I found these at a local flea market today. They appear to be American Bank Note Prints or proofs(ABN Annual Reports). It is wriiten on one of the 3 sheets I purchased. The others have numbers only. They measure 12x18 inches. The paper theyre on looks like tracing paper but the vignettes themselves feel raised and textured. I do not collect paper money or vignettes. Does anybody know exacly what they are, how old, they are,etc.. One sheet has nothing but native american vignettes, the other has nothing but eagles, and the last has denominations and sigils.
From a description listed on Ken Barr's web site, they appear to be from the 1978 ABNCo Annual Report. I'm not sure if the handwriting on your sheets is from the auction when these may have been sold some time ago or a if seller/owner prior to you made the notations. Some sellers on eBay have taken to chopping up the individual vignettes and selling them individually. I abhor seeing that happen to these wonderful sheets. I personally don't have any of the Annual Reports in my collection to refer to more specifically for you. I own a few of the Archive Series portfolios with hard bound covers and smaller sheets laid out similarly with various thematic vignettes. I believe your sheets would have been housed in some sort of portfolio cover as well, that may be separated and now missing(?). Maybe gsalexan or will USS656 be able to add some more information for you about these. Thanks for sharing them, there haven't been many ABNCo threads active here much lately. I love seeing these items.
Thanks a bunch Krispy! You were right on the money. They are the 1976,1977, and 1978 ABNco's annual reports. The guy at the flea market said he thought they were from 1976. Looks like the 76 and 77 sell for around $50. The 1978 is the only one that Barr is sold out of! I bought all 3 for $25 total..quite a steal. I was hoping theyd be more valuable, but now that I see how affordable they are I just may start collecting. Ive seen a few of the eagle vignettes on some civil war period bills and stocks. Id rather collect these report sheets than old paper money. You get more amazing art for less cash! Ever since Coinworld magazine has been printing articles every month on old paper money, I have been admiring the artwork. Especially of the goddess Columbia and animals. Until now they were all out of my price range. Amazing!!!
Hi Howard -- I have several of these myself. They are printed from the original dies on vellum and there's an earlier thread about them here: http://www.cointalk.com/t165585/ There's info on one of the eagles that appears on federal currency. Other vignettes appear on numerous obsolete notes, stocks and bonds. You might also enjoy this thread: http://www.cointalk.com/t199225/ I knew they were from the ABNCo annual reports but did not know which years, so your info is very helpful. You did GREAT on your purchase price! The writing you scanned -- can you tell if this was penciled in later or was it actually printed from the engraved plate? You should be able to tell if it's raised ink by running your finger over it lightly. Also, just curious, what city was the flea market in? There appears to be a hoard of these sheets and I wondered where they were coming from.
Seems to be penciled in. I found them in Maine. Maine is an outstanding state for picking. Especially in the winter. Ive made a killing buying and selling civil war relics this past winter. I also dig old rev war forts and campsites.
Howard, here's some photos of the complete 1976 ABN Annual Report from an earlier thread: http://www.cointalk.com/t90594/#post829440
