Checks Mix... It's Tasty!

i like this one

Beautiful spread eagle! That was one of the most popular eagle vignettes that American Bank Note Co. produced. It appears on stocks, bonds, checks, foreign banknotes, even insurance policies.

Here's a re-engraved version that appears on the back of a Mexican 100 peso note.

I picked this one up at CHICAGOPEX. It's not revenue-related, but I was struck by not only the vignettes, but the orange and violet 2-color scheme. I couldn't pass it by.

Also, note the microprinting at the bottom of the sailor vignette:

"Ent(ered) accd (according) to act of Congress in the year 1859 by Hatch & Co. in the Clerk's Office of the Dist. Ct of the U.S. for the So. Dist. of N.Y."

The image of the sailor looks very familiar. I feel like I have seen him on a taxpaid or special tax stamp somewhere.

What an outstanding group RevenueCollector! Have a couple of questions for the assembled- How common are misuses on checks- Playing Cards on #146? It seems it would be rarer than say putting that on a CDV photograph (which I have at least one of) since it would be seen publicly at the bank. Not that there is much enforcement exactly but who knows.

I'm particularly interested in Native American imagery and eventually would like to finish a book on the Good, Bad, and trajiComic, uses. Has anyone seen examples on a check of Bad or aggressive images of Native Americans? Not the bison hunt but towards people. They exist in other areas (beer labels for some of the best) but I can't think of one I've seen within the world of financial instruments at all.

Have you had any luck researching any of the people to or from? A long shot but you might get someone famous every now and then.

Like the Becker Brewery check too. LOTS of paper from that place has survived but yours seems pretty early.

Was looking at a Cooperstown #43 today.... never noticed the Leatherstocking connection til now. Dooh.

Thanks for sharing, RnC

The Playing Cards usage is an illegal/improper usage, albeit nominally. They were usually tolerated. The use of Playing Cards and Proprietary types as documentaries are collectible as they are fairly scarce, but they don't carry the same premiums that postage-as-revenue illegal usages do.

Today with the ability to print almost anything on almost any kind of paper, or leather or wood, or even fruits and vegetables, all you would have to do is copy the vignette that you prefer, or make your own, then buy some high quality paper, 20 lb or better, and load the image into your printer, with the relevant bank information address and routing number, and I believe you could print your own checks.
At the very least if you really had a hankering for the golden look of old, you could design your check, and take it to a custom printer, who could print them for you.
There once was a cattleman in Texas who wrote a check out to a friend on the side of a cow. all the correct information was there so the bank did cash it.

That's an interesting idea and it got me thinking. The one critical element you didn't mention is that you'd have to include a barcode and I think the routing number requires a special numeric font. But there are probably ways to generate those. However, the individual check number is also a part of the barcode, so each check would be slightly different. You couldn't just run off a bunch. But hardly anyone writes many checks these days, so maybe you just print them as needed.

Hmmmmmm... :-)

Not quite that simple. Yes, you need a special font (it's called OCR-A) but the major issue is that the toner has to be a special magnetic toner for the bank processing machines to read. And it has to register within tolerances or the machine will reject the check.

Here are some oddball items I picked up at a recent paper show. All refund checks for small amounts from Sears and Montgomery Wards.

Here are a few pieces I've picked up in recent months. All with nice engraved portraits or vignettes.

I thought i'd share a couple checks, the first has a native American motif as requested earlier in the thread. It's written by the treasurer of the Academy of Natural Sciences. I think he was also an accountant on the side as there are also checks for the Carpenter estate. I have quite a few of these. it would be interesting to research who he's paying and for what if possible. I believe they have kept very good records over the decades. The second check(s) are older and are of the businessman, Archibald McCall, scion of a famous phila. family. He was in business with Dupont and lost his ass-literally, he became indentured to one of his debtors if I am remembering this correctly. It was a gunpowder company. There's a bunch of stuff about him online. The texture of these is really wonderful. very deep engraving and the paper is very soft and raggy.

Anyone come across a price guide for pre 1900 bank checks?

Here a few early checks I picked up at friends estate sale, looking for a comprehensive price guide .

I have never seen any price guide for checks, which is a little surprising as there is definitely a collector market for them.

I do like those Bank of the U.S. items! Thanks for posting.