Kolbe & Fanning
Auction 160 22 May 2021
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Boyd's Set of Kosoff's Early Sales
Kosoff, A., and Abner Kreisberg [Numismatic Gallery]. AUCTION SALE CATALOGUES. NUMBERS 1–28. New York, 1940–1944. A complete run of twenty-eight catalogues, bound in four volumes. Three 8vo, one 4to, original matching black cloth, gilt; original printed card covers bound in throughout; prices realized lists for all sales except the first, as usual, bound in. Fine. Special Collected Hardbound Edition. Ex F.C.C. Boyd, with his name stamped in gilt at the base of the upper covers. All but the first volume is inscribed by Kosoff. Only a few of these sets, bound in groups by Kosoff at the time, were issued. Though lacking the panache of his later emissions, these early catalogues reveal two factors contributing to Kosoff's success: hard work and great ambition. A third, his fabled interpersonal skills, is perhaps best understood in a response often related by John Ford. It goes something like this: John, you don't necessarily need to know everything about a coin, you just need to know the person to whom you are selling it. Notably present here are the long series of Julius Guttag sales and the Higgy sale, considered by Kosoff to be the beginning of the modern coin market. Also included is a 4-page handwritten letter from Homer K. Downing to "Pvt. J.J. Ford, Jr.," stationed at Fort Monmouth, in the original mailing envelope, postmarked February 21, 1943, concerning Kosoff's February 27, 1943 sale, noting that Downing "Went down to 50th St. today and checked up on all the lots we are interested in..." After discussing the merits of several large cents, Downing goes on to provide his appraisal of a number of numismatic books of interest to Ford, including a near complete set of the American Journal of Numismatics, and a number of plated catalogues. These were the days when plated copies of Elder's Woodin and Gschwend sales were sold as a single lot, bringing all of $2.75 according to the prices realized list. Downing seeks Ford's advice on a number of lots in the sale and also notes that he "Can buy a brand new copy of Maris Jersey Cents from H.C.H. [Hines]. What is it worth. Let me know soon while he is in the mood. He also has a Gem Silver Proof Set of 1864... What should I give him for it?" A postcard from Abe Kosoff dated August 27, 1943, addressed to "Pvt. Ford," is also present, advising him that his "copies of the Higgy catalog were mailed out on August 19th and should have reached Rockville Centre by this time." Ex John J. Ford, Jr. Library (Kolbe Sale 93, lot 626, at $900 hammer); ex John Dannreuther Library.
Kosoff, A., and Abner Kreisberg [Numismatic Gallery]. AUCTION SALE CATALOGUES. NUMBERS 1–28. New York, 1940–1944. A complete run of twenty-eight catalogues, bound in four volumes. Three 8vo, one 4to, original matching black cloth, gilt; original printed card covers bound in throughout; prices realized lists for all sales except the first, as usual, bound in. Fine. Special Collected Hardbound Edition. Ex F.C.C. Boyd, with his name stamped in gilt at the base of the upper covers. All but the first volume is inscribed by Kosoff. Only a few of these sets, bound in groups by Kosoff at the time, were issued. Though lacking the panache of his later emissions, these early catalogues reveal two factors contributing to Kosoff's success: hard work and great ambition. A third, his fabled interpersonal skills, is perhaps best understood in a response often related by John Ford. It goes something like this: John, you don't necessarily need to know everything about a coin, you just need to know the person to whom you are selling it. Notably present here are the long series of Julius Guttag sales and the Higgy sale, considered by Kosoff to be the beginning of the modern coin market. Also included is a 4-page handwritten letter from Homer K. Downing to "Pvt. J.J. Ford, Jr.," stationed at Fort Monmouth, in the original mailing envelope, postmarked February 21, 1943, concerning Kosoff's February 27, 1943 sale, noting that Downing "Went down to 50th St. today and checked up on all the lots we are interested in..." After discussing the merits of several large cents, Downing goes on to provide his appraisal of a number of numismatic books of interest to Ford, including a near complete set of the American Journal of Numismatics, and a number of plated catalogues. These were the days when plated copies of Elder's Woodin and Gschwend sales were sold as a single lot, bringing all of $2.75 according to the prices realized list. Downing seeks Ford's advice on a number of lots in the sale and also notes that he "Can buy a brand new copy of Maris Jersey Cents from H.C.H. [Hines]. What is it worth. Let me know soon while he is in the mood. He also has a Gem Silver Proof Set of 1864... What should I give him for it?" A postcard from Abe Kosoff dated August 27, 1943, addressed to "Pvt. Ford," is also present, advising him that his "copies of the Higgy catalog were mailed out on August 19th and should have reached Rockville Centre by this time." Ex John J. Ford, Jr. Library (Kolbe Sale 93, lot 626, at $900 hammer); ex John Dannreuther Library.