| Description |
An Extraordinary Copy of The First Photographically Illustrated Work on American NumismaticsRead before the American Antiquarian Society, April 25, 1866. Cambridge: Press of John Wilson and Sons, 1866. Small 4to, contemporary brown half morocco; top page edges gilt. 66 pages; fine portrait photograph of the author; 1 engraved plate and 3 engraved text illustrations; extra-illustrated with 5 photographic plates (instead of the usual 3) comprised of very fine mounted photographs depicting paper currency (see below). Original handwritten letter from the author to Charles H. Hart, presenting him with this copy, mounted in. Hart's bookplate is affixed to the front pastedown. Binding rubbed, but still near fine. An extraordinary copy of a very rare and greatly important numismatic book. Some copies of Paine's essay on early Massachusetts paper money are illustrated only on pages 28 and 30, which together depict five of the small-size fractional issues of 1722. Some, however, include three photographic plates depicting a 1713 issue of 1 shilling 8 pence; the six 1737 issues; and a 1741 Manufactory Bank bill. The Champa library included a copy with a fourth photographic plate depicting a facsimile of the 1690 Massachusetts 5 shillings issue. This copy includes all four of the photographs present in the Champa copy, plus a photograph of the 1722 threepence note illustrated in the engraving on page 30, as well as a fine photograph of the author bound in as a frontispiece. All of this, plus the inclusion of a letter from the author presenting this to the original owner, makes this a highly important book indeed. Only 50 copies were printed, of which this is No. 23, but as far as we know it is unique as such. Estimate $2,500. Ex: Eric P. Newman Numismatic Education Society.
Heritage Auctions 11/2018 (Newman XI), lot15370 (realized $4320).
Heritage link: http://www.ha.com/c/item.zx?saleNo=1283&lotIdNo=11414 |
