Coins DIG

In the period between the 17^th and 19^th of October, the H.R. Harmer Inc. auction presented material, which was originally came from the American Bank Note Co. archives. Among this material there was an exclusive sample book of Russian bank note proofs, which received the highest honors at the auction.

The whole album was acquired for $70,000, this includes 15% buyer's fee. After such a bid the estimated prices of the auction went over the million dollar mark and totaled $1,103,683.70. This data was presented by Robert Schwartz, who works as a dentist in the New York City. He has been involved in the field of paper money, stamps and scripophily (stocks and bonds collecting) for more than twenty years and he was also the one to write a catalog for the auction.

The unique sample album includes paper money dated from 1910 and 1920. Its first seven pages include rare bank notes as well as loose bank notes back proofs together with vignettes, which are being mounted on card. Taking into consideration the information provided by the catalog the condition of all items ranges from About Uncirculated to Uncirculated with slight faults of the edge on 1 or 2 items.

Description of the catalogue:

Russia Unique "Russian Government Banknotes" Archival Sample Album. ca.1910-20.

Original ABNC proof banknote sample book of Russian Banknotes produced by ABNC. The book is very thick, but unfortunately, there are banknotes on the first 7 pages and additional loose proof banknote backs and vignettes mounted on card, the rest of the book is empty.

Included are:

1). China, Russian-Asiatic Banknote proofs, for P-S473; S474; S475; S476 and S478 of faces and backs. A total of 10 LDPS mounted on india paper and pasted to sample book pages;

2). Russia, Banque De L’Indo-Chine , Vladivostok 1919 Issue, proofs of P-S1256, 5 Rubles; P-S1257, 25 Rubles; P-S1258, 100 Rubles and P-S1259, 500 Rubles. All have face and back proofs included fro a total of 8 proofs. All are in AU to uncirculated condition. Rare set;

3). Russia Government Credit Notes, 1918, 1919 Issue. P-39A and P-40 and P-S828 (1919) are all on 2 pages. Face and back proofs of each note are included. Additionally, P-39B, 50 Rubles; P-40A, 250 Rubles; P-41, 500 Rubles and P-42, 1000 Rubles are included as mounted face proofs in book on one page and the backs for each are loose in holders.

Overall the condition is AU to Unc. with minor edge faults on one or two. Extremely rare set and unpriced in SCWPM. Extremely rare sample book of museum quality with notes that are amazing. Unique sample book in archive.