Paid $5, then contacted by Pawn Stars...

I posted a reply, but don't know if it's going to show up (wasn't logged in) In any case, this appears to be a real find. I think I'd contact Smithsonian, as they have quite a bit of information on the National Banknote Company in their archives (Natural History Museum) and would be able to authenticate it for you.

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

Well it's the American Banknote Company but talking with the Smithsonian is not a bad idea. I would also talk with someone at the Company itself to see if I could gather information there.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ABCorp_(American_Banknote_Corporation)

 

I think almostgem mistyped; you want to contact someone at the National Numismatic Collection at the Museum of American History - http://americanhistory.si.edu/national-numismatic-collection - if you want more info. There are a few cointalk threads on security printer portraits and vignettes;
for example -
https://www.cointalk.com/threads/se...s-of-the-bureau-of-engraving-printing.176715/
The Bureau of Engraving and printing did presentation books, too. In fact, because the master dies were turned over to the BEP when they took over printing US currency and bonds from the private banknote companies, you can sometimes find the same vignette in a BEP presentation book and an ABNCo presentation book - the BEP just replaced the ABNCo logo with their own.
And I don't think you'll be able to contact the ABNCo - they have been out of business for years.

 

As a collector of both books and coins/bills and also a lover of all things historical, I am awed by the book. What I can't fathom is how someone would so not value such a treasure that it would be dropped off at a Goodwill as just another useless old book. Whatever you do, please keep it intact.

 

Nice but Pawn Stars no longer exists!

 

Yes it does.

 

I do not know if ABCorp retained the historical archives of the American Banknote Company, probably not but a quick call might lead to those that did...just a thought.

 

Thanks for sharing.

What a piece of art, history, and numismatics. Congrats on acquiring such a piece. Hold onto it and as said - keep it intact!!!

 

Nice photos. Any chance you could post a full image of "Liberty & Union"? [You only show the lower-right corner.] I am not sure I have ever seen that one, and I have well over 200 security printer vignettes and portraits, and have seen hundreds more on eBay and Heritage, and don't recall seeing that one.

 

Me thinks it is 'Bust' and not Burt on the GW page. Just my 2 cents-piece. And a very nice book I might add.