I picked up a package at the post office on my home from work. I am not sure that pic does it justice - I have had a PDF copy of the book, but it is much better in hand!!! the shipping box was 19" X 24". I won this one at the NYINC auction by Kolb & Fanning. Their description is below - Haeberlin, Dr. Jur. E.J. AES GRAVE. DAS SCHWERGELD ROMS UND MITTELITALIENS EINSCHLIESSLICH DER IHN VORAUSGEHENDEN ROHRBRONZEWÄHRUNG. Reprint. Bologna: Forni, 1976. Two volumes. Quarto text and large folio plate folder. Original blue cloth, gilt, with blue cloth-backed printed plate folder. xxviii, 280 pages, occasional text figures, 1 plate; (4) pages, 103 plates. Plate folder taped; folder and plates with corner bumps. Very good. A monumental work. Ernst Justus Haeberlin (1847-1925) formed an extraordinary collection of the early cast coinages of the Roman Republic, and Aes Grave is the result of a life's work in numismatics. Clain-Stefanelli 3788*. Grierson 72. Kroh 68: "This monumental 1910 study ... was the first modern work on this series and is still utilized as a primary reference." The plates are 19.5" X 13.5". this one show some nice bars these show aes with marks - the book has 3 examples that weigh 50, 40 & 30 grams. Mine are smaller at 16.1 and 16.5 grams. I found a review of this book from a few years ago by Ed Snible: http://digitalhn.blogspot.com/2007/05/most-impressive-numismatic-book.html
This is a pic of one of many pages af cast asses and the start of the table on the coins. I like this page 'cause I have 4 of them: arrow head / jar; dog / lyre; fly / trident & club / two dots. Maybe you can tell I am excited to get the book.
More like a tome than a book. Those pages would look even more awesome in a portfolio book, plus it would preserve better if its going to be constantly used.
Congrats RR! I just got my copy recently too from Kolbe & Fanning and that book is HUGE!! The plates have to sit on top of my bookcase. A friend of mine suggested I wallpaper a room with them for easy reference.
My SNG Cop plate book of North Africa is that size. Huge book that I have to set on a table. But going through the plates is fantastic when I am looking for various Carthage issues!
That looks like a Holy Grail book for an early Roman Republic collector! Congrats on the acquisition, @rrdenarius ! I have SNG Copenhagen Volume 8 too-- my only SNG volume. It's relevant to a subspecialty interest but wow-- I don't foresee accumulating any other SNG volumes. Too large, too expensive, too "dry".
If there is anything I love more than ancient coins its books, especially scholarly tomes. What a wonderful purchase RR! Just wow. As someone who just received a book I've been waiting on the author to complete for nearly a decade, I understand your joy! PDFs are convenient for travel, but there is nothing like sitting in a nice comfy chair while holding a dearly cherished book.
I bought a Forni reprint of Haeberlin several years ago. Last year, I acquired (very cheaply) at auction a "new old stock" original of the text volume ONLY. It was literally brand new, as issued by the printer, with its pages still uncut after quarto folding and (temporary) card binding. Seller reported it was part of an old German book dealer's stock. That acquisition must have been fate, because a few weeks ago I acquired an original plate volume to complete my original set. The Forni reprint plates are very good. The original plates are better, and very slightly bigger Also, the originals are on heavier, excellent quality paper which must be nearly acid free, as they have not browned in over 100 years. The original plates have been bound, but each plate is individually hinged, so that they open flat. Some photos below. Last photo shows the difference between the reprint plates (in blue and white folder) and the original, bound plates. I'll likely sell my reprint plates, as I don't have room in my library for multiple, elephant folios!
