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Portrait drawing of John Charles Schayer published in Mason's Coin Collectors' Herald, Vol. 1, No. 4, September (1884) :41
Schayer was a popular coin and stamp dealer who thrived at Boston, Massachusetts and later in life moved to Chicago, Illinois.
John Charles Schayer "King of Alligators" (1837-1907), was born at Boston, Massachusetts, son of German immigrant parents, John Schayer, a Boot, Shoe, and leather tradesman, and Mary A. Schayer.
On October 30, 1866, he married Ellen C. Ward (1841-1904) in the Catholic Church. They lived at 45 Milk Street, Boston, Massachusetts They had six children : Mary J. Schayer, John J. Schayer, Helen Agnes Schayer, Charles W. Schayer, Clara F. Schayer, George F. Schayer.
He operated a basement store, 68 Devonshire Street, Boston, Massachusetts. The shop had coin cabinets filled with U. S. and foreign coins, and paper money.
He sold Lorin Gilbert Parmelee (1827-1905) 3,000 U. S. half cents.
Schayer advertisement in the Boston Globe, Sunday, July 27, 1884, page 15. This ad ran for weeks.
Ebenezer Locke Mason, Jr., purchased from him 200 proof sets 1859-1884.
In 1884, he sold a dozen $50 gold slugs, and $9,000 in early U.S. gold.
He is listed in “Our Numismatic Directory” List No. 5, No. 100, The Numismatist, Vol. 3, No. 7 & 8, April (1891) : 33
Graphic illustrated postal card : Schayer Brothers, Alligator Skin House, Courtesy DigitalCommonwealth.org, Reference Code EP001.01.023.07.06.034.
There are several items of correspondence between Schayer and the Chapman Brothers in the Lupia Numismatic Library.
Courtesy Lupia Numismatic Library. For Sale.
Schayer advertisement in American Journal of Numismatics, July (1884)
He used to run ads in Numisma, and Mason's Coin Collector's Herald.
Courtesy Lupia Numismatic Library. Two of this edition in stock. For Sale.
On February 25, 1885 the Schayer Brothers firm went into insolvency.
They moved to Chicago about 1896.
Schayer arrested for mail fraud reusing old stamps for mailings. Chicago Tribune, Tuesday, May 12, 1896, page 10.
He died December 29, 1907, at Chicago, Illinois.
Bibliography :
“Our Numismatic Directory” List No. 5, No. 100, The Numismatist, Vol. 3, No. 7 & 8, April (1891) : 33
Gnecchi, Ercole and Francesco, eds., Guida Numismatica 4thedition. (Milano : U. Hoepli, 1903. Edition) : 528, No. 5330 - Gnecchi misspelled his surname as Shayer
Mason, Herald, Vol. I, No. 1, June (1879) : 8a; H-II, No. 1, June (1880) :2a; H-II, No. 2, September (1880) :12a; H-II, No. 2, September (1880) : 13b; H-II, No. 3, December (1880) : 20c, 23d; H-III, No. 2, September (1881) : 44c, 45d; C-IV, No. 1, June (1882) : 13; C-IV, No. 1, June (1882) : 15; C-VI, No. 1, June (1882) : 20B ad page; C-VI, No. 2, September (1882) : 27; (Mason on Schayer) [portrait] Mason's Coin Collectors' Herald, Vol. 1, No. 4, September (1884) :41-42
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