SOLD
1,300.00USD+ (227.50) buyer's premium + applicable fees & taxes.
This item SOLD at 2015 Aug 22 @ 14:13UTC-4 : AST/EDT
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A full invoice should be emailed to the winner by the auctioneer within a day or two.
A buyer’s premium of 17.5% will be added to the cost of all lots purchased. See shipping info and full terms.
Mehl, B. Max. THE CELEBRATED COLLECTION OF LARGE UNITED STATES CENTS FORMED BY DR. GEO. P. FRENCH, ROCHESTER, NEW YORK. MORE THAN EIGHT HUNDRED ALL DIFFERENT SPECIMENS WITH MANY UNIQUE VARIETIES NOT KNOWN IN ANY OTHER COLLECTIONS. ALL IN SUPERB STATE OF PRESERVATION. THE RECOGNIZED FINEST AND, AS A WHOLE, MOST COMPLETE COLLECTION OF ITS KIND EVERY FORMED. FOR SALE AT FIXED PRICES. PROPERTY OF AND CATALOGUED BY B. MAX MEHL, NUMISMATIST. Fort Worth, c. 1929-30. 4to [27.5 by 20 cm], original flexible brown full morocco, upper cover decorated and lettered in gilt; red-speckled page edges. 139, (1) pages; 823 listings; halftone text illustrations depicting large cents. Fine. The Deluxe Leatherbound Edition. Ex A.A. Grinnell, with his name stamped in gilt at the right base of the upper cover. Inscribed in black ink on the front flyleaf: "To Mr. A.A. Grinnell, with the highest regards of friendship, (signed) B. Max Mehl -- Fort Worth, May 8th 1930." When encountered, copies of this limited edition are generally in nice condition, but the example at hand is probably the finest of the half dozen or so we have ever encountered. With this well-produced work Mehl raised the importance of the fixed price catalogue to a new level, though not without considerable controversy. George H. Clapp, among others, was critical, writing "Have never seen a catalog with more false and/or misleading statements." It should be noted that Clapp and Mehl were hardly friends. Legend has it that Clapp once told Mehl that he was mendacious, and, apparently unaware of the word's meaning, Mehl thanked him! Nonetheless, the French catalogue, though overloaded with the usual Mehl hyperbole and malapropisms, is still important to large cent collectors. At the time, sales from the catalogue were less than a commercial triumph, though it featured wonderful large cents. Many of the coins appeared years later in various Mehl sales and others changed hands for considerably less than the original asking prices. Doubtless, the beginning of the Depression was not a good time to sell coins. On balance, however, with this attractive production Mehl raised the importance of the fixed price catalogue to a new level and helped to further broaden interest in this staple of American numismatics. Despite this fine gesture on Mehl's part, all was subsequently not "sweetness and light" with Albert Grinnell. Writing in 1943 to James Macallister, shortly after selling Grinnell's coin collection and paper money duplicates, Mehl notes: "Am sure you'll be interested to know that the Grinnell sale went over very nicely, -- far better than I had hoped. The coins sold at what I consider right now, at almost crazy prices; just about full catalog and much over... Of course, I doubt very much whether the owner will be satisfied, as I doubt if the Almighty himself could please him." Indeed, when Grinnell's unparalleled paper money was offered in a series of landmark auctions from 1944 to 1946, Barney Bluestone was chosen to handle the sales. Ex Kolbe Sale 107, lot 89. Ex Dave Steine library.
Auction Location:
141 W. Johnstown Rd., Gahanna, Ohio, 43230, United States
Taxes:
| Tax | Rate | Desc. |
| OHIO |
7.5% |
OH State Tax |
Buyer's Premiums:
| From (Incl.) | To (Excl.) | Premium |
| 0.00 |
Infinite |
17.5% |
Additional Fees:
Shipping Details:
All postage, insurance and shipping charges will be added to the buyer’s invoice. There will be a $3.00 charge per lot for processing. Unless exempt by law, the buyer will be required to pay 7.5% sales tax on the total purchase price of all lots delivered in Ohio. Purchasers may also be liable for compensating use taxes in other states, which are solely the responsibility of the purchaser. Foreign bidders may be required to pay duties, fees or taxes in their respective countries, which are also the responsibility of the bidders. See Terms of Sale for full details.
Payment Details:
This sale is conducted in U.S. dollars. Payment may be made by check, money order, credit card, PayPal or wire transfer. All checks must be in U.S. dollars, drawn on U.S. banks and have electronic encoding. Our bank account details will be provided on request for wire transfers, and any bank charges must be paid by the sender. Invoices may be paid by credit card or PayPal, but the bidder agrees to pay a 3% bank fee for doing so. See Terms of Sale for full details.
