Chinese notes see auction action

Delightful set of PMG Choice Uncirculated 64 $1, $5 and $10 issues of Shanghai-based Sin Chun Bank of China c. 1907-1908 (S/M#186-1ar, -2ar, -3ar; NIP) that realized $15,000.

Chinese notes provided the major auction action at Archives International Feb. 7-8 sale. Those from the Pogrebetsky Family Archives provided greatest interest. Several had served as plate notes in Alexander Pogrebetsky’s 1929 book, Currency and Finance of China.

One such Pogrebetsky plate note headed the bill: an issued Russo-Chinese Bank three Kuping taels, P-S507. Graded PMG Very Fine 25, it romped away to realize $17,400 on a $12,000-15,000 estimate.

A Russo-Asiatic Bank one gold fen rarity had provided a second plate note. It had been issued c. 1913-1917 by the Kuld’sha, Chuguchak & Kashgar branch, P-S479. Unpriced in any grade above F in the Standard Catalog of World Paper Money, it came PMG-graded Very Fine 25, which does much to explain its $12,000 price tag.

Top price of $15,000 for a non-plate Pogrebetsky item went to a set of three unissued notes of the private Shanghai-based Sin Chun Bank of China c. 1907-1908: $1, $5, and $10 (S/M 186-1ar, -2ar, -3ar; NIP). All came graded PMG Choice Uncirculated 64, which certainly helped boost bids.

A Ch’ing Dynasty 1855 (Year 5) 500 cash, P-A1c, arrived on the block ex-Pogrebetsky in “Choice AU to Uncirculated.” Despite a small water stain it had no difficulty in selling well above catalog for $4,800.

Russia got a look in among top sellers late in the catalog. A 100 rubles specimen for the All Russian Central Union of Consumer Societies was dated 1920, NIP. It is the only example known and produced some animated bidding. In PMG Choice About Uncirculated 58 EPQ, it took an easy $8,100 on its $3,500-5,000 estimate.

Star of the show: Russo-Chinese Bank three Kuping taels, P-S-507, that sold for $17,400 graded PMG Very Fine 25 in AIA’s February sale.

Other items that appealed to your reporter included a delightful UNC example of a Bradbury Wilkinson “ANTI-PHOTOGRAPHIC” advertising note c. 1860-1870, “as adopted by the Austro-Hungarian Government.” It sold for $600.

And a quality, leather-bound edition of The American Bond Detector and Complete History of all the United States Government Securities dated 1869 was up for grabs. It contained bonds issued under Acts of Congress from July 17, 1861, to March 3, 1868. These had been printed from the original dies and with genuine tints. It was a steal at $2,520.

Full catalog details and prices realized can be found on Archives International Auctions’ website: www.ArchivesInternational.com. A buyer’s premium of 20 percent has been included in the prices cited.