| Manhattan, New York - January 31, 2008 - R.M. | | | | hismost important works. |
| Smythe & Co. held 6auctions in 2007 offering | | | | |
| historical autographs, currency, | | | | Sale #271 - Lot#159 - Presale Estimate $3,000 |
| coins,stocks, bonds, antiques and even two | | | | and Up - Final Bid $4250 |
| cannons. While compiling a list ofthe more | | | | |
| interesting lots that sold in 2007, the one | | | | NELSON, HORATIO British naval officer |
| unifying factorthat fits all of the items | | | | (1758-1805); in 1800, he blockaded |
| listed is that collectors were looking | | | | |
| forquality merchandise. This relentless | | | | Malta and Naples, held by French and |
| search for quality became evidentin heavy | | | | Neapolitan Jacobins; annulled |
| bidding activity resulting in final bids that | | | | |
| in many cases farexceeded pre-auction | | | | Cardinal Ruffo's proposed terms to rebels, |
| estimates and set new auction records. | | | | received absolute surrender;restored |
| Ofparticular note was the December 12-13 sale | | | | Neapolitan royal family to power; became |
| #275 of part 13 of the | | | | romantically involvedwith Emma Hamilton, the |
| | | | wife of Naples consul Sir William |
| Schingoethe collection of obsolete currency, | | | | Hamilton;promoted Vice Admiral; created Duke |
| which saw many notesselling for up to 10 | | | | of Bronte by Ferdinand I of Naples;died in |
| times their presale estimates, with 94% of | | | | the battle of Trafalgar. Choice Manuscript |
| the 1162lots sold at the final gavel (See | | | | Letter Signed |
| | | | |
| ). Although interest in obsolete currency was | | | | /"Nelson & Bronte" / as Vice Admiral of the |
| very high, it representedjust a small portion | | | | Blue, 1 page, small 4to |
| of the antique and collectible merchandise | | | | |
| that sawvery active bidding on the Smythe | | | | [8-1/4" x 8-1/2"], on his ship, the /HMS |
| auction floor in 2007. | | | | Victory, "Off Toulon, the 13th |
| | | | |
| Here are realized prices on some of the more | | | | August 1803." / Addressing the /"Naval |
| noteworthy lots sold by | | | | Storekeeper at Malta," /Nelsondirects /"that |
| | | | you receive into His Majesty's stores under |
| R.M. Smythe & Company in 2007. The listed | | | | your charge,the Barge and Jolly (or four |
| lots include the sale#, thelot# and the final | | | | hand) Boat belonging to His Majesty's Ship |
| bid. In most cases the presale estimate is | | | | |
| alsolisted. The realized price listed does | | | | Victory, and keep them under a Shade or Cover |
| not include the buyers premium. | | | | 'till they are wanted forthe use of the said |
| | | | Ship..." /Paper repairs at folds, minor stain |
| Detailed photos of each lot listed can be | | | | attop, otherwise in very good condition. |
| viewed by visiting the onlinecatalog for the | | | | Nelson had been given command ofthe /Victory/ |
| specified sale# and lot# at Smythe auctions. | | | | just three months earlier, and joined the |
| See: . | | | | ongoing blockadeof the French port of Toulon. |
| | | | However, the French fleet managed to slippast |
| Sale #270 - Lot# 1136 - Final Bid $24,000 | | | | the blockade in 1805, and Nelson led a failed |
| | | | pursuit. Retiring dueto ill health, he was |
| 1838 Die Alignment III, Reeded Edge Judd-84 | | | | recalled in September of that year, and |
| Brilliant Proof. As a type | | | | fought hisgreat and final victory at |
| | | | Trafalgar just a month later. A good |
| Gobrecht dollars are quite scarce, and when | | | | navalletter, showing how control of Malta, |
| they are encountered, theyare usually from | | | | achieved in 1800, allowed Englandto maintain |
