The Harry W. Bass, Jr. Collection – Part III

Harry Wesley Bass, Jr.

Harry Wesley Bass, Jr., was born on January 6, 1927, in Oklahoma City. He spent his childhood in Dallas where he graduated from the day school later known as St. Mark’s Academy. His higher education took place at the University of Texas and at Southern Methodist University.

During World War II he served in the Navy. After the war he represented the family oil interests in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, then came back to Dallas where he played a prominent part in oil exploration and served as president of H.W. Bass and Sons, Inc.

In the 1950s he took a great interest in Republican politics and in 1957 was Dallas County chairman for the Republican Party. His wife Doris recalled that he played a prominent part in advancing the interests of the Republican Party in a district that was primarily Democratic. Later he served as a state committee man for the Republican Party representing the Dallas area.

Subsequently he became interested in computers, a relatively new field for amateurs, and computerized the party’s members in his region. Later he set up a computer base for his home church, the Highland Park United Methodist Church. In the early 1990s when the Internet and e-mail became popular, Harry was one of the first to make wide use of it, and in the area of numismatics he certainly was in the forefront of the new discipline.

During the 1970s and 1980s he was involved in the management of the Vail ski resort in Colorado and the development of the nearby Beaver Creek ski resort. In 1978 he successfully did battle with 20th Century Fox for control of Vail Associates, Inc. Bass served as chairman of the board of Vail Associates and did much during the growth phases of the resort’s development, continuing his involvement through 1985. At a special ceremony held in 1999 a public fountain in Vail was dedicated to his memory. The inscription reads:

Among his local affiliations he was a member of the Dallas Country Club, the Brook Hollow Golf Club, the Idle Wild and Calyx Groups, and in the 1950s was first president of the Dallas Ski Club, which he helped to form. He also served as president of the Sertoma Club in Dallas, a well-known service organization.

From 1978 through 1984 Harry Bass served as president of the American Numismatic Society, and before and after that date he was a councilor of the Society. In recent times the Harry W. Bass, Jr. Research Foundation has made important financial gifts to the Society.

Harry Bass was born to Wilma Schuessler and Harry Wesley Bass. At the time of his death, from complications of lung disease on April 4, 1998, he had been pre-deceased by both of his parents and his eldest son, Harry Wesley Bass III. He was survived by his wife Doris and four grown children: John Harold Bass, Carol Ann Bass, Robert Stephen Bass, and Beverly Bass Haralson, along with seven grandchildren, his brother Richard D. Bass of Dallas, and his stepsons Michael Calhoun and David Calhoun.

In the preparation of the present catalogue and attendant arrangements, much of the coordination with the Harry W. Bass, Jr. Foundation has been handled by David Calhoun, who is developing his own interest in American numismatics and can "talk coins" very effectively. What an impressive legacy to draw from!

Formation of the Collection

The present catalogue brings to the auction venue the fruits of over three decades of numismatic connoisseurship and inquiry.

Harry Wesley Bass, Jr., became interested in rare coins as an adult, with his first purchases taking place in 1966 and his first in-person auction attendance in 1967. From that time until his untimely passing in 1998, Harry was a major figure in American numismatics.

Of inquisitive mind and with a generous measure of enthusiasm, Harry soon determined to learn as much as possible about numismatics. Drawing upon experience gained in the family oil business, in participation in politics on behalf of the Republican Party in Texas, in his work in Colorado ski resorts with Vail Associates and the development of Beaver Creek, and upon other knowledge, he commenced with great vigor. Harry was never anyone to do something half-way!

At the outset, he was attracted by nineteenth century gold coins. Anyone who has explored this fascinating pursuit will agree that there is something quite special to learn–after years of being in the social and business world–that there exist United States coins, made of gold, that at one time were familiar in banking and commercial circles, but which today are so rare that few have seen them. Upon further investigation, Harry learned that this series of coins, while in many instances scarce or rare, also included many pieces that were very inexpensive. In the 1960s it was possible to buy some of the more plentiful dates of $20 gold coins for less than $100 each.

As a first order of organized activity–after the thrill of discovering the American gold series–he set about building a definitive reference library on American numismatics (which currently is being featured in a series of memorable auctions by George Frederick Kolbe). Within a few years he had accomplished the feat of building one of the finest holdings of numismatic books and catalogues ever gathered by a private collector–and in later times he added to his holdings. Thus, from virtually the outset, Harry knew what he was looking for and could recognize the rarity of a gold coin based upon its past appearances.

I recall that when I first met Harry–and this was probably about 1969 or 1970–he impressed me with all that he knew about coins. We talked on and on about history, old-time auction catalogues, great collections of the past, and the availability of certain varieties in high grades. If I remember correctly, Harry did not ask about the coin market, price predictions, and the like. He loved the coins themselves, and prices–ever changing–were what they happened to be at any given time and would take care of themselves. As so often happens in numismatics–and which has been the case for every major old-time collection of which I am aware–the careful purchase of coins provided a great treasure for the future. As Parts I and II demonstrated, many specimens for which Harry paid record prices proved in the long run to be some of the most astute financial investments possible. The beauty part is that along the way he enjoyed his purchases and the pleasures they provided.