Accepted Payment Methods:
- VISA
- Master Card
- AMEX
- Discover
- Diners Club
- Money Order/Bank Draft
- Check/Cheque
- PayPal
- See Payment Details
- Wire Transfer
1. This is an online and mail-bid sale. Absentee bids will be accepted by mail, fax, email and phone until the day before the first session of the live online sale. On the day of the live online sale, only bids placed via the live online platform will be accepted: no phone, fax, email or mail bids can be entered on the day of the sale.
2. All lots will be sold to the highest bidder. All bids (whether placed online or by mail, fax, email or phone) will be treated as limits and lots will be purchased below these limits where competition permits. Lots will be sold on the date of the online sale.
3. Absentee bidders should be mindful that bids submitted in irregular increments may be rounded to a lower bid to comply with the online platform’s established bidding increments.
4. Unless exempt by law, the buyer will be required to pay 7.5% sales tax on the total purchase price of all lots delivered in Ohio. Purchasers may also be liable for compensating use taxes in other states, which are solely the responsibility of the purchaser. Foreign bidders may be required to pay duties, fees or taxes in their respective countries, which are also the responsibility of the bidders.
5. This is not an approval sale. Any claims for adjustment by bidders must be made within three days after receipt of lots purchased. No lots may be returned without our written permission. By submitting bids you agree to the Terms of Sale.
6. Bidders unknown to us must, upon request, supply acceptable credit references or a 25% deposit to assure entry of their bids. Registration of unknown bidders on the live online platform will constitute approval only when the bidders provides an acceptable credit card number with registration.
7. This is a reserve auction. The estimates of value are intended solely as a guide. Starting prices for this sale are at approximately two-thirds of estimate, though this may vary. Kolbe & Fanning reserve the right to purchase items in this sale for customers or stock at their discretion.
8. A buyer’s premium of 17.5% will be added to the cost of all lots purchased. There is no additional charge or commission for executing
your bids.
9. We reserve the right to withdraw any lot prior to sale for any reason.
10. All postage, insurance and shipping charges will be added to the buyer’s invoice. There will be a $3.00 charge per lot for processing.
11. A late payment fee of 2% per month will be charged on accounts remaining unpaid 30 days after the sale.
12. This sale is conducted in U.S. dollars. Payment may be made by check, money order, credit card, PayPal or wire transfer. All checks must be in U.S. dollars, drawn on U.S. banks and have electronic encoding. Our bank account details will be provided on request for wire transfers, and any bank charges must be paid by the sender. Invoices may be paid by credit card or PayPal, but the bidder agrees to pay a 3% bank fee for doing so.
13. Lots to be mailed to addresses not in the United States or its Territories will be sent only at the risk of the purchaser. When possible, postal insurance will be obtained. Packages covered by private insurance will be so covered at a cost of 1% of total value, to be paid by the buyer.
14. Title of all items sold is warranted by the auction firm as clear and firm attests to the right to convey title; title remains with the firm until paid for in full. Payment must be made immediately upon notification or upon receipt of material. The discretionary right to withhold delivery of lots until full payment has been received is reserved.
15. All lots are as described. We acknowledge the possibility of errors or typographical mistakes, and any errors on our part will be cheerfully corrected. We cannot be responsible for your errors; please check your bid sheet carefully.
16. Kolbe & Fanning Numismatic Booksellers LLC are licensed by the State of Ohio Department of Agriculture (license 2011000028) as an auction firm, and are bonded as required by law in favor of the State of Ohio.
BOOK SIZES
Folio: over 13 inches
4to (quarto): 12 inches
8vo (octavo): 9 inches
12mo (duodecimo): 7–8 inches
16mo (sextodecimo): 6–7 inches
24mo (vigesimoquarto): 5–6 inches
32mo (trigesimosecundo): 4–5 inches
The above sizes are intended for modern books; antiquarian books are described based on page format.
BOOK CONDITIONS
As new — no signs of wear or defects.
Fine — nice clean copy, slight signs of use.
Very good — some wear, no serious defects.
Good — average used and worn book, complete.
Reading copy — poor but readable.
Ex-library — with library identification marks.
All serious defects are noted.
Unless stated otherwise, all books are bound; all periodicals and auction sale catalogues are in the original paper covers.
Books without descriptions of condition may be assumed to be nice clean copies in the octavo range.
Sizes are not always noted for auction catalogues and periodicals. All serious defects are noted.