| the 1836 mintage of 1,600 pieces. The | | | | a fleet in the Mediterranean, a key to its |
| Restrike Pattern | | | | dominance at sea. |
| | | | |
| Gobrechts of 1838 (Judd-84) are considered to | | | | Sale #271 - Lot#722 - Presale Estimate $3,000 |
| be R.5. This piece hasdark slate gray toning, | | | | to $3,500 - Final Bid $5500 |
| but when rotated under light, very | | | | |
| attractiveunderlying hues of copper, gold, | | | | OXFORD: OXONIA ILLUSTRATA "Oxonia |
| aqua, and blue can be seen. The proofflash is | | | | Illustrata." David Loggan. Oxford, |
| very visible under the layers of color. Fully | | | | |
| struck up, whichthey are often not. The | | | | 1675. Folio, red leather [by Bartlett?] with |
| eagle's feathers are quite distinct. | | | | gilt cottage-roof design,spine, six bands. |
| Althoughquite attractive, there are some of | | | | Three engravings laid in. Minor dampstains |
| hairlines on the obverse fieldsadjacent to | | | | and sparsesoiling, front free endpaper |
| Liberty, below STATES, and below the eagle. | | | | creased, front board slightly |
| Not perfect, butrare this nice. | | | | curled,otherwise very good/fine. |
| | | | |
| Sale #270 - Lot#1219 - Final Bid $55,000 | | | | Sale #272 - Lot#1263 - Presale Estimate |
| | | | $1,500 to $3,000 - Final Bid $8500 |
| 1911 Matte Proof NGC PR-66. There is no doubt | | | | |
| that the double eaglesdesigned by Augustus | | | | Central Bank of Brooklyn (NY) 1854. #199. 20 |
| St. Gaudens are the most beautiful coins | | | | shs. Jolly old Saint |
| struck bythe United States for general | | | | |
| circulation. During this period of | | | | Nicholas rides in a sleigh full of toys, |
| coinagehistory, the US Mint was experimenting | | | | pulled by reindeer. A classicvignette by |
| on ways to make our coinage moreartistic. One | | | | Baldwin, Adams & Co. Durand Vignette Type |
| such way was the new process the Mint used to | | | | III. Santa Clausvignettes are some of the |
| proof goldcoins, resulting in what we now | | | | most sought after of all vignettes. The |
| refer to as "matte proofs." They werenot well | | | | |
| received by the public, and the low mintages | | | | Schingoethe collection of Santa Claus |
| for gold proofsdropped further. The mintage | | | | vignetted obsolete notesestablished many |
| for 1911 was a mere 100 pieces struck. | | | | record prices. First we have seen from this |
| Thiscoin is a picture perfect example of the | | | | company. Weexpect the bidding on this |
| Matte proof type. Pale yellow,deeply struck | | | | certificate to be quite competitive. |
| and nearly flawless. | | | | Lightstaining, left. VF.* |
| | | | |
| Sale #270 - Lot#1683 - Presale Estimate | | | | Sale #272 - Lot#4842 - Presale Estimate |
| $15,000 and Up - Final Bid $21,000 | | | | $7,000 to $8,000 - Final Bid $14,000 |
| | | | |
| New York Ch.E923. /Brooklyn. /First NB. $10. | | | | $20. Fr.953b. 1914. No.B2522533A. Choice |
| Fr.624. 1902 PB. | | | | Uncirculated. A real blazer Red |
| | | | |
| No.D765506/1 A. Choice-Gem Uncirculated. An | | | | Seal $20 that looks perfect from the front |
| incredibly rare serialnumber 1 red seal | | | | and only the slightly askewback centering |
| Brooklyn that has not appeared publically | | | | keeps it from a Super Gem grade. The |
| since the | | | | originality andstrong embossing are clearly |
| | | | visible through the PMG64 EPQ holder. |
| Kriegsberg sale in 1965. Totally original and | | | | Amarvelous note. |
| in nearly perfectcondition except for some | | | | |
| minor handling. The highlight of our | | | | Sale #272 - Lot# 4938 - Presale Estimate |
| Nationalofferings which promises to generate | | | | $10,000 to $15,000 - Final Bid |
