A featured highlight from the Eldorado Collection of Colombian Paper Money, which crosses the auction block January 11 in the official auction of the New York International Numismatic Convention (NYINC), is an official American Bank Note Company archival record book of 1923-1979 Colombian Banknote Proofs Issues.
Lot 10564 is a unique archival record Colombian Banknote Proofs book, formerly part of the American Bank Note Company Archives, cataloged for only the second time in nearly a century. Last sold as “SAMPLE BOOK No. 8” in Lot 87 of the 1990 ABN Sale at Christie’s; it has remained intact since.
The exterior volume is an oblong folio, brown leather binder 30.0cm by 25.0cm by 7.0cm deep, with the pages leather strapped in the binding with a locking mechanism (Kalamazoo Loose-leaf Binder Co.).
Mounted upon the pages are uniface Colombian Banknote Proofs or bond paper specimens from 1923-79 for most series, but not fully complete by SCWPM catalog types. Four typewritten pages at the frontis have the order authorizations for most issues and denominations until 1964.
Most proofs fall into the 1940s and ’50s period. Arranged by denomination and date from a 1923 1 Peso to a 1979 1,000 Pesos. Several are rare types or dates that were not represented in the 1990-91 ABN sales.
There are 75 pages with notes, the majority with face and back proofs. Mixed condition, these proofs are not especially vibrant compared to the proofs printed in the 1870s and ’80s using “hands on” proofing techniques as opposed to the machine-made production of the 20th century. Several have glue toning through the paper.
It commences with the 1923 issue gold notes, includes 1938 commemorative issue face and back page, and finishes with the 1979 1,000 Pesos. Illustrates the progression of dates and signature transitions by dates from several series.
A unique record of Colombia’s notes from the 20th century and one of the few record books from Christie’s 1990 ABN Sale sold intact. This realized $8,250 in December 1990.
- Estimate: $7,500 – $15,000
The whole is worth more than the sum of the parts.
Live bidding begins January 11, 2018 @ 12:00 PM EST. For more information please call us at 800-458-4646 or email us at [email protected].
