GEORGE FREDERICK KOLBE
FINE NUMISMATIC
BOOKS
Press Release for Sale 92
George Frederick Kolbe/Fine Numismatic Books will conduct their 92nd auction sale of rare and important numismatic literature on Thursday, November 13, 2003. The sale features 1635 lots covering a wide range of numismatic topics. Featured is the interesting and notable library of a “Sage Old Roman,” selections from The Money Tree archives, and material from over fifty other consignors. The firm’s next sale will not be held until June 1, 2004 when, in association with Stack’s, George Frederick Kolbe will conduct the first public auction of the superb American numismatic library formed with dedication and great care by John J. Ford, Jr. over many years.
A few November 13th sale highlights follow: a collection of 175 bound Sotheby auction sale catalogues, 1830-1900, assembled by the renowned British coin collector Henry Platt Hall; an 1879 catalogue of Berlin coin dealer Adolph Weyl containing the previously unreported, earliest European appearance of an 1804 silver dollar at auction; many early Yeoman “Red Books,” including a complete set; an unbound set of “The Numismatist,” 1894-2002; classic works on ancient Greek and Roman coins; a complete set of B. Max Mehl auction sale catalogues, also very fine deluxe leatherbound copies of the Dunham and Morse, Faelton & Todd sales; an important selection of works on Napoleonic and other medals; legal documents and correspondence pertaining to the Roy E. Naftzger, Jr. versus American Numismatic Society litigation concerning the Clapp/Sheldon large cent controversy; important Walter Breen correspondence; rare works on Serbian numismatics; important antiquarian numismatic books dating from 1557; an original copy of Miles’ “The Numismatic History of Rayy,” along with many other important works on foreign coins and medals; the paper money archives of Dr. John A. Muscalus; etc.
The sale may be viewed at www.numislit.com. Copies of the printed catalogue are available for $15.00.
The firm has already started work on the public auction sale
of the John J. Ford, Jr. Library. To be held in association with
Stack’s, this landmark sale will take place on Tuesday, June
1, 2004 at the Mission Inn, Riverside, California, a National
Historical Landmark Hotel: www.missioninn.com. The Mission Inn
is about half way between Crestline (where lot viewing will be
held on the days preceding the sale), and Long Beach (where the
Long Beach Coin Convention will begin the day after the sale).
The Mission Inn is about an hour by car from Los Angeles International
Airport, and about ten minutes from the new Ontario International
Airport. Riverside is a large city (approx. 300,000 residents)
and offers a wide array of lodging and recreational activities.
Periodic reports about the many rare and interesting things that
will be in the sale will appear in the E-sylum, weekly electronic
newsletter of the mismatic Bibliomania Society. Those interested
in subscribing, free of charge, are invited to visit the society’s
web site: www.coinbooks.org. Regular updates will also be posted
on the firm’s web site: www.numislit.com.
2003 September 15