The History of United States Coinage As Illustrated by the Garrett Collection

The Chapman brothers overcame all of this criticism and went on to become the most respected cataloguers of the next several decades. Nearly a century later, a copy of the much-maligned Bushnell catalogue, the special edition with plates, sold for $500 to a collector.

Soon there after the Chapman brothers sold at auction the Warner Collection, which was described in a magnificent catalogue with photographic plates. Among many other Chapman sales, the Thomas Cleneay Collection of December 1890, the Richard B. Winsor Collection of December 1895, the John G. Mills Collection of April 1904, and the H. P. Smith Collection sold in 1906 became famous.

In late 1906 the Chapman brothers dissolved their partnership and entered business independently. Each continued to be prominent in numismatics and to produce auction sales, with Henry, it seems, getting the larger share of the business.

The senior of the two, S. H. Chapman, sold the David S. Wilson Collection in 1907, the Henry L. Jewett Collection in 1909, the Julius L. Brown Collection in 1911, the William F. Gable Collection in 1914, the Charles Gregory Collection in 1916, and the W. H. Hunter Collection in 1920.

His younger brother Henry marketed some of the greatest collections ever to cross the auction block, including the Matthew A. Stickney Collection in 1907, the Capt. Andrew C. Zabriskie Collection in 1909, the George H. Earle Collection in 1912, the Clarence S. Bement Collection in 1916 and 1918, the A. W. Jackman Collection also in the latter year, and the remarkable John Story Jenks Collection in 1921. The latter catalogue stands as the most immense single volume ever produced for a United States auction sale. Seven thousand three hundred and two lots were described. It was Henry Chapman's finest-and last effort.

S. H. Chapman was particularly interested in photography and conducted many experiments in the field. He concluded that natural sunlight was the best light source, and for this reason he often had to wait for favorable weather before preparing illustrations to be included in the catalogue. In 1923 he published The United States Cents of the Year 1794, an error-filled work which was attacked strongly by George H. Clapp, an avid large cent collector who was the founder of the Aluminum Company of America. Stung, S. H. Chapman withheld the copies in favor of a revised edition which was subsequently issued in 1926. His knowledge of numismatics was well regarded by his contemporaries. His death occurred on September 22, 1931, at the age of 75, at his Philadelphia home.

Henry Chapman was likewise regarded as knowledgeable, although a close examination of his catalogues and other writings reveal many inconsistencies and contradictions. Of a more aggressive nature than his brother, Henry was ever willing to seek coins for a customer's want list or to engage in research, often by making inquiries to friends at the Philadelphia Mint, with which both brothers had a close connection over the years. He died at the age of 75 on January 4, 1935, at his home in Philadelphia. Illness had rendered him inactive numismatically for several years preceding.

A highlight of 1883, the year following the Bushnell Collection sale, was the auction on April 10th of the Harold P. Newlin Collection. Charles Steigerwalt, a Lancaster, Pennsylvania, dealer reported on the auction which was conducted by Haseltine: This gentleman, having made the collection of early half dimes a specialty, spared neither time nor expense for five years in his endeavor to obtain all the known types in the finest possible condition. He finally succeeded in securing some beautiful gems. In addition to this branch, the collection also contained a fine collection of dimes, an almost complete collection of Confederate notes (lacking only three pieces), and other choice coins. The 1802 half dime, a beautiful strictly Uncirculated specimen, was the gem of this collection, and Mr. Newlin gave for it in trade coins which subsequently brought nearly $500. Many of the choicer pieces came from Europe, from whence many of the choicest of the early coins and prominent collections have originally come. During the early period of the United States Mint the closest relations between the states and the mother country, and the remittances of business or sending to relatives in Europe with specimens of the coinage of the new nation, often probably to numismatists there, has saved many a fine piece, to be rescued, every once in a while, from oblivion by some indefatigable searcher.

On June 7, 1883, Professor Charles E. Anthon died.

Born in New York in 1823, he followed the study of history as a profession and became an instructor in Maryland. Beginning in 1852, he was a professor of history and belles lettres at the New York Free Academy, later called the College of the City of New York, in which position he continued until his health forced him to stop early in 1883. Around 1863 he became interested in coins. His first purchase was made at the Chilton Collection sale in March 1865. His interest soon spread, and within a short time he had assembled beautiful displays of ancient, world, and American issues. He was an editor of the American Journal of Numismatics in its earlier days and furnished many contributions. His contemporaries considered him to be one of the most knowledgeable numismatists and scholars of the era. His 1883 death, in Bremen, Germany, where he had gone to seek restoration of his health, represented a loss to all who knew him.