A unique sample book of Russian bank note proofs grabbed the top honors in the H.R. Harmer Inc. Oct. 17 to 19 auction of material originally from the American Bank Note Co. archives.

The album sold for $70,000 including the 15 percent buyer’s fee. The bid helped hoist the total auction prices realized over the million dollar mark at $1,103,683.70, according to Dr. Robert Schwartz, a New York City dentist who has been in the paper money, stamps and scrip-ophily (the study and collecting of canceled stocks and bonds) businesses for 20 years, and who wrote the catalog for this auction.

The sample album, circa 1910 to 1920, includes rare bank notes on the first seven pages and additional loose bank note back proofs and vignettes mounted on card. The overall condition of the book and its contents ranges from About Uncirculated to Uncirculated with minor edge faults on one or two items, according to the catalog. [Full Article]

Full Catalog Description:

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. Extremley rare set and unpriced in SCWPM. Extremely rare sample book of museum quality with notes that are amazing. Unique sample book in archive.