| Description |
The Adventures of a Counterfeit Halfpenny Narrated by ItselfBanbury: Printed and Sold by J.G. Rusher, Bridge-Street, c. 1830. Price One Penny. 115 by 73 mm, original yellow paper covers with woodcut illustrations on both exteriors. 16 pages; woodcut frontispiece, as well as woodcut illustrations to 7 additional pages. Stitched. Near fine. A charming and rare little publication printed in Oxfordshire, England, and telling the story of Halfpenny Tim in his own words. The author clearly intends to make a point with his work, calling the "adulteration of the copper-coin ... highly pernicious to trade in general." In the August 1997 issue of the Colonial Newsletter, Charles W. Smith reprinted this work with his annotations. The story is told in the form of a moral story for children, a common genre sold in expensive chapbooks such as this. Smith dated the work to around 1810, which could be correct though most others suggest a later date. Estimate $500. Ex: Eric P. Newman Numismatic Education Society.
Heritage Auctions 11/2018 (Newman XI), lot15381 (realized $456).
Heritage link: http://www.ha.com/c/item.zx?saleNo=1283&lotIdNo=11476 |
