David Griffiths Reference Library of Token Books

Williams, C., A Descriptive List of the Provincial Copper Coins, Including those of London. London, Printed and Sold by J. Hammond, No. 12, St Martins Lane, Charing Cross, 1795. 12mo, 16 x 9cm, contemporary marbled blue, pink and yellow card cover. 30pp, 341 descriptions of tokens, lower corner of B3 torn, barely affecting the text, dated May 7, 1795 in manuscript at the head of the first page of text. Royal Mint duplicate. The very first catalogue of 18th century tokens. An exceptional rarity; probably only 3 copies known (Manville 237). £1,500-2,000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The David Griffiths Reference Library of Token Literature.

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Provenance: Ex libris Sarah Sophia Banks; Royal Mint Library duplicates, Spink Auction 47, 10 October 1985, lot 1320; bt G.F. Kolbe.

The only other copies known are in the Royal Mint library and that formerly in the Siegfried Schwer library. The author is thought to have been John Hammond the publisher, masquerading under the pseudonym Christopher Williams