NNP

Recently scanned at the American Numismatic Society is Batty’s Catalogue of the Copper Coinage of Great Britain, Ireland, British Isles and Colonies. This four-volume work was originally issued in parts, between 1868 and 1898. The October 1876 American Journal of Numismatics reported “Mr. D. T. Batty…is now publishing a valuable work…It is compiled from various sources, but especially from the author’s own collection of fifteen thousand varieties…”

Volume one (nos. 1-2973) covers penny and halfpenny tokens, volume two (nos. 2974-4251) continues with halfpenny and farthing tokens, while volume three (nos. 1-6850) includes regal copper coins. Volume four, published by George Frederick Lawrence after Batty’s death, includes an appendix to the previous volumes (nos. 6851-8304) as well as coverage of the colonial issues (nos. 1-2133, primarily Canada). The ANS library further includes a typescript index to the first two Batty volumes.

Sets of Batty are scarce. The Bass sale included a four-volume set, of which vols. 1-3 were large paper copies. This lot was acquired by Bill Burd. Charles Davis further offered a four-volume set in original cloth in the summer 1991 Asylum. A quick check of abebooks.com reveals only print-on-demand reprint versions, while the UK bookseller Galata offers a four-volume set in c. 1900 library binding for £540.

Link to Batty Catalogue on Newman Portal: https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/booksbyauthor/551260