The following is from a submission by W. David Perkins written to the editor of the John Reich Collectors Society (JRCS) e-newsletter #119 concerning a letter from noted collector John Pitman, that was included with a Book sold at the recent George Kolbe Numismatic Literature Sale 104.

W. David Perkins writes:

The recent November 1, 2007 George Kolbe Numismatic Literature Sale 104 offered the John J. Pittman numismatic literature collection. Included in this sale was Lot 117, a signed copy of the First Edition of The United States Early Silver Dollars From 1794 To 1803 by M. H. Bolender. I placed a bid on this lot but was not the winner. I also cannot say I was the underbidder, despite what I thought was a strong bid. This lot realized $325, which may be a record price for a copy of the Bolender book. Prices in this Kolbe sale were very strong indeed! (more…)

A lifelong collector, Rochette has devoted nearly all his adult life to ANA service.  Joining the Association’s staff as editor of the ANA’s magazine in 1966, he spent most of his first 20 years as executive vice president. He retired from his staff position, and in 1987 was elected to the ANA Board of Governors, serving as vice president from 1989 to 1991 and president from 1991 to 1993.

In 1998, at the recommendation of the ANA President’s Advisory Council and with the approval of the Board of Governors, Rochette returned to the ANA staff as interim executive director. A year later, he was asked to take the position permanently, and in 2001 his contracted was extended two years.

He stepped aside from the day to-day operations of the Association on January 1, 2003, taking on the role of senior advisor responsible for fund-raising until his retirement on July 31.

During his second tenure as executive director, Rochette oversaw the complete remodeling and expansion of the ANA’s Money Museum and Library; creation of the Harry W. Bass Jr. Gallery of United States gold coins by the Bass foundation; and the make-over of the Association’s Numismatist magazine, now in its 116th year of publication. (more…)

An active collector and quintessential philanthropist, Harry W. Bass Jr. was a life member of the ANA for more than 30 years. He was awarded the Medal of Merit in 1989 and was inducted into the Association’s Numismatic Hall of Fame in 1998.

Bass’ interest in numismatics began in the mid 1960s. He joined the ANA in 1966 and spent a year studying the subject before he actively began collecting.

Soon after entering the field, he defined his goal - to collect United States-issue gold coins from 1795 to 1933 by date and mintmark, with special attention to die varieties of early U.S. gold.

He made many important numismatic discoveries while creating the most complete collection ever assembled, including many one-of-a-kind specimens.

Of paramount importance in the collection is a set of virtually all known die varieties of early (1795 to 1834) United States gold coin denominations, in the finest condition. (more…)

Andrew C. Zabriskie was born in New York on May 30, 1853 and married Francis Hunter on June 6, 1895. Zabriskie served as third vice-president of the American Numismatic Society from March 16, 1880 to March 18,1884, as first vice-president from March 18, 1884 to March 16, 1896, and as the society’s president from that date until January 16, 1905. He was a member of the 7th regiment of the National Guard of New York from 1873 until 1898, and was an unsuccessful candidate for Congress in 1908. Zabriskie had privately purchased gold coins from the collection of Augustus Humbert before it was offered for public sale. His death occurred at his home, Blithewood, in Barrytown-on-Hudson, NY. When his own collection was offered for sale by Henry Chapman in June 1909, private and territorial gold pieces brought the highest prices. He was the author of a book on Political and Memorial Medals of Abraham Lincoln. The Zabriskie Collection was sold by Henry Chapman in June 1909.

Matthew A. Stickney was born at Rowley Massachusetts on September 23, 1805. His childhood collection consisted of nearly 2,000 birds eggs that he acquired by the age of 10. Stickney was employed by the firm of Sawyer & Pierce, dealers in West India goods. He retired from this position in 1854. His coin collecting interest began at about age 18. He had a good relationship with Eckfeldt and DuBois at the Mint and was able to acquire needed items from them, in trade. These included an 1804 dollar. He was a member of the ANS. Stickney died at his home in Salem, Massachusetts on August 11, 1894. His collection was sold several years later by Henry Chapman in June 1907, one of his first important sales after he and his brother parted company.

George F. Seavey formed an extensive collection that was displayed at the Boston Numismatic Society meeting of February 4, 1869, and was described as a complete collection. At the time, mintmarks were not considered important, thus the collection would have been essentially complete by date. His collection was cataloged for auction sale to be held in 1873. Although 150 copies of the catalog were printed by W.H. Strobridge, the auction was canceled when Lorin Parmelee bought the entire collection intact.

Lorin G. Parmelee was born on May 27, 1827 near Wilmington, Vermont. He lived a brief time in Illinois but returned to the east. Parmelee was a bean baker in Boston until 1893. During the 1850s, as he received a number of copper cents, he garnered requests from collectors to search these for needed dates. He began selling some of those for 10 to 25 cents each, at the same time beginning his own collecting activities. Parmelee purchased several collections intact, including the Seavey Collection in 1873 for which he paid $15,000. He also bought the Bushnell Collection which he had the Chapman Brothers sell in June 1882. Much of his collection was sold by Harlan Page Smith of the New York Coin and Stamp Company in June 1890, including the Doubloon which was lot 451 and realized $415.