A Disservice to Numismatics? or False Entitlement
Clio
Posts: 557 ✭✭✭✭✭
@pillarsportraits recent post reminded me of this recent slight which fired me up a bit again, so I had to share.
One of the great things in numismatics is being able to track where a coin has been in the past. Being able to see a coin you own in a previous sale is awesome and helps track where it's been an who has owned it. Recently the Alfred Leonard Fuller collection was posted for auction by Spink. A totally unknown collector in the grand scheme of things but he silently amassed a wonderful collection of English coinage. Not only this the collection in its entirety sat undisturbed for 85 years after his death. I was over the moon to be able to win and take away a 1663 Shilling. Originally sold to him from Spink in 1898 via one of their circulars. A good friend of mine ended up with a spare auction catalogue and offered to ship it to me. I was extremely grateful and looked forward to seeing it in hand. Spink had little information about Alfred Fuller and only briefly mentioned him at all on their website. So I was looking forward to seeing what the write up in the catalogue would be.
The motto on the front of the Catalogue is "Where history is valued". 
First off there's not a single sentence about Alfred Fuller within the catalogue. I don't know if there's much to report but at a minimum, I would've expected the information provided on their site.
Secondly there's no pictures. Aside a few notable coins on the inside cover the listing pages are totally absent of images. This is a glossy print catalogue, I just cannot fathom why they would not have photos included.
I understand their site has the images should I need to find them, but I just do not think that's a reliable archive. Any number of sites have gone down over the years pictures and all. Not to mention auction houses are not always that easy to search through their archives.
Currently I intend to print off the online listing and the blurb about Alfred Fuller to place inside the pages so I have them. I just couldn't help but want to reach out here and get your opinions on it. Am I just overreacting and being an entitled collector or is this a valid complaint?
https://numismaticmuse.com/ My Web Gallery
The best collecting goals lie right on the border between the possible and the impossible. - Andy Lustig, "MrEureka"
Comments
I agree that it seems curious to have the collection named after him and have his portrait on the cover, but then have nothing written about him and have few images of coins. My guess, and it is just a guess, is that the cost to print a full color, glossy catalog that is fully illustrated was more than they could justify for the sale. Additionally, they likely assumed most folks would do either all or the great majority of their research online and, thus, the catalog would be redundant and disposed.
It's too bad, but I think the printing on demand method is likely better for their bottom line as well as the environment.
In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson
From what I have heard from others Spink normally issues catalogues with lots of pictures. I just guess this might be the start of them getting rid of that?
https://numismaticmuse.com/ My Web Gallery
The best collecting goals lie right on the border between the possible and the impossible. - Andy Lustig, "MrEureka"
Maybe they couldn’t find out very much about him. Seems odd though, you can get a portrait but no info. He was probably a spy 🕵️.
The picture thing is not right, even if they were black and white, they should be there.
I'm BACK!!! Used to be Billet7 on the old forum.
Spink is having issues with publishing it seems. They are winding down their book publishing business so I am not sure if that has any impact on their catalogs.
I did go look at the catalog online for a few minutes. There were some excellent coins listed.
Experience the World through Numismatics...it's more than you can imagine.