| very aggressive bidding. | | | | |
| | | | $37,000 |
| Sale #270 - Lot#3501 - Presale Estimate | | | | |
| $25,000 and Up - Final Bid $30,000 | | | | LT. Uncut 18-Subject Sheet of $5 1953 Legal |
| | | | Tender Notes. |
| $1000. A. T-1. Cr.1. No.129. PF-1. A crisp, | | | | |
| bright, and remarkably vividexample that | | | | A00000001A-A00136001A. The last note on the |
| until now has never appeared in any public | | | | sheet bears the autographedsignatures of the |
| sale. Itsexistence was unknown to Criswell, | | | | Treasurer of the United States, Ivy Baker |
| Ball, Shull, or Fricke! VF or Better,with | | | | Priest, andthe Secretary of the Treasury, |
| seven light to moderate vertical folds. | | | | George M. Humphrey. Almost Uncirculated,with |
| Neatly hammer cancelled,with no pieces | | | | some corner bends, and a trace of paper clip |
| missing. Very boldly executed signatures of | | | | rust on the #1 note. |
| Clitheralland Elmore. On the back are two | | | | |
| lightly pencilled notations, stamphinges | | | | These are mentioned for accuracy, as you can |
| behind the cancellation, and an | | | | never obtain a betterexample of this unique |
| inconsequential water stain. Noneof these are | | | | sheet. Accompanied by a copy of a letter |
| distracting, and they have no impact on the | | | | onofficial Treasury Department letterhead, |
| choiceappearance of the note when viewed from | | | | signed by Edward F. Bartelt, |
| the front. Great eye appeal,with brilliant | | | | |
| green color, razor sharp black images and | | | | Fiscal Assistant Secretary, dated May 20, |
| text, and ampleand even margins on all four | | | | 1953, certifying that this isthe first sheet |
| sides. Strictly original , with no repairsor | | | | of the first run of this series. A wonderful |
| ``conservation'' often encountered on Type 1 | | | | addition toany great collection of U.S small |
| Confederate notes. Thisis a note that would | | | | size currency. |
| fit nicely into almost any museum | | | | |
| qualitycollection of CSA paper money. VF, CC. | | | | Sale #272 - Lot#2501- Presale Estimate |
| Ironically, the very first | | | | $25,000 and Up - Final Bid $52,500 |
| | | | |
| Confederate paper money was engraved and | | | | $1000. A. T-1. Cr.1. No.88. PF-1. John C. |
| printed by the National Bank | | | | Calhoun, states-rightsadvocate, left. Andrew |
| | | | Jackson, right. A crisp, bright, and |
| Note Company, in New York City. Shortly after | | | | remarkablyvivid example that was purchased in |
| the notes were ordered anddelivered, | | | | 1987 from our auction of Dr. Douglas |
| hostilities broke out at Fort Sumter, and | | | | |
| Federal Marshalsmoved in to the National Bank | | | | Ball's personal collection. Described by Dr. |
| Note Company's offices and confiscated | | | | Ball as "EF, plus, cutcancelled." |
| theprinting plates. Of the 607 $1,000 | | | | |
| Montgomery notes issued, 116 areknown, 9 in | | | | According to the 1987 description, on the |
| Uncirculated condition, and two of those are | | | | back there were two lightlypencilled |
| cancelled. | | | | notations, stamp hinges behind the |
| | | | cancellation, and aninconsequential water |
| Perhaps a third of the survivors are | | | | stain, but these have all been |
| virtually unobtainable, locked awayin public | | | | professionallyremoved. Hauntingly attractive, |
| and private institutions. The $1,000 notes | | | | with the full eye appeal of an |
| were signed by | | | | |
| | | | Uncirculated example. The cancellations were |
| Alexander B. Clitherall as Register and | | | | done so neatly that theyare virtually |
