Kolbe & Fanning
Auction 165 3 Dec 2022
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Benjamin Betts on John Law Medals
Betts, Benjamin. A DESCRIPTIVE LIST OF THE MEDALS RELATING TO JOHN LAW AND THE MISSISSIPPI SYSTEM, WITH AN ATTEMPT AT A BRIEF TRANSLATION OF THEIR LEGENDS AND INSCRIPTIONS (WITH NOTES), AND A BRIEF SKETCH OF THE SYSTEM AND ITS ORIGINATOR. (Boston): Privately Printed, 1907. Small 4to, original dark gray cloth, gilt. (2), 77, (1) pages; title printed in red and black; fine frontispiece portrait of Law; fine map plate; fine caricature facsimile plate; bank note illustration plate; 5 lithographic plates of medals. Spine worn; old fold; very good. A very scarce work, being one of a very small number of copies reprinted from the American Journal of Numismatics. Thirty-eight Law medals are depicted and painstakingly described, preceded by a description of the Mississippi System, about which the author states: "the magnificent financial scheme originated by John Law... was perhaps one of the most striking examples of national delusions furnished by modern history." Far more comprehensive than C. Wyllys Betts in this area. Clain-Stefanelli 15024. Sigler 229.
Estimate: 300 USD
Betts, Benjamin. A DESCRIPTIVE LIST OF THE MEDALS RELATING TO JOHN LAW AND THE MISSISSIPPI SYSTEM, WITH AN ATTEMPT AT A BRIEF TRANSLATION OF THEIR LEGENDS AND INSCRIPTIONS (WITH NOTES), AND A BRIEF SKETCH OF THE SYSTEM AND ITS ORIGINATOR. (Boston): Privately Printed, 1907. Small 4to, original dark gray cloth, gilt. (2), 77, (1) pages; title printed in red and black; fine frontispiece portrait of Law; fine map plate; fine caricature facsimile plate; bank note illustration plate; 5 lithographic plates of medals. Spine worn; old fold; very good. A very scarce work, being one of a very small number of copies reprinted from the American Journal of Numismatics. Thirty-eight Law medals are depicted and painstakingly described, preceded by a description of the Mississippi System, about which the author states: "the magnificent financial scheme originated by John Law... was perhaps one of the most striking examples of national delusions furnished by modern history." Far more comprehensive than C. Wyllys Betts in this area. Clain-Stefanelli 15024. Sigler 229.
Estimate: 300 USD