Q.David Bowers
Raymond wrote regarding this sale on April 10, 1923:
Enclosed please find check in the amount of $4,608.90 to balance the colonial coins sold. My time has been entirely taken up with jury duty this week, but I will check up the other items we talked of and let you hear from me as soon as possible.
On April 21, 1923 Raymond wrote again:
I am enclosing payment for private gold coins sold as well as a check ($1,030.50) to pay for same. I have also sold three slugs [referring to octagonal California $50 gold pieces] amounting to $1,850 but I have not yet received a check for them yet.
The books went out by express early in the week and I presume we have received them. Three of those sent out were not on the previous bill. I am sending you by express today the coins that I have been holding for you ...
On April 23, 1923, Garrett acknowledged the check and expressed his satisfaction:
I have received your check for $1,030.50. I believe I have already acknowledged receipt of the previous checks ... I am very much obliged to you for handling these coins so promptly, and I hope you will be able to dispose of all the others equally to my satisfaction. I am sending you today by registered post the duplicates of the New Jersey cents for which I enclose here with the cards. Although there were very few in Mr. Ellsworth's collection his specimens were for the most part in very fine shape ...
On May 2, 1923, after having received the shipment of New Jersey cents Raymond "made a memo of what I think would be fair prices for them":
Your favor received, also the New Jersey cents. I have made a memo of what I think would be fair prices for them and enclosed the same. I enclose a check for $900 to pay for the round slug [a reference to a Wass, Molitor & Co. $50]. I am sailing for England on May 23 and will make every effort to clean up as many of your coins as possible before then.
Appended to this letter was a list of the duplicate New Jersey cents disposed of at the time, mainly from the Maris Collection as noted: 14-J Uncirculated (the grades given here are those assigned by Raymond), 16-L, Uncirculated, 17-b, Poor; 17-K, Very Fine, 18-M, Fine, 20-N, Extremely Fine, 21-N, About Uncirculated, 21-P, no grade given, 24-P, Extremely Fine, 28- L, Fine, 28-S, no grade given, 34-J, no grade given, 43-D, Uncirculated, 46-e, no grade given, 48-g, Uncirculated, 62-q, Fine, 63-q, Fine, 63-q, about fine, 67-v, Uncirculated, and 77-bb, to be Very Fine.
On May 8, 1923, Garrett wrote to Raymond: If you are going to the Elder sale on May 16-19th I wonder if you could buy for me, if they could be gotten at reasonable figures, the following numbers:
No.6 Clark $20 1860 in copper, No.7 Clark $20 1860 silver plated (I don't want this if I can get No.6) and No.9 Clark $20 1861.
Of these three the only one I really want to complete my set is No.6. I should also like to have No. 2179 if it is the die with the tail of the "S" above the bottom of the "U". I expect to be in New York on the 15th and shall come in to see you either that day or the next ...
On May 17, 1923, Garrett wrote to Raymond:
I hoped to be in New York, but circumstances have prevented it, and I do not now know whether I shall be able to get there before you sail [to Europe]. I am returning to you herewith the coins which you sent me with the exception of a few I have kept and for which I enclose my check. I should particularly like to have a talk with you before you go, not only in regard to the coins which you are selling for me, but other matters as well.
Perhaps if I am not able to go to New York I can call you up on the telephone. Schulman is having a sale sometime in June, and there are a few pieces in the catalogue which I should like to have. I wonder if you are going to attend the sale or if you could undertake to get them for me while you are abroad. If so, let me know, and I will send you the catalogue with the pieces marked, There are none of them of any great value.
I received a circular from a man who bought the 1783 Morris pattern, and I should be curious to know what he sells it for. [This is a reference to a detailed listing and description of the 1783 100 units or "bit" piece sold as a duplicate from the Colonel Ellsworth Collection to Julius Guttag of Guttag Brothers, New York.] I hope that he will have such good luck that he will want to buy some other of my pieces now in your hands.
This immediate reply came from Raymond, dated the following day, May 18, 1923:
Your favor of the 17th received, and I thank you for the check enclosed. I hope you will get over before I sail on the 23rd, but in case you do not do so the following are the principal things I have to inform you about. I have sold quite a good many more of your coins including nearly all the Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Vermont.
Before I go I will send you a statement and check. There will be an amount of about $1,500 to $2,000 which will not be in until next month but I will make arrangements with my bank to have remittance sent to you as soon as the payments arrive. I sold most of the small California stuff, but had to let it go at marked prices and still have about $75 worth on hand. Would you be willing to allow 5-10 on the whole, then I will retain everything in the California lot? I expect to see a man Monday or Tuesday in regards to the New Jersey cents, want to clear them in one lot if possible. I have been rather disappointed not to have moved any more of the private gold, although the Moffat bar and the Pikes Peak $20 are now out on approval. The Bechtlers have not moved at all. However, I think we can sell them in the fall.
.... The lots you wanted in the Elder sale sold for about $12 each, and I let them go as they are not worth any such price.
The bar cent was your own coin. I sold it to Elder. My coins will be sold today and tomorrow, and I am hoping for good results.
I will be in London until June 10th. Paris until the 18th, then to Switzerland, and back to Paris about July 2nd, London about the 12th. I sail on Wednesday the 23rd so will not get any mail here after Tuesday. I do not expect to attend the Schulman sale but will be glad to advise you as to bids.
On May 22, 1923, the day before his departure, Raymond wrote to Garrett:
... I sent back all your coins today with notes on those sold and a check for part. I think everything explains itself except the $16 Moffat bar and the Pikes Peak $20. These are out on approval to a perfectly responsible person. I think they will be sold. I have requested a report to be sent to me in Paris. I hope to have many things to show you when I return.