IN PRAISE OF FORRER’S BIOGRAPHICAL DICTIONARY

What good news we learned last week when Len Augsburger informed E-Sylum readers that the Newman Portal has digitized Leonard Forrer’s Biographical Dictionary of Medallists, Coin, Gem and Seal-engravers. This monumental eight-volume work is the preeminent reference work for the creators of all metal numismatic items, from ancient times to early 20th century!

Forrer began running biographical information on engravers in Spink & Son's monthly Numismatic Circular as early as 1892. These biographical listings were gathered in bound volumes beginning in 1902, and continued until volume eight was published in 1930. The eight volumes have been reprinted three times. An Index, compiled by L.S. Martin, was added to the third printing in 1960. All totaled there were 5,227 pages plus the 113-page Index.

Errors are amazingly light for such large volume of data. Most of these errors are those of his source rather than Forrer’s who was known for his scholarly accuracy. For American engravers, for example, he includes some nonexistent artists – as "Beach, J." -- and medals that are not those of the listee, as the entry for Sneider, Robert contains medals he sold rather than he created.

Forrer attempted to keep his Dictionary up-to-date by adding supplements but had to abandon this practice after his 1930 volume was published. However, the numismatist researching any engraver should start with Forrer first. It’s understandable Len relates Forrer is already “One of the most commonly consulted sources.”

To aid the researcher here are some tips for using Forrer:

• Be sure to search all three alphabets, the first runs from volume 1 through 6; the first Supplement is in volume 7 and 8; the Second Supplement is in volume 8 (pages 308-363); with an additional Addends.

• Forrer’s own format is a brief biography of the listee, then a list of his productions; these are in expositor text rather than a tabular form Americans are familiar with; followed by the identity of his source, often a book or journal article; if not it was from the item itself as it passed through Spinks’ sale room.

• The text is occasionally in the language and format of Forrer’s original source, he just copied it intact.

• Forrer cites South American engravers as American (Amer,)..

• Use the Index, it is useful if you have only the name of an item and are seeking the identity of the engraver.

• Be aware that the page numbers in Volume 1 were revised slightly in the 1980 Baldwin-van Dussen reprint (volume 1 page references may be different in other editions) so check citations carefully

The original Spink volumes were in black leather with an increasing number printed making the early volumes scarcer than later. The set was reprinted by Spink in 1960. An American publisher, Bert Franklin, issued his set in 1970. The last reprint was issued jointly by Baldwin & Sons in London and A.G. van Dussen in Maastrich, Holland. The Index was published by Spink that same year, all 1980 editions are in blue cloth.

The advantage for the researcher is that they can use any of these sets – none are obsolete. In testimony to this fact, when I worked in New York City I visited the New York Public Library often, particularly their Art Department. Their set of Forrer was on a nearby shelf to the librarian in charge. I found it was an original edition, but had well worn pages as if was used frequently in the intervening years.

All this is testimony to the compiler / author Leonard Forrer (1869-1953). He is my idol. I found his full page portrait destined to be replicated, framed, and hung on my office wall. I attempted to do what Forrer did, gathering biographies and lists of engraver’s work, devoting years to this endeavor. I limited my file to Americans only. Thus I have great respect for Forrer’s 40-year effort to chronicle world engravers for all time.

I asked Boston Museum of Fine Arts curator-director-numismatist Cornelius Vermuele before he died for a preface for a proposed printed edition. Among his comments was the statement:

“Dick Johnson is America’s Leonard Forrer.” I could not have been more honored.

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
NEWMAN PORTAL SEARCH: FORRER (http://www.coinbooks.org/v21/esylum_v21n14a08.html)

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