W. BOGERT in a box punch on an 1842 Braided Hair large cent. Brunk B-820, Rulau-Unlisted. Host coin Very Good. This is the mark of William Bogert (1811-1881), who worked as a silversmith in Albany, NY in the late 1830s and early 1840s. William was one of at least three silversmithing sons of Nicholas J. Bogert, a prominent silversmith. He then left to work in New York City in partnership with William Forbes. By the late 1850s he had relocated to Newburgh, NY, now in business with his brother-in-law John Gordon, a former apprentice of his father, until the 1860s. The firm supplied goods to BALL, BLACK & Co. He eventually returned to work in New York City in 1866, continuing to the 1880s under the name WILLIAM BOGERT & Co. located at 4 Howard St. After buying the business of the late Charles Grosjean, a major supplier of hollowware to TIFFANY & Co., which continued the relationship with Bogert until 1868. By the 1870s he had partnered with John Polhamus. This is a newly reported example, as only one 1835 dated large cent is listed in Brunk.From the Steve M. Tompkins Collection.
