On Saturday night of the C4 Convention in Boston (November 12th), C4 held a Donated Lots Auction, where all the proceeds were to go to the club. Every one of the 18 items auctioned were of interest but I thought I'd share a few of the literature items.

Heading the list in bids was the 5th Edition of Eric Newman's The Early Paper Money of America, which hammered at $1100! What made this book even more desirable than for its practical uses is that the author wrote a paragraph in the front, stating how this is the only copy he autographed on the actual day of his 100th Birthday!

The next was a copy of the Bowers & Ruddy Taylor Plates, copy #3, selling at $1000. With the first two copies going to the Taylor family, this makes this the most desirable of the limited edition issue.

Tied with the Taylor Plates in realizing a closing bid of $1000 was a copy of Tony Carlotto's The Copper Coins of Vermont. This book was the first of five books published by C4. Publishing is something we are very proud of as a club! This particular book was hand annotated in red ink by the author, giving new information since the book's release (1993) and the author's thoughts.

Next was a signed copy of The Silver Coins of Massachusetts signed by author Chris Salmon. This is one of the very limited copies that were bound in full leather by the author. The feeling of holding this book in your hands can only be appreciated by a bibliophile. This hammered at $500.

Also sold for $500 is a set of plates for attributing Nova Constellatios (by Carlotto), copies of the VT section of an annotated copy of the Coinage of New England, and several other plates.

And the last of the literature related items was one of 22 copies made of a book documenting the joint effort of C4 members, and the Museum Staff of the ANA, to place a six case Showcase Exhibit at the 2010 ANA Convention in Boston. Of the 22 copies made, most were given to the good people that lent their coins and material for the exhibit, the staff involved at the ANA, and to ANA, ANS & C4 Libraries. Every backpanel is plated. Every coin is plated and arranged in the chronological order that the cases displayed to the public. This book brought $350 for the benefit of C4.

I had a personal situation which necessitated me returning home before the auction, but I heard from friends that it was an outstanding success!

For more information on C4, see:http://www.colonialcoins.org/