A small piece of BEP history. The Bureau of Engraving and Printing interested in new technologies authorized the American Bank Note Company (ABN) to test Giori notes from presses that were made after the Gualtiero Giori invention. This invention allowed for faster drying ink and selective application of the colored ink ot specific regions of the note. American Can was chosed by the American Bank Note Company as its subcontractor to carry out the work. American Can was famous for printing labels for tin cans and making tin cans. A man by the name of Edgar L. Pigman (1932-2008) designed the presses and carried out the tests. The notes are the same size as US currency, and have the same feel. I believe the ABN and American Can were supplied with this paper by the BEP. Many vignettes were printed (some with only a back), however the two main vignettes were printed one including Lincoln, Washington, and Grant. The second (more elusive) was with Jefferson instead of Washington in the middle. Different colors were used green, grey, and brown during the printings and some were even stamped with individual serial numbers. The bill I picked up here at auction is one of the rarer Jefferson notes with a serial number, which makes it one of the scarcer notes in existence. The bills were destined to be destroyed and never to be released because of the similarity to US currency in circulation, but were somehow saved and sold at auction. I love having a piece of BEP history that almost was and seeing three Presidents on one bill is also stunning. Curious to see if anyone has any.
Interesting. I see these from time to time, and I'm also on a few different currency forums, which Smitty had some of these listed for sale on a thread at the BST area of the forum.
Very interesting! You did well on the price. Thanks for the information. I've seen these and always wondered about the purpose of blacking out some of the lettering.
I've Seen them listed at auction sites, and for sale at shows, but would only purchase a sheet if my grandfather were still alive, he used to work at American National Can. Much more commonly I see the test notes of 1935 with the red S or R on them. The British Government also did a test of its new presses. These presses were owned by the famous Goebel company. I believe that they produced the hand painted figurines, Hummels. The Goebel test notes, only on the pound 1 pound note, feature a small letter G on the bottom of the reverse. They can be found in greater numbers than the American test notes. I have three of these. They bring a bigger premium and in general are worth more than regular pound notes of the same period.
