A HISTORIC SKETCH OF THE COINS OF NEW JERSEY
From NBSwiki
The One Hundred Greatest Items Of United States Numismatic Literature Rank: Number 18
Clain-Stefanelli 12225*, Davis 655, Sigler 1683
The bane of the small bookshelf, Maris’ 18.5” x 12” folio-sized tome would more properly be titled A Plate of New Jersey Coins with a Historic Sketch, for the ginormous plate, presented in two facing pages, is immediately the focus of the bibliophile. With 140 obverses and reverses depicted, a nineteenth century collector could immediately begin attribution of New Jersey coppers with the Maris plate at hand. (Further discussion of this plate is found in The Colonial Newsletter, August 2003, serial no. 123.) The remainder of the volume includes the four page “sketch,” while ten are dedicated to detailing the die varieties and evaluating the rarity thereof. Maris, an ANS member, gifted a copy with matching slipcase to the ANS in 1881, which remains in the library today. Maris was proud of the work – when, in 1885, he offered his collection of New Jersey coinage en bloc to T. Harrison Garrett, he noted that “one of my finest books” would accompany the cabinet, perhaps a copy similar to that of the ANS Library.
Advertising Flyer
Photo courtesy of George Frederick Kolbe - Fine Numismatic Books.
New York: Lyman Low, October 1886
1pp
Octavo: 21.5 x 13.5 cm
1st Edition
Photo courtesy of Kolbe & Fanning Numismatic Booksellers.
MARIS, Edward. A HISTORIC SKETCH OF THE COINS OF NEW JERSEY, WITH A PLATE CONTAINING SPECIMENS OF THE MARK NEWBIE COPPERS, AND THE ISSUES OF 1786-7-8: WITH THE OBVERSES, REVERSES AND COMBINATIONS OF THE DIFFERENT VARIETIES OF THE LATTER; AND A DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISTINCTIVE DIFFERENCES AND RARITY.
Philadelphia: 1881, Printed by William K. Bellows, 1881
16pp, 1 double-page Phototype plate
Elephant Folio: 48.5 x 30 cm
Hardbound: Maroon-brown blind-stamped cloth, lettered in gilt. Also known in morocco grained dark blue cloth. [1]
1962 Reprint
Photo courtesy of Ray Williams.
Unidentified Reprint
16pp, 1 fold-out plate
Quarto
Hardbound: Maroon Cloth
Inferior quality reproduction plate
1965 Reprint
Photo courtesy of Charles Davis Numismatic Literature.
n.p.: Ken Morrison, 1965
16pp, 1 8.5 x 11" Photographic plate
Quarto
Softbound: Yellow card covers
1974 Reprint
Photo courtesy of Mark Borckardt Numismatic Library.
Photo courtesy of Charles Davis Numismatic Literature.
Lawrence, MA: Quarterman Publications, 1974
21pp, 1 Photographic double-page plate
Folio
Hardbound: Blue cloth, lettered in gilt, dust jacket
Considered the best of the reprints with both format and plate quality.
An introduction by Walter Breen is not present in all copies.
1981 Reprint
New York, NY: Sanford J. Durst, 1981
17pp, 1 fold-out plate
Octavo
Softbound: White card covers
“The 1981 card covered reprint is simply an insult to the dignity of this work.” [2]
1987 Reprint
Photo courtesy of NBS Member.
Glen Rock, NJ: CFG Publications, 1987
17pp, 1 double page plate
Folio: 42 X 28cm
Hardbound: Dark green pebbled cloth, lettered in gilt
“This reprint is also faithful to the original in terms of size and quality.” [2]
1987 Reprint Plate
Photo courtesy of Mark Borckardt Numismatic Library.
Glen Rock, NJ: Bruce Kesse, 1987
Reprint plate only, 22 x 28cm
1988 Reprint
Photo courtesy of Mark Borckardt Numismatic Library.
Glen Rock, NJ: Bruce Kesse, 1988
22pp, 1 double-sided plate
Oblong Octavo
Hardbound: Navy blue cloth, lettered in gilt
References
- ↑ George Frederick Kolbe The Harry W. Bass, Jr. Numismatic Library, Parts 1–4. September 25, 1999, Lot 275
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Charles Davis, American Numismatic Literature. An Annotated Survey Of Auction Sales, Quarterman, 1992.