Complete Set of the American Journal of Numismatics

[American Numismatic Society] American Numismatic & Archæological Society; Boston Numismatic Society; American Numismatic Society. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF NUMISMATICS. Volumes I–LIII (New York and Boston, 1866–1924), complete, bound in 17 volumes. Varying 4to sizes, modern black quarter morocco, gilt, with black cloth sides; spines with four raised bands, ruled, lettered and decorated in gilt; original printed paper covers bound in for sixteen volumes. Occasional signs of previous institutional ownership (see comments), but generally a fine complete set. An attractively bound complete set of this extraordinarily important U.S. journal. Even today, the AJN remains an indispensable source of numismatic information and lore. On March 8, 1866, resident member Joseph N.T. Levick proposed the establishment by the American Numismatic and Archæological Society of a journal of “numismatic and archaeological intelligence.” His suggestion was quickly adopted and the inaugural issue appeared in late May of the same year. Many of America’s greatest contributions to numismatic scholarship first appeared in the pages of this most important publication. Crosby’s classic works on large cents, parts of his Early Coins of America, Frey’s Dictionary of Numismatic Names, Edgar Adams’s extensive work on California pioneer gold coins and, later on, the scholarly, still indispensable studies on ancient Greek coins by Newell, Baldwin Brett, and others are but a small sampling. For American researchers, the Journal is interesting for the reminiscences and other fascinating tidbits of information to be found in the earlier volumes, much of which is little known today except among the few fortunate to possess a set of this remarkable storehouse of knowledge. Later volumes include a number of more intensive articles on American subjects, including Adams on private and territorial gold and Miller and Ryder on state coppers. The shocking degree to which the value of periodicals have fallen is amply demonstrated by this set. This set was purchased in George Kolbe’s Sale 104, held in 2007, for $24,000 hammer ($27,600 with the premium) on a $20,000 estimate. Once most periodicals became freely available online, their value fell precipitously, but in the case of the AJN, this seems entirely unjustified. Sets do not take up a particularly large amount of shelf space or weigh an enormous amount, and their historical value and scarcity argue forcibly for better appreciation. The value of books available online has recovered from their initial drop: this set could prove a bargain if it sells for anything close to estimate. “The history of the Journal, if it could be given in detail, would be a history of American numismatics.” — Volume XLI, 1907, page 105. Clain-Stefanelli 350. Grierson 16. Kolbe 810. Sigler 74. A number of the early volumes are ex the Essex Institute Library, with their stamp on the titles; a number of middle-range volumes are ex Williams College, “Gift of W.T.R. Marvin,” with their ink stamp; a few later issues are signed by Ludger Gravel. Ex Cal Wilson Sale 5 (1983), lot 213 (bound later); ex Kolbe Sale 104, lot 969.