Acquisition Strategy

Harry also realized at an early time that a listed price for a rarity represented either what such a piece had sold for sometime in the past, or was a ballpark estimate put down by a catalogue compiler who had to come up with some figure, but could find no market data. Thus, equipped with the knowledge found deep in his library, he knew that if a particular gold coin or other desired specimen was listed at, say, $1,000, but that during the past 100 years only three or four had come on the market, and none recently, he could bid $2,000, or $5,000, or even $10,000 to acquire an example at auction, and then own it, while everyone else was waiting to buy one at the catalogue price! Of course, after Harry bid and bought the item for $10,000, and had it in his possession, the next round of published price guides would list it at $10,000. In a way, Harry would be home free, while others were scratching their heads in bewilderment!

On the other hand, if an item was listed at $1,000, but Harry found that each year a half dozen of them were sold at auction and even more were held in the private stocks of dealers, he could bide his time and wait for a piece that was just right, typically just right in terms of quality. These were the days before we had MS-61, MS-62, etc., or certification services, and one person’s "superb gem" might be another’s "almost Uncirculated." In time, this undefined grading caused Harry to do several things: First, he learned on his own everything that he needed to know. As well as any dealer I ever met, Harry had a keen eye and knew the gem from the so-so, the pristine from the cleaned. Further, he chose to buy from dealers and others in whom he placed trust, based upon his experience with them.

Today, even a casual glance at the catalogue pages to follow, and at the coins themselves during the lot viewing time prior to the sale, will reveal that Harry’s coins were in the vast majority "high end" pieces.

In summary, Harry was a very sophisticated buyer.

The Collection Grows

With a connoisseur’s eye and with a generous purchase budget, Harry Bass acquired many important coins and other numismatic items, working closely with Dallas dealer Mike Brownlee (who for part of his numismatic career traded as the Goliad Corporation) as well as with other leading professionals all over America. The listing of sources ("pedigrees") in the present catalogue will demonstrate vividly how wide Harry cast his net for purchases, as dozens of names are given.

Over a period of time, many important properties were offered to him by dealers, who realized that Harry would make an instant decision for any item that filled his needs, and would pay for it promptly. In addition, he was an active participant in person and through agents at virtually every important auction conducted during the past several decades, from the 1960s up to the time of his unfortunate passing on April 4, 1998.

I recall that during our presentation of the Eliasberg Collection of U.S. Gold Coins in 1982, Harry came to our lot-viewing at the sale in New York City, brought his magnifying glass and loupe, and spent several days making notes of die varieties, particularly for gold issues of the early era in American coinage, 1795-1834. He brought his coins with him to the sale, so he could compare them side-by-side with the Eliasberg specimens. Along the way, during this and other sales, and during visits to private collections, museums, coin dealerships, and conventions, he acquired much knowledge concerning this specialty. After a while, the experts would consult him to enrich and enhance their knowledge!

At the time of his passing, the Bass Collection and the holdings of the Harry W. Bass, Jr. Research Foundation included the most extensive collection of United States gold coins ever formed. While it did not have each and every date and mintmark, it was (and still is) highlighted by the unique 1870-S $3 and many other great rarities, many of which are among the finest of their kind or are the very finest. Sometimes even a landmark rarity would be acquired in duplicate, and his array of multiple specimens of certain Proof gold rarities is, in a word, impressive.

Time and again, Harry was in the right place at the right time. Along the way his cabinet attained immense proportions–immense in quality, immense in importance, immense in interest.

Philanthropy and Outreach

In Texas, Harry Bass was the administrator of two non-profit foundations. The Harry Bass Foundation, created by his father, for a long time has supported various Dallas area activities including religious and charitable institutions, hospitals, and museums. A separate foundation, the Harry W. Bass, Jr. Research Foundation, was set up to advance research and scholarship in certain areas of United States coinage including literature, patterns, and gold coins, with particular interest in outreach on the Internet and electronic media, as well as engage in significant philanthropic endeavors in other fields. Among its beneficiaries is the American Numismatic Society, New York City, which with Harry had close connections for a long time. For years he served as a councilor of the Society, and from 1978 through 1984 he was the Society’s president. During his administration, many notable accomplishments were made.

It is planned that the Foundation will make available to a wide circle of numismatists much information gathered over a long period of time by Harry Bass. In time this will include the availability on the Internet of detailed descriptions and illustrations in full color.

To further its philanthropic objectives, the Harry W. Bass, Jr. Research Foundation commissioned our firm to showcase at public sale many important items from its vast and impressive holdings. Part I was held last May, Part II took place in October, and the catalogue for Part III is in your hands. No effort has been spared to make the series of catalogues a fine memorial to Harry’s efforts and also references of lasting numismatic importance and value.

In addition to the auction presentations, our organization has commenced working closely with the Harry W. Bass, Jr. Research Foundation to collate Harry’s notes and create a sylloge, or catalogue raisonné of the items retained by the Foundation as well as notes on many other pieces. Along the way, the sylloge will contain information about Harry Bass’ life, connoisseurship, the history and background of the series he collected, and much other information that should prove to be of interest, value, and importance. While various series will be showcased in the sylloge, its focal point will be American gold coinage of the 1795-1834 era. The volume will present historical, numismatic, pictorial, and technical information not hitherto available from a single source. Further announcements concerning the sylloge will be made at a later date.

In the Pantheon of Numismatics a special place has been reserved for Harry and his memory, and generations from now he will still be remembered as one of the foremost figures in our field. The sylloge will share Harry’s knowledge and enthusiasm with the numismatic world.