Michael Hodder and Q. David Bowers
The next correspondence occurred nearly a month later:
My Dear David:
On returning I find the Washington Head patterns you sent last month. Unfortunately three-of them are already represented in the collection and are being returned herewith. My check for the other four is enclosed.
Mrs. Norweb has asked me to tell you of her appreciation for the Guttag reprint of Maris. As for myself I was sorry in a way not to get to Los Angeles, but just about that time I had a recurrence of some eye trouble which required treatment in New York, with the result that we got nothing at the sale.
Very sincerely yours,
Henry
My Dear David:
On returning I find the Washington Head patterns you sent last month. Unfortunately three-of them are already represented in the collection and are being returned herewith. My check for the other four is enclosed.
Mrs. Norweb has asked me to tell you of her appreciation for the Guttag reprint of Maris. As for myself I was sorry in a way not to get to Los Angeles, but just about that time I had a recurrence of some eye trouble which required treatment in New York, with the result that we got nothing at the sale.
Very sincerely yours,
Henry
This. elicited the following response:
Dear Sir:
Thank you for your letter and payment for the pattern coins sent previously.
As I mentioned earlier, if you submit a Want List of both colonial and United States coins, it will aid us greatly in locating items for your collection. I am enclosing an item which may be of interest to you and Mrs. Norweb. It is the second known specimen of the Ryder-4-J Massachusetts cent. You will recall that a write up of this coin appeared in our issue #1 of Empire Topics. The coin enclosed was discovered since the original article was written' making it one of two known. The price is $150. Please advise if you can use it as I am offering it to you first.
I read with interest the recent write-up in Life Magazine concerning Cleveland's Art Museum and noticed the connection of your name with this organization.
Best personal regards,
Dave
Another letter from Bowers:
November 28, 1958 Dear Sir:
I hope you had a nice hunting trip.
I can supply one Very Fine to Extremely Fine 1837 half dollar, the rare variety with the C in AMERICA resembling an inverted G. This was listed (and illustrated) on page 25 of our Empire Topics #3. The price is $85.
Please advise.
Best regards,
Dave
R. Henry Norweb replied:
December 4, 1958
Dear Dave:
Thanks for the advance copy of issue number three of Empire Topics. Congratulations on the sustained quality of this publication.
I am just about to leave by plane for New York, and I will not have time to check with my son about the 1827 [half dollar] with the inverted 0, but it seems to me that there is something like this already in the collection. Because of this, and since I shall be away for some time I do not want you to hold it for me.
Very sincerely,
Henry
Additional correspondence ensued and involved offers of coins for sale, including:
December 24, 1958
Dear Sir:
I am enclosing two items which may be of interest. The first is a Washington medal, variety Raymond-38, struck for the Centennial Celebration in Philadelphia February 22, 1832. The specimen enclosed is struck in tin. The price is $17.50. The second item is an 1813 half dollar in Extremely Fine condition, the variety was 50C. over UNI (inverted). This is Beistle 1-A, Haseltine-l, The C partly hides the U; the N and I are between the 0 and the C. Evidently the word UNITED was first erroneously started below the claws, then corrected. The price is $47.50.
Best wishes to Mrs. Norweb and yourself for a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Sincerely yours,
Dave
The following reply was received:
Dear Dave:
Mrs. Norweb is keeping the Washington medal for which I am enclosing my check.
I asked my son if he might be interested in the 1813 half dollar, but apparently he is not collecting varieties. Accordingly, this coin is enclosed.
Many thanks for the calendar, and with best wishes for the New Year,
Very sincerely yours,
Henry
The Norweb library was being augmented at this time, and a number of back-dated catalogues, numismatic publications, and periodicals were acquired from Empire Coin Company, with the purchase for $1 on December 15, 1958 of Varieties of the Fugio Cent, by Eric P. Newman, being typical.
The Norwebs read the catalogues and advertisements of the Empire Coin Company with enthusiasm and ordered items frequently. A letter dated March 16, 1959 is typical:
Dear Mr. Bowers:
Thank you for the advance copy of your current listings. It was forwarded to me in Cambridge.
If still available I would like the 1834 Proof half dime, and the 1837 Brilliant Uncirculated, the two 1838 half dimes, the 1853 With
Arrows, Uncirculated, as well as the three Proofs of 1867, 1869, and 1870.
Also please put me down as a subscriber to your bound publication.
Very sincerely,
Honorable R. Henry Norweb
P.S. - I like the idea of including a listing of the prices realized.