A manual of gold and silver coins of all nations, struck within the past century, showing their history and legal basis, and their actual weight, fineness, and value ... to which are incorporated treatises on bullion and plate, counterfeit coins ... Illustrated with numerous engravings of coins executed by the metal-ruling machine, and under direction of Joseph Jackson, of the United States Mint

Philadelphia: published at the Assay Office of the Mint, 1842. First edition, 4to, pp. [4], iv, [1], 6-220; inserted half-title printed in silver on glazed paper and 16 composite plates printed on glazed paper; original brown cloth stamped in gilt on the upper cover; small snag at the top of the spine, and the cloth binding a little dull; the plates are all bound at the back of the volume in 4 sequential gatherings, and the bulk of the plates has caused these gatherings to become extended; otherwise, a complete copy with a clean text block, and an interesting provenance: on the front free endpaper is the first owner's inscription "Rud. F. Kelker / April (truncated) 21, 1843 / bot. of Eckfeldt & Dubois / United States Mint," and on the top of the title page "Rud. F. Kelker / April 21, 1843 / bot. of Eckfeldt & Dubois / United States Mint / paid $5.00." Bookplate of Rudolph F. Kelker, Harrisburg, Pa. A landmark work in American numismatics. The authors were assayers of the U.S. Mint in Philadelphia. For nearly two decades it was the only practical guide available to American coin collectors. It was also the first work to illustrate the 1804 dollar and was one of the earliest works to combine photography, electrotyping and the metal rolling machine for illustrative purposes. Sabin 21787. (Inventory #: 54602)