Kolbe & Fanning
Auction 160 22 May 2021
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The Very Rare F.R. Alvord Sale with Plates
Chapman, S.H. THE SUPERLATIVE COLLECTION OF UNITED STATES HALF CENTS, COMPLETE IN ALL DATES AND VARIETIES OF THE LATE F.R. ALVORD, ESQ. YORK, PENNA. Philadelphia: Davis & Harvey, June 9, 1924. 8vo, bound by Alan Grace in ivory half calf, original gilt-printed white paper covers mounted to front and back; spine ruled and lettered in gilt, including Armand Champa's name at base. 20, (2) pages; 255 lots; 5 very fine photographic plates of half cents, mounted on linen and with tissue interleaves. Original printed prices realized list tipped in. Fine or nearly so, and housed in an accompanying slipcase. Adams 28. A well-preserved example of this rare catalogue, in its original state. Only two dozen copies were issued with plates and considerably fewer copies appear to have survived the intervening years. Our census is as follows (in no particular order): 1. The first Harry W. Bass, Jr. copy, in original paper covers with prices realized list. Sold in Kolbe Sale 75 (lot 92) at $2500. 2. The second Harry W. Bass, Jr. copy, now in maroon cloth, priced in black ink, also with prices realized list. Most recently sold in Kolbe & Fanning's 2018 New York Book Auction (lot 347), ex William A. Burd Library, for $1500; ex Kolbe & Fanning Sale 137 (lot 55) at $1700; ex Harry W. Bass, Jr. Library (Kolbe Sale 78, lot 151) at $2600, after which sale it was rebound; ex George Fuld Library (Katen Sale 37, part of lot 907). 3. The John W. Adams copy, in original paper covers with prices realized list tipped in. Most recently sold in Kolbe & Fanning's Sale 150 (lot 91) at $1500. 4. The Colonel E.H.R. Green copy, in blue half morocco priced in blue pencil. Last sold in Kolbe Sale 107 (lot 46) at $4250; ex John J. Ford, Jr. Library (Kolbe Sale 93, lot 353 at $5500); ex Colonel E.H.R. Green Library. 5. The Armand Champa copy, bound in full calf with prices realized list. Last sold in Part I of the Bowers/Davis sale of the Champa Library (lot 159) at $1700 hammer. It is possible that this is either copy 7 or 8 below, rebound for Champa by Alan Grace. 6. The present lot. A second Armand Champa copy, bound in half calf with card covers trimmed and mounted to sides, prices realized list tipped in. It is also possible that this is either copy 7 or 8 below, rebound for Champa by Alan Grace. 7. The Richard Picker copy, in crimson cloth with prices realized list. Sold in Kolbe Sale 18 (lot 261) at $1800. 8. The Theodore Louis Craige copy, in the original paper covers with the prices realized list tipped in. Sold in Kolbe Sale 14 (lot 897) at $2100. 9. The Dan Hamelberg copy, in the original paper covers, priced in ink. Acquired privately from Jack Collins; ex Kolbe Sale 19 (lot 70) at $1300. 10. The ANS Library copy. Adams A: "Arguably the best collection ever of half cents: complete original proofs." Little appears to be known about Frederick Reed Alvord, but the superb photographic illustrations of his half cents present here testify elegantly to the magnificence of his collection. Davis 231. Ex Armand Champa Library; ex Roger Persichilli Library.
Chapman, S.H. THE SUPERLATIVE COLLECTION OF UNITED STATES HALF CENTS, COMPLETE IN ALL DATES AND VARIETIES OF THE LATE F.R. ALVORD, ESQ. YORK, PENNA. Philadelphia: Davis & Harvey, June 9, 1924. 8vo, bound by Alan Grace in ivory half calf, original gilt-printed white paper covers mounted to front and back; spine ruled and lettered in gilt, including Armand Champa's name at base. 20, (2) pages; 255 lots; 5 very fine photographic plates of half cents, mounted on linen and with tissue interleaves. Original printed prices realized list tipped in. Fine or nearly so, and housed in an accompanying slipcase. Adams 28. A well-preserved example of this rare catalogue, in its original state. Only two dozen copies were issued with plates and considerably fewer copies appear to have survived the intervening years. Our census is as follows (in no particular order): 1. The first Harry W. Bass, Jr. copy, in original paper covers with prices realized list. Sold in Kolbe Sale 75 (lot 92) at $2500. 2. The second Harry W. Bass, Jr. copy, now in maroon cloth, priced in black ink, also with prices realized list. Most recently sold in Kolbe & Fanning's 2018 New York Book Auction (lot 347), ex William A. Burd Library, for $1500; ex Kolbe & Fanning Sale 137 (lot 55) at $1700; ex Harry W. Bass, Jr. Library (Kolbe Sale 78, lot 151) at $2600, after which sale it was rebound; ex George Fuld Library (Katen Sale 37, part of lot 907). 3. The John W. Adams copy, in original paper covers with prices realized list tipped in. Most recently sold in Kolbe & Fanning's Sale 150 (lot 91) at $1500. 4. The Colonel E.H.R. Green copy, in blue half morocco priced in blue pencil. Last sold in Kolbe Sale 107 (lot 46) at $4250; ex John J. Ford, Jr. Library (Kolbe Sale 93, lot 353 at $5500); ex Colonel E.H.R. Green Library. 5. The Armand Champa copy, bound in full calf with prices realized list. Last sold in Part I of the Bowers/Davis sale of the Champa Library (lot 159) at $1700 hammer. It is possible that this is either copy 7 or 8 below, rebound for Champa by Alan Grace. 6. The present lot. A second Armand Champa copy, bound in half calf with card covers trimmed and mounted to sides, prices realized list tipped in. It is also possible that this is either copy 7 or 8 below, rebound for Champa by Alan Grace. 7. The Richard Picker copy, in crimson cloth with prices realized list. Sold in Kolbe Sale 18 (lot 261) at $1800. 8. The Theodore Louis Craige copy, in the original paper covers with the prices realized list tipped in. Sold in Kolbe Sale 14 (lot 897) at $2100. 9. The Dan Hamelberg copy, in the original paper covers, priced in ink. Acquired privately from Jack Collins; ex Kolbe Sale 19 (lot 70) at $1300. 10. The ANS Library copy. Adams A: "Arguably the best collection ever of half cents: complete original proofs." Little appears to be known about Frederick Reed Alvord, but the superb photographic illustrations of his half cents present here testify elegantly to the magnificence of his collection. Davis 231. Ex Armand Champa Library; ex Roger Persichilli Library.