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V5 2002 INDEX
E-SYLUM ARCHIVE
Welcome to The E-Sylum: Volume 5, Number 26, June 23, 2002: an electronic publication of the Numismatic Bibliomania Society. Copyright (c) 2002, The Numismatic Bibliomania Society. SUBSCRIBER UPDATES We have two news subscribers this week, both courtesy of E. Tomlinson Fort: Frank L. Wiswall and Rick Hayes. Welcome aboard! Our subscriber count is now 471. Can we get to 500 by the time of this summer's ANA Convention? Please recommend The E-Sylum to a friend. ANA LIBRARY SAFE FROM COLORADO FIRE From an ANA Press Release Monday, June 17: "The American Numismatic Association (ANA) Museum, Library and headquarters building in Colorado Springs is not endangered by a Colorado wildfire that, in a week, has consumed more than 100,000 acres of forest land and more than 20 homes, and forced the evacuation of more than 5,000 people. "We have received numerous inquiries about the safety of the museum and library contents due to the national publicity focused on the largest forest fire in Colorado's history," says ANA Executive Director Edward C. Rochette. "I want to reassure our members that the fire is more than 30 miles west of Colorado Springs and has been no threat to the city and the ANA home and headquarters." ANA LIBRARY GETS A NEW NAME A press release the following day announced: "Noted rare coin collector and sports agent Dwight N. Manley of Newport Beach, California, will contribute a check in the amount of $250,000 to the American Numismatic Association (ANA) Headquarters Renovation Fund, and will have the ANA Library in Colorado Springs, Colorado, named in his honor. "When I was a teenager I wanted to attend the 1981 Summer Seminar, but I couldn't afford the $400 fee on my own," Manley says. "With the encouragement of the ANA and the assistance of ANA Governor Florence Schook who was always tirelessly helping young numismatists, I won the scholarship that year and was able to attend my first Summer Seminar that launched my numismatic career. I am privileged now to be able to show my grateful appreciation to the ANA." KUDOS FOR NANCY GREEN Howard A. Daniel III writes: "The item 'ANA Library Notes' by ANA Librarian Nancy Green was typical of this excellent librarian and very nice lady. Nancy has always proven to me to be the best librarian in the numismatic world. I wish there is some way we could clone her so we can have a duplicate of her after she retires!" 1902 AUCTION INFO SOUGHT NBS Board member (and historian) Joel Orosz writes: "I recently made a fortunate purchase from a bookstore of an extra-illustrated copy of Thomas Wyatt's 'Memoirs of the Generals, Commodores and Other Commanders...Who Were Presented with Medals by Congress... ' published in 1848. Besides the usual 14 plates of medals, this edition contains an additional 40 engravings, depicting the commanders who received the medals. On the first free fly is noted "Bt. at Bangs Auction Nov. 1 902." Gengerke notes four auctions for that month and year, but only two are likely candidates: Lyman Low's auction of 11-26-02, and Manhattan Coin Company's Sale #3, of 11-29-02. If any E-Sylum readers have access to copies of either catalogue, and would be willing to share with me auctioneer, lot number, price, consignor, purchaser, and any other relevant information, I would greatly appreciate it. The book would be described as red morocco, gilt, with marbled boards and gilt top edge, five raised spine bands, and of course, extra-illustrated." LATIN LINGO FOLLOW-UP In reference to the outpouring of replies to his question about the Latin phrase "AMAT AUREA CONDERE SAECLA", NBS Vice President John W. Adams writes: "Those were indeed a fabulous set of responses. The phrase (which I copied correctly) appears on a French medal dated 1716. Louis XV occupies the obverse with the usual royal inscription. The reverse has the aforementioned motto over a rendition of the goddess of commerce. Sotheby's in its Duke of Northumberland sale (1980) ascribe the medal to John Law's Banque Generale, as does Bowers and Merena in its LaRiviere III sale last year. However, there seems to be no other evidence linking the piece to John Law, who founded his bank in order to reduce dependence on specie, gold included. Louis