HEATH’S INFALLIBLE COUNTERFEIT DETECTOR AT SIGHT

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The One Hundred Greatest Items Of United States Numismatic Literature Rank: Number 98

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Clain-Stefanelli 13629, Davis 488, Sigler 1192

Heath’s Detector series bears many similarities to Evans' History Of The United States Mint At Philadelphia (#58). Both relied on the good graces of friends in the government, both were published in very large numbers, and both come in a tangled web of variants. Playing on the legitimate public fear of counterfeiting, Heath managed to convince any number of government agencies to supply him with actual currency samples (partially defaced) which were collected into thin volumes and accompanied by a discussion of the production of genuine and fake currency. Some editions also included proofs produced from counterfeit plates, allowing for immediate comparison of the authentic and specious articles. The public was wildly receptive, but Heath would have done well to collect his winnings and exit the scene, for much of his success was reversed when he attempted to expand the series into the field of counterfeit bonds. In American Numismatic Literature. An Annotated Survey Of Auction Sales, (#44) Davis gives five pages to exploring the variants, while Eric Newman in 1991 contributed the excellent “Heath’s Counterfeit Detectors: An Extraordinarily Successful Comedy of Errors” to the The American Numismatic Association Centennial Anthology.

Pocket Edition

HEATH, Laban. HEATH’S INFALLIBLE COUNTERFEIT DETECTOR AT SIGHT. THE ONLY INFALLIBLE METHOD OF DETECTING COUNTERFEIT, SPURIOUS AND ALTERED BANK-NOTES, AND APPLICABLE TO ALL BANKS IN THE UNITED STATES AND CANADAS, AS NOW IN CIRCULATION, OR THAT MAY BE ISSUED, WITH GENUINE BANK-NOTE DESIGNS, BY THE AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY, NEW YORK AND BOSTON, et al.
Boston: 1864 - 1889; (1^st - 3^rd; 10^th - 15^th Editions)
Sextodecimo: 16.5 x 11 cm
Hardbound: Varying colors of cloth including, but not limited to; brown, green, red, and black, decorated and lettered in gilt

Attributed as Newman [edition]-P(-h)-[variant] (Horizontal Lettering), Newman [edition]-P-s-[variant] (Sideways Lettering)

Household Edition

HEATH, Laban. HOUSEHOLD EDITION. THE UNITED STATES COUNTERFEIT DETECTOR AND TEACHERS GUIDE. THE ONLY CORRECT METHOD OF DETECTING COUNTERFEIT, SPURIOUS AND ALTERED BANK-NOTES, ETC., ETC., APPLICABLE TO ALL BANKS IN THE UNITED STATES AND CANADAS, WITH GENUINE DESIGNS.
Boston: 1870
Sextodecimo: 17 x 11 cm
Hardbound: Differing cloth (green and brown known), printed paper boards (also differing in color).

Attributed as Newman HH-[variant]

Banking & Counting House Edition

HEATH, Laban. HEATH'S GREATLY IMPROVED AND ENLARGED INFALLIBLE GOVERNMENT COUNTERFEIT DETECTOR, AT SIGHT. THE ONLY INFALLIBLE METHOD OF DETECTING COUNTERFEIT, SPURIOUS AND ALTERED BANK-NOTES, GOVERNMENT BONDS, ETC., APPLICABLE TO ALL BANKS IN THE UNITED STATES AND CANADAS, AS NOW IN CIRCULATION OR THAT MAY BE ISSUED, WITH GENUINE DESIGNS FROM THE ORIGINAL GOVERNMENT PLATES. BY AUTHORITY FROM THE UNITED STATES TREASURY DEPARTMENT, AND THE AMERICAN, NATIONAL, AND CONTINENTAL BANK NOTE COS., NEW YORK AND BOSTON, BANKING AND COUNTING HOUSE EDITION, et al.
Boston: 1886 - 1887; (2^nd - 4^th; 12^th, 13^th Editions)
Quarto: 28.5 x 19 cm
Hardbound: Varying colors of cloth including, but not limited to; brown, green, red, and black, decorated and lettered in gilt. Also issued as deluxe presentation copies.

Attributed as Newman [edition]-BH-[variant]

Some available bindings of Heath's Banking Edition Counterfeit Detector. Photos courtesy of Heritage.

Deluxe leather presentation Banking & Counting House edition. Photos courtesy of Michael Sullivan Numismatic Library.

References

NEWMAN, Eric P. "Heath’s Counterfeit Detectors: An Extraordinarily Successful Comedy of Errors" in THE AMERICAN NUMISMATIC ASSOCIATION CENTENNIAL ANTHOLOGY, pages 261-277. Wolfesboro, NH: Bowers & Merena, 1991
DAVIS, Charles. AMERICAN NUMISMATIC LITERATURE. AN ANNOTATED SURVEY OF AUCTION SALES. Quarterman, 1992.
COLLINS, Jack. CATALOGUE OF AN IMPORTANT NUMISMATIC LIBARY. South Gate, CA: October 1, 1983
George Frederick Kolbe, Fine Numismatic Books. MAIL BID SALE 44: THE JOHN W. ADAMS LIBRARY. Crestline, CA: June 1, 1990
George Frederick Kolbe, Fine Numismatic Books. THE HARRY W. BASS, JR. NUMISMATIC LIBRARY, Parts 1–4.. Crestline, CA: 1998–2000.
George Frederick Kolbe, Fine Numismatic Books; in association with Stack's. NUMISMATICA AMERICANA: THE JOHN J. FORD, JR. REFERENCE LIBRARY, Parts 1-2., Riverside & Long Beach, CA: 2004-2005.