Carl Würtzbach’s Annotated Bement Sale, with Plates

Chapman, Henry. CATALOGUE OF THE COLLECTION OF AMERICAN COLONIAL AND STATE COINS, UNITED STATES COINS AND FOREIGN CROWNS, THE PROPERTY OF CLARENCE S. BEMENT, ESQ., PHILADELPHIA. Philadelphia: Davis & Harvey, May 29, 1916. 4to, original white cloth-backed gilt-printed boards; later spine label lettered in black. vi, 61, (3) pages; 827 lots; halftone frontispiece plate; 9 very fine photographic plates. Occasional annotations, primarily in the large cent section (see comments). Original prices realized list laid in. Fine. Adams 29, rated A– overall: “XF Elephant 1/2¢. MS Oak Tree 6¢. MS 1795–1797 $1. Gem cents—some incredible. C. Bechtler $5. 1793 Washington peace medal.” An exceptional copy of this very important sale, featuring American colonial coins, replete with great rarities, and an impressive array of United States large cents in superb condition. The frontispiece depicts a Washington Indian Peace medal; Plate I illustrates choice American colonial coins; Plate II mostly depicts 1870s pattern silver dollars, along with a few halves and the remaining colonials; Plate III illustrates United States and pioneer gold coins and superb United States silver coins, mainly early dollars; Plates IV–VI depict large cents; Plate VII concludes the large cents, also depicting half cents, patterns and other assorted American and foreign rarities; and Plates VIII & IX illustrate European crowns. The pencil annotations, many signed “CW,” are mostly devoted to large cents. In the preface, Chapman writes: “The cents are superb, and for one, the 1793 Liberty Cap, Mr. Bement paid me $500, the greatest price ever obtained for any U. S. cent.” In the adjacent margin, “CW” writes: “Later Mr. Chapman paid me $750 for a bright red 1793. C-9-H. Since then Cents have sold from $1000 to $2500 each.” The large cent section is priced throughout and over a dozen lots feature notes, some limited to the buyer’s name, others of some consequence. Several examples follow: Lot 286 (4-C): “I have two, much superior, Lyman & Osborne, Lyman sold 1944 Morgenthau $390 sale. CW.”; Lot 287 (6-F): “Mine from Macallister superior, gorgeous pink proof 350. CW. I have another equal from Osborne cost $400. CW.”; Lot 307 (1799 Over 1798): “Given away”; Lot 320 (1807 “Comet” variety): “Beckwith 240, In [Beckwith] Sale to S.H.C. to CW. CW to Brand.”; etc. Carl Würtzbach (1864–1947), is perhaps best known to numismatic bibliophiles for his remarkable collection of Massachusetts colonial silver coins. In American Numismatic Biographies, however, Pete Smith places him in legendary company, noting that, along with Clapp, Hines, and Newcomb, Würtzbach “was considered one of the ‘Big Four’ of large cent collectors.” Clarence Sweet Bement was a collector’s collector. Indeed, in the Dictionary of American Biography, though he was a very successful businessman for many years, “collector” is given as his profession. A.S.W. Rosenbach, his biographer there, further notes that Bement “was prominent among a small group of Americans who found relaxation from their occupations in the pursuit of some branch of art or science. It was to minerals that he devoted the most of his leisure and the greatest care... His collection of minerals became the foremost of its class in America... Another pursuit, perhaps the second to find expression, was Bement’s search for rare books, which resulted in the formation of one of the most noted private libraries in the country.” This is high praise indeed from perhaps the most famous antiquarian bookseller of all time. Rosenbach goes on the note that “During the latter years of his life he became interested in numismatics. At first this interest extended to both ancient and modern coins, including the American series and paper money. He concentrated later on Greek and Roman coins, of which his collection in time became one of the finest in America.” Only Clarence Bement was honored with two large format catalogues by Henry Chapman, one for his American and the other for his European series. These, along with three stand-alone Ars Classica sale catalogues encompassing his superb ancient Greek and Roman coins, eloquently confirm his numismatic accomplishments. Davis 207. Ex Kolbe Sale 104, lot 238, at $6500 hammer.