and his Regent, the Duke of Orleans had specifically declined participation in Law's bank (they reversed course in 1718), so the historical facts argue in some measure against Sotheby's and Bowers' attribution. My enthusiastic thanks to your respondents," NUMISMATIC HOLMES In response to the item about numismatic references in Sherlock Holmes stories, Tom DeLorey writes: "There is another numismatic reference in "The Red-Headed League," namely the 15 crates containing 30,000 French 20 Franc gold Napoleons that were the target of the plot. In "The Adventure of the Engineer's Thumb," an unsuspecting engineer is called in to fix a stamping press being used to make counterfeit coins. He loses his thumb, but barely escapes with his life. In "A scandal in Bohemia," Holmes (in disguise) receives a Sovereign for witnessing the marriage of Irene Adler. He later tells Watson that he means to wear it on his watch chain in remembrance of the occasion. Earlier, three cab drivers are offered either a "half sovereign" or a "half guinea" if they can get the bride, the groom and Holmes to the church on time." FAROUK SALE BUYER: THE HOUSE In response to Denis Loring's question about a lot in the 1954 King Farouk sale by Sotheby's, Mark Borckardt of Bowers and Merena Galleries writes: "It just so happens that we have Sol Kaplan's priced and named copy of the Farouk catalog in house, to be sold in our upcoming Rarities sale in July. Lot 355 sold to "House." It seems that this guy "House" bought quite a bit from that sale. Much like the fellow "Book" who often participates in modern sales of various firms." Dave Bowers adds this clarification: "House" probably included Hans M.F. Schulman, who was owed money by the deposed king. Details are in my book about Abe Kosoff." Karl Moulton's copy shows the same information. He writes: "In response to Denis Loring's question as to the buyer of lot #355, in the 1954 Farouk sale, it went to the book at $370. I have Gaston DiBello's priced and named hardbound copy in my library, which was used by him at the sale. Although this still does not provide any accurate answers, it should be somewhat useful in pedigree research for this particularly scarce gold bar. Denis Loring writes: "Since my inquiry as to the buyer of Farouk lot 355 (a Moffat $16 ingot) was successful, I'll try a harder one. Does anyone know of a listing of all known specimens of the Moffat $16 ingot? Any auction writeups ring a bell? If so, please contact me at http://www.heritagecoin.com/Features/NumisArticles/ and scroll down the the link to the articles -Editor]. Darryl Atchison writes: "In the Asylum issue dedicated to Jack Collins is a well-balanced biography which was written by Jack but published posthumously. [A quick search in the NIP periodical index (see http://www.harrybassfoundation.com/) located these articles on Breen in prior issues of The Asylum. Back issues are available from the NBS Secretary- Treasurer, David Sklow. His contact information is at the end of this issue. article by Jim C. Spellman]\Asylum\1995 Wtr\XIII/1\Pg.8-9 article by Jack Collins]\Asylum\1996 pr\XIV/2-4\Pg.25-28 article by Michael Hodder]\Asylum\1992 Spr\X/2\Pg.3-8 eulogy by Michael Hodder]\Asylum\1993 Spr\XI/2\Pg.14 -Editor] Ron Guth adds: "Oh, the things you find on the Internet. For a look into the details of one of the more disturbing facets of Walter Breen's life, visit http://www.marionzimmerbradley.com/MZB_Depos_1+2.html http://www.marionzimmerbradley.com" KAPLAN RUSSIAN COLLECTION PAMPHLET SOUGHT Brad Karoleff writes: "A customer recently asked me if I had seen a pamphlet about the Russian collection that Sol Kaplan spirited out of Russia that became the DuPont collection and finally was put in the Smithsonian. He recalled it was a "sales brochure" about the collection when Sol owned it and stored it in Cincinnati. A local businessman and coin collector financed the deal according to my customer. His name was Charles Klench and he may, or may not, have been mentioned in the brochure. I would be interested in obtaining some of the pamphlets if they are available. If not, a photocopy would be greatly appreciated. You can reach me via email at http://www.bio.vu.nl/home/vwielink/WWW_MGC/ Wayne Homren
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