| Description |
Prototype Levick Plates of 1793 Large Cents Prepared for the 1869 AJN Publication Two original albumen photographic prints [the first measuring 18.75 by 14 cm, the second 15.7 by 11.4 cm], taken by George Rockwood and annotated in ink by J.N.T. Levick, depicting 12 obverses and 12 reverses of 1793 large cents. Photographs taken while working toward the publication of the famous "Levick Plate" included in the April 1869 issue of the American Journal of Numismatics, the final version of which is quite different. Both prints exhibit some light folds and wrinkling, but remain in very good overall condition. In the October 1868 issue of the American Journal of Numismatics, J.N.T. Levick published a table showing the prices realized at auction for types of 1793 large cents, and proposed to publish a photographic plate "in our next number" illustrating the varieties. This was a bold promise to make in 1868, and in the February 1869 issue Levick had to sheepishly admit that "we made a promise then which we had not anticipated would involve so much labor and expense, and so many difficulties to surmount." He caustically notes the "immense amount of enthusiasm and willingness" generated by his request, which met with all of three responses. By directly appealing to many of the most prominent collectors, however, he had finally gathered together representatives of what he felt were all the varieties for 1793, only to find (as related in the March issue) that the challenge of coin photography was greater than had been realized. Finally, the plate was ready and appeared in the April 1869 issue accompanied by a carefully written text by Sylvester S. Crosby. Generally considered to be the first published photographs of U.S. coins, the "Levick plate" has been famous ever since. The Levick plate as published shows both the obverses and reverses of the 1793 cent varieties, with hand-drawn ligatures denoting die marriages. Levick's first inclination was to publish two plates, one showing hand-numbered obverses and the other reverses, and the present photographic prints show exactly that. Eventually, Levick decided against this approach, probably to save on costs. The present photos are not only arranged differently, they depict some different coins. Indeed, these preliminary photos include three pieces which Levick determined were counterfeits--these he marked as such in ink on these plates. Jim Neiswinter wrote a fascinating article about these plates in the Summer 2008 issue of the ANS Magazine, which is recommended reading. Estimate $2,000. Ex: Eric P. Newman Numismatic Education Society.
Heritage Auctions 11/2018 (Newman XI), lot15331 (realized $1560).
Heritage link: http://www.ha.com/c/item.zx?saleNo=1283&lotIdNo=11469 |
