Born on October 17, 1915, Maynard Sundman, founder of Littleton Coin Company, grew up in Bristol, Connecticut, where a childhood friend introduced him to stamp collecting at age 12. After graduating from high school in 1935, Sundman turned the hobby that had become his passion into a mail-order stamp concern, operating from his parents’ home.

By 1939, the Maynard Sundman Stamp Company had captured the attention of Bostonian H.E. Harris, founder of what was then the world’s largest stamp company. The encounter began a lifelong business relationship and personal friendship. Harris taught Sundman key lessons about the mail-order business, which contributed greatly to the latter’s long-term success.

In October 1945, Sundman and his wife, Fannie, moved to Littleton, New Hampshire, and established the Littleton Stamp Company. Soon their two-room operation in the Opera Block on Littleton’s main street included four employees.

In early 1947, the Sundmans began to offer world bank notes, their first foray into numismatic sales. Within three years, the company had 40 employees. By 1954, its numismatic business increased enough to warrant changing the name of the firm to Littleton Stamp & Coin Company. (more…)

Wayte Raymond was a dealer and publisher who was born in South Norwalk, Connecticut on November 9, 1886. He and his wife Olga were married in 1917. The couple remained childless. Raymond was employed as a bank teller from 1901 to 1912, working for the City National Bank of South Norwalk. He was a member of the Sons of the Revolution and also a mason. Raymond joined the ANA at age 16 and later joined with Elmer Sears to form the United States Coin Company, conducting 43 auctions sales from 1912 to 1918.

He later joined with James G. Macallister as numismatic catalogers for J.C. Morgenthau and Company, holding over 50 sales. From 1908 to 1950 he held 69 auctions sales under his own name and served the Scott Stamp and Coin Company from 1934 to 1946, handling important clients such as Col. Green. From 1946 until his death on September 23, 1956, he operated New Netherlands Coin Company. Raymond produced his own line of coin albums and also wrote or compiled several monographs, books, and other references. He published Coin and Medal Bulletin from 1924 to 1933, Coin Collector’s Journal from 1934 to 1954, and Coin Topics from 1936 to 1940.

David U. Proskey was a dealer who was born in Wappingers Falls, New York on December 12, 1853. He was married to Madgie Van Houton in 1884 and the couple and three sons and a daughter. He began his career as a coin dealer in 1873, conducting five auction sales from 1876 to 1887. He cataloged coins for J.W. Scott and Company from 1877 to 1886, and later joined with Harlan P. Smith to form New York Coin and Stamp Company. Smith was the financier and Proskey the cataloger. The firm continued in business after Smith died. Proskey himself died on August 16, 1928 and his son, David V. Proskey continued the business.

Walter Perschke was president of Numisco Rare Coins in Chicago. The firm handled five auctions sales from 1980 to 1982. Earlier, Perschke paid $430,000 for his Brasher Doubloon in 1979.

Burdette G. Johnson was born in DeSoto, Missouri on January 2, 1885, and died in St. Louis on February 24, 1947. He was self educated and read a book a day after he learned to read. Johnson was never married. He and his partner, David A. Sutherland, operated St. Louis Stamp and Coin Company, which they bought from F.E. Ellis on July 7, 1907. Just over a year later, Johnson bought out his partner. Johnson conducted 36 auction sales from 1902 to 1915. He was a mentor of Eric Newman, and these two purchased all five 1913 Liberty Nickels from the Colonel Green estate in 1942. Johnson received numerous large consignments from Armin Brand, representing coins from the Virgil Brand estate. He died on a street car in St. Louis on his way to work.

Edward Cogan was born in England on January 5, 1803 and died on April 7, 1884. Cogan came to the United States in 1853, and he and his wife Louise had eight children. Cogan conducted 69 auction sales, with the first held in Philadelphia in 1855. Cogan was an important figure in the earliest numismatic activities in this country.

Samuel Hudson Chapman was born on July 15, 1857 and died on September 22, 1931. He and his wife Bertha had three sons. Samuel Hudson Chapman conducting 28 auction sales from 1907 until 1924. He retired from the business in 1929 and the remainder of his collection and inventory was sold by Thomas Elder in 1932.