The E-Sylum:  Volume 3, Number 2, January 9, 2000, Article 6

COLLECTIONS PUBLISHED, BUT NOT AUCTIONED  

   Allan Davisson writes: "The discussion of sales that did not 
   occur as scheduled suggests another numismatic publishing 
   byway -- great collections that would have made an 
   outstanding sale that were bought and then published before 
   dispersal:  

   Arguably the most important catalog I have in my library that 
   fits this description is the October 1890 publication by Spink 
   and Son of the Montague collection of milled English coins 
   featuring patterns and proofs. They published a special catalog 
   of this "unrivaled collection of English coins -- a portion so rich 
   in patterns of extreme rarity--we felt it would be a matter for 
   regret did we not make some permanent record of it"  

   The items were numbered (1853 lots) in the same manner as a 
   sale catalog. The plates, however, are photos in the text rather 
   than plates at the end. My copy also has the prices neatly 
   inked in in the same manner as sale catalogs from that era.  

   And another "never held" sale:  

   Henry Platt Hall's collection of British coins; Part III 
   catalogued by Glendining's for a July 26, 1950 sale but the 
   entire collection was purchased outright by Spink before the 
   sale. 423 lots with a particularly important group of Charles I 
   provincial issues included; 11 plates." 

  Wayne Homren, Editor

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