Q.David Bowers
The entire set is for sale, and if you would like to buy it I will buy of you such sets, or what would be the same thing, retain such sets as you may have in your cabinet, providing the number is small. The idea is that I want the whole to go together, and while I would not like to break them up I would have no objection to having a few odd sets in stock. The lowest price for the whole line is $1500.
If you do not purchase please do me the favor not to mention that I have offered them to you.
I spent a day in Baltimore lately and should have called on you had you been in the city. Woodward wrote on August 18, 1883:
I send you by today's express a very remarkable little parcel. It contains a set of the 1879 patterns as follows: six silver dollars, three half dollars, two quarters, three dimes. I am informed that no other set ever left the mint. They do not belong to me, and the owner will not sell them to me unless I pledge myself not to put them in an auction sale. This of course I will not do. The price of the set is $175. This is $25 off from the price that they were first offered to me at with the condition named.
I send also two pattern copper dollars. One is the commercial dollar by Barber, plain edge. The other is the commercial dollar by Longacre, reeded edge. For this pair, if I do not return them, I am to pay $75 net. If you buy them the price is 10'70 above what I pay, say $82.50. I am sorry you decided against the gold Proofs. I know of no similar collection. Appleton has none. Parmelee left off his series years ago and I know of no collector who has anything approaching so full a line. Several of the sets are worth at least $75 or $80 each.
On August 31, 1883, Woodward again took up the Proof set situation:
About the Proof sets, I have a pretty good offer for them as a whole but have not accepted it. If you care to make me an offer for the different years separately please do so. I must say in advance, however, that the offer must be a pretty liberal one to be as advantageous as the one I already have. You are of course aware that three of the sets are excessively rare, particularly the 1863 and 1876.
Woodward wrote further on September 5, 1883: I made on behalf of a western customer an offer for the pattern pieces, but the owner absolutely declined to take for the 1879 set anything under $150 net cash. He will take that sum but will allow me nothing [as a commission]. On the copper dollars he will make no discount.
I wish to sell all the gold sets together, but if I break the series you shall have the first offer of such as you want.
This is not an offer, for I am not prepared to make an offer, but fair prices would be about as follows, I think: 1860 $65, 1863 $85, 1866 $65, 1868 $65, 1870 $65, 1872 $65, 1873 (the rarest set but one) $85, 1874 extremely rare $80, 1875 the rarest set $85.
On September 10, 1883, Woodward wrote a letter and sent that day:
. .. a remarkable collection of gold coins. They appeared to me high, and I add nothing to the dealer's price. If I sell any I get a commission of 10'70, no more. The coins referred to are in yellow [holders] I was about to say, but I have changed them into white ones.
If you're determined not to keep the pattern sets will you be kind enough to put them in the package that you may return from this invoice.
On September 18, 1883, Woodward drafted the following:
It has been so long since I wrote you about the 1879 patterns that I've really forgotten what I did write. If you've decided to keep them, will you have the kindness to refer to my letter and tell me I will make a bill to conform, or if you please you can remit for them and I will send a receipt. On October 1, 1883, Woodward asked again whether Garrett wanted the pieces before their return:
May I ask a favor of a reply to my letter of September 18th? I have retained the pattern pieces of 1879 far beyond the limit allowed me by the owner and am desirous of returning them or making payment, but cannot do so till I have your decision on the subject.
On October 8, 1883, Woodward makes known:
Thanks for your favor with remittance. I did not feel quite authorized to consider ·the pattern pieces sold without further instructions from you.
I enclose two very desirable coins for your examination. I do not own either of them. The silver center cent [a 1792 mint pattern issue] is the property of a correspondent in California. The Non Vi [referring to the Non Vi Virtute Vici early American copper] I am under the impression is from abroad, but I don't know. It is with one exception, I think, the finest I have ever seen. The price of the Non Vi is $75. The silver center cent $125. A former holder of the silver center priced it at $300. That price was far too much, but my price is low. I sent you today a catalogue of my next sale. It contains a great many things that seldom if ever appear here, especially amongst the large coins of continental Europe.
On October 13, 1883, Woodward presents the possibility of selling Garrett many Proof sets:
I have just received my gold Proof sets and write to you about them as I promised to do. This is the whole story. I have a fair offer for the whole 23 sets which I have not yet accepted, and I am open for an offer for the lot. You want nine sets. If you will not buy the whole, if you will make me a fair offer for each one of the nine that you do want, in case the other party who bids for the whole will take the remainder, I will let you have the nine.
As the man is anxious to know my decision will you oblige me with an answer at your earliest convenience?
I am about beginning the catalogue of the Ely Collection. It has been a long time since so fine a cabinet was dispersed. It is very rich in pattern pieces and contains every mint issue, I mean of date and denomination, except four.