Michael Hodder and Q. David Bowers
November 18, 1954
My Dear Harry:
Thank you for your letters of November 10th and 15th. I especially enjoyed the letter of November 15th telling me about the events of the sale. As I indicated to you there were only about six items in the whole sale that I really felt I had to have at this time. I sent in bids on these lots and obtained two of them (the 1842 Proof half cent with Large Berries on the reverse and the 1850 Proof half cent). In addition to your letter, I also received a letter from another person at the sale who told me about the high prices that prevailed on many of the lots. I did have a hunch that would be well neigh impossible to buy some of the coins that one wanted in the sale. I also learned before the sale that Kagin would be present, and I expected it would be extremely difficult for anyone else to buy the 1870-S dollar or some of the items he may have needed for some of his clients. Moreover, long ago I learned that New York is generally the most difficult city in the United States to buy half cents and large cents at public auction. I agree with you that the 1870-S silver dollar was worth at least $4,000. I believe you were wise at dropping out at that point, as undoubtedly Kagin would have carried it considerably higher if necessary.
By the way, what lots did you buy for sale? ...
Looking forward to hearing from Mrs. Norweb and you in the near future, I am, with best regards,
Sincerely yours,
John J. Pittman
November 22, 1954
Dear John:
A letter from you is always an event, but a full-pager such as yours of the 18th is doubly welcomed.
As for the post-mortem on the recent Stack sale, the only coins of importance we picked up were the 1901-S half dollar and two early examples of the 1795 dollar.
We have noted and inwardly digested your pertinent comments about New York City cent sales. You see, until recently we have had little experience in public auctions, preferring, for obvious reasons, to buy through agents, or because of our distance from home base, to work by mail on a fixed price basis ....
Very sincerely,
Hon. R. Henry Norweb
April 3, 1958
Dear Harry:
Recently I saw a Canadian documentary film which was made up primarily of black and white photographs of the era of the Dawson City gold rush. One of these photographs showed a large number of large gold bars. In the same picture, standing next to the large bars, was a man with a very small gold bar in his hand. This bar appeared to be about the same size or slightly larger than the Dawson City gold bar that your wife has. Who knows?-it may possibly be the very same one that she now has. I am trying to find out from the proper people in Ottawa where the original of the photograph is and, if possible, I will get some copies.
Sincerely yours,
John
April 8, 1958
Dear John:
My wife and I are most appreciative of your writing about the possibility of tracing the photograph relating to the Canadian gold bars, etc. It would be a nice thing to have and we wish you the best luck in tracing it ....
As for our own news, my wife and I leave for the Continent in about 10 days' time-part fun, part business. Because of the latter aspect of the trip I'm not at all sure that we shall be back for the Cincinnati meeting. It is one I am sorry to miss because there should be a goodly amount of Canadian material on tap.
With personal regards,
Very sincerely yours,
Hon. R. Henry Norweb
July 21, 1958
Dear John:
My wife and I are not satisfied with the photographic equipment we have for taking pictures of coins and so we are in the market for a good portable camera. Someone has suggested the Exacta. Another person has suggested the Swiss-made Alpha. Do let me have the benefit of your experience and recommendations. Surely Kodak must have something suitable for our needs ....
As always at this season of the year we are numismatically in the doldrums. We shall be in Maine for most or August, except for three or four days when I plan to fly out for the West Coast convention...
Sincerely,
Hon. R. Henry Norweb
[No date given] Dear Harry:
It was good to hear from you again. I will get the information together for you about the various types of photographic equipment which might be used for photographing coins. In addition, I hope we can find time in Los Angeles to talk about this and other things. .
So far I have not been able to get all the information from Canada on the Yukon pictures. But I do know that they were taken on glass plates by a United States photographer from Wisconsin named Hegg. Using Hegg's plates, Messrs. Colin Low and Wolf Koenig of the Canadian National Film Board produced the documentary film "City of Gold!' Up to this point I have not been successful in getting a print of the particular shot that shows the large and small ingots, but I hope it will be along eventually ....
Looking forward to seeing you at the convention, I am,
Sincerely yours,
John