HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES MINT AT PHILADELPHIA

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The One Hundred Greatest Items Of United States Numismatic Literature Rank: Number 58

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Clain-Stefanelli 12516, Davis 379, Sigler 823

The constant flow of visitors to the United States Mint, combined with old fashioned American capitalism, ensured that some book of this kind would eventually be created. Naturally it includes an overview of the Mint Cabinet, a tourist magnet in former times, along with history of the Mint operations and coinage. The best selling numismatic book of its era, Evans claimed to have sold over one hundred thousand copies, many distributed along with George Soley medalets struck on the first steam coinage press, and today the breadth of variants is still not fully catalogued. George Kolbe has come the closest, discussing Frank Van Zandt’s collection of 158 copies of Evans, in his 104th sale of November, 2007. Though hardly a paradigm of scholarship, Evans remains a worthy entrant on our list as the most widely known American numismatic work at the close of the nineteenth century.

Note: Due to the myriad of binding combinations, text, number of advertising pages, pagination with regard to portrait plates and other differences, this particular entry will focus on the emission sequence of dated copies. These entries will be listed under their specific year of issue in sequence as learned in an attempt to serialize this bibliographical conundrum.

1885 1^st Edition

EVANS, George G. HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES MINT AT PHILADELPHIA, ILLUSTRATING THE PROCESS OF MELTING, ASSAYING, REFINING AND COINING GOLD AND SILVER, WITH SHORT BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF THE PAST AND PRESENT OFFICERS, TO WHICH ARE ADDED THE LATEST TABLES, SHOWING THE PRODUCTS OF GOLD AND SILVER IN THE DIFFERENT STATES, WITH MONETARY STATISTICS OF THE CIVILIZED WORLD. ILLUSTRATED WITH PHOTOTYPES AND ENGRAVINGS.
Philadelphia: 1885
153pp text, 9pp advertisements, 12 halftone plates
Octavo
Bindings: Available in printed wrappers, cloth and deluxe quarter morocco

1885 New Revised Edition

EVANS, George G. ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES MINT WITH A COMPLETE DESCRIPTION OF AMERICAN COINAGE, FROM THE EARLIEST PERIOD TO THE PRESENT TIME. THE PROCESS OF MELTING, REFINING AND ASSAYING GOLD AND SILVER FULLY DESCRIBED: WITH BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF THOMAS JEFFERSON, ALEXANDER HAMILTON, ROBERT MORRIS, BENJAMIN RUSH, JOHN JAY KNOX, JAMES P. KIMBALL, DANIEL M. FOX, AND THE MINT OFFICERS FROM ITS FOUNDATION TO THE PRESENT. TO WHICH ARE ADDED A GLOSSARY OF MINT TERMS, AND THE LATEST OFFICIAL TABLES OF THE ANNUAL PRODUCTS OF GOLD AND SILVER IN THE DIFFERENT STATES, AND FOREIGN COUNTRIES, WITH MONETARY STATISTICS OF ALL NATIONS. ILLUSTRATED WITH PHOTOTYPES, STEEL PORTRAITS AND WOOD ENGRAVINGS, WITH NUMEROUS PLATES OF PHOTOGRAPHIC REPRODUCTIONS OF RARE AMERICAN COINS, AND PRICE LIST OF THEIR NUMISMATIC VALUE.
Philadelphia: 1885
Octavo
Bindings: Seen in printed wrappers, cloth and deluxe half morocco

1886 Edition

EVANS, George G. ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES MINT WITH A COMPLETE DESCRIPTION OF AMERICAN COINAGE, FROM THE EARLIEST PERIOD TO THE PRESENT TIME. THE PROCESS OF MELTING, REFINING, ASSAYING, AND COINING GOLD AND SILVER FULLY DESCRIBED: WITH BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF THOMAS JEFFERSON, ALEXANDER HAMILTON, ROBERT MORRIS, BENJAMIN RUSH, JOHN JAY KNOX, JAMES P. KIMBALL, DANIEL M. FOX, AND THE MINT OFFICERS FROM ITS FOUNDATION TO THE PRESENT TIME. TO WHICH ARE ADDED A GLOSSARY OF MINT TERMS AND THE LATEST OFFICIAL TABLES OF THE ANNUAL PRODUCTS OF GOLD AND SILVER IN THE DIFFERENT STATES, AND FOREIGN COUNTRIES, WITH MONETARY STATISTICS OF ALL NATIONS. ILLUSTRATED WITH PHOTOTYPES, STEEL PLATE PORTRAITS AND WOOD ENGRAVINGS, WITH NUMEROUS PLATES OF PHOTOGRAPHIC REPRODUCTIONS OF RARE AMERICAN COINS, AND PRICE LIST OF THEIR NUMISMATIC VALUE.
Philadelphia: 1886
Octavo
Bindings: Seen in printed wrappers, cloth and deluxe brown half morocco

