Item 2003/1 - Letter from Joseph Bispham with card

2 items, paper

Letter from Joseph Bispham, typescript, single page, dated 12 August 2003, with one card, undated. In the letter, JB states that he has been through the Tudor draft several times and has made a few observations. He refers to Potter's distinction between primary and secondary marks on Tower shillings struck under Edward VI, saying that he has always thought of these as mint marks of the under-treasurer or treasurer. He notes that PRO, E 101/306/3 names the under-treasurers [in 1550?] as Sir Martin Bowes, Tower I, and Stephen Vaughan and Thomas Knight, Tower ii. He describes the pattern shilling of Edward VI as very interesting and, in his view, provided the influence for various issues of dies, which he believes were all prepared by French engraver Anthony Levens. He concludes with a brief discussion of the Durham House mint, which holds a particular interest for him. The card, with an image of a Paulus Potter painting entitled "Figures with horses by a stable" (1647), is undated. It gives the weights of several Irish title groats of Henry VIII and the promise that he will check the weight of his example when his able.