| Description |
The R.H. Burnie Fraud: Rare Original Catalogue & Correspondence Including Letter from PrisonSix duplicated sheets, stapled in corner as issued; 464 lots. With correspondence relating to the auction, including: carbon copy of Harry X Boosel's letter to Burnie with bids; original June 22, 1956, letter to Boosel from the Post Office Department Inspection Service regarding Boosel's complaint of mail fraud against Burnie; a longer letter from the same Department to Boosel dated June 22, 1956, requesting additional materials; carbon copy letter dated Sept. 5, 1956, from U.S. Attorney William M. Steger to Al C. Overton regarding the case; an unsigned and undated carbon copy report by Overton outlining the facts of the case; an original letter from the Post Office informing Boosel that Burnie had been convicted of mail fraud and sentenced to three years in prison; an original two-page letter, handwritten from prison in pencil, from R.H. Burnie to Boosel; an undated original typewritten letter from Overton to Boosel commenting on the Burnie letter, which Boosel had shared with him; and a handwritten card from Boosel to Eric P. Newman, presenting these materials to him. The Burnie auction was a scam, the key to which is found in the terms of sale, which state, "as requested by the owner of this collection, whom I represent in selling his collection, DEPOSITS of 50% of your BIDS MUST ACCOMPANY YOUR BIDS, otherwise the bids cannot be considered bona fide offers to buy, and will not be executed." Burnie was well-known, and many prominent dealers and collectors sent deposits and bids. The resulting influx of cash was used to purchase two cars, send Burnie's family on a vacation to Florida in one of them, and use the other to abscond across the Mexican border with (according to the Overton report) "a girl that was a dancing school instructor." The catalogue is extremely rare. Estimate $500. Ex: Eric P. Newman Numismatic Education Society.
Heritage Auctions 11/2018 (Newman XI), lot15164 (realized $120).
Heritage link: http://www.ha.com/c/item.zx?saleNo=1283&lotIdNo=11009 |
