Souvenir cards

Many years ago I purchased a set of tires for my car and got a free ticket for a ride in a Goodyear blimp. It was noisy, un-air conditioned and cramped (about 8 people on board) but a really neat experience.

A few years ago I was creating a holiday gift package for a friend that centered on ballooning and dirigible machines. Here's a scan of an undated era photograph I bought for part of his gift:



There's a vast amount of postcards, stereographic view cards, literature, medals, bullion, souvenir cards, etc. that center on this subject matter. Some of the post cards I came across were really stunning like the one you posted. It must have been outrageous to be living in some small village back in the late 1800s through 1930s to have seen these behemoths drifting over the horizon or corraled in their hangars.

A lot of this material is readily available on eBay and other auction sites and is an entire hobby in and of itself. It's not something I vest a lot of time in or trying to acquire much of, but I really admire the legacy in flight and innovation these flying machines left us with as well as the fun collectibles.

 

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This reminded me of two other philatelic Zeppelin cards that I'd forgotten about. These are both small size USPS souvenir cards (6x8"). The U.S. stamps are intaglio, with denominations, reproduced in original color ink at 150 percent. (Accurate color reproductions between 75-150% are illegal.) And probably thanks to the Secret Service, all postage stamps on souvenir cards are now "cancelled" with a black line across one corner.

 

Very cool. I like that Brasil card a lot.

 

And USPS cards are *very* affordable -- you can often find them for a buck or two.

 

Okay, time to jump start this thread with some new material. Not much has been posted on American Bank Note cards, of which there are many. I started scanning some of my collection and found a common theme: holograms.

Starting in 1986, ABNC began issuing a card every year or so that featured a holographic image that complimented the selected intaglio engraving. It was a way to promote their subsidiary, American Bank Note Holographics, Inc. I was curious to see how these holograms would scan and...they don't very well. But, of course, that's the idea. Even so, you still get a sense of depth and maybe a little movement.

 

Krispy

Do you have this one? I seem to have a few extra....




Richard

 

Hi Richard. No I haven't got a $3 note card.

 

Krispy
I tried to PM you but the system wouldn't allow me.

Contact me

Richard

 

Found one more in the hologram series. If the engraved eagle looks familiar, that's because it appears on the 1862 $100 Legal Tender Note, back when the National Bank Note was still producing our currency.

There is one other holographic souvenir card, also of an eagle, but it has no engraved vignette so I didn't collect it. It was produced in 1992 by Stamp Ventures during the World Columbian Stamp Expo. Small sized card, but a scarce one.

 

Hey krispy, what about a $4 note?

 

I like that $3 and that $4 plus my PM works :hail:
lol

 

How about a few more then? I am a huge fan of these ABNC cards and have plenty from my collection to share.

Here's another $3 note on a 1980 card that the Bank Note Reporter sponsored. Also a nice one with a $20 note from Virginia -- I'm not sure this was ever issued, since it was produced on the cusp of the Civil War when American Bank Note stopped supplying currency to Southern states. Note the strong resemblance to federal currency from that era. In fact the eagle vignette appears on the 1861 $10 Demand Note.

Lastly here's an ANA card from 1994 with a great vignette: a cherub rolling an 1857 silver dollar! I'll add an enlarged view.

 

I too think I like the ABNC ones the best.
Nice cards!

 

Was away the last few days, love the recent display of souvenir cards.

 

Here's one more three dollar note for your edification, before I head for bed. I have a bunch more I'm planning to post later in the week.

 

I don't often promote items I find on eBay, but I just discovered one I really think deserves some attention. This is the mother of all souvenir cards (though "card" doesn't really suit it). It is a 1979 reprint of a Rawdon, Wright & Hatch specimen sheet from the 1850s featuring more than 130 vignettes and ornaments, all intaglio. Just under 1,000 of these were printed. I have one in my own collection and it is *gorgeous*. This dealer is offering these at a BIN price of $99, which is hardly more than the original issue price. This piece is huge: 23 x 28" and would look great framed. Just as a representational piece of the engraver's art, you won't find anything comparable at this price.

I'll post the image from eBay, though it doesn't really do it justice, and maybe try to scan some sections of my copy later.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=370286542607&ssPageName=ADME:B:WNASIF:US:1123

 

I've been tempted by that sheet several times myself. I don't currently have anywhere to display it, let alone keep it stored for easy access/viewing. They seem plentiful so if I ever see one for less than $99, maybe $50-$75 range, I'd jump on it despite the scale issues of the piece.

 

To be honest, I keep mine in the large tube mailer it arrived in. I keep thinking I'll frame it, but I kind of like unrolling it every so often to look it over. Something about putting it behind glass that's less tactile, although it would be a showpiece framed. I've yet to see one of these below $90, but if you're patient you never know.

 

Krispy is in trouble cause I'll get it if it drops to $85

It is a nice piece.

 

I was also imagining that these would look nice under a sheet of glass placed over a table/desk so you could look at it often yet it remains protected. I agree it's wishful thinking for the lower price I mentioned, but I have a feeling that there may be someone out there that will resell for under $90 and someone like me faster than Duke able to buy it up real quick-like.