THE HARRY W. BASS, JR. NUMISMATIC LIBRARY

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The One Hundred Greatest Items Of United States Numismatic Literature Rank: Number 47

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A two thousand lot celebration of American numismatic literature, this writer’s task might have been considerably simplified given a few days inside the Bass library - but more likely we would have been distracted to the point of paralysis. Where to begin? Bid books of all flavors abound, while plated versions of the important early sales seem prolific as kudzu. Impossible items like Thian’s Register Of The Confederate Debt, or the E. H. R. Green eagle and half eagle photographic plates seem to appear every few pages. Other delicacies include Bushnell’s copy of the Roper sale, Hart’s treatise on colonial paper money with historical chart, and The Numismatist from the first President of the ANA. Beyond individual rarities, the capable executive Bass was more than happy to leverage the efforts of others, in particular Melvin and George Fuld, who contributed to the Bass collection Woodward, Low, Haseltine, Frossard and Elder sets, among other items. A decade later, many of the prices realized in the Bass sale seem quite attractive – yet another reminder that today’s record price is often tomorrow’s bargain.

Part 1

KOLBE, George Frederick. THE HARRY W. BASS, JR. NUMISMATIC LIBRARY PART I.
Crestline, CA: Kolbe, George Frederick, Dec 12, 1998
140pp, 500 lots
Quarto: 26.5 x 19 cm
Softbound: Tan card covers

Part 2

KOLBE, George Frederick. THE HARRY W. BASS, JR. NUMISMATIC LIBRARY PART II.
Crestline, CA: Kolbe, George Frederick, Jun 5, 1999
175pp, 650 lots
Quarto: 26.5 x 19 cm
Softbound: Tan card covers

Part 3

KOLBE, George Frederick. THE HARRY W. BASS, JR. NUMISMATIC LIBRARY PART III.
Crestline, CA: Kolbe, George Frederick, Sep 25, 1999
147pp, 651 lots
Quarto: 26.5 x 19 cm
Softbound: Tan card covers

Part 4

KOLBE, George Frederick. THE HARRY W. BASS, JR. NUMISMATIC LIBRARY PART IV.
Crestline, CA: Kolbe, George Frederick, Jun 10, 2000
171pp, 600 lots
Quarto: 26.5 x 19 cm
Softbound: Tan card covers

Hardbound Catalogs

Crestline & Long Beach, CA: Kolbe, George Frederick, 1998-2000
633pp, 2,401 lots
Quarto
Hardbound: 4 Volumes, tan cloth, lettered in gilt

Subscribers hardbound set, approximately 30 or so sets issued

Deluxe Hardbound Catalogs

Crestline & Long Beach, CA: Kolbe, George Frederick, 1998-2000
633pp, 2,401 lots
Quarto
Hardbound: 4 Volumes, green Japanese cloth, lettered in black and color, card covers laid on, matching the style of the Bowers & Merena deluxe Bass hardbound sales.

Limited to 90 sets

Deluxe Limited Edition Catalog

Crestline & Long Beach, CA: Kolbe, George Frederick, 1998-2000
633pp, 2,401 lots
Quarto
Hardbound: 4 volumes, bound as one. Black half morocco, green Japanese cloth sides, page edges gilt, matching slipcase

Limited to 10 copies