Breen's Annotated Half Cent Typescript, &c.

Breen, Walter. WALTER BREEN’S ENCYCLOPEDIA OF UNITED STATES HALF CENTS 1793–1857. Walter Breen’s personally annotated copy of his reproduced typescript, with various inserts. (7), 457 leaves, not including inserted or supplementary material. 8.5 by 11 inch paper, housed in a large National clasp binder, with the title of the book and Breen’s name impressed in gilt on the front cover; typewritten spine label; handwritten cardstock title page. Throughout the typescript are thousands of annotations on hundred of pages, all in Breen’s hand (in addition to the photocopied annotations present through the typescript). Inserts include: one page listing significant punch changes in the period of 1802–1808 with handwritten instructions regarding adding it to the manuscript; seven additional pages of handwritten or typewritten additions; two carbon-copy letters from Breen to Collins with late-stage corrections and comments; a four-page description of “The 1795 G-3, CMM-2a Half Cent” by Milton B. Pfeffer, in an envelope addressed to Breen from Pfeffer dated October 31, 1973; fifteen pages of photographic inventory sheets with a two-page carbon-copy cover letter from Breen to Collins; pages 458–502, being the “Oops!” chapter about half cent errors, with three following pages being the photographic inventory sheets for that chapter; a photocopy of a letter dated June 1, 1982 from Roger Cohen to Jack Collins alleging plagiarism in the work; a copy of a letter dated June 15, 1982 forwarding the above and the following to Stanley Apfelbaum; Breen’s four-page response to Cohen’s allegations; various promotional materials including a typewritten draft of the press release announcing the publication. Tabs inserted at year breaks in the typescript. Generally near fine. [online description truncated: see PDF or printed catalogue for full description]