon cloth, lettered in gilt on front cover with blind-stamped linear frames bordering both covers. Minor fading of the spine, and slight fraying at the head and foot of same. Matte brown pastedowns and flyleaves. Internally quite clean, with only minor handling. The rarer 24-page edition with two black and white heliotype plates at the back, facing, with a tissue guard. A very rare original of this early half dime study that was limited to 100 copies, as noted on the title page. It is believed that just 40 of those original 100 were issued with the plates. John Haseltine sold Newlin's collection in April 1883, a sale catalog issued without any plates, as those prepared were deemed to be of insufficient quality. This edition of Newlin's monograph includes those prepared plates, creating an important record of his holdings. An extra page was added to the plated edition, page 24, which keyed the plates to the auction, along with prices realized for each of the imaged coins.
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Wayne Homren, Editor The Numismatic Bibliomania Society is a non-profit organization promoting numismatic literature. See our web site at coinbooks.org. To submit items for publication in The E-Sylum, write to the Editor at this address: whomren@gmail.com To subscribe go to: https://my.binhost.com/lists/listinfo/esylum All Rights Reserved. NBS Home Page Contact the NBS webmaster 
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