Summer 2019 Literature Auction, Lot: 216. Estimate $300. Sold for $525. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

[Merkens / Philipsen (I) & Löbbecke / Imhoof-Blumer / Philipsen (II)] Jacob Hirsch, München. Three bound volumes containing five early twentieth century auction catalogues. Includes:

Auktion XIV. Griechischer Münzen… und römischer Münzen nebst numismatischer Bibliothek aus dem Nachlasse dess Herrn Franz Merkens in Köln und eines ausländischen Ingenieurs. (27 November 1905). 4to. 98 pages, 166 lots; 39 plates.

Auktion XV. Griechischer Münzen von Hispania, Gallia, Italia, Sicilia, Carthago aus dem Besitze eines bekannten nordischen Sammlers. Anhang: Römische Goldmünzen, numismatische Bibliothek des Herrn Löbbecke in Braunschweig. (28 May 1906). 4to. 123 pages, 1674 lots; 14 plates.

Auktion XVI. Griechischer Münzen mit bedeutenden Series von Italia, Sicilia, Thessalia, Elis u. A. aus dem Besitz zweier Amateure und eines bedeutenden ausländischen Munzcabinets. (6 December 1906). 4to. 64 pages, 708 lots; 20 plates.

Auktion XVIII. Römischer und byzantinischer Münzen des Herrn Dr. Friedrich Imhoof-Blumer in Winterthur sowie einer ausgewählten Sammlung griechischer Münzen aus dem Besitze eines auswärtigen Diplomaten u. A.(27 May 1907). 4to 151 pages, 2515 lots; 39 plates.

Auktion XXV. Sammlung Gustav Philipsen in Kopenhagen. Antike Münzen von Griechenland, Asien und Afrika. (29 November 1909). 4to. 270, 3276 lots; 35 plates.

All three volumes neatly bound in later red morocco and cloth boards, spines lettered in gilt. The final sale hand priced throughout on both text and plates. The second volume with a number of contemporary notes laid in, one on Hirsch company headed paper and showing various lists of figures and calculations, another with names of buyers present and one further receipt from the Rochester Optical Company made payable to the well-known American coin dealer S H Chapman. Very Fine condition, light wear to extremities, contents clean and bright. An attractive group of these early sales catalogues including the collections of Friedrich Imhoof-Blumer and Gustav Philipsen. Important catalogues, now infrequently offered and with superb plates throughout, scarce thus.

Clain-Stefanelli 2158, 1743, 3671 & 1986. Spring 372, listed under the “Most important sales of ancient Greek coins” 373, 374, 375, listed under the “Most important sales of Roman Imperial coins”, and 381, also listed under the “Most important sales of ancient Greek coins”. Website shipping rates do not apply.

From the Numismatic Library of a Major North American Dealer. Ex Malter Galleries Inc., Auction #88 (4 June 2006), lots 143, 144 & 147.