12/7/1886: Brown cloth, paneled and decorated in blind, gilt tile, 1849 double eagle cover device, Washington medal frontis, 162pp text, 3pp adv, 24 plates, 4 portrait plates of John Jay Knox, David Rittenhouse, Daniel Fox, Mint building

1887 Edition

Philadelphia: 1887
Octavo
Bindings: Seen in printed wrappers, cloth and deluxe brown half morocco

1888 Edition

Philadelphia: 1888
Octavo
Bindings: Seen in printed wrappers and cloth

7/26/1888: Brown cloth, paneled and decorated in blind, gilt tile, 1849 double eagle cover device, Washington medal frontis, 160pp text, 11pp adv, 24 plates, 2 portrait plates of Daniel Fox, Mint building

1/30/1889: Brown cloth, paneled and decorated in blind, gilt tile, 1849 double eagle cover device, Washington medal frontis, 160pp text, 10pp adv, 24 plates, 2 portrait plates of Daniel Fox, Mint building

1889 Edition

Philadelphia: 1889
Octavo
Bindings: Seen in cloth

1890 Edition

EVANS, George G. ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES MINT WITH A COMPLETE DESCRIPTION OF AMERICAN COINAGE, FROM THE EARLIEST PERIOD TO THE PRESENT TIME. THE PROCESS OF MELTING, REFINING, ASSAYING, AND COINING GOLD AND SILVER FULLY DESCRIBED: WITH BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF THOMAS JEFFERSON, ALEXANDER HAMILTON, ROBERT MORRIS, BENJAMIN RUSH, JOHN JAY KNOX, JAMES P. KIMBALL, DANIEL M. FOX, EDWARD O. LEECH, OLIVER C. BOSBYSHELL, AND THE MINT OFFICERS FROM ITS FOUNDATION TO THE PRESENT TIME. TO WHICH ARE ADDED A GLOSSARY OF MINT TERMS AND THE LATEST OFFICIAL TABLES OF THE ANNUAL PRODUCTS OF GOLD AND SILVER IN THE DIFFERENT STATES, AND FOREIGN COUNTRIES, WITH MONETARY STATISTICS OF ALL NATIONS. ILLUSTRATED WITH PHOTOTYPES, STEEL PLATE PORTRAITS AND WOOD ENGRAVINGS, WITH NUMEROUS PLATES OF PHOTOGRAPHIC REPRODUCTIONS OF RARE AMERICAN COINS, WITH LIST OF COINS THAT COMMAND PREMIUMS.
Philadelphia: 1890
Octavo
Bindings: Seen in printed wrappers and cloth

1891 Edition

Philadelphia: 1891
Octavo
Bindings: Seen in printed wrappers and cloth, possibly a dlx leather

7/27/1891: Orange pebbled cloth, paneled in blind, gilt tile, eagle device. Washington medal frontis, 153pp, 12pp adv, 24 plates, 4 portrait plates of Edward Leech, Oliver C. Bosbyshell, Steel vault, Mint building

8/3/1891: Blue cloth, paneled in blind, gilt tile, eagle device. Washington medal frontis, 153pp, 12pp adv, 24 plates, 4 portrait plates of Edward Leech, Oliver C. Bosbyshell, Steel vault, Mint building

9/24/1891: Navy cloth, paneled in blind, gilt tile, eagle device. Washington medal frontis, 153pp, 12pp adv, 24 plates, 4 portrait plates of Edward Leech, Oliver C. Bosbyshell, Steel vault, Mint building

12/30/1891: Blue cloth, paneled in blind, gilt tile, eagle device. Washington medal frontis, 153pp, 12pp adv, 24 plates, 4 portrait plates of Edward Leech, Oliver C. Bosbyshell, Steel vault, Mint building

1892 Edition

EVANS, George G. ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES MINT WITH A COMPLETE DESCRIPTION OF AMERICAN COINAGE, FROM THE EARLIEST PERIOD TO THE PRESENT TIME. THE PROCESS OF MELTING, REFINING, ASSAYING, AND COINING GOLD AND SILVER FULLY DESCRIBED: WITH BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF THOMAS JEFFERSON, ALEXANDER HAMILTON, ROBERT MORRIS, BENJAMIN RUSH, JOHN JAY KNOX, JAMES P. KIMBALL, DANIEL M. FOX, EDWARD O. LEECH, OLIVER C. BOSBYSHELL, AND THE MINT OFFICERS FROM ITS FOUNDATION TO THE PRESENT TIME. TO WHICH ARE ADDED A GLOSSARY OF MINT TERMS AND THE LATEST OFFICIAL TABLES OF THE ANNUAL PRODUCTS OF GOLD AND SILVER IN THE DIFFERENT STATES, AND FOREIGN COUNTRIES, WITH MONETARY STATISTICS OF ALL NATIONS. ILLUSTRATED WITH PHOTOTYPES, STEEL PLATE PORTRAITS AND WOOD ENGRAVINGS, WITH NUMEROUS PLATES OF PHOTOGRAPHIC REPRODUCTIONS OF RARE AMERICAN COINS, WITH LIST OF COINS THAT COMMAND PREMIUMS.
Philadelphia: 1892
Octavo
Bindings: Seen in printed wrappers and cloth

