Did you ever receive a letter like this from a coin dealer? 1 1

[RWB]

Here is one of S. H. & S. Chapman's "cuter" letters. This was to a fellow coin dealer who had promised to send US halves struck in copper - probably meaning patterns - then sent something else.

December 13, 1889

 B. H. Collins, Esq.

 Dear Sir:

            The bag of trash received. Why it does not come up to your description at all – a most miserable worthless lot and we ask a rebate of $2.50 on it. Or will return if you prefer @ $7 price allowed.

            How comes it that Steigerwalt bought some 1877 ½-dollars in copper from you – duplicates and different too, from those sold us, and on our buying this lot you agreed to give us the balance and further you said these we bought were all you had or had, had.

            We await your explanation.

Very Respectfully,

S.H. & H. Chapman

Edited October 1, 2020 by RWB
Fix formatting - as usual

[Abuelo's Collection]

Many times 

[RonnieR131]

Very Respectfully === LOL   Those gentlemen wouldn't believe todays valediction closings on forum threads when someone believes they've been wronged.   

[RWB]

Chapman referred to everyone as "Esquire" (except the ladies), and his letters always end with the semi-formal "Very Respectfully" or "Yours Truly."  This included letters where he called the recipient a lying SOB of simian parentage, etc.

[World Colonial]

Given the tone of the letter, the sender might just claim that he sent the right coins which were switched out when returned.  Old version of eBay.

Edited September 28, 2020 by World Colonial

[RWB]

I came across a somewhat similar letter to a German dealer in which Chapman complained of the coins not matching descriptions. The amount of correspondence over just a few months is staggering - and Chapman business records have only about 1/2-of the letters - i.e., incoming letters were no copied.

The originals are in ANS in New York, and PDF copies are available on NNP - free to all!

[Nutmeg Coin]

They could be a lot pickier back in the day, especially with all the dignity accorded and expected  back then.

I've dealt with dishonesty in a few dealers and keep personal feelings out it.  

I was a little surprised to hear a well known and respected dealer from VA this week refer to a dealer who went to jail as "that worm".

Edited September 30, 2020 by Nutmeg Coin

[Henri Charriere]

A few observations, strictly as an observer and not a dealer, if I may.

I believe the tone of the letter, unusually abrasive where it ought to have been more solicitous, is the most noticeable aspect.  

Other important considerations are the date: less than a year following the Blizzard of 1888 (New York City) and the photographs taken then depicting the primitive state of the roads, forms of transportation and communication all of which must be taken into consideration.  (I truly regret not appreciating the significance of stacks of Civil War-era Harper's Weekly newspapers which could be had for a pittance back in the 1960's.)

[RWB]

Quintus - Can you explain how the previous December's blizzard influenced Chapman's letter? (S.H. Chapman seems to have done most of the letter writing.)

[Henri Charriere]

17 hours ago, RWB said:

Quintus - Can you explain how the previous December's blizzard influenced Chapman's letter? (S.H. Chapman seems to have done most of the letter writing.)

No sir, I cannot. What I meant to convey, apparently poorly, was the importance of the context of the times as well-documented in period photographs taken, e.g., in one of the greatest cities in the world.  The telephone was a luxury. There was no motor transport, no airplanes, just horse-drawn coaches and steam-powered boats and trains. A blizzard could cripple all transportation and hinder communication.  I am afraid I know nothing of the Chapmans or the locality from which they conducted their business.  (There are folks reading this who do not know what "cc" or "bcc" stand for, much less some of the more common legal abbreviations.) I consider the research you do and the courtesy you extend to others in sharing it, to be the ultimate kindness you can bestow on generations to follow. 

[RWB]

RE: "...what "cc" or "bcc" stand for..."

Well, BC stands for "Before " but is now used by scholars as "BCE" meaning "Before the Crappy Era."

"BCC" stands for "Blinkin' Common " and "CE" means "Crappy Era." NOTE: Crappy Era is understood as before internet, you can guess the rest.

(Although, I have to admit that "cc" stands for a girl I knew in college....Shhhhh, not a word to the wife, even though she's dead.)

[VKurtB]

I just realized that I’ve only once received a letter of any kind from a coin dealer, and that was from Don Kagin during his “give me your 2¢” campaign while running for office in the ANA.

[Henri Charriere]

3 hours ago, RWB said:

RE: "...what "cc" or "bcc" stand for..."

Well, BC stands for "Before " but is now used by scholars as "BCE" meaning "Before the Crappy Era."

"BCC" stands for "Blinkin' Common " and "CE" means "Crappy Era." NOTE: Crappy Era is understood as before internet, you can guess the rest.

(Although, I have to admit that "cc" stands for a girl I knew in college....Shhhhh, not a word to the wife, even though she's dead.)

You, sir, are a living treasure and a prized asset to the Forum.

[RWB]

RE: "...a prized asset to the Forum."

Ahhh...so that's what's in the ticking box found on my door step!

[Conder101]

On 9/30/2020 at 8:04 PM, RWB said:

.Shhhhh, not a word to the wife, even though she's dead.

Who's dead, the girl or the wife?

[RWB]

12 hours ago, Conder101 said:

Who's dead, the girl or the wife?

The wife. CC's whereabouts are unknown.

Edited October 2, 2020 by RWB