LOT #7518 |
Sold on Feb 24, 2001 for:
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Extremely rare and desirable 1880 James Crutchett electrotype...
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Description
Rare Crutchett Advertising Medal
Extremely rare and desirable 1880 James Crutchett electrotype advertising medal, bright Unc but with several edge bumps. Copper electrotype shell with white metal fill. 81 mm. Type of Rulau-Fuld T128, but unlisted obverse shell die variety. These Cruchett medals are extremely rare, according to catalogers Russ Rulau and George Fuld. In 1859, New York City engraver Abraham Demarest engraved dies for "plates," i.e. wall hangings prepared by James Crutchett's Mt. Vernon Factory. These elaborate wall decorations were made of wood and glass, containing the metallic disks executed by Demarest and engravings printed by the American Bank Note Co., also of New York City. Crutchett prepared companion wall hangings for decorating ante-bellum sitting rooms and offices. These wall decorations featured Demarest's metallic mantled bust of Washington facing right on their obverses, as well as depictions of his home at Mt. Vernon and his tomb there on their twin designs. The electrotype Crutchett medal offered here is much rarer than his wall hangings. As can be seen in the photographs, it is similar to but distinctly difference from the Crutchett medal illustrated in Russ Rulau and George Fuld's Medallic Portraits of Washington, 2nd ed., page 112. Being offered for sale is a Crutchett obverse shell medal featuring a nude bust of Washington, presumably originally prepared by Demarest. This obverse shell of a brassy-copper is filled with white metal and backed by an attached paper religious inscription, copyrighted by Crutchett in 1880. Its obverse is similar to that shown in the Rulau-Fuld reference, except that the engraver's signature "A. Demarest/SC. N.Y." does not appear below the truncation at Washington's neck. It is also approximately 4 mm smaller in diameter because of the excessively large edge of the medal shown in the Rulau-Fuld reference. Its reverse, entitled "Memento. Creation." quotes Holy Scripture (Jeremiah 23: 5-6) along with an advertisement for a religious tract, published by Lippincott and Co. and Claxton and Co. The shell itself is virtually pristine. Aside from the edge bumps noted earlier, only the lightest rub on Washington's hair and several very minor scratches in the field are noted. On the reverse, the paper religious and advertising inscription is bruised by one of the bumps, and a small portion has peeled away at 4 o'clock revealing the pot metal filler material. This exciting medal is:Ex: Lindesmith & LaRiviere Collections (Bowers and Merena, 11/99), lot 3094, where it realized $805.
Coin Index Numbers: (PCGS# 661001)
Auction Info
2001 February Long Beach Signature Sale #248 (go to Auction Home page)
Auction Dates
February, 2001
22nd-24th
Thursday-Saturday
Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: 8
Lot Tracking Activity: N/A
Page Views: 793
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