BOURNE, REMY

Copyright © 2011-2018 John N. Lupia III

Michael Remy Bourne, Jr., (1939-Present), Numismatist, Numismatic Literature Dealer, Auctioneer, Author, Cataloger.

He was born on February 27, 1939, at Great Falls, Montana, son of Dr. Michael R. Bourne.

On June 17, 1960, he married Avis Pauline Solberg (1940-Present), in Los Angeles, California.

From 1972 to 1994, he and his wife Avis, formed a corporation using the initial letter of each of their names Remy, Avis, Michael andMarlene RAMM Communications, Inc., and advertising and art production company that also published the numismatic literature by Remy Bourne. They were located at 9121 Baltimore Street, N.E., Minneapolis, Minnesota.

From 1980 to 1981, he joined a partnership with D. Scott Secor and Jim Betty to form The Currency Exchange, Inc.

From September 1981 to March 1983, the two children of Remy and Avis Bourne : Michael and Marlene, ran the numismatic literature sales under the banner of “Michael & Marlene Bourne : Rare Numismatic Literature. They conducted two mail bid sales and published three Fixed Price Lists. Their business office was shared by that of their parents at 508 40^th Avenue, N. E., Minneapolis, Minnesota.

In 1983, he reprinted through his company RAMM Communications, all 10 volumes of Edouard Frossard’s famous periodical,Numisma (1877-1891).[1] Cal Wilson, and also Myron Xenos and Ken Lowe of The Money Tree distributed 100 sets of the Numismareprints, and four special hardbound editions.

In 1987, he reprinted through his company RAMM Communications, Martin Gengerke’s, American Numismatic Auctions. 8^th Edition.

From 1987 to 1989, he was the 2^nd Vice-President of the Numismatic Bibliomania Society (NBS). In 1989, he was elected the 4^thPresident of the NBS, and resigned that year.

About July of 1994 he formed a new business, Remy Bourne Numismatic Specialist, with his business office remaining at 508 40^thAvenue, N. E., Minneapolis, Minnesota. In January 1995, he began to publish Numismatic Literature Review and Fixed Price List. From September 1995 to April 2002 his new firm held fifteen public auction and mail bid sales, setting a new standard in the field of numismatic literature catalogs. Richly decorated and lavished with important details and descriptions these catalogs are an invaluable source and resource for any researcher.

From 1997 to 2002, his residence was 4138 Thornhill Lane, Vadnais Heights, St. Paul, Minnesota.

From 2001 to 2007 he served on the Board of Governors of the American Numismatic Association (ANA).

Bourne publications are gems filled with a treasury of information on numismatic literature and the people involved in their creation.

Complete Bibliography of Bourne Books :

Michael & Marlene Bourne : Rare Numismatic Literature. Fixed Price List No. 1, November 20, 1981. 875 lots, unpaginated, with 17 photographic plates illustrating many lots.

Michael & Marlene Bourne : Rare Numismatic Literature. Fixed Price List No. 2.

Michael & Marlene Bourne : Rare Numismatic Literature. Fixed Price List No. 3, March 1983. Featuring the Murray Singer Library and 17 other consignments. 765 lots in 19 (1) pages. No illustrations.

Numisma (RAAM Communications, Inc., Reprinted 1983)

Fixed Price Lists & Premium Paid for Lists of United States Coin Dealers 1822-1900, Volume I. (RAMM Communications, Inc., 1988)

Fixed Price Lists & Premium Paid for Lists of United States Coin Dealers 1900-1929, Volume II. (RAMM Communications, Inc., 1989)

Fixed Price Lists & Premium Paid for Lists of United States Coin Dealers 1930-1939, Volume II. (RAMM Communications, Inc., 1989)

American Numismatic Sales and Informational Literature (1989)

Fixed Price Lists & Premium Paid for Lists of United States Coin Dealers 1940-1949, Volume II. (RAMM Communications, Inc., 1990)

American Numismatic Periodicals 1860-1960: An Illustrated Collectors Guide, 2 Volumes. (RAMM Communications, Inc., 1990)

Complete Bibliography of Bourne Public Auction Catalogs

Michael & Marlene Bourne : Rare Numismatic Literature. Mail Bid No. 1, September 1, 1981, Select Duplicates from the Armand Champa Library, and Other Fine Consignments. 1125 lots in 80 pages. With Errata sheet for 12 lots.

Michael & Marlene Bourne : Rare Numismatic Literature. Mail Bid No. 2, September 1, 1982. 1930 lots in 72 pages, with 49 photographic plates of many lots. Photo of Michael Bourne, III on front cover.

