Early ANS Constitutions, By-Laws, &c.

American Numismatic Society / American Numismatic & Archæological Society. CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS OF THE AMERICAN NUMISMATIC SOCIETY. ADOPTED SEPTEMBER, 1858. New York: T.W. Strong, Caloric Printer, 98 Nassau Street, 1858. Second edition. 24mo, original printed tan paper covers. 8 pages. Once folded; label remnant on rear cover. Very good. Housed in a custom-made clamshell box with the following: the 1865 edition of the Articles of Incorporation, Constitution and By-Laws (no covers, removed from previous binding); the 1878 edition of the same; the 1884 edition of the same (removed from previous binding); the 1896 edition of the same; receipt for the 1898 Proceedings; notice of the 1902 move to the Union Dime Savings Bank Building; the 1906 Annual Address of the President (very good or so); three later Certificates of Incorporation, Constitution and By-Laws for 1972, 1989 and 1998. All 8vo, original printed paper or card covers unless otherwise noted. Generally very good or better unless noted. The first item here present is rare. According to Adelson’s The American Numismatic Society, 1858-1958, the 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.” And, indeed, 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” had been amended to read: “Its objects are the collection and preservation of coins and medals, with an investigation into their history, and other subjects connected therewith.” Aug. B. Sage has been crossed out as Curator in this copy and W.L. Bramhall has been entered in ink, confirming the change made in that office in January, 1859. The 1906 Address of the President is also rare. First item ex Essex Institute with their blindstamp and call number on the title; ex June 12–13, 1981 Kolbe sale, lot 492, where it was mistakenly described as the first edition; ex libris Harry W. Bass, Jr. Library (Kolbe Sale 83, lot 188).