Michael Hodder and Q. David Bowers
It was in the mid-1950s that I first met the Honorable and Mrs. R. Henry Norweb. Their reputation preceded them, and when we crossed paths at a convention, I knew that they not only possessed one of the finest cabinets of United States and world coins ever assembled, but, equally important, were true connoisseurs and studied and appreciated what they owned. We conversed on various subjects, with Emery May Holden Norweb (always addressed by me formally as Mrs. Norweb) relating her particular interest in colonial and early American coins, which she studied by die varieties. I expressed interest in viewing her legendary holdings, and while she stated that they were not organized in a manner that everything could be seen, she would be delighted to have me visit her in Cleveland to examine any particular series or specialty. At a later meeting, when I mentioned that I was going to be on an extended tour in New England in the summer of 1957, she graciously invited me to pay a visit to the villa located in Boothbay Harbor, Maine.
During the years afterward, I kept in touch with the Norwebs, offering them interesting specimens from time to time. I was privileged to be among their friends, in addition to being a dealer-supplier, and today I remember many interesting happenings along the route of our acquaintance. I was Ambassador R. Henry Norweb's guest on several occasions at his private club in New York City, and, after having dinner, went with him to several meetings of the New York Coin Club, an organization which then, as now, emphasized the study, appreciation, and scholarship of coins. On another occasion, a rare 1804 silver dollar was coming up at auction. He asked me what it would bring, and the best advice of the time was that it might fetch in the $15,000 to $20,000 range. "Bid whatever you think is appropriate. Go to $25,000 or more, if you want to, for I want to give it to EmeryMayas a surprise birthday present;' he advised me. I asked him if he planned to attend the sale and watch me bid, as he was in New York City at the time, but he said, "No, you go ahead-and then give me a call and let me know how you made out," As it turned out, I bid the piece up to $28,000, a new record, but lost it to a Florida collector who bid one jump beyond that point.
The passing of the Honorable and Mrs. R. Henry Norweb left a void in numismatics which will never be filled. However, their legacy lives on, in coins donated by them to the American Numismatic Society and the Smithsonian Institution, prize rarities which will be forever enjoyed by those who appreciate them, as well as the thousands of individual specimens of world coinage sold at auction earlier by Christie's, English coins sold by Spink & Son, Ltd., and United States coins owned by their son to be sold in the future by Auctions by Bowers and Merena, Inc. The pedigree "From the Norweb Collection" does and will continue to have special significance.
The charm and grace of the Honorable R. Henry and Mrs. Norwebwas vested in their son, R. Henry Norweb, Jr., and his wife Libby. In a rare instance of one generation maintaining the illustrious tradition of an earlier one, Mr. and Mrs. R. Henry Norweb, Jr., have been involved in many philanthropies, and on the numismatic scene, have made many important contributions. At present, R. Henry Norweb, Jr. is a member of the Council of the American Numismatic Society and has helped to lead that august body.
It was a great pleasure when the Norweb family named my firm to sell at auction their cabinet of United States and colonial coins.
I had known the pieces by reputation only, and, although I had seen scattered pieces earlier, was not familiar with the whole. Nor had any other numismatist ever examined the collection from beginning to end, for the immense holding was never completely catalogued and organized. It was a "living collection;' so to speak, and the Norwebs enjoyed working on it over a long period of years. Indeed, R. Henry Norweb, Jr. relates that his mother and father often packed a picnic lunch, took it to a large walk-in bank vault in downtown Cleveland, and spent the day working with their coins! That every person dreads thecompletion of his life's work was stated by philosopher Oswald Spengler, and in this vein, I doubt if the Honorable and Mrs. R. Henry Norweb would have been pleased if one day they had considered the collection to be "finished;' Rather, it was something to continually work on, to improve, to study, and beyond that to use as a vehicle to meet many people and to participate in many events. Although coins were the focal point of activity, I am sure it is correct to say that no member of the Norweb family, past or present, ever put coins before personal relationships. "I would like to buy your 1894-S dime, if you would like to sell it to me; the Honorable R. Henry
Norweb stated to me in 1958. Such an approach was far different from the usual "What is the least amount you will take for it?" typically encountered.
The occasion of the sale of the Norweb cabinet of United States and colonial coins, to be presented in separate catalogues in 1987 and 1988, furnishes the opportunity for the present book. The catalogues themselves tell of the coins, the varieties, and their histories. The present book tells of the people involved, the several generations of the Norweb family involved in numismatics, from the 19th century down to the present day. One can always read about coins; but, reading about "coin people" is an opportunity not often encountered, for, with relatively few exceptions, the personal lives of numismatists who have gone before us are not well documented. To Michael J. Hodder goes the credit for the lion's share of the data presented in the following pages. At one time early in 1987, he had five different researchers working for him in as many different states tracking down tidbits of information concerning the Norwebs and their forebears, Liberty and Albert Holden.
I express my appreciation to Michael Hodder, the staff of Bowers and Merena Galleries, and to the various individuals and institutions who helped with what turned out to be an immense writing project. While specific credits are given on an appropriate page, I especially thank Margo Russell, editor emeritus of Coin World, who wrote a personal foreword to the book. Margo herself is one of the great figures of the numismatic hobby, and it is to be hoped that someday a book can be written about her own experiences; if by her own hand it certainly will provide a marvelous insight into numismatics during the years in which she was involved, from the early 1960s onward.
To Mr. and Mrs. R. Henry Norweb, Jr. I am grateful for the opportunity to write these words, and to present the Norweb cabinet at auction. To the numismatists worldwide who acquire individual coins from the Norweb holdings, I hope that each piece, common or rare, will carry with it a special aura from having been in a special collection, formed by very special people.
-0, David Bowers Wolfeboro, New Hampshire July 1, 1987