The Collection of 18th Century Tokens formed by Dr David L Spence

Banbury, William Rusher, Halfpence (2), both banbury edge, large [29.5mm] flan, 9.60g/6h, small [28mm] flan, 9.52g/6h (both DH 1) [2]. About extremely fine and better (£25-35)

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Collection of 18th Century Tokens formed by Dr David L Spence.

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Collection

Provenance:
*Second F.W. Lincoln Collection, Glendining Auction, 12-13 February 1936, lot 294 (part) [from J. Henry], Fawcett/Litman Collection.

William Rusher (†1846, aged 90), bookseller and stationer, part of an extended family of that name active in the printing trade in Oxfordshire and Berkshire in the late 18th and first half of the 19th centuries (Longman, pp.55-7). William, described as a schoolmaster when he married Mary Golby at Banbury in February 1783, began directory publishing in 1797 but had been active in printing since at least 1784, primarily with chap books; his brother, Philip, a banker and typographer, helped finance the business. William Rusher retired in 1822, leaving his business to his younger son Thomas; he in turn merged it with the firm being run by his elder brother, John Golby Rusher (†1877) at Market place in 1832 (Wager, CTCJ March 2000, pp.12-13)