Assistance with Die Study - 1787 Shillings & Sixpences

[Madness]

16 hours ago, jelida said:

Spotting that it is the only example in a database of 500 sounds pretty good research to me! And a good buy for 100 Euro I would say, whether or not it currently attracts a premium, it probably will when you have finally published your study. 

Jerry

If there were a risk that the price of less common varieties of 1787 sixpences were to rise I'd be loath to publish.  Surely this is the dilemma that faces all specialist collectors that decide to conduct die studies. Perhaps I'll delay presenting the results of my research until I've collected everything I want.  That could take quite some time.  Another benefit, though, would be that I could illustrate the research with photos of my own specimens rather than wading through the legalities of obtaining permission to publish others' material.  

Has anyone else here been in a similar position?  

Edited October 17, 2018 by Madness

[Rob]

It's always worth delaying publication until you are satisfied the article is complete as you inevitably find something that casts doubt on your findings to date.

As for publishing images, the catalogues are already deemed to be in the public domain, so you are unlikely to run into copyright issues by illustrating these. If the source is given, then the auction house is being given free publicity. Images taken from articles on a website would be different. All studies use the author's images where possible.

[Peckris 2]

7 hours ago, Madness said:

If there were a risk that the price of less common varieties of 1787 sixpences were to rise I'd be loath to publish.  Surely this is the dilemma that faces all specialist collectors that decide to conduct die studies. Perhaps I'll delay presenting the results of my research until I've collected everything I want.  That could take quite some time.  Another benefit, though, would be that I could illustrate the research with photos of my own specimens rather than wading through the legalities of obtaining permission to publish others' material.  

Has anyone else here been in a similar position?  

I think you would gain far more from being an acknowledged expert in your chosen field than a marginal gain in scarcer varieties would cost you (as you're possibly the first to this, you can infer that there aren't a huge number of variety collectors for 1787 silver). If it was me, I'd publish and be damned, though after taking Rob's advice above.