| Description |
Exceptionally Rare 1810 Philadelphia Work With Finely Engraved Plate of Bank Note Designs and for Furnishing the Public with a Convenient and Infallible Test for the Same... Philadelphia: Printed by Thomas Town, No. 3, Norris's Alley, 1810. 8vo, self-covered and stitched, as issued. 16, (2) pages; 1 finely engraved plate depicting ornamental bank note designs framing descriptive text relating to them. An extremely rare publication, virtually unknown to most of the collecting world. Eric P. Newman had acquired this copy by January 30, 1964, at which time he wrote about it to Dr. Julian Blanchard. It was reproduced in the Winter 1966 issue of the Essay-Proof Journal. Brewster's pamphlet was published in direct competition with Jacob Perkins. Brewster states that Perkins had been trying to thwart his efforts in the area of bank note security by claiming infringement of patents, which Brewster considered baseless. Perkins had published his famous Bank Bill Test (also present in this sale) just the year before. Brewster's plate is very well printed, and he clearly understood the problems faced by bank note printers and had sound ideas about addressing them. It is also clear, however, that the battle was won by Perkins. Shaw & Shoemaker 19634. Worn and with some fraying at the edges; plate with some browning and light wrinkles, but better preserved than the text due to its smaller size. Good, with a very good plate. This may be the first time this work has been offered in the sale of a numismatic library. Estimate $2,000. Ex: Eric P. Newman Numismatic Education Society.
Heritage Auctions 11/2018 (Newman XI), lot15162 (realized $2160).
Heritage link: http://www.ha.com/c/item.zx?saleNo=1283&lotIdNo=11024 |
