I’ve acquired a few nice catalogues over the last few weeks.
1. Cahn/Hess –
Haeberlin Collection (1933). An original of this important sale in a decent
quality cloth
binding. I mentioned previously that I already owned a high-quality, limited production reprint of this
catalogue (Lugano, 1977; 300 copies printed). Comparing this original to the reprint, I am very impressed with the reprint. The paper
quality of the reprint is much better than the original (the reprint is nearly twice as thick as the original because of the heavier paper in the reprint), with no browning/yellowing in the reprint. The reprint also has the lists of estimates and prices realized bound in (both are missing from my original). With the naked eye, the reprint plates are nearly identical to the original in
quality; only under magnification do the original plates really stand-out. The original plates magnify like an actual coin in hand. The reprint plates are heavily pixilated under magnification. So, I’ll keep them both, and probably favor the reprint for general use.
2. Dura/Sambon – Borghesi
Collection (1881). This is an important, early sale featuring two of the earliest plates of
ancient coins in an
auction catalogue. Andrew McCabe’s website describes it well here (including a photo of a plate) -
http://andrewmccabe.ancients.info/RRAuctions.htmlThey must have used very high
quality paper for this
catalogue, as every page looks as fresh and white as the day it was printed – there’s not even the slightest hint of yellowing or browning (even the tissue guards look fresh).
3. P & P Santamaria – Brunacci
Collection (1958). I’ve tried to acquire this
catalogue twice before and failed. Third time’s a charm, and I now have it in hand.
4. M.
Ratto –
Collection E. H. Schwing (1932). I bought this
catalogue on a whim, without researching it first.
Had I first read Andrew’s website description, I likely would have skipped this
catalogue. It contains several high
quality plates of
aes grave, though the coins are not of tremendous
quality or
rarity, i.e. mostly prow
types in F-VF condition. At least there are also a couple plates of decent
quality Republican silver.