The E-Sylum:  Volume 11, Number 2, January 13, 2008, Article 3

STACK'S JANUARY 2008 AMERICANA SALE CATALOG

The January 15-16 Stack's Americana sale is a whopper.  At
496 pages the catalog showcases the firm's largest (and
possibly the finest) offering of Americana ever.  The sale
opens with a great selection of continental and colonial
currency, featuring a nice selection of early American
private scrip issues.

Next up is the French Colonies collection of Robert A. Vlack,
author of the definitive 2004 book on the subject.  Over 150
specimens are plate coins from that important work.  The sale
also includes the John P. Lorenzo collections of St. Patrick's
coinage and New Jersey coppers and Part 1 of the Michael K.
Ringo collection of Contemporary Counterfeit English and
Irish Halfpence.

I asked Roger Sibioni about the sale and he writes: "John
Kraljevich cataloged Mike's counterfeits and this catalog
will probably serve as the major reference piece for English/
Irish counterfeit halfpence for some time.  The collection
has a great preamble introduction on Mike and this emerging
area of collecting by Vicken Yegparian."

Also included is Ringo's collection of American silver
and coin silver tableware, many of which have numismatic
connections.  I was pleased to see a note that "photos of
single item lots not photographed in this catalogue may be
found online".  Hip, hip hooray!  I've been advocating this
bifurcated approach to numismatic cataloging for some time.
This is one of the first instances I've seen where the
printed and online catalogs of a sale diverge.  Usually
these are carbon copies of one another, but it only makes
sense to take advantage of the unique properties of each
medium to present the sale in the best overall perspective
at a reasonable cost.

The U.S. medal section features many important specimens
including Comitia Americana and Libertas Americana medals.
The Civil War section features a number of interesting pieces,
including a so-called "Rebel Half Dime" (lot 7233). The sale
ends with a selection of U.S. coinage including some nice
early gold.
Full Story

One lot bibliophiles will appreciate is one of 400 deluxe
leatherbound copies of Dave Bowers' 'A California Gold Rush
History, featuring the treasure from the S.S. Central America.'
"The inside of the front board incorporates a pinch of
'authentic gold dust from the S.S. Central America' behind
a plastic 'window' for added Western appeal. The book is
protected by a heavy and precisely fitted slip cover of
rugged construction. Printed on heavy coated stock, the
volume includes a life-size glossy color photo of a Justh
and Hunter ingot from the wreck. This luxurious presentation
volume was originally offered only to buyers of substantial
Gold ingots salvaged from the S.S. Central America and each
book cost some $1,000 to produce."
Full Story

Other notes and comments on the sale are welcomed.  Will
the catalog become a classic reference?  What was it like
in the sale room?  See "John Lorenzo's Frontenec Sale
Purchase" later in this issue.

  Wayne Homren, Editor

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