Browning, A.W. The Early Quarter Dollars of the United States 1796-1838, With a Few Remarks Concerning their Types, Varieties and Rarity. New York City. Wayte Raymond. 1925. Very Fine, or better.Octavo. Hardbound in full crushed brown morocco. Lettering on the cover and fillets around in gilt. The spine has five raised bands dividing it into six panels, the second and fourth with gilt title and author; panels one, three and five with gilt floral ornaments and the date at the base. Gilt floral dentelles around the inside front and back covers, with matching mottled pastedowns and flyleaves. The page and plate tops are finished in gilt. The first endpaper is inscribed to F.C.C. Boyd from Wayte Raymond in Raymond’s hand, in five lines, as follows: “Freddy / from / Wayte / With many happy returns / April 10, 1925.” The binding is tight and the interior virtually as new, with eight high-quality photographic plates bound into the back, each backed on cream linen. Slight wear to the edges of the spine, but not serious. John J. Ford, Jr.’s small bookplate at the upper left inside cover.<p>This is one of just five originals prepared with this special binding, and its casual presentation inscription from the famous publisher and dealer to such a prominent collector of the day is a window into their close relationship and a testament to a long record of friendly dealings.<p>According to Charles Davis, this was “the first major work on a silver denomination since the Haseltine Type Table of 1881,” and reprints of it continue to be in use by those studying the series, nearly a century after publication. This volume easily transcends the research value, as it is a rare artifact that ties together numismatic luminaries of the first half of the 20th-century. What is not clear from this volume, but very much part of the story, is that Ard W. Browning himself held F.C.C. Boyd in very high esteem. In fact, Browning had left instructions with his brother that he should contact Mr. Boyd directly in the event of his passing, to assist with his own personal collection. He told his brother, in part, that Boyd “is a square man and will do the right thing.” There are few higher compliments in the coin business to be so named.<p>When John Ford acquired property from the Boyd Estate, undoubtedly this volume was part of the transaction. He also acquired the original unbound text and plate negatives, likely from Wayte Raymond’s estate, from which he reproduced a short run of copies of this valuable reference, attesting to how much Ford valued this particular piece of numismatic scholarship. This single volume ties all four of these notable numismatists together. When Part I of the Ford Library was sold in 2004, this copy of Browning realized $16,500, more than two times its presale estimate. D. Brent Pogue recognized this piece of history for what it is, as did his underbidder, who hopefully will now have another opportunity to secure it after 16 years of patience.From the D. Brent Pogue Library. Earlier ex Wayte Raymond to F.C.C. Boyd, by presentation, April 10, 1925; John J. Ford, Jr.; Stacks-George Frederick Kolbe sale of the John J. Ford, Jr. Reference Library, Part I, June 2004, lot 223.
