LOT #12116 |
Sold on Aug 11, 2010 for: Not Sold
Continental Currency September 26, 1778 Two Counterfeit Detector Uncut Sheets of Eight Extremely Fine.. ... (Total: 2 sheets)
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Description
Continental Detector Sheet with Direct Ties to Revolutionary War Naval Action
Continental Currency September 26, 1778 Two Counterfeit Detector Uncut Sheets of Eight Extremely Fine.The two counterfeit detector half sheets presented in this lot not only have strong ties to American history, but to numismatic history as well.
The Boston Gazette's September 13, 1779 issue reported on the recent arrival of the Continental ships Deane and Boston and reported on the capture of "the ship Earl of Glencairn, mounting twenty guns," by the Deane. The paper went on to report, "From the Glencairn was thrown overboard a box containing a complete set of types and three reams of paper, with isinglass and silk mixed, for counterfeiting the Continental currency, which was afterwards taken up and brought in by Captain Nicholson. The printer, who was to counterfeit the same, was likewise taken in the above ship."
These two detector sheets are pinned together and include a handwritten note that reads, "Taken by the Ship Deane commanded by Capt. Sam'l Nicholson, 1779. From the Ship Glencairn, a box containing a complete set of types, and three reams of paper, with isinglass and silk mixed, for counterfeiting the Continental Currency. The enclosed are two sheets of them, presented me by Rev. Joseph B. Felt." The note is signed in the same hand by Matthew A. Stickney.
Joseph Barlow Felt (1789-1869) was the author of A Historical Account of Massachusetts Currency, originally published in 1839. Matthew Stickney (1805-1894) was a well-known collector, who among other accomplishments, assisted Crosby with Early Coins of America. After his death, the collection he had amassed was sold to Henry Chapman. Notations in pencil concerning Chapman are also observed on the attached note.
Although these are the most available of all detector half sheets, the additional historic and numismatic connections raise this to a level that made both the owner of this collection as well as this cataloger feel that this is one of the most significant items in this incomparable assemblage.
Folds are observed on both sheets. The folds run through a few of the notes, while some examples are unaffected and are almost new or better. A few tears and splits are seen at the margins.
From The Collection of a Patriotic American (Total: 2 sheets)
View all of [The Collection of a Patriotic American ]
Auction Info
2010 August Boston, MA Signature ANA Currency Auction #3511 (go to Auction Home page)
Auction Dates
August, 2010
11th-16th
Wednesday-Monday
Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: 1
Lot Tracking Activity: N/A
Page Views: 5,813
Buyer's Premium per Lot:
15% of the successful bid per lot.
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