CATALOGUE OF THE JOHN STORY JENKS COLLECTION OF COINS. ANCIENT GREEK, ROMAN AND THE ENTIRE WORLD. EARLY AMERICAN COLONIAL AND STATE ISSUES AND UNITED STATES PATTERNS AND THE REGULAR ISSUES

Philadelphia: Davis & Harvey, 8211. Large 4to, later white cloth; front cover and spine lettered in gilt. xii, 653, (1) pages; 7302 lots; 42 superb photographic plates of coins and medals. Original printed prices realized list bound in. Marginal repair to price list. Near fine. Adams 40, with plates. Rated A+ overall: "Henry Chapman's magnum opus. Superb coins of the world plus U.S. all series, all expertly described." The most famous of the Chapman sales and one of the most renowned American coin auctions ever held. John Story Jenks began collecting coins around 1850 and was 82 years of age when his collection was sold. Chapman claimed that "He is probably the oldest collector in the United States, and nearly every important sale has contributed to his collection." Twenty years his junior, Henry Chapman was still at the height of his considerable powers: "Suffice it to say I have not spared my faculties, energy or money to give in this catalogue full descriptions of the coins contained in this grand collection." For years the Jenks catalogue served as the best American single reference guide to the entire range of numismatics. Of great importance for the fine array of ancient Greek and Roman coins alone, also featured was an incredible selection of medieval and modern European rarities, and an especially important and extensive series of British coins. The American coins, from colonials to pioneer gold, were also of prime importance. The first six plates depict choice ancient Greek, Roman and Byzantine coins; the next twenty-six mainly illustrate European rarities; three plates mostly depict American colonial coins and Canadian tokens; one plate illustrates choice United States patterns; one plate depicts United States gold coins and one is devoted to silver; one plate illustrates large cents and the next depicts half cents and various unusual American rarities; the penultimate plate depicts American pioneer gold coins, and the last plate is devoted to Spanish and Latin American rarities. Clain-Stefanelli 7997*. Davis 210. Fanning, Ancient Coins in Early American Auctions, 17. Grierson 276. Spring 100.