Michael Hodder and Q. David Bowers
December 16, 1958
Dear Ambassador Norweb:
Enclosed you will find a check in the amount of $275 for Lot 557 (recently returned to us) as part of your purchase of material from the November 28th Glendining Sale [in London].
Also you will find photostats of the original Seaby bill to me and Alan Rayner's letter to me of November 28th.
You will receive one of the first copies of Penny Whimsy available. I have forwarded your request to my newly formed "Ford Numismatic Publications:'
As discussed with you on the telephone, I tried to interpret your letter of December 10 in regards to our sale of last Saturday. Here is how we made out:
Lot 103. On the floor for $105. This I thought was too high to top.
Lot 369. Bought for $77.50. This we have missed in too many earlier sales-the same coin, to pass up again.
Lot 379. This went to a book bidder for $100 against as $165 bid. I did not like the coin well enough, in spite of our having owned it, to top this figure.
Lot 388. Bought for you at $240. I grabbed this after Lot 387
went for $640 on the floor.
Lot 419. Bought for $47. Lot 437. Bought for $20.
Lot 546. This I passed up; it went to a floor buyer for $60. Your limit was $50 to $55.
Lot 737. Believe it or not, this went to another room bidder for $250.
I did the very best I could for you, Ambassador, and I am sorry that I could not have done better. You can tell Mrs. Norweb that her silver-center cent went for a fantastic $2,300. Since I traded a far superior piece for hers, I wonder what it would bring? I guess regal descriptions and research payoff!
Please permit me to wish both you and Mrs. Norweb the most happy Christmas and the very best for 1959.
Sincerely yours,
John J. Ford, Jr.
December 17, 1958
Dear John:
I am off to Washington and may come by way of New York, but before leaving want to acknowledge the 1805 quarter. Your surmise is right that this variety is already in the collection. What we lack is the 5 Berry variety.
Incidentally, what did the piece sell for at your last sale?
In haste,
R. Henry Norweb
Eric P. Newman
Eric P. Newman, prominent American numismatist and scholar, has written many research articles over the years, earning in the process more Heath Literary Awards, given by the American Numismatic Association, than any other recipient.
January 28, 1954
My Dear Mr. Newman:
I only hope you can appreciate my feelings when I found your letter and coins on my desk this afternoon with the letter dated December 28th. There is so much in that letter which I would like to take up with you but have only a brief amount of time before leaving for Egypt and the King Farouk Sale. However, here are some quick jottings which may be of Some interest until my return the first week in April.
I have nothing in the Vermonts that has not been illustrated in the Standard Catalogue, except the Ryder-f with sun on the left. All that I have, believe it or not, are two examples or perhaps I should say one and a half because one is so bad that I am thoroughly ashamed of it.
In the Connecticuts I have five which are unlisted in Miller or it may be I have slipped up in their identification. Anyhow I believe you would be interested in seeing them.
As to the New Hampshires I have two, one with large harp and the other with small harp, not illustrated in the Standard but illustrated in Crosby.
In the Immune Columbia series I have the very rare one with Nova Constelatio, blunt rays, which is not listed in Crosby and of which only one other has been recorded. That was in the Ely Sale at the turn of the century. I strongly suspect this coin is the Ely coin. The ANS has photographs of it as I left it with them for study.
As to the Confederatios I have the small circle of stars and also the large circle of stars, neither of which is a Bolen as they also have been photographed at the ANS.
I have an Immunis Columbia of 1787, the regular one, and an-other one about which I have been dubious. The 1786 Immunis Columbia I am perfectly sure is definitely a counterfeit or a forgery as the weight is all wrong.
Finally I do want to tell you that I have three Fugios which do not correspond to anything in your excellent pamphlet and on which I would be very glad to have your opinion.
Having enumerated all these coins I am truly sorry that I can not send you any of them at this moment nor even make a rubbing. This morning I took them all down to the bank for safe keeping until my return and will not have time to get at them until after I come home. I am writing the ANS to give you any photographs you may wish, so please feel free to write them.
When I return I do hope it may be possible for you to stop in Cleveland and take a look at some of my problem children. You can rest assured that I will be more than delighted to send you anything you want to see, but I am equally sure that every letter we exchange is going to make me pull out of my boxes coins which may touch on your field.
I have been most interested in looking at the imitation halfpence and feel reasonably sure that I do have a 1776 much like those you have enclosed.
I expect to be in London from March 15th to April 1st doing some work over at the British Museum on some of these early Colonials. If there is anything that I can look up; for you or have photographed please let me know as I shall be delighted to be of any assistance my limited knowledge allows. Any letter addressed care of Thomas Cook & Son, Inc. London will reach me
Again many thanks for your letter and for the coins which I am herewith returning and hoping that we may have many coin fests together.
Sincerely yours,
Mrs. R. Henry Norweb