1858 ANS Constitution and By-Laws
Lot 271: American Numismatic Society. CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS OF THE AMERICAN NUMISMATIC SOCIETY. ADOPTED APRIL 6TH, 1858. New York: A.J. Townsend, Printer, 1858. 24mo [12.5 by 8 cm], original printed salmon paper covers. 8 pages. Fine. The extremely rare first printing of the ANS constitution, the earliest publication issued by the Society. According to Adelson's The American Numismatic Society, 1858-1958, this first printing of the Constitution of the longest surviving numismatic society in the United States was adopted at the April 6, 1858 meeting of the Society.

He goes on to relate that the "Constitution which had been adopted so quickly at the first regular meeting was duly published with the list of officers and members of the standing committees, but no sooner was this done than proposals were made to revise that document and the By-Laws. At the fifth meeting on July 13, 1858, some modifications were suggested in the wording of the first article of the Constitution which would have removed the emphasis that had been placed on American coinage and medallic productions... At the meeting of September 14, 1858... the new Constitution was adopted."

Indeed, this first printing includes the phrase, "its objects shall be the collection and preservation of the coins and medals struck in this country, with an investigation into their history..." This is the first publication listed by Belden in his Medals and Publications of the American Numismatic Society with an Historical Sketch (1915). The only copy of this rarity sold in the modern era that we recall was in the Armand Champa Library (Davis/Bowers Sale I, lot 34), where the bidders failed to adequately appreciate it-it sold under estimate. Ex Wayne Homren Library.

To read the complete lot description, see:
The First American Numismatic Society Publication(https://bid.numislit.com/lots/view/1-7XX2V3/the-first-american-numismatic-society-publication)

Carothers, Fractional Money

Lot 299: Carothers, Neil. FRACTIONAL MONEY: A HISTORY OF THE SMALL COINS AND FRACTIONAL CURRENCY OF THE UNITED STATES. New York: Wiley, 1930. First edition. Small 8vo, original red cloth, gilt; original printed jacket. Frontispiece; xiii, (1), 372 pages. Inscribed and signed by Q. David Bowers to John J. Ford, Jr. Ford's ink stamp on front flyleaf; marginal staining; hinges cracked; frontispiece loose; jacket with minor chipping. Very good or so.

An interesting copy of the scarce original edition of this important reference, derived from the author's 1916 Princeton doctoral dissertation. Seven decades after publication, it remains a storehouse of useful and important numismatic information on U.S. coins and fractional currency. Pete Smith has written that "Much of the original edition was destroyed in a warehouse fire."

This copy was given by Q. David Bowers to John J. Ford, Jr., and is inscribed as such. It is perhaps even more notable for having an intact (if somewhat worn) dust-jacket, which is very rarely encountered. Clain-Stefanelli 13465. Grierson 221: "L'un intérêt et d'une valeur exceptionnels." Sigler 441. Voted as one of the Numismatic Bibliomania Society's "One Hundred Greatest Items of United States Numismatic Literature." Ex Money Tree Sale 24, lot 519; ex Wayne Homren Library.

To read the complete lot description, see:
With the Very Rare Dust Jacket(https://bid.numislit.com/lots/view/1-7XX2WP/with-the-very-rare-dust-jacket)

Chapman Cents of the Year 1794
Lot 313: Chapman, S. Hudson. THE UNITED STATES CENTS OF THE YEAR 1794. Second edition, first printing. Philadelphia, 1926. 4to, original blue cloth, gilt; front cover and spine lettered in gilt. 29, (3) pages; 4 collotype plates. Mourning card of Mrs. S. Hudson Chapman, 1128 Spruce Street, laid in, on which has been written, "To replace obsolete 1923 edition of Hudson's Cents of 1794." Very minor wear to binding, else fine. [with] Chapman, S.H. FOUR PHOTOGRAPHIC PLATES DEPICTING 1794 LARGE CENTS. Four 8 by 10.5 inch photographic plates, being the original photographs from which the collotype plates of Chapman's book were prepared. Plates depict 1794 cents on a black background; annotated by hand in pencil. Marginal chips and folds, most not affecting images; one plate with fold affecting two images; marginal tape repairs to one plate, not touching images; S.H. Chapman's ink stamp on verso of Plate 3. Very good. A highly important copy of the revised second edition of this work, from the library of the author, accompanied by the calling card (with black border denoting mourning) of Mrs. S. Hudson Chapman, and-most importantly-the original photographic plates taken for (both editions of) the book. These are clearly the photographs from which the collotype plates in the published volumes were prepared. They are similar to other Chapman photographs, bear his stamp, and are annotated by him in pencil.

To read the complete lot description, see:
With the Original Photographs from which the Plates Were Prepared(https://bid.numislit.com/lots/view/1-7XX2XH/with-the-original-photographs-from-which-the-plates-were-prepared)

Clapp's Large Cents of the Years 1798-1799
Lot 316: Clapp, George H. THE UNITED STATES CENTS OF THE YEARS 1798-1799. Sewickley, 1931. 4to [31 by 24 cm], original black and blue cloth, gilt. 64 pages; 2 fine photographic plates. Signed inscription from the author to Caroline M. Opperman on front flyleaf. Modern photograph of Clapp laid in. Slight wear to spine; near fine. A remarkable presentation copy, with an inscription reading: "To Caroline M. Opperman, whose careful writing and editing greatly helped the production of this book. (signed) Geo. H Clapp." No. 9 of only 126 copies bound in cloth, of an entire edition of 135. A classic work, the photographic plates of which are the finest of any large cent reference.

To read the complete lot description, see:
A Signed Presentation Copy(https://bid.numislit.com/lots/view/1-7XX2XN/a-signed-presentation-copy)

Small Note Law Conspiracy Trial
Lot 506: Homren, Wayne [compiler]. BINDER 25: U.S. OBSOLETE CURRENCY. Includes the following: 1) advertisement of Stack's sale of the American Bank Note Company Archives (September 12-15, 1990); 2) The Trial of David P. Hazen, Esq., Absalom Morris, Daniel T. Lawson, and David F. Davis, in the Court of Quarter Sessions of Allegheny County, Penna., on Charges of Conspiracy Arising from Their Instituting Suits for Violations of the 48th and 49th Sections of the Act of April 16, 1850, Commonly Called the Small Note Law reported by J. Heron Foster (1854); [see the lot description for more]

Includes a number of specialized publications, with the 1854 legal proceedings regarding the case pertaining to the Small Bill Law being rare and little-known. Ex Wayne Homren Library.

To read the complete lot description, see:
U.S. Obsolete Currency(https://bid.numislit.com/lots/view/1-7XX389/us-obsolete-currency)