The Norweb Collection - An American Legacy

A. Kosoff

A. Kosoff, known as Abe to his friends, began his numismatic interest in 1929. In 1937 he formed the Numismatic Gallery, New York City, and Abner Kreisberg joined as a partner several years later. During the 1940s the firm handled many important collections at auction, including the holdings of EC.C. Boyd, billed as "The World's Greatest Collection," for Boyd wished to remain anonymous. Other noteworthy events included the Menjou, "Memorable" and other sales. The Numismatic Gallery Monthly, a house organ offering coins for sale at fixed prices, attracted a wide readership.

In 1954 the Numismatic Gallery, which by that time had relocated to Beverly Hills, California, was dissolved, and Abe Kosoffand Abner Kriesberg continued their profession independently after that date.

In 1954 Abe Kosoff attended the Farouk Sale held in Cairo, later writing many reminiscences concerning it (which can be found in Abe Kosoff: Dean of American Numismatics, a book by Q, David Bowers, 1985). At the Farouk Sale the Norwebs matched wits with Abe Kosoff and Sol Kaplan, who were operating as a team. Desiring to buy the 1913 Liberty Head nickel, which was offered as a part of a large lot of nickels(!), and realizing that Abe Kosoff would be bidding on it for his own account, shortly before the coin came up at auction, Mrs. Norweb instructed Abe Kosoff to "buy it for me!' Thus, he was placed in the role of a professional dealer buying for a client, assuring Mrs. Norweb that if he bought it, she would be the owner.

The relatively few letters in the Norweb file are all that remain of what must have been an extensive correspondence.

April 16, 1953

(Telegram)
NUMISMATIC GALLERY REFERENCE TO YOUR LETTER PLEASE WIRE COLLECT IF YOU HAVE 1918-D AND 1925-D NICKELS AND AT WHAT PRICE
HON. R. HENRY NORWEB

April 16, 1953

(Telegram)
1918-D, 1925-D NICKELS AVAILABLE AT $43.50 AND $16.50. WILL HOLD
NUMISMATIC GALLERY

April 20, 1953
Dear Mr. Kreisberg:
Thank you for your telegram. Enclosed is my check for $43.50 in payment of the 1918-D nickel-that is, if in Uncirculated condition and sharply struck. I notice that recent offerings in the Numismatic Scrapbook list this nickel at $35 to $38 Uncirculated, so yours must be extra special if it is to command this extra premium. I am not interested in the 1925-D at $16.50.
There has not been an opportunity to work on the list, but hope to do so sometime this week.
Henry Norweb

December 30, 1953
My Dear Mr. Kosoff:
If still available would you be good enough to send on approval the 1917 Type I Full Head quarter dollar at $4.50. Also the 1920-D Uncirculated quarter dollar at $50, if it is a really fine specimen.
We need both of these items for improvement and ask you to be good enough therefore to send them on approval for purposes of comparison.
Do let us know when you will be coming East en route to Cairo.
We plan to sail on the Andrea Doria February 4th.
Yours very truly,
Hon. R. Henry Norweb