Q.David Bowers
During this period numerous auction invoices were sent to T. Harrison Garrett for sales attended on his behalf by Massamore. Included were many interesting items (such as lots 850 to 900 inclusive), a set of 1794 large cents, sold to Garrett for $420 from Ed. Frossard's 37th sale on October 18, 1884.
Massamore wrote with regard to Woodward's 69th sale on October 14, 1884:
I bought everything you bid on in the sale today at extremely low figures. The unique gold Washington "Chowder Club Medal" for $23.25, the piece at $50 would have been cheap. The three Washingtons with blank reverses I got at $7.25 each, less than one third your bid. Hope you are as successful during the remainder of the sale.
Massamore continued on October 20, 1884: The Anthon sale brought out a great many of the best and most advanced collectors. Everything is of the first order and genuine. He was a very learned "numismatist" and fully competent to judge the genuineness of everything he bought. And he would only buy the finest that could be had. I secured everything but the 1801 and the 1857 dollars. The first lot sold for $16, and the latter, Lot 140, sold for $13. I secured Lot 117 at $110 and had made up my mind to pay at least $150.
At the close of the sale Mr. Frossard offered $120 for it. The most important piece in the collection is the Washington half dollar, Lot 407. That is positively "unique". I had no idea from the catalogue what it was, but as soon as I saw it I made up my mind to buy it for you. Haseltine ran it up to $124. I got it at $125, and I consider it worth $250.
'Parmelee paid $650 for a Sommer Islands sixpence some years ago. This piece [referring to the Washington item just mentioned] in my judgment is preferable. Lot 408 I bought for $17. For this Professor Anthon paid $60. I was told this by those who were at the sale when he purchased it. I do not know if this piece was overlooked by collectors except that Mr. Cogan forgot or neglected to state in his description that it is the thin planchet.
Want to call your attention to the two 1793 cents in Frossard's sale. They are the Parsons cents. For the AMERI Mr. Parsons paid $125. This I may secure at your bid of $75, but the wreath cent is beyond all question the finest known. You remember Frossard sent it to you on approval at $300. You showed it to me and I afterward saw it exhibited at Bangs & Co. in the presence of all the prominent dealers and collectors at the Crosby sale, and it was universally acknowledged by all present to be the finest ever seen. If I had known that these cents were the same ones exhibited by Frossard I would have placed much higher bids upon them or at least upon the wreath cent. You ought by all means to have them both. I would like permission to increase my bids to $100 for the chain cent and $150 for the wreath. I may not get them at these prices but I think I can. If they can be bought cheaper so much the better. I will buy them just as cheap as I can. I would love to see you have these pieces in your collection. It would be as much pleasure for me as it would for you. Please advise.
Massamore wrote an additional letter on February 8, 1888:
I send by the mail a catalogue of our next sale and beg to call your attention to the beautiful "Baltimore Town Piece," Lot 848. [The, reference here is to a Standish Barry threepence.] The piece you have is too poor to occupy a place in your splendid collection. It cost you $23 in the Bushnell sale. The Crosby, Ely, and in fact none of the fine collections sold for many years, contained this piece. All your other Maryland pieces are very fine, and I am very anxious that you would have this, as an opportunity to possess so fine a one may never occur again. I sent it with some other rare pieces to Mr. Newlin in Philadelphia for examination, as he will not be able to attend the sale in person. I think it will bring about $50 to $60. If you want me to buy it for you, will do so free of commission, and take yours at cost in exchange. Would love to see you have the piece. Lot 874 is my individual property. This you have not at all. This with Lot 875 and 501 you ought to have, but at all cost secure the Standish Barry "Baltimore Town Piece" as I am sure you will wait many years before an opportunity again occurs to secure a perfect specimen. Trusting that you and your family are well and having a splendid time I remain very truly yours.
Correspondence with Harold P. Newlin
Your favor received. In reply I would say that my list is at my house. You will find however that the price is marked on each envelope. I regret that I cannot further reduce them but I have already put them as low as I can consistently. My sale was a disappointment to me. My finest pieces would have brought double what they did had it not been that a From 1883 through 1886 Harold P. Newlin, a dedicated numismatist and author of the first detailed specialized work ever to appear on the half dime series (The Early Half Dimes, published by John W. Haseltine, Philadelphia, 1883), corresponded with T.
Harrison Garrett concerning a variety of matters. Newlin, an attorney with offices in the Supreme Court Rooms in Philadelphia, was a private collector.
The first letter from Harold P. Newlin to T. Harrison Garrett is undated and was written early in 1883:
I understand that you bought some of my best pieces in Haseltine's sale of my collection of dimes and half dimes, and I likewise am informed that you are collecting fine pieces. I write this note for the purpose of advising you that I retained a very few of my choice pieces because I could not make up my mind to part with them. I find now however that having these few is a temptation for me to collect again, and it is too expensive a luxury. I shall have to forego the pleasure and content myself with collecting a few unimportant and inexpensive things. Should you desire to see a few coins I have, I shall be glad to send them to you for your inspection. Is your line of gold complete? If not, what do you lack? I have a few quite rare pieces. Hoping you will pardon this informal way of writing to you, I am very truly yours, Harold P. Newlin
Attorney at Law
Supreme Court Offices
Philadelphia.
P.S. I would state that you are the first to whom I have offered my pieces.