On January 10th, 2009, George Frederick Kolbe/Fine Numismatic Books will offer for sale at public auction the highlights of two outstanding numismatic libraries, both remarkable for their exceptionally fine overall condition.
They will be sold at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City in conjunction with the New York International Numismatic Convention. The first 72 page catalogue features 100 lots of rare and classic works on American numismatics, with some fifty full color illustrations.
Lots 1 to 75 are from The Twinleaf Library and lots 76 to 100 are the property of several additional consignors. The second 108 page catalogue, with over one hundred full color illustrations, is comprised of 175 early printed numismatic books and classic titles on Italian coins and medals from the library of Dr. Ferdinando Bassoli of Turin, Italy.
Copies of either profusely illustrated catalogue may be obtained by sending $25.00 ($35.00 for the pair) to:
George Frederick Kolbe
P. O. Box 3100
Crestline, CA 92325
Telephone: (909) 338-6527; Fax: (909) 338-6980; Email: GFK@numislit.com. The catalogues will also be accessible free of charge, several weeks before the sale, at the firm’s web site: www.numislit.com.
Highlights from The Twinleaf Library follow
Over forty different original Chapman auction sale catalogues with original photographic plates, including 1882 Bushnell, 1892 Colin King, superb 1094 Barker, 1908 Taylor/Windle, very fine 1911 Siedlecki, 1912 Earle, very fine 1914 Parsons, Very Fine 1919 Sleicher, 1920 Hunter, S. H. Chapman’s own superb 1921 Henderson, Colonel Green’s superb 1924 Alvord, and many more;
Gschwend, Wilson, Mougey, Gilbert, & Lawrence Thomas Elder sale catalogues with original photographic plates;
An extremely rare original 1881 Andrews work on U. S. Cents, 1816-57, one of only forty copies issued;
A superb leather-bound Clapp on 1798-1799 cents;
Two 1869 editions and J. C. Randall’s 1870 edition of Maris on 1794 Cents;
A deluxe leather-bound edition Newcomb on 1801-1802-1803 Cents, inscribed by the author;
Harry Bass’s very fine original 1890 Parmelee sale with plates;
Robert Coulton Davis’s famous 1885-1887 articles on Pattern and Experimental Pieces of the United States Mint, heavily augmented and annotated by a major collector of the day, Harry Rogers, who remains largely unknown today;
A Large Paper Copy of Hickcox’s 1858 Historical Account of American Coinage, one of only three known;
The first two works on American Medals, by James Mease and J. Francis Fisher, from the library of Charles Bushnell, with his annotations and additions;
Jonathan Swift’s 1724 very rare Defence of the Conduct of the People of Ireland in Their Unanimous Refusal of Mr. Wood’s Copper-Money, from the Charles Ira Bushnell Library;
A fine 1888 Vicksburg I Sale With 12 exceptionally fine photographically-printed plates;
The only known Large Paper Copy of C. E. Fraser’s March 27, 1879 sale with two heliotype plates;
A Special Large Paper Edition, one of only twelve issued, of the 1865 J. N. T. Levick Cabinet auction sale, postponed due to the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln;
Matthew Adams Stickney’s rare 1859-1863 Notes on American Currency;
A very fine 1915 United States Coin Co. sale of the Granberg collection, with 7 photographic plates;
A fine example of Woodward’s very rare 1886 Ninety-Second Sale; etc.
Some Bassoli Library highlights include: over thirty numismatic books printed before 1600;
A fine original six volume set of Filippo’s Argelati’s 1750-1759 De Monetis Italiæ;
Cardinal Barbarigo’s magnificent 1732-1760 Numismata Virorum Illustrium ex Barbadica Gente;
A fine 1522 Aldine Press edition and the 1562 first Italian edition of the first numismatic book, Budé’s De Asse;
Two Illustrated 1550s “Coin Cooks” in one volume, depicting nearly 800 Coins;
An exceptional 1580 520 page “Coin Book” depicting both sides of 1,720 coins;
Duby’s 1786 classic work on siege coins, Recueil Général des Pieces Obsidionales, from the library of King Louis XVI;
The rare 1524 edition of the first illustrated numismatic book, Fulvio’s Illustrium Imagines;
Le Pois’ 1579 Discours sur les Médailles in a superb contemporary red morocco Ève binding;
A dozen superbly illustrated numismatic works by Enea Vico, including his first and second works, published in 1548 and 1553;
A very fine set of Corpus Nummorum Italicorum, including an original Volume XX, a gift from King Victor Emanuel’s son;
A superb example of Guillaume Du Choul’s 1555-1556 Discours in a handsome full leather binding dated 1558;
A fine original five volume set of Zanetti’s 1775-1789 Nuova Raccolta delle Monete e Zecchi d’Italia;
Du Molinet’s 1692 Le Cabinet de la Bibliotheque de Sainte Genevieve;
Andrea Marmora’s notable 1672 Della Historia di Corfu, with 5 plates of coins;
Paruta & Augustini’s monumental 1723 Sicilia Numismatica;
A fine complete set of Pellerin’s 1762-1778 Recueil de Médailles;
An original four volume set of Serafini’s 1910-1928 Le Monete e le Bolle Plumbee Pontificie del Medagliere Vaticano in the original leather bindings;
Torremuzza’s classic 1781-1791 three part work on the Greek coins of Southern Italy; etc.
About George Frederick Kolbe/Fine Numismatic Books
George Frederick Kolbe/Fine Numismatic Books is the largest and longest currently active rare numismatic literature auction firm in the world. Established in 1967, our first auction was held in 1976 and today we average four auctions per year. While numismatic book auctions are an important part of our business, we also actively buy and sell rare numismatic literature. Our stock of rare numismatic books is among the largest in the world and we are always pleased to receive serious want lists.