| Edward Elmore as Treasurer. Thefiery Mr. | | | | undetectable from the front, and the paper |
| Elmore was not a man to be trifled with. Mr. | | | | quality is justextraordinary. No folds are |
| Daniels, thepublisher of a Richmond | | | | apparent. The signature of Clitherall |
| newspaper, wrote an article claiming that | | | | isboldly executed. The Elmore signature is a |
| Elmorewas a heavy gambler who was embezzling | | | | bit lighter. This is a notethat would fit |
| large sums from the Treasury. | | | | nicely into almost any museum quality |
| | | | collection of CSApaper money. Ex Phillip H. |
| Elmore immediately challenged Daniels to a | | | | Chase, Dr. Douglas Ball, and Frederick Mayer. |
| duel and shot him! Thisextraordinary Criswell | | | | |
| Type-1 has never been offered publicly | | | | You can't ask for a more impressive |
| orrecorded in any census, and it was probably | | | | provenance! Far superior to the onewe just |
| collected decades before | | | | sold in our April 2007 Western Reserve |
| | | | Historical Society Sale,described as " VF, |
| Confederate paper money rareties were | | | | CC" which brought $30,000. VF, CC. |
| considered to be particularlyvaluable. This | | | | Ironically, thevery first Confederate paper |
| may account for the fact that other than | | | | money was engraved and printed by the |
| having beencarefully dismounted from the two | | | | |
| stamp hinges that held it to an albumpage, | | | | National Bank Note Company, in New York City. |
| the note has never been tampered with in any | | | | Shortly after the noteswere ordered and |
| way. Worthy of apremium bid. | | | | delivered, hostilities broke out at Fort |
| | | | Sumter, and |
| Sale #271- Lot#35 - Presale Estimate $5,500 | | | | |
| and Up - Final Bid $6,500 | | | | Federal Marshals moved in to the National |
| | | | Bank Note Company's officesand confiscated |
| British statesman, war-time Prime Minister | | | | the printing plates.The $1,000 notes were |
| and Nobel laureate | | | | signed by |
| | | | |
| (1874-1965). Choice Typewritten Document | | | | Alexander B. Clitherall as Register and |
| Signed /"Winston L.S. | | | | Edward Elmore as Treasurer. Thefiery Mr. |
| | | | Elmore was not a man to be trifled with. Mr. |
| Churchill,"/ 1-1/5 pages, 4to, on parchment, | | | | Daniels, thepublisher of a Richmond |
| London, January 18, 1957. | | | | newspaper, wrote an article claiming that |
| | | | Elmorewas a heavy gambler who was embezzling |
| Churchill's signature is penned at the | | | | large sums from the Treasury. |
| conclusion [partially throughseal] and is | | | | |
| witnessed by a solicitor. Bears embossed | | | | Elmore immediately challenged Daniels to a |
| revenue stamp athead. A / "Supplemental | | | | duel and shot him! Of the 607 |
| Agreement"/ to the existing book | | | | |
| contractbetween /"The Right Honourable Sir | | | | $1,000 Montgomery notes issued, Approximately |
| Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill | | | | 116 are known, 9 in |
| | | | |
| K.G., O.M., C.H., M.P. of Chartwell Westerham | | | | Uncirculated condition, and two of those are |
| in the County of | | | | cancelled. Perhaps a thirdof the survivors |
| | | | are virtually unobtainable, locked away in |
| Kent...and Cassell & Company Limited...in the | | | | public andprivate institutions. |
| City of London"/ amendingthe existing | | | | |
| agreement between them /"to the extent that | | | | Sale # 272 - Lot#2521 - Presale Estimate |
| the Publishersshall despatch proofs of the | | | | $7,500 to $15,000 Final Bid $19,000 |
| Third and Fourth Volumes of 'A History ofthe | | | | |
| English-Speaking Peoples'...as soon after the | | | | Act of February 28, 1861. $1000. Cr.Unlisted. |
