Watch List notes:

Newlin, Harold P. A CLASSIFICATION OF THE EARLY HALF-DIMES OF THE UNITED STATES. WITH A FEW REMARKS ON THEIR TYPES, VARIETIES, RARITY, ETC., ETC. Philadelphia: John W. Haseltine, 1883 [c. 1905–1910]. First edition, second issue [see comments]. Squared 8vo [24.5 by 20 cm], original crimson pebbled cloth, upper cover lettered in gilt; sides with beveled edges; chocolate endpapers. 23, (1) pages [last page blank; 2 typescript leaves, bound in on either side of 2 facing photographic plates of coins with remnants of original intersecting protective tissue guard. Hand-lettered spine label affixed with clear tape; very good or better. An unusual issue of one of the rarities of American numismatic literature. The plates were originally prepared to accompany the April 10, 1883 auction of Newlin's collection, but none were actually issued with the sale catalogue. Two distinct varieties of this work exist: one with 23, the other with 24 pages of text. In the latter variety, most of page 24 is devoted to a report of the prices realized at the April sale of the coins depicted on the two plates. One would assume that these are the first and second issues respectively, and, as far as the text is concerned, this is doubtless the case. The opposite is true, however, of plated copies. In the review of the plated edition found in the January 1884 issue of the American Journal of Numismatics, twenty-four pages of text is specifically mentioned. The emission sequence appears to be: 1) first printing of the text only, 23 pages, issued in 1883 in printed paper covers; 2) second printing of the text, 24 pages, issued in 1883 hardbound, accompanied by 2 heliotype plates; 3) first printing of the text, combined at the turn of the century or slightly later with photographic reproductions of the two plates and 2 typescript leaves of additions. The first typescript sheet consists of prices realized for the plate coins and the second sheet features a description of a new 1795 half dime variety discovered in 1900 by Charles Steigerwalt. Though its origins are shrouded in mystery, the plated early 20th-century issue offered here is indeed a great rarity, appearing on the market far less often than the 24-page 1883 issue, of which it is known that only 40 copies were issued with plates. Clain-Stefanelli 12327. Davis 771. Ex Louis E. Elisaberg, Sr. Library; ex Richard A. Eliasberg Library.