On September 10, 1995, he held his first numismatic literature public auction and mail bid sale of the collection of Joe Cassano. Pete Smith assisted in the cataloguing for General US, and Wayne Anderson for World, Philip Carrigan for Canada, and Harold Welch for World, and Bill Daehn for Ancient. His father, Dr. Bourne, Frank Katen and Ken Lowe reviewed the catalog. The catalog contained 855 lots in 44 (4) pages. Five pages of photographs of 17 lots, includes the back cover. Photo of the consignor on the front cover.

On January 27^th, 1996, he held his second numismatic literature public auction and mail bid sale of the collection of Courtney L. Coffing. Pete Smith, Philip Carrigan, Harold Welch, Bill Daehn, and Wayne Anderson continued as consulting editors and contributors to the catalog. Three new editor/contributors were Bob Metzger, for US and World, Jim Kindler for Orient, and Bill Yost for General US. Contained 870 lots in 62 (2) pages. Photo of one lot on back cover.

On May 18, 1996, he held his third numismatic literature public auction and mail bid sale of the collection of Scott E. Cordry, and Selections from the Freeman Craig Library. The editors were : Pete Smith, Harold Welch, Bill Daehn, Jim Kindler, Ken Lowe and Wayne Anderson. 2570 lots in 97 (1) pages. Photo of Remy Bourne on page 3. Photo of one lot on back cover.

On October 25 to 26, 1996, he held his fourth numismatic literature public auction and mail bid sale of the collections of Seymour Finkelstein and Helen and Bob Wallace. 1095 lots in 99 (5) pages, includes an Index. Photo of one lot on back cover.

On April 11-12, 1997, he held his fifth numismatic literature public auction and mail bid sale of the collection of George Tillson, and the John & Nancy Wilson Library. Photos of consignors on front cover and photo of one lot on back cover. 1169 lots in 101 (7) pages. Plus and additional 86 photos of lots.

On September 12-13, 1997, he held his sixth numismatic literature public auction and mail bid sale of the collection of R. V. (Dick) Punchard, and four other Libraries. Photo of one lot on back cover.

On March 27-28, 1998, he held his seventh numismatic literature public auction and mail bid sale of the collection of Neil Shafer and Gregory G. Brunk. Photo of Shafer on front cover and one lot on back cover. 1571 lots in 133 (7) pages. Also, an additional 67 photos of lots.

On September 25-26, 1998, he held his eighth numismatic literature public auction and mail bid sale of the collection of Robert L. Hendershott. Photo of Hendershott on front cover and one lot on back cover.

On April 9-10, 1999, he held his ninth numismatic literature public auction and mail bid sale of the collection of Kenneth L. Hallenbeck, Dale Seppa, and the Murray Singer Library. Photo of one lot on back cover.

On October 1-2, 1999, he held his tenth numismatic literature public auction and mail bid sale of the collection of Martin Gengerke. Photo of Gengerke on front cover, and one lot on back cover. 1240 lots in 137 (7) pages. Plus, an additional 134 photo illustrations of lots.

On April 7-8, 2000, he held his eleventh numismatic literature public auction and mail bid sale of the collection of Lester Burzinski, Wayne Anderson, Art M. Kagin, and five other Libraries. Photo of one lot on back cover.

On October 6-7, 2000, he held his twelfth numismatic literature public auction and mail bid sale of the collection of A. M. Smith and the David Akers Library. 1042 lots in 136 (8) pages, includes Index. Photo of A. M. Smith on front cover, and one lot on back cover. Twelve photos of consignors inside front and back covers. Photo of A. M. Smith and his wife Botilla Elberg on page 2 accompanied by Pete Smith’s biography of A. M. Smith. 119 photos and 7 decorative motives illustrate the catalog.

On April 27-28, 2001, he held his thirteenth numismatic literature public auction and mail bid sale of the collection of Dr. Donald D. Tritt, and David C. Amey, and another Library. 1246 lots in 147 (5) pages, includes Index. Photo of one lot on back cover.

On October 5-6, 2001, he held his fourteenth numismatic literature public auction and mail bid sale of the collection of Laurese Byrd Katen. Photo of one lot on back cover.

On April 5-6, 2002, he held his fifteenth numismatic literature public auction and mail bid sale of the collections of Richard and Pam Watts, Don and Lois Bailey, Tom and Pat Sebrig, et alia., to be held in conjunction with the 27^th Annual Chicago International Coin Fair at the Holiday Inn O’Hare, Rosemont, Illinois. Color photos of five of the consignors and also of Remy & Avis Bourne. B&W photo of Remy Bourne on page 7. Photo of one lot on back cover. 1015 lots in 118 (6) pages, includes an Index.

[1] Davis cites the reprint but not the source. See Charles E. Davis, American Numismatic Literature. An Annotated Survey of Auction Sales 1980-1991. (Lincoln, Massachusetts : Quarterman Publications, 1992) : No. 399 on page 83