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Auction: 8012 - Ancient, English & Foreign Coins & Commemorative Medals
Lot: 538

A RARE COMPLETE SET OF THE "VIRTUOSO´S COMPANION" DENTON, M. & PRATTENT, T. The Virtuoso´s Companion and Coin Collector´s Guide. First and only edition. London 1795(-1797). 4 volumes, duodecimo, engraved frontispiece; 240 engraved plates illustrating 960 tokens and coins; engraved title to vols. 1 & 3; interleaved with blanks throughout. 4 page "Observations on coins" by James Wright; all three indexes (15, 8 and 7 pages). Uniformly and neatly bound in four volumes in later half calf, raised bands, backs gilt, contrasting maroon and green gilt morocco labels, marbled boards. A superb set and very rare complete. (4) Estimate £ 600-750 The plates each illustrate the obverses and reverses of 4 contemporary tradesmen´´s tokens, some of which are of colonial coins. The plates were issued 4 at a time, at approximately two or three week intervals between July 1795 and some time during 1797, plate 192 is the last plate actually dated (May 13, 1797). The publisher, Denton, originally planned to publish just 120 plates depicting 480 coins, at a price of 20 shillings, a considerable sum of money at the time.

Sold for
£900