Q.David Bowers
It wasn't until January 18, 1913, Henry Chapman finally reported success in his long hunt for 1909 Proof coins:
After advertising for months for the 1909 gold and silver Proof sets I have at last succeeded in getting them and will place them with the others I am holding for you. The 1913 gold Proof set is now ready, but the silver is not, but I believe it will be within the month.
The 1909 gold set was invoiced at $65 along with the 1913 set at the usual $40 price. On March 24, 1914, Henry Chapman acquired the next set: I have purchased 1914 silver and minor Proof coins and have laid them aside for your collection. The gold set has not yet been struck and I cannot get any definite reply as to when it will be ready. I will try to get it for you, and as soon as I succeed will lay it aside.
I have not forgotten about the work at Princeton and am in hopes of getting some time to spend there shortly.
On April 13, 1914, Henry Chapman wrote further:
I expect to complete the work at Princeton this summer... I cannot get the government to strike Proof sets either in gold or silver yet. I have urged it several times.
Robert C. Sharretts, employed with Garrett & Sons, summarized the state of the cataloguing situation in this report to Garrett:
... around 1907 the firm of S. H. & H. Chapman [dissolved].
At this time Mr. Henry Chapman was given the Sections 4 (foreign gold) and 5 (foreign silver and other coins) to catalogue. Mr. S. H. Chapman was to take the rest of the sections that are unfinished. In September 1909 Mr. S.H. Chapman reported that he had practically finished the last of his section, namely No.6 (medals), and in May 1910 this section was delivered to you and paid for. In his letter, written at the time, S. H. Chapman stated that his brother would finish the two sections entrusted to him. Since that time I think no less than a dozen letters have passed between you and Mr. Henry Chapman, you urging him to complete his sections and he in turn promising to do so in a short time. In six years we have not seen any indication of his having done anything. He has stated a number of times that he has practically completed the foreign gold section. In May 1913, he stated that one more week would finish the matter and that he expected to give this week in June. This is not the only illustration of carelessness on his part. Under the circumstances I would urge that all negotiations with Henry Chapman be closed up and that S. H. Chapman be engaged to finish the two sections in question so as to get this matter settled.
This information was communicated to S. Hudson Chapman, who was at his cottage at Lake Placid, New York.
On August 10, 1914, he wrote to Robert Garrett: I have received your letter of the 5th forwarded from Philadelphia. I agree with your position in regard to completing the catalogue. I have several times spoken to my brother in regard to it and almost two months ago urged him to finish his sections and told him our delay weighs upon my conscience. He can work on it now for he is spending the summer at Rosemont, a suburb on the main line of the Pennsylvania Railroad, and I will write and urge him to do so and tell him if he will not go on with the work I must do so.
Have you made a request within two months? I am at my summer home, Birch Point Camp, and if I had a section here I could give it undivided attention with my stenographer. I have catalogued two collections here, the splendid Mills Collection in 1904-you may remember bidding on the Massachusetts silver-and the Lambert Collection in 1910. If my brother will not now go on I would go down to Princeton and remove it if you would be willing. I am of course competent to catalogue the foreign silver-see my catalogue of the Jewett Collection, 1909. But I should wish to await the effects of a recent letter from you to him as I should not wish him to think that I in any way have seized his emolument. I think he will now go off the work ...
Garrett suggested to S. Hudson Chapman that he inform his brother of the current mood. On August 19th Henry wrote directly to Garrett: My brother S. H. Chapman has forwarded me your letter. Allow me to say at the outset that while my actions have not borne out what I am now to express, nevertheless it is true. I have not forgotten for one moment my obligation at Princeton and have had an earnest desire to complete the work of the section I have been working on. It has been very tedious, but I have it practically completed ... I had fully expected to go over it today to work there, but I was in New York on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, and was so exhausted by the heat and fell so ill that I have not been well since. I have to be in Springfield, Massachusetts, on Saturday to attend the convention of the American Numismatic Association where I always make a large and usually the finest exhibition. I yesterday endeavored to select the coins for this exhibition, but I have not gotten it completed. I am very weak today, but if it is possible I will go to Princeton on Friday, and put in a day's work, going on to New York and Springfield. But if my health does not permit this, I will stop over on my way back on the 27th. After this section is completed it will leave only the section of foreign medals, I believe, which is extensive and difficult. I will do all I can to complete the work as quickly as possible to your entire satisfaction.
On September 30, 1914, Henry Chapman advised Robert Garrett that the 1914 gold and silver Proof sets had been obtained for $39.75 and would be placed in the exhibit at Princeton. On November 4, 1915, the 1915 gold Proof set, at the cost at the Mint of $30.50, and the 1915 silver and minor Proof set, for the cost at the Mint of $1.16, were acquired.
Still concerned with the cataloguing being done by Henry Chapman, Robert Garrett requested information on the financial condition of Henry Chapman from Bradstreet's credit reporting firm. The report arrived on December 6, 1915. It noted that Henry Chapman, age 50, was married and... has been engaged in the business for the past 24 years or more, having quite a reputation in his business, which he operates from his residence here. He is of good reputation, does quite a good business out of which he makes a good living and lives well, his means being moderate and invested in the stock of coins and in certain assets, and his responsibility not estimated.
His business is entirely upon a cash basis, but he has at times been credited for his personal supplies to the extent of $50 to $100, which bills have been paid about according to terms and satisfactory.