Kolbe & Fanning
Auction 164 27 Aug 2022
View prices realized
► Sale information
Find similar lots
Lester Merkin's Copy of the Mickley Sale
Woodward, W. Elliot. CATALOGUE OF THE NUMISMATIC COLLECTION FORMED BY JOSEPH J. MICKLEY, ESQ., OF PHILADELPHIA... New York: Leavitt, Strebeigh, October 28-November 2, 1867. 8vo, later red cloth, gilt; original printed paper covers bound in. 196 pages; 3349 lots. Hand-priced in ink. Errata slip affixed to page 196. Handwritten notes on buyers of patterns, along with photocopy of named prices realized list, laid in. Near fine. Adams 17. Quite scarce, and of the utmost importance. Adams refers to this as "Perhaps the greatest U.S. collection," a superlative that seems entirely justified. Woodward's tenth and final Semi-Annual Sale, the Mickley auction was followed by an 11-year absence of Woodward from the numismatic scene (the two catalogues in his series during this period having been catalogued by Strobridge). Perhaps he felt that nothing could surpass the Mickley collection: an understandable feeling. The sale featured astounding rarities and brought very strong prices (Attinelli states that the $750 brought by the 1804 dollar was "Probably the highest sum ever paid in this country for a single coin"). Adams rated A+ overall (A in large cents, half cents, colonials, medals, literature, patterns, proofs, early silver, Washington, comments and British). Attinelli 48-49. Davis 1158. Ex Lester Merkin Library (Kolbe Sale 18, lot 348); ex Kolbe Sale
(Estimate: $250)
Woodward, W. Elliot. CATALOGUE OF THE NUMISMATIC COLLECTION FORMED BY JOSEPH J. MICKLEY, ESQ., OF PHILADELPHIA... New York: Leavitt, Strebeigh, October 28-November 2, 1867. 8vo, later red cloth, gilt; original printed paper covers bound in. 196 pages; 3349 lots. Hand-priced in ink. Errata slip affixed to page 196. Handwritten notes on buyers of patterns, along with photocopy of named prices realized list, laid in. Near fine. Adams 17. Quite scarce, and of the utmost importance. Adams refers to this as "Perhaps the greatest U.S. collection," a superlative that seems entirely justified. Woodward's tenth and final Semi-Annual Sale, the Mickley auction was followed by an 11-year absence of Woodward from the numismatic scene (the two catalogues in his series during this period having been catalogued by Strobridge). Perhaps he felt that nothing could surpass the Mickley collection: an understandable feeling. The sale featured astounding rarities and brought very strong prices (Attinelli states that the $750 brought by the 1804 dollar was "Probably the highest sum ever paid in this country for a single coin"). Adams rated A+ overall (A in large cents, half cents, colonials, medals, literature, patterns, proofs, early silver, Washington, comments and British). Attinelli 48-49. Davis 1158. Ex Lester Merkin Library (Kolbe Sale 18, lot 348); ex Kolbe Sale
(Estimate: $250)