Q. David Bowers
Before the American Numismatic Association convention, held that year in Phoenix, Arizona, Hans Schulman and his wife Antoinette spent week in California visiting with Abe Kosoff and Abner Kreisberg. Mr. and Mrs. Schulman, Abe, and Abe's son Steve then drove through the desert to Phoenix to attend the show.
"Lew Reagan, Charley Ryan, Loyd Gettys, and Sol Kaplan greeted us on our arrival, looking well tanned after a couple of days in the 'Valley of the Sun,' Abe Kosoff reported.
"The dealers' house was stocked with lots of stuff, but not as much as is customarily seen. There are complaints from all that they cannot buy enough nice material. Charley Ryan announced winners of the Numismatic Gallery Award ribbon as selected by Doug Ferguson, Sol Kaplan, and himself-and I assisted with the presentation of ribbons. The PNG meeting for breakfast discussed various problems and re-elected executive officer Aubrey Bebee, David M. Bullowa, and A. Kosoff B. Max Mehl and George Bauer were missed a the convention by all, who expressed hope that both will again be with us at the New York City" convention in 1952."
Auction catalogue No. 52, a mail bid sale which closed on October 20, 1951, offered the B.A Talmadge Collection of United States quarter eagles and other rare coins, a collection of United States paper currency, and other pieces. The paper money in particular was outstanding and feature, many national bank notes, among other desirable items. Abe Kosoff noted: "This $50,000 collection includes almost everything from the $1 to $100 denominations. Rare signature combinations, low numbers, uncut sheets, etc.,-all are included b please the collectors of one of the most picturesque and historically interesting phases of numismatics."
For a long period of years the Numismatic Scrapbook Magazine offered its "Crystal Ball" feature in the January issue. Dealers were invited to submit predictions concerning the state of the hobby for the coming year. A similar feature appeared from time to time in the Numismaitic. Gallery Monthly.
In the January 1952 issue of the Numismatist. Scrapbook Magazine, Abe Kosoff gazed into his crystal ball and predicted the future:
"1952 promises a continuation of the upward spiral of prices. The story is the same, everything is going up except the value of the dollar.
"Rare coins, because large sums can be invested in small parcels, are coupled with diamonds and jewels as hedges against inflation. This has been rue for several years.
"Now we are faced with reality-inflation is were and is reflected in the prices of most commodities which are 300 to 350% to pre-war levels coins have hardly hit that level.
"With the investment urge a strong one, with he natural fascination of precious metals always exis tent, and the ever-growing demand from new collectors for the ever-diminishing supply of coins, his new level must be attained."
The January 1952 issue of The Numismatic Gallery Monthly started off with a selection labeled "From our Gun Department," which noted hat all guns were in working order and in first class condition.
Offered were such items as an 1848 Colt, Baby Dragoon model engraved with a scene of a stagecoach holdup, for $57.50, an Allen Thurber -pepper box $45, and: "44-caliber Colt No. 198717 which has scratched into the stock the name 'Curly Bill,' who was a member of the Dalton Gang, also t has six notches." This was priced at $87.50.
A survey of dealer colleagues resulted in optimistic forecasts for the 1952 year. Robert Friedberg noted: "Everything in my opinion is gong up, up, up." while C.F. Clarke said, "Business is excellent. Demand is brisk. Dealers are having difficulty buying. There are many new collectors turning to later series as the early series are difficult to obtain and prices are up."
Dan Brown predicted: "The activity is greater than ever, choice coins are a very good investment IS prices are bound to go higher."
After listing numerous other opinions, Abe Kosoff concluded: "All signs indicate continued increase in prices. New collectors, smaller dealer inventories, lower purchasing power of the dollar, foreign purchases here-all in one direction-up. Slight pessimism abroad because of difficulty in obtaining material. It's not how high they can sell, rut how much. That problem will soon face most United States dealers. Collectors are reluctant to sell.
In "Money Talks" Abe Kosoff noted: "Hans Schulman has really been paying rent in New York City for nothing. He has just returned from Cairo, Egypt, where he and Antoinette had an audience with His Majesty, King Farouk. The Farouk Collection was examined, and those of us who know a bit about its contents wish we were there. It is very likely the outstanding numismatic collection in the world today."
The Numismatic Gallery Monthly for February-March 1952 reported that the Antique Department, under the supervision of Abner Kreisberg, was flourishing. Offered for sale were objects of art, coin glass, beer steins, guns, wrought silver items, and other treasures, including an original bronze of Will Rogers on his cow pony, by Charles M. Russell, priced at $1,000.
It was reported that Abner Kreisberg journeyed north to Santa Rosa to attend the California State Numismatic Association convention. He went by train-"planes in that area are taboo for him the memory of the near tragedy of his earlier visit to Santa Cruz was still strong.
In the spring and early summer of 1952 the Numismatic Gallery advertised that Abe Kosoff would be traveling across the United States that summer to attend the American Numismatic Association convention in New York City scheduled for August 15th through the 21st. He offered to stop by any place in between to pick up coins and collections.
The April-May 1952 issue of the Numismatic Gallery Monthly was devoted to die varieties of United States half cents from 1793 through 1857 and United States large cents from 1816 through 1857. The cataloguer noted: 'There are few gems or high priced coins, but many are from fine collections. The eastern consignor, to whom this material belongs, was close to Henry C. Hines, the foremost collector of large cents."
Sample offerings included a 1793 Gilbert-3 in Good to Very Good grade at $25, an 1857 G-1 half cent in Very Fine preservation for $6, an 1816 N-2 large cent, MS-60, for $7.50, an 1817 N-14 "olive green gem MS-70" at $12, an 1839 Booby Head N-10 cent, Very Fine-30 at $6, and an 1857 N-1 large date cent, AU-50 at $9.50.
The joint convention of the Central States Numismatic Society and the Ohio State Numismatic Society held at the Hotel Sinton, Cincinnati, featured the opportunity to sell the I.E. Chadwick and Dr. C.A. Darnell Collections and other properties. The auction commenced with Lot I, an 1856 Flying Eagle cent. In later years, Abe was to state several times that starting a sale with this particular coin was a tradition. The illustrated catalogue featured 1,883 lots in various series. Abe Kosoff noted:
"I.E. Chadwick, whose collection of United States gold coins is the feature of this sale, is a collector of long standing well-known in philanthropic and film circles. As president of the In-dependent Motion Picture Producers' Association, Mr. Chadwick wields considerable influence in Southern California.