1892 Centennial Edition

EVANS, George G. ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES MINT WITH SHORT HISTORICAL SKETCHES AND ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE BRANCH MINTS AND ASSAY OFFICES, AND A COMPLETE DESCRIPTION OF AMERICAN COINAGE FROM THE EARLIEST PERIOD TO THE PRESENT TIME; THE PROCESS OF MELTING, REFINING, ASSAYING, AND COINING GOLD AND SILVER BEING FULLY DESCRIBED WITH BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OFTHE MINT OFFICERS FROM ITS FOUNDATION TO THE PRESENT TIME. TO WHICH ARE ADDED A GLOSSARY OFMINT TERMS AND THE LATEST OFFICIAL TABLES OF THE OPERATIONS OF THE DIFFERENT MINTS AND ASSAY OFFICES, SHOWING THE ANNUAL PRODUCTS OF GOLD AND SILVER IN THE UNITED STATES AND FOREIGN COUNTRIES, WITH MONETARY STATISTICS OF THE WORLD. WITH PHOTO-ILLUSTRATIONS AND FINE ENGRAVINGS AND THIRTY-TWO PLATES OF RARE COINS.
Philadelphia: 1892
Octavo
Bindings: Seen in printed wrappers, cloth and deluxe reddish-brown half morocco

1893 Edition

EVANS, George G. ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES MINT WITH SHORT HISTORICAL SKETCHES AND ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE BRANCH MINTS AND ASSAY OFFICES, AND A COMPLETE DESCRIPTION OF AMERICAN COINAGE FROM THE EARLIEST PERIOD TO THE PRESENT TIME; THE PROCESS OF MELTING, REFINING, ASSAYING, AND COINING GOLD AND SILVER BEING FULLY DESCRIBED WITH BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF THE MINT OFFICERS FROM ITS FOUNDATION TO THE PRESENT TIME. TO WHICH ARE ADDED A GLOSSARY OF MINT TERMS AND THE LATEST OFFICIAL TABLES OF THE OPERATIONS OF THE DIFFERENT MINTS AND ASSAY OFFICES, SHOWING THE ANNUAL PRODUCTS OF GOLD AND SILVER IN THE UNITED STATES AND FOREIGN COUNTRIES, WITH MONETARY STATISTICS OF THE WORLD. WITH PHOTO-ILLUSTRATIONS AND FINE ENGRAVINGS AND TWENTY-FOUR PLATES OF RARE COINS.
Philadelphia: 1893
Octavo
Bindings: Seen in printed wrappers and cloth

1894 Edition

Philadelphia: 1894
Octavo
Bindings: Seen in printed wrappers and cloth

1896 Edition

Philadelphia: 1896
Octavo
Bindings: Seen in cloth

1897 Edition

EVANS, George G. ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES MINT WITH SHORT HISTORICAL SKETCHES AND ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE BRANCH MINTS AND ASSAY OFFICES, AND A COMPLETE DESCRIPTION OF AMERICAN COINAGE FROM THE EARLIEST PERIOD TO THE PRESENT TIME: THE PROCESS OF MELTING, REFINING, ASSAYING, AND COINING GOLD AND SILVER BEING FULLY DESCRIBED AND ILLUSTRATED. WITH BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF THE MINT OFFICERS FROM ITS FOUNDATION TO THE PRESENT TIME. TO WHICH ARE ADDED A GLOSSARY OF MINT TERMS AND THE LATEST OFFICIAL TABLES SHOWING THE FLUCTUATIONS IN THE PRICE OF SILVER FOR THE PAST SEVENTY YEARS. THE OPERATIONS OF THE DIFFERENT MINTS AND ASSAY OFFICES SINCE THEIR ESTABLISHMENT, SHOWING THE ANNUAL PRODUCTS OF GOLD AND SILVER IN THE UNITED STATES AND FOREIGN COUNTRIES, WITH MONETARY STATISTICS FROM 1792 TO JULY 1, 1896. WITH PHOTO-ILLUSTRATIONS OF RARE COINS.
Philadelphia: 1897
Octavo
Bindings: Seen in printed wrappers and cloth

1898 Edition

Philadelphia: 1898
Octavo
Bindings: Seen in cloth

1901 Edition

Philadelphia: 1901
Octavo
Bindings: Seen in cloth

References

FANNING, David F. Auction 3, December 3, 2009
KOLBE, George Frederick. Mail Bid Sale 40, June 5, 1989
KOLBE, George Frederick. Mail Bid Sale 104, November 1, 2007