Rare Book Monthly

Articles - October - 2019 Issue

U.S., Chinese & Worldwide Banknotes, Scripophily and Security Printing Ephemera to be Offered Thursday, October 10th, 2019

FORT LEE, N.J. –  The October 10th auction by Archives International Auctions will consist of 1178 different lots offered in three sessions beginning with 375 lots of Chinese and Worldwide Banknotes, Coins and Russian Scripophily. The second session features over 249 lots of U.S. Obsolete Banknotes and Security Printing Ephemera highlighted by Part 1 of the Highlands Collection of New Jersey Obsolete Bank and Scrip notes. The third session features U.S. & World Scripophily with 561 lots including an outstanding railroad stock and bond collection of CSX and related railroads with many rarities never seen previously by the collecting community.

 

“We are excited to offer part 1 of the Highlands Collection, an extensive New Jersey Obsolete Banknote collection that has been off the market for over 30 years”, stated Dr. Robert Schwartz, President of Archives International Auctions. “Our current 55th auction will offer 1187 lots of rare and desirable U.S. & Worldwide Banknotes, Scripophily and Security Printing Ephemera with many rare and desirable items seldom offered at auction including items forthe beginner to the advanced collector”.

 

Included in the sale are consignments from numerous estates and longtime collections with many items having never been offered previously at auction. A few of the many World highlights begin with a Commonwealth of Australia, 1918, 10/- Shillings, P-3b rarity; China features over 80 notes with a number of highlights including a Bank of Communications, 1913 $10, P-111As Specimen with only 2 previous auction appearances over the last 10 years; a spectacular and high grade 1905 International Banking Corp., Shanghai Branch $100 Specimen in PMG 65 EPQ is offered and is sure to attract attention as well as numerous issued and specimen Chinese banknotes being offered; An extremely rare Denmark, 1784 Copenhagen, 1 Rigsdaler Courant issued note in Fine to VF condition from the John E. Herzog Collection is offered; France is highlighted by a 1790, Caisse d’Escompte, 200 Livres, P-A24 rarity, also from the Herzog collection and having last been seen at auction in 2001 with no others appearing since; Hong Kong has a number of noteworthy offerings including a spectacular pair of Mercantile Bank of India notes, a 1930, $5 and 1937, $10, both in VF condition; Mexico includes numerous desirable notes including a Banco del Estado de Durango, 1882, 1 Peso, Remainder Banknote Rarity; Russia includes a new find of Imperial Russian Government, 1915 and 1916 Specimen Bonds never offered previously in the U.S.. Hundreds of additional desirable notes are included that should appeal to every level of collector and dealer.

 

Session 2 featuresover 249 lots of U.S. Obsolete Banknotes, National Banknotes, Small and Large Type as well as Security Printing Ephemera and Historic Ephemera. One of the main highlights is a Central Bank of Brooklyn, 1850's Uncut "Santa Claus" Proof Sheet of 4 Notes with no recent record of a sheet being offered with the desirable Santa Vignette in over 10 years; Part 1 of 2 parts of the Highland Collection of New Jersey Obsolete Scrip and Banknotes will debut in the auction. There are over 150 lots in Part 1of the auction, with many lots including multiple items that deserve further research and will offer many surprises for the serious collector and student of New Jersey numismatic history. One of the many highlights of the Highland Collection is an 1837 Issued Newark Whaling, Sealing & Manufacturing Co. 37 1/2 Cent note with a popular whaling vignette; hundred of additional notes from the collection are sure to attract attention. Two different Nevada National Banknotes are offered including a $50, 1929, T-1, Reno National Bank Charter #7038 note; Security Printing Ephemera includes numerous rare items that have been off the market for decades including several very rare and desirable items from the John E. Herzog collection. A rare group of 5 CDV’s photographed by Meserve, all of Civil War Military men including Grant and Sheridan in uniform are included. Session 2 also includes hundreds of additional desirable and rare items that will be of interest to the discriminating collector.

 

The 3rd Session of 561 lots consists of U.S. & World Scripophily, featuring the Stephen Beck Collection of CSX and Predecessor Railroad Bonds and Shares and ends with additional selections from the American Bank Note Commemoratives Inventory of Show & Souvenir Obsolete Banknote and Vignette cards. Some of the many highlights include very possibly one of the first Coca-Cola Share Certificates, a 1919 Specimen Voting Trust Certificate Temporary Stock Certificate. No other earlier Coca-Cola certificates have been found in issued or Specimen condition; 2 different Puerto Rico, 1893 and 1895, Credito y Ahorro Ponceno Sociedad Anonima Specimen Bond rarities; a Historic U.S. Department of the Interior, 1894 Specimen U.S. Federal Cherokee Nation Bond codifying the U.S. Government purchase from the Cherokee tribe the lands in Oklahoma known as the “Cherokee Outlet”; an extremely rare North American Italian Steam Ship Co., 1866 with Red 25cts Imprinted revenue RN-T3; a unique, New York, Twenty Third Street Railway Co., 1889 Specimen Equipment Bond from the ABN Archives; a NY, Staten Island Rail-Road Co., March, 1864 Stock Certificate With William H. Vanderbilt Signature and hundreds of additional stocks and bonds from a large variety of topics from railroads, automobiles, technology, Government, Foreign, mining and dozens of additional topics.

