Coins, Tokens, Historical Medals, Cabinets & Books

Fitch, W.S., and successors, Suffolk Coins and Tokens and the Ipswich Mints, being a collection made in MSS, comprising a set of the 17 engraved plates of Suffolk 17th century tokens for the late Mr Fitch and sold by Samuel Tymms, c. 1865 (cf. Manville 415; cf. Griffiths Library, 4272); a large engraved portrait of Fitch by J. Pelham for J. Smart, 1848; ALS (10), from Henry Creed (1837 and undated), Charles Golding (1894), Barclay Head (to Joseph Glyde on Saxon coins of Ipswich, 1888 and 1890), Joseph Warren (Ixworth, 1836, 1842, 1845, 1846 and 1854); 3 plates of tokens from Conder’s Arrangement, 1799, and a side portrait of Conder; a notebook with descriptions of Suffolk 17th century tokens in the hand of Fitch, presumably detailing his own collection; other lists of coins, a poster announcing a lecture on coins of the mint of Ipswich by W.S. Fitch to the Ipswich Young Mens’ Association, 20 February 1850 and related press cuttings. Bound in black half-leather and marbled boards; spine shaky, but contents fine and fresh, a most interesting and unique volume for the student of Suffolk numismatics [weight 1.3 kg] £200-300

Provenance: Ex libris William Fitch; with Charles Golding, Colchester, until at least 1894; Joseph Glyde; Tennants Auction (Leyburn), 15 March 2006, lot 238; Jeffrey Gardiner.

William Stevenson Fitch (1792-1859), a postmaster from Ipswich and later of Lowestoft, antiquary and ‘purloiner of…old documents, autographs, prints and coins, particularly those relating to Suffolk history’ (Manville p.97, quoting the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography)