Gilbert, Ebenezer. THE UNITED STATES HALF CENTS. FROM THE FIRST YEAR OF ISSUE, IN 1793, TO THE YEAR WHEN DISCONTINUED, 1857. ALL DATES AND VARIETIES DESCRIBED AND ILLUSTRATED. Chicago: Hewitt’s Numismatic Books, c. 1968 reprint. 8vo, original printed card covers. 47, (1) pages, including 6 plates. Annotated throughout by Bernard Edison, recording examples of U.S. half cents examined by him in the collection of the British Museum, noting a number of pieces that derived from the collection of Sarah Sophia Banks. Fine. A remarkable copy of what would otherwise be a $10 reprint of Gilbert. Bernard Edison (1928–2018) was perhaps the foremost collector of United States half cents of the last hundred years. A first cousin of Eric P. Newman’s wife Evelyn, he served as President of Edison Brothers Stores, for which Newman also worked. If Edison is not as well known as half cent specialists Philip M. Showers, Frederick Reed Alvord, or Joseph Brobston, it is only because he chose to collect under the name of R. Tettenhorst (frequently shortened to “Tett”). In an August 6, 1992, letter to Walter Breen, Edison wrote, “Robert Tettenhorst is an invention. The origin is straightforward (in a convoluted sort of way). When I first became active in buying coins by mail, I was advised by security consultants not to use my own name, in order to avoid having burglars, etc. invade my home. My secretary, Rose Tettenhorst, offered to open the post office box in her name. And, for mail purposes, I shortened it to R. Tettenhorst to avoid questions at the counter when signing for registered packages. At the time, I had no intention of actually meeting any of the people with whom I corresponded. However, as I became more interested and more involved, RT took on an increasing appearance of reality.” A genuinely interesting copy of Gilbert.