Q.David Bowers
Correspondence With the American Numismatic Society
The American Numismatic and Archeological Society (name later shortened to the American Numismatic Society) was founded in 1858. During the time of T. Harrison Garrett's activities it was the leading American organization of coin collectors. The Society grew to have the largest numismatic library of any organization and one of the most extensive coin collections.
On May 19, 1883, William Poillon, secretary of the American Numismatic and Archeological Society, then located in the New York University Building in Washington Square, New York City (later relocated in the early 20th century to its present premises at 155th Street and Broadway, New York) wrote to T. Harrison Garrett: We have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your acceptance [as a member] and at the next meeting you will be duly elected an annual member. In the meantime you enjoy all the privileges of a regular member and will receive the publications, etc.
On August 11, 1883, the American Numismatic and Archeological Society acknowledged a receipt of $50 for a life membership. Although T. Harrison Garrett received the organization's publications during the remainder of his lifetime, there is no indication that he played an active part in the Society.
The Chapman Brothers
The correspondence involving three members of the Garrett family, T. Harrison Garrett, Robert Garrett, and John Work Garrett, with the Chapman brothers, S. Hudson and Henry C., forms the largest group of letters in the Garrett Collection archives.
Born in Philadelphia in 1857, Samuel Hudson Chapman spent most of his life dealing in coins in that city. He began his career with John W. Haseltine, a prominent numismatist of the era, in 1876. Soon he left Haseltine to join his brother, Henry, who also had worked with Haseltine, to form one of the greatest numismatic partnerships ever known. The alliance was created in 1878 and began operations in 1879. From then until the brothers went their separate ways in 1906, the Chapmans catalogued many of the finest collections to be offered at public auction.
After the split with Henry in 1906, S. Hudson Chapman went on to catalogue nearly 30 sales, including the collections of David Wilson, Henry Jewett, William Gable, W. H. Hunter, Dr. H. W. Beckwith, F. R. Alvord, and F. G. Simpson.
In 1923, S. Hudson Chapman published "U.S. Cents of The Year, 1794", which represented his scholarly effort to depict 1794 large cents by die variety.
S. Hudson Chapman died of pneumonia in 1931, having by that time completed 55 years as a professional numismatist.
Henry Chapman, born in 1859, began dealing in coins in 1875. In 1878 he joined his brother to form the partnership which until it was dissolved in 1906 would result in nearly 80 auction sales being catalogued. Included were collections of some of the most prominent numismatists of the era.
The reputation of the Chapman Brothers was established in 1882 with the auction of the Charles I. Bushnell Collection. Bushnell, who died in 1880, took 30 years to form his cabinet. The result was one of the grandest offerings ever to be offered at public auction sale, a group especially rich in early colonial and American issues. Other notable collections sold by the Chapman Brothers included those of Ferguson Haines, Thomas Warner, Thomas Cleneay, Richard Winsor, George Massamore, Dr. Edward Maris, John Mills, William Woodin, and Harlan P. Smith.
After dissolving his partnership with S. Hudson in 1906, Henry catalogued another 50 sales until 1932. Included were the cabinets of Matthew Stickney, Capt. Andrew Zabriskie, George Earle, Charles Steigerwalt, Clarence Bement, Allison Jackman, A. P. Nygren, and John Story Jenks. He was also responsible for cataloguing the first American Numismatic Association Convention sale in 1908. At the age of 75, Henry Chapman died in his sleep following a long illness.
Many of the catalogues issued by the Chapman Brothers prior to 1907 and by the brothers individually after that date were of a large hardbound format with photographic plates. Today they are revered by collectors as representing some of the most important auction catalogues ever produced.
The correspondence between the Garrett family and the Chapmans furnishes an interesting insight into numismatics of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Selected excerpts from individual letters highlight these insights.
One of the earliest contacts with T. Harrison Garrett was on March 14, 1879, when S. H. and Henry Chapman, located at 2043 Tower Street, Philadelphia, responded to an earlier want list submitted by Garrett:
"Your favor of March 13th received. We can send you on approval the following pieces which are now in stock ... " Offered were such items as an Uncirculated 1866 gold dollar at $2, an 1876 Proof of the same denomination, an Uncirculated 1797 half dime with 16 stars at $15, and a lesser grade specimen of the same variety at $9, an 1864 Proof half dime at 40 cents, an 1864 Proof silver three-cent piece at 50 cents, a 1796 quarter dollar in Poor grade with a hole at $1.15 and others. Over the next several years numerous shipments were received from the Chapman brothers and many purchases were made.
The Chapman brothers employed a secretary who submitted extensive multiple-page letters and gave detailed descriptions of many items; descriptions which were far more elaborate and specific than those submitted by other dealers of the era. Doubtless, this influenced T. Harrison Garrett to favor the Chapman brothers with his extensive coin dealings.
During the 1870s, T. Harrison Garrett was primarily concerned with acquiring dates and major varieties of regular United States coinage. By the early 1880s, his interest had broadened to include medals and related pieces of historical importance. On November 3, 1882, for example, the Chapman Brothers submitted an 8-page letter and invoice which accompanied an approval shipment valued at a total of $548.10. Item No. 8 is a typical example of the Chapmans' style of description: