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Rare Curtis Numismatic Lottery Scheme

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money Start Price:250.00 USD Estimated At:400.00 USD
Rare Curtis Numismatic Lottery Scheme
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Curtis, John K. TO NUMISMATISTS IN PARTICULAR! AND TO EVERYBODY IN GENERAL! THE GREATEST CHANCE EVER OFFERED TO OBTAIN RARE AND VALUABLE COINS AND MEDALS, AT THE VERY LOW SUM OF ONE DOLLAR EACH. New York: James Huggins, Printer, (1861). Handbill [23.5. by 15 cm], printed on one side. Just a trifle foxed. Mounted on black board and framed. Near fine. Ex J.N.T. Levick, found in a specially printed personal copy of his famous 1865 coin sale. Attinelli page 87: "(A lottery scheme) describing coins. Printed on a single sheet, about 6x9 inches." Curtis laments "the present dull state of trade" and "intends selling off his ENTIRE valuable collection of rare and fine American and Foreign Coins and Medals, in Gold, Silver, Copper and Bronze, at the unprecedented low price of One Dollar each, indiscriminately..." Valued from 1¢ to $75.00, the coins and medals were to be packed and sealed in unmarked boxes, and Curtis promised "on the 11th day of February, 1861, to dispose of them, in the above manner, until all are sold." After describing many of the highlights (for example "American Dollars, from 1795 to 1860, including 1836, 1838, 1852 and 1858 Proofs, but no 1804"), Curtis concludes: "The above is no humbug, but a real Bona Fide Sale to dispose of his very rare and valuable stock." Quite rare; only the second example we recall ever having encountered. Ex Stack Family Library (Kolbe Sale 111, lot 55). Ex Stephen Epstein Library.