| Description |
Unique Full Morocco Presentation Edition Prepared for Col. Nehemiah G. OrdwayBoston: Innes and Niles, stereotypers and printers, 1866/1867. Banking House and Counting Room Edition. Second edition. Small 4to, original full brown morocco, both covers decoratively paneled in gilt within triple gilt fillets; Col. N.G. Ordway. impressed in gilt in center of front cover; spine with five raised bands, ruled, lettered, and decorated in gilt; all board edges and inner dentelles intricately decorated in gilt; chocolate endpapers; all page edges gilt. 39, (5) pages; facsimile Treasury Department letter; Heath bank note facsimile plate; 4 illustrations of Heath magnifying glasses in the text; finely engraved American Bank Note Company portrait of Secretary of the Treasury Hugh McCulloch bound in place of usual frontispiece; 11 finely engraved plates of bank notes and design elements, with original tissue guards, interspersed in the text and numbered 2-12, Plate 12 comprising an impression of a $100 National Currency counterfeit note printed in green and black ink; Plate 5 printed in green ink. Plate 1, depicting fractional currency, is missing. Inscribed on an opening blank in a calligraphic hand, presenting the volume from the author to Ordway. A letter from M.H. Bolender to J.M. Taylor, dated Dec. 20, 1939, is laid in. An extraordinary presentation copy of Heath's Banking and Counting House Edition, prepared for Col. Nehemiah G. Ordway, Sergeant at Arms of the House of Representatives from 1863 to 1875. The beautiful binding was clearly intended to impress, and Heath's ventures required him to impress many powerful people. Eric P. Newman discussed this presentation copy in his groundbreaking article on the Heath counterfeiters, writing that "The politician on whom Heath's success depended seems to have been Nehemiah George Ordway. In the Banking House editions of Heath's books, Ordway's name leads the parade of many important political figures recommending Heath's books. Ordway was presented with a special copy of Heath's second Banking House edition with Ordway's name stamped in gold lettering on an elaborate cover. Ordway cooperated with Heath for over 10 years on detector matters." This would make a unique and beautiful addition to any collection of Heath counterfeit detectors. The letter from M.H. Bolender to J.M. Taylor thanks Taylor for keeping this book but offers a partial refund for reasons unstated except that Taylor had noticed a small problem, presumably the lack of the fractional currency plate. One signature loose. Very good. Newman 2-BH-3(b), with the (b) designation indicating that it was issued with the facsimile Treasury letter. Estimate $2,000. Ex: M.H. Bolender (11/1939); J.M. Taylor. Ex: Eric P. Newman Numismatic Education Society.
Heritage Auctions 11/2018 (Newman XI), lot15298 (realized $4080).
Heritage link: http://www.ha.com/c/item.zx?saleNo=1283&lotIdNo=11093 |
