Q.David Bowers
On October 19, 1883, Woodward wrote:
I wrote you several days since concerning the gold Proof sets. I think I wrote you that I had an offer for them which I held in abeyance waiting your decision. My customer would like an answer. Would you kindly let me know if you wish to purchase the nine sets concerning which you wrote, or any portion of them. The owner of the Non Vi is also anxious for my decision.
Will you please give me yours. I beg you will excuse me if I seem importunate, but I amonly anxious on account of my correspondents who hurry me. In a catalogue which I sent you the other day, if you will look it over you will discover some very desirable things.
Proof sets were again discussed in this letter from Woodward dated October 22, 1883: I am sorry you did not keep the Non Vi for it is a good one and seems to me to be well worth the money. Concerning the gold Proof sets I have had an offer for the entire line but for a fair price I will take out and sell you such as you want. 1860 is scarce, 1861 is very scarce, 1863 is one of the very rarest. 1866 and 1868 are both rare, also 1870 and 1872.
1873 is even rarer than 1863. 1874 is rare and 1876 amongst the rarest. The $3 piece alone is held at $25. I am of the opinion that if sold at auction the nine sets would bring about $660. They ought to. I will send them to you for $560. I would send them in advance for examination but of course you know just how they appear. Mr. Ely kept them wrapped as they left the mint.
On October 25, 1883, Woodward sent the Proof sets, and asked for the return of a previous Garrett letter:
I am sorry to find I have got these things a little mixed in the matter of the gold Proofs. In my first letter to you on the subject I stated that I had the series 1860-1883 complete, wanting only 1861. In your letter to me of September 3rd which I enclosed you said, "I want only" etc. In my reply I quoted prices amounting to $660 for the nine sets. When I received your letter of the 19th, I turned to your September 3rd favor, cast up the aggregate amount $660, deducted from it 10%, leaving $594, from which I took $34, making my offer $560. It is only now that I've discovered that you included in your list 1861, a set which I never had and could not possibly obtain. I send you the nine sets which I suppose you inquired about, and which I supposed I was offering, and enclose you a bill for the same $550, but this implies an obligation on your part to purchase them. They are however very cheap at that price, and I don't believe they can be duplicated in the country.
I am very sorry for all this bother. Your letter of September 3rd be kind enough to return to me as I have an unbroken file of the entire correspondence of my business life. The nine Proof sets in gold were subsequently purchased by Garrett and a receipt was sent by W. Elliot Woodward in acknowledgement. On December 24, 1885, Woodward wrote:
On Saturday last I secured another coin of scarcely less rarity which I take the liberty to send for your examination. Y 011 will recognize it at once as a French colonial quarter crown struck for or by [John] Law of the Mississippi Scheme, so well known as the" Mississippi Bubble." A full account of this coin, written by Professor Charles E. Anthon, may be found in the American Journal of Numismatics, another by R. W. McLachlan in the same work.
If you happen to have the catalogue of the collection of George M. Parsons, a still better description may be found therein. Parsons' was offered at a limit of $325. I have never before possessed the coin. I think the number known is limited to either three or four. I know three and suspect the one sent to you is a fourth. And I never before had the opportunity of purchasing one but once, one of the three referred to, which was offered to me for $450.
A Canadian collector proposed to buy this one (the one sent) at $250, but the owner, feeling doubtful about the responsibility of the man, declined to send the piece even on approval, so he sold it to me at a reduced price. I offer it at $200. And considering its rarity the piece must be considered very moderate.
From this point forward the Woodward correspondence dealt mainly with coins of the world. Scattered purchases were made from Woodward through the year 1886.