THE W.F. DUNHAM COLLECTION
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The One Hundred Greatest Items Of United States Numismatic Literature Rank: Number 75
Adams 97, Clain-Stefanelli 12379, Davis 685, Gengerke 97
The only Mehl emission to appear on our list (the author informally lobbied for Mehl’s Star Rare Coin Encyclopedia, which finished 114th), this sale crowned Mehl’s career, and was in his own words “the realization of a lifelong ambition,” as he had long known and admired the Chicago collector William Forrester Dunham. The highlight of the catalog was an 1804 dollar, accompanied with varied documentation signed by the royalty of American numismatics, names like Chapman, Snowden, Eckfeldt, DuBois, and others. As if that were not enough, the cabinet boasted also an 1822 half eagle, 1841 quarter eagle, 1884 trade dollar and voluminous amounts of proof gold. An important set of encased postage stamps rounds out the mix, in this, Mehl’s greatest catalog.
Prospectus
Photo courtesy of Thomas Wetter Numismatic Library.
Fort Worth, TX: n.d.
(8)pp, tissue guards
Octavo: 19.5 x 14.5 cm
Softbound: Pictorial Card Covers
Standard Edition
Photo courtesy of Wayne K. Homren Numismatic Library.
MEHL, B. Max. SALE 97. CATALOG OF THE CELEBRATED NUMISMATIC COLLECTION FORMED BY WILLIAM FORRESTER DUNHAM, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS. COMPLETE SERIES OF THE UNITED STATES COINAGE FROM HALF-CENTS TO TWENTY-DOLLAR GOLD, FROM THE FIRST COINAGE TO 1936, INCLUDING THE MOST FAMOUS OF ALL RARITIES. THE "KING OF AMERICAN COINS" THE 1804 DOLLAR, AND THE "KING OF ALL RARITIES" THE 1822 HALF EAGLE! ALSO: 1802 HALF DIME; 1875 THREE-DOLLAR GOLD; 1852 ORIGINAL HALF CENT; RARE AMERICAN COLONIALS INCLUDING VIRGINIA SHILLING; THE LARGEST COLLECTION OF ENCASED POSTAGE STAMPS EVER FORMED; A MOST COMPLETE COLLECTION OF"HARD TIMES TOKENS"; EXTENSIVE COLLECTION OF CANADIAN COINS AND TOKENS; PIONEER GOLD COINS INCLUDING A BRILLIANT PROOF KELLOG & CO. $50.00; RARE U.S. FRACTIONAL CURRENCY; CONFEDERATE NOTES, OVER 2,500 DIFFERENT VARIETIES. ANCIENT GOLD, SILVER AND COPPER COINS; RARE FOREIGN GOLD, SILVER, PLATINUM AND COPPER COINS; RARE MEDALS, ETC., ETC. TOTAL OF OVER FOUR THOUSAND LOTS!
Fort Worth, TX: June 3, 1941
287pp, 4,169 lots, 2 plates, prices realized list issued
Octavo: 27 x 19.5 cm
Softbound: Gold and silver pictorial card covers
Gengerke 97: DdP
Adams 97
Photo courtesy of Thomas Wetter Numismatic Library.
Deluxe Edition
Photo courtesy of George Frederick Kolbe - Fine Numismatic Books.
MEHL, B. Max. SALE 97. CATALOG OF THE CELEBRATED NUMISMATIC COLLECTION FORMED BY WILLIAM FORRESTER DUNHAM, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS. COMPLETE SERIES OF THE UNITED STATES COINAGE FROM HALF-CENTS TO TWENTY-DOLLAR GOLD, FROM THE FIRST COINAGE TO 1936, INCLUDING THE MOST FAMOUS OF ALL RARITIES. THE "KING OF AMERICAN COINS" THE 1804 DOLLAR, AND THE "KING OF ALL RARITIES" THE 1822 HALF EAGLE! ALSO: 1802 HALF DIME; 1875 THREE-DOLLAR GOLD; 1852 ORIGINAL HALF CENT; RARE AMERICAN COLONIALS INCLUDING VIRGINIA SHILLING; THE LARGEST COLLECTION OF ENCASED POSTAGE STAMPS EVER FORMED; A MOST COMPLETE COLLECTION OF"HARD TIMES TOKENS"; EXTENSIVE COLLECTION OF CANADIAN COINS AND TOKENS; PIONEER GOLD COINS INCLUDING A BRILLIANT PROOF KELLOG & CO. $50.00; RARE U.S. FRACTIONAL CURRENCY; CONFEDERATE NOTES, OVER 2,500 DIFFERENT VARIETIES. ANCIENT GOLD, SILVER AND COPPER COINS; RARE FOREIGN GOLD, SILVER, PLATINUM AND COPPER COINS; RARE MEDALS, ETC., ETC. TOTAL OF OVER FOUR THOUSAND LOTS!
Fort Worth, TX: June 3, 1941
287pp, 4,169 lots, 2 plates, prices realized list bound in
Octavo: 27.5 x 20.5 cm
Hardbound: Full grained maroon leather, lettered in gilt
It is believed that approximately 25 copies of the deluxe edition were issued.