The Very Rare Plated W.H. Hunter Sale

Chapman, S.H. THE COLLECTION OF HISTORICAL COINS AND MEDALS RELATING TO AMERICAN HISTORY, THE DOMINION OF CANADA, AND AWARDS TO INDIAN CHIEFS AND BRITISH REGAL AND WAR MEDALS FORMED BY W.H. HUNTER, ESQ., TORONTO. Philadelphia: S.T. Freeman & Co., Auctioneers, December 9–10, 1920. 4to, later tan linen; original gilt-printed white paper front cover trimmed and mounted; spine label lettered in black. 92, (4) pages; 856 lots; 9 superb photographic plates; prices realized list bound in. Very good or better. Adams 22. A rarity among plated Chapman sales, being one of the most difficult large-size Chapmans to locate with plates. Unlike some rare catalogues, however, this one remains of the highest importance for its content. Adams rates the sale an A+, overall: “Superb historic collection, definitive for early war medals, Indian peace medals and Canadian.” The plates are of remarkable beauty and clarity and are among the best produced by the Chapmans. Largely devoted to depicting a wide variety of Canadian historical medals, the last four plates also illustrate American medals, British medals, and a few English coins. Bowman page 18: “Mr. Hunter was a barrister in Toronto. His collection ... included such rarities as 53 Indian Chief medals, a gold Beaver Club medal, 7 Louisbourg medals, 2 Oswego medals, 2 Canada Subdued medals, 2 Montreal Taken medals, 2 Upper Canada Preserved medals, 81 war medals, 4 jetons, wheat sheaf, a side view, Northwest, Molson, set Hudson’s Bay, Lauzon, 2 bridge tokens and many others.” Bowman’s emphasis is on Canadian material; U.S. collectors may be more interested in knowing that the sale includes (and the plates depict) not one but two oval Washington Indian Peace Medals. Davis 226.