More on the Mysterious Mrs. Marshall

In June 2016 we reported on the 1864 Catalogue of Coins of Mrs. Marshall from the Dave Hirt library. The function of the document wasn’t entirely clear – did it represent an actual auction, an exhibit catalog, or a fixed price list?  A recent discovery at the ANS answers the question. The back cover of this copy has a penciled inscription: “My dear {Benjamin?] Haines: I have this Catalogue for you, to prove that all the fools are not yet dead! The collection is on Exhib. at the Swine-itary Fair, and Mrs. Marshall proposes to sell them for ten thousand dollars (!) after the Fair is over. Ever thine, Numismatist. April 5th, 1864.” From this it is clear the document was an exhibit catalog, and one could make a case to classify it as a fixed price list as well.  Thanks to Lara Jacobs of Internet Archive, who scans ANS library materials under Newman Portal sponsorship, for bringing this copy to our attention.Link to June 5, 2016 article in the E-Sylum: http://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v19n23a11.htmlLink to Mrs. Marshall catalog on Newman Portal: https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/book/515883Link to Mrs. Marshall biography on John Lupia’s Numismatic Mall: https://sites.google.com/a/numismaticmall.com/www/numismaticmall-com/marshall-frances-maria-keeler