GEORGE FREDERICK KOLBE
FINE NUMISMATIC
BOOKS
Munzen und Medaillen Library Sale Results
July 4, 2005
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MUNZEN UND MEDAILLEN LIBRARY SALE RESULTS
George Kolbe writes: "The finest international numismatic library ever dispersed was sold on June 23rd and 24th, 2005 in Osnabrück, Germany by the firm of Fritz Rudolf Künker. Comprising a total of 3,589 lots, the library formed by the venerable Basel, Switzerland coin firm of Münzen und Medaillen AG brought approximately 890,000 euros or, including the 15% buyer premium, a total of 1.23 million dollars. After the June 1, 2004 sale of Part I of the John J. Ford, Jr. Library (1000 lots @ 1.66 million dollars), it is the highest price ever achieved for a numismatic library in a single auction sale. Bidders from all over Europe, and a few from the United States, attended the sale and prices were generally quite strong. A few highlights follow: a leather-bound set of Forrer’s "The Weber Collection: Greek Coins" brought €2600; a rare offprint by von Fritze on the ancient coins of Ilion sold for €1000; an extremely rare volume of proof photographs depicting the entire collection of ancient coins formed by S. Pozzi opened at 2400 and ended up bringing €7250; Robinson and Clements’ rare 1938 work on "The Chalcidic Mint" sold strongly for €2700; Brause-Mansfeld’s two volume work on siege coins opened and closed at €1600; Papadopoli’s classic on the coins of Venice sold for €1700; classic nineteenth century works on Russian coins and medals reflected the current strong market for works in this field; key works on Islamic coins brought typically good prices; Dugniolle’s classic work on Dutch jetons sold for €1700; Habich’s classic multi-volume work on German Renaissance medals realized €5200; Hill and de Ricci’s two volumes on Renaissance medals and reliefs in the Dreyfus collection sold at €6500; numismatic periodicals brought strong prices, including Revue belge de numismatique, 1842-2000, @ €15,000, Revue numismatique, 1836-2003, @ €18000; Rivista Italiana, 1888-2003, @ €17000, and Zeitschrift für Numismatik, 1874-1935, @ €26000. The principals and staff of the Künker firm are to be congratulated on a job very well done. A longer report will appear in a future issue of The Asylum."
2004 August 27