| thirty-first day of | | | | B-8. Hand drawn mockup,with pasted on proof |
| | | | vignettes on red silk fiber paper, with hand |
| January one thousand nine hundred and | | | | drawncoupons. Wagon load of cotton. Sailor |
| fifty-seven as the printers canprovide | | | | bottom. American Bank Note. Topright panel |
| them...Save as aforesaid the provisions of | | | | separated. Vignettes loose. Worthy of some |
| the Principal | | | | restoration. Hasthe appearance of VF. |
| | | | Apparently the work on this bond started |
| Agreement shall remain in full force and | | | | laterthan the $500. The firm got the text of |
| effect..._"_/ In exceptionallyfine condition. | | | | the bond, had it written in by ascribe and |
| Churchill's four-volume work A History of the | | | | then stuck in vignettes as appropriate. An |
| | | | important uniqueand historical |
| English-Speaking Peoples was published | | | | |
| between 1956 and 1958, and wasthe last major | | | | Sale #274 - Lot#1595 - Final Bid $13,000 |
| literary work completed by him before his | | | | |
| death in 1965. | | | | Colombia. 8 Escudo, 1779NR JJ. Carol(us) III. |
| | | | KM 50.1. (NGC MS-64).obv.: Armored bust, |
| This great work had a somewhat checkered life | | | | facing right. rev.: Crowned arms in collar of |
| however. It wascommissioned by Newman Flower | | | | the |
| and the contract was signed in 1933. | | | | |
| | | | Golden Fleece. Slight lamination on cheek, |
| Although Churchill continued to work on the | | | | and rubbed forehead away from |
| manuscript, his publicduties did not enable | | | | |
| him to complete the work by the outbreak of | | | | Gem. |
| war in | | | | |
| | | | Sale #274 - Lot#1616 - Final Bid $9500 |
| 1939; when he returned to his old post as | | | | |
| First Lord of the Admiralty hedelivered | | | | 18th Century Spanish Bronze Breech Loaded |
| 450,000 words to the publisher in the best | | | | Cannon. Typical form, 39 1/2"in length. |
| shape he had beenable to give them, covering | | | | Bourbon arms of Charles III on top of barrel. |
| his subject from the beginnings to | | | | Breach firedcannon with breech block present. |
| theassassination of Abraham Lincoln. When, | | | | Minor damage to pindle. Nice surfaceswith |
| after the mighty events of thenext six years | | | | only traces of verdigris. One of only 40 |
| and the loss of the election of 1945, Sir | | | | cannons that were reportedon the /El Cazador. |
| Winston had thetime and the inclination once | | | | /The fact that the breech block is present is |
| more to take up his pen, it was to the | | | | simplyamazing. Cannon weighs 200+ pounds. |
| newproject, his Second World War, that he | | | | Must be picked up-no shipping available. |
| turned first. With these sixvolumes happily | | | | |
| completed, he was able to look again at the | | | | "As you can see, 2007 was a great year for |
| unfinished | | | | Smythe." said Mary Herzog, |
| | | | |
| History of the English-Speaking Peoples which | | | | Vice President of R. M. Smythe & Co. "We had |
| had been laid aside insuch ominous | | | | some exceptionally highquality consignments, |
| circumstances so many years before. Churchill | | | | which resulted in a great deal of bidder |
| had recentlyserved his last term as Prime | | | | interest. |
| Minister [1951-55], during which time hehad | | | | |
| been awarded the Nobel prize in literature | | | | For 2008 we've got some wonderful auctions |
| [1953]. An extremelyscarce agreement between | | | | planned and our customer canexpect even more |
| Churchill and his publisher covering one of | | | | quality merchandise on our auction floor. |