Rare Book Monthly

  • SD Scandinavian Art & Rare Book Auctions
    The Odfjell Collection
    Polar – History – Ornithology – Colour Plate Books
    Ending December 4th
    Scandinavian Art & Rare Books Auctions, Dec. 4: ROALD AMUNDSEN: «Sydpolen» [ The South Pole] 1912. First edition in jackets and publisher's slip case.
    Scandinavian Art & Rare Books Auctions, Dec. 4: AMUNDSEN & NANSEN: «Fram over Polhavet» [Farthest North] 1897. AMUNDSEN's COPY!
    Scandinavian Art & Rare Books Auctions, Dec. 4: ERNEST SHACKLETON [ed.]: «Aurora Australis» 1908. First edition. The NORWAY COPY.
    Scandinavian Art & Rare Books Auctions, Dec. 4: ERNEST SHACKLETON: «The heart of the Antarctic» + SUPPLEMENT «The Antarctic Book», 1909.
    Scandinavian Art & Rare Books Auctions, Dec. 4: SHACKLETON, BERNACCHI, CHERRY-GARRARD [ed.]: «The South Polar Times» I-III, 1902-1911.
    SD Scandinavian Art & Rare Book Auctions
    The Odfjell Collection
    Polar – History – Ornithology – Colour Plate Books
    Ending December 4th
    Scandinavian Art & Rare Books Auctions, Dec. 4: [WILLEM BARENTSZ & HENRY HUDSON] - SAEGHMAN: «Verhael van de vier eerste schip-vaerden […]», 1663.
    Scandinavian Art & Rare Books Auctions, Dec. 4: TERRA NOVA EXPEDITION | LIEUTENANT HENRY ROBERTSON BOWERS: «At the South Pole.», Gelatin Silver Print. [10¾ x 15in. (27.2 x 38.1cm.) ].
    Scandinavian Art & Rare Books Auctions, Dec. 4: ELEAZAR ALBIN: «A natural History of Birds.» + «A Supplement», 1738-40. Wonderful coloured plates.
    Scandinavian Art & Rare Books Auctions, Dec. 4: PAUL GAIMARD: «Voyage de la Commision scientific du Nord, en Scandinavie, […]», c. 1842-46. ONLY HAND COLOURED COPY KNOWN WITH TWO ORIGINAL PAINTINGS BY BIARD.
    Scandinavian Art & Rare Books Auctions, Dec. 4: JAMES JOYCE: «Ulysses», 1922. FIRST EDITION IN ORIGINAL WRAPPERS.
  • Sotheby’s
    Book Week
    December 9-17, 2025
    Sotheby’s, Dec. 11: Darwin and Wallace. On the Tendency of Species to form Varieties..., [in:] Journal of the Proceedings of the Linnean Society, Vol. III, No. 9., 1858, Darwin announces the theory of natural selection. £100,000 to £150,000.
    Sotheby’s, Dec. 11: J.K. Rowling. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, 1997, first edition, hardback issue, inscribed by the author pre-publication. £100,000 to £150,000.
    Sotheby’s, Dec. 11: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Autograph sketchleaf including a probable draft for the E flat Piano Quartet, K.493, 1786. £150,000 to £200,000.
    Sotheby’s, Dec. 12: Hooke, Robert. Micrographia: or some Physiological Descriptions of Minute Bodies made by Magnifying Glasses. London: James Allestry for the Royal Society, 1667. $12,000 to $15,000.
    Sotheby’s, Dec. 12: Chappuzeau, Samuel. The history of jewels, first edition in English. London: T.N. for Hobart Kemp, 1671. $12,000 to $18,000.
    Sotheby’s, Dec. 12: Sowerby, James. Exotic Mineralogy, containing his most realistic mineral depictions, London: Benjamin Meredith, 1811, Arding and Merrett, 1817. $5,000 to $7,000.
  • Rare Book Hub is now mobile-friendly!
  • Swann
    Maps & Atlases, Natural History & Color Plate Books
    December 9, 2025
    Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 156: Cornelis de Jode, Americae pars Borealis, double-page engraved map of North America, Antwerp, 1593.
    Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 206: John and Alexander Walker, Map of the United States, London and Liverpool, 1827.
    Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 223: Abraham Ortelius, Typus Orbis Terrarum, hand-colored double-page engraved world map, Antwerp, 1575.
    Swann
    Maps & Atlases, Natural History & Color Plate Books
    December 9, 2025
    Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 233: Aaron Arrowsmith, Chart of the World, oversize engraved map on 8 sheets, London, 1790 (circa 1800).
    Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 239: Fielding Lucas, A General Atlas, 81 engraved maps and diagrams, Baltimore, 1823.
    Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 240: Anthony Finley, A New American Atlas, 15 maps engraved by james hamilton young on 14 double-page sheets, Philadelphia, 1826.
    Swann
    Maps & Atlases, Natural History & Color Plate Books
    December 9, 2025
    Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 263: John Bachmann, Panorama of the Seat of War, portfolio of 4 double-page chromolithographed panoramic maps, New York, 1861.
    Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 265: Sebastian Münster, Cosmographei, Basel: Sebastian Henricpetri, 1558.
    Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 271: Abraham Ortelius, Epitome Theatri Orteliani, Antwerp: Johann Baptist Vrients, 1601.
    Swann
    Maps & Atlases, Natural History & Color Plate Books
    December 9, 2025
    Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 283: Joris van Spilbergen, Speculum Orientalis Occidentalisque Indiae, Leiden: Nicolaus van Geelkercken for Jodocus Hondius, 1619.
    Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 285: Levinus Hulsius, Achtzehender Theil der Newen Welt, 14 engraved folding maps, Frankfurt: Johann Frederick Weiss, 1623.
    Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 341: John James Audubon, Carolina Parrot, Plate 26, London, 1827.

Article Search

Archived Articles