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Correspondence regarding Imitation 'Spade' Guineas between Mr R.N.P. Hawkins, Esq., and Mr Salisbury of Sainsbury's.

Consists of 6 letters:
(1) dated 08.03.60 from Mr R.N.P. Hawkins to Mr Salisbury asking for information about the imitation 'spade' guineas issued by Sainsbury's that read "J. SAINSBURY PROVISION MERCHANT OPPOSITE WEST CROYDON STATION" to be used in an article on imitation 'spade' guineas;

(2) Mr Salisbury's reply to Mr R.N.P. Hawkins dated 11.03.60 informing him that the Company had not heard of such an imitation 'spade' guinea but suggesting that the spade guinea must have been manufactured between the dates of 1882 (when West Croydon branch was opened) and the turn of the century (when the wholesale depot was transferred from Kentish Town to Blackfriars). He also mentions that the Company disposed of a large number of its tokens in c.1915 to a travelling theatre group to use as stage props;

(3) dated 13.03.60 from Mr R.N.P. Hawkins to Mr Salisbury thanking him for the 'very useful' information about the imitation 'spade' guineas and informing him about the Sainsbury 'spade' guinea ["SEVEN SISTERS ROAD NORTH"] held in the British Museum since 1932 and which must date from 1900 - 1915. He also offers to send the Company a complimentary copy of his publication on completion;

(4) dated 10.01.65 from Mr R.N.P. Hawkins to Mr Salisbury enclosing a complimentary copy of his publication;

(5) dated 15.01.65 from Mr Salisbury to Mr R.N.P. Hawkins thanking him for sending him a copy of his Catalogue of Imitation 'Spade' Guineas and pointing out two points of additional information;

(6) dated 19.01.65 from Mr R.N.P. Hawkins to Mr Salisbury thanking him for the corrections and illustrating how he proposes to add the correctional details to his publication.

Also includes the complimentary copy of "Catalogue of the Advertisement Imitations of 'Spade' Guineas and their Halves" by R.N.P. Hawkins (reprinted from The British Numismatic Journal Vol.XXXII, 1964).