THE UNITED STATES CENTS OF THE YEARS 1798–1799.
Sewickley: 1931. 4to [31 by 24 cm], original black and blue cloth, gilt. 64 pages; 2 fine photographic plates. Several sheets of additional material compiled by C. Douglas Smith laid in. Spine head a bit worn; very good or better. [with] Naftzger, Jr., R.E (Ted). TYPEWRITTEN LETTER, SIGNED IN GREEN INK, TO C. DOUGLAS SMITH DATED MARCH 11, 1974. Single sheet of watermarked letterhead [26.5 by 18.5 cm]. Folded for mailing; folds reinforced on blank verso with transparent tape; near fine. Item #7055
No. 37 of only 126 copies bound in cloth, of an entire edition of 135. This copy is ex C. Douglas Smith, and includes a signed, typewritten letter to him from Ted Naftzger dated March 11, 1974, a photocopy of the original printer’s specs for the book, and photocopies of pages 14–15 of the book (“Description of Plates”), annotated by Smith and providing information on the owners of each of the plate coins (all of which came from the Hines, Newcomb or Clapp collections) and noting which were currently owned by Smith. In the letter, Naftzger thanks Smith for showing him his 1797 and 1798 cents, and comments on an upcoming cent auction, the “Great Shal,” and other matters. This handsome book and Newcomb’s 1925 work before it set a new standard. Carefully written, painstakingly researched and wonderfully illustrated, they eclipsed all previous efforts. One of the founders and president of Aluminum Company of America, Clapp wrote in an April 16, 1932 letter (lot 192 in our 1993 ANA sale) to Michael Powills, that “there is no doubt but that I was foolish in putting out the book in such an expensive form, but I took a pride in my work and wanted it to be a credit to the subject, so hunted up the best printer that I could find and told him to do his best.” Clapp included the 1799 varieties only after realizing that his 1799 No. 1 was struck before 1798 Nos. 46 and 47. Davis 239. An especially interesting copy of this classic work, the photographic plates to which are probably the finest of any large cent reference. Davis 239. Ex C. Douglas Smith Library; ex Robert A. Schuman, M.D. Library (Kolbe & Fanning’s 2012 New York Book Auction, lot 263); ex John P. Donoghue Library (Kolbe & Fanning Sale 152, lot 132); ex David Fanning Library.
Price: $750.00