Kolbe & Fanning
Auction 165 3 Dec 2022
View prices realized
► Sale information
Find similar lots
The Patron Saint of Large Cent Collectors
Hatch, Samuel. CATALOGUE OF A COLLECTION OF COINS AND MEDALS, BELONGING TO A GENTLEMAN WHO HAS COLLECTED COINS FOR THE LAST THIRTY YEARS, AND EMBRACING SOME OF THE FINEST AND RAREST UNITED STATES CENTS. Boston, February 14-15, 1866. 8vo, later brown boards, gilt; original printed tan paper covers bound in. 22, (2) pages; 841 lots. Near fine. Accompanied by correspondence about the sale between Bob Vail and John W. Adams. Attinelli (page 43) cites Dr. T. Larkin Turner as the owner of the collection. In a 1994 Penny-Wise article entitled "Patron Saint," John Adams wrote: "if asked to name the first variety collector or the first variety collection sold at auction, most cent enthusiasts would draw a blank... The answer to one question and perhaps both is Dr. T. Larkin Turner. He sold his entire collection at auction on February 14 and 15, 1866. The cents alone occupied most of the second day, with over 600 pieces described in a staggering 395 lots. For sheer numbers, excepting only the disposition of hoards, the Turner collection was not matched until well into the twentieth century... Larkin's collection contained 10 1793s (four chains, 6 wreaths), 34 1794s, six 1799s (including one described Ônot entirely uncirculated' that fetched a lavish $16.00), 29 1800's and so forth... If EAC would like to have a patron saint, Dr. T. Larkin Turner is a reasonable candidate for the office. Why has it taken Dr. Turner so long to file his claim? The auctioneer, Samuel Hatch, was on the obscure side and probably slow to spend his own money on excessive printing. In 20 years, we have encountered only three copies of the Turner catalog and two are in institutions." Only a few others have appeared for sale in the interim. The correspondence here present, two letters from John W. Adams to Bob Vail, reveals that Adams purchased Vail's copy of the Turner catalogue: "The reason for the phone call was to see if you might be willing to sell your copy of the Turner catalog for some outrageous price. The price I have in mind is $1000." The offer was accepted. Ex Kolbe Sale 92, lot 56; ex Jim Neiswinter Library.
Estimate: 300 USD
Hatch, Samuel. CATALOGUE OF A COLLECTION OF COINS AND MEDALS, BELONGING TO A GENTLEMAN WHO HAS COLLECTED COINS FOR THE LAST THIRTY YEARS, AND EMBRACING SOME OF THE FINEST AND RAREST UNITED STATES CENTS. Boston, February 14-15, 1866. 8vo, later brown boards, gilt; original printed tan paper covers bound in. 22, (2) pages; 841 lots. Near fine. Accompanied by correspondence about the sale between Bob Vail and John W. Adams. Attinelli (page 43) cites Dr. T. Larkin Turner as the owner of the collection. In a 1994 Penny-Wise article entitled "Patron Saint," John Adams wrote: "if asked to name the first variety collector or the first variety collection sold at auction, most cent enthusiasts would draw a blank... The answer to one question and perhaps both is Dr. T. Larkin Turner. He sold his entire collection at auction on February 14 and 15, 1866. The cents alone occupied most of the second day, with over 600 pieces described in a staggering 395 lots. For sheer numbers, excepting only the disposition of hoards, the Turner collection was not matched until well into the twentieth century... Larkin's collection contained 10 1793s (four chains, 6 wreaths), 34 1794s, six 1799s (including one described Ônot entirely uncirculated' that fetched a lavish $16.00), 29 1800's and so forth... If EAC would like to have a patron saint, Dr. T. Larkin Turner is a reasonable candidate for the office. Why has it taken Dr. Turner so long to file his claim? The auctioneer, Samuel Hatch, was on the obscure side and probably slow to spend his own money on excessive printing. In 20 years, we have encountered only three copies of the Turner catalog and two are in institutions." Only a few others have appeared for sale in the interim. The correspondence here present, two letters from John W. Adams to Bob Vail, reveals that Adams purchased Vail's copy of the Turner catalogue: "The reason for the phone call was to see if you might be willing to sell your copy of the Turner catalog for some outrageous price. The price I have in mind is $1000." The offer was accepted. Ex Kolbe Sale 92, lot 56; ex Jim Neiswinter Library.
Estimate: 300 USD