| Description |
Heath Counterfeit Detector, Inscribed First Pocket Edition, Newman 1-P-1.0The Only Infallible Method of Detecting Counterfeit, Spurious, and Altered Bank-Notes, and Applicable to All Banks in the United States and Canadas, as Now in Circulation, or That May Be Issued, with Genuine Bank-Note Designs, by the American Bank-Note Company, New York and Boston. Boston: Published by Laban Heath, Teacher of Counterfeit Detecting; Dakin, Davies & Metcalf, Stereotypers and Printers, 37 Cornhill, (June) 1864. First edition, first printing, first issue. 16mo, original blindstamped black cloth, front cover lettered in gilt. 26, (2) pages; 8 engraved plates of bank note design elements, with original tissue guards, interspersed in the text, plate 6 serving as a frontispiece, plate 4 printed in red ink, and plate 8 printed in green ink. Inscribed "With respects of the Author" on the front flyleaf. The rare first issue of the first edition. These fascinating volumes were chronicled by Eric P. Newman in a substantial article appearing in the 1991 American Numismatic Association Centennial Anthology, entitled "Heath's Counterfeit Detectors: An Extraordinarily Successful Comedy of Errors." In it, Newman writes: {blockquote}"A highlight in American numismatic literature is the myriad of editions of Laban Heath's counterfeit detectors. These books gained great popularity by the simple technique of complimenting the intelligence and ability of members of the public to recognize counterfeit paper money and by the appeal of spectacular illustrations. The series of editions from 1864 through 1889 carried a transition of text and a development of pictorial content by a masterful huckster and a skilled political maneuverer. He was the first person to promote a numismatic book into a best seller." {/blockquote} Heath claimed a total issue of 25,000 copies of the first edition. If accurate, this first printing must have comprised only a very small percentage of that impressive total. Fine. Estimate $500. Ex: Hezekiah Chase, first president of the Nahant Bank, with his signature; George F. Kolbe (4/1982). Ex: Eric P. Newman Numismatic Education Society.
Heritage Auctions 11/2018 (Newman XI), lot15241 (realized $960).
Heritage link: http://www.ha.com/c/item.zx?saleNo=1283&lotIdNo=11105 |
