NEW YORK CITY – “The appearance on the market of the family archive of German-born master engraver and die sinker, Rudolph Philipp Laubenheimer (1833-1905), is an event with few precedents in American collecting history,” stated David T. Alexander, noted numismatist and numismatic scholar. “Preserved with remarkable care and fidelity for more than a century after the artist’s death by generations of his descendants, this archive which spans almost six decades reveals Laubenheimer in all aspects of his art, both in print and metallic forms.”
Archives International Auctions is privileged to offer the Laubenheimer Family Archives in a public auction scheduled for Thursday, June 25th, in New York City at the Collector’s Club located at 22 E.35th Street, starting at 10:30 a.m. Eastern time.
The Laubenheimer session of the auction consists of 474 lots followed by 672 lots of historic ephemera, security printing ephemera, U.S. & World banknotes, coins, medals and scripophily.
Laubenheimer was noted for his extensive Civil War token designs; cameo business and corner cards; U.S., Central and South American postal stationary dies and designs including the 1870 U.S. postal stationary series in which he received a commendation by the Post Office Department; medal and die production for the Centennial Exhibition held in Philadelphia in 1876 and the Columbian Exposition held in 1892 in Chicago as well as numerous other medals, tokens, advertising, jewelry and decorative designs for various events, topics and causes. He designed, engraved and created dies for coins of Colombia; coats of arms for numerous countries and entities; as well as jewelry dies and decorative objects including various badges for police and fire departments as well as belt buckles including ones for the military.
Highlights from the Laubenheimer session of 474 lots begins with an extensive collection of 25 different Cameo Business and Corner card lots, ca.1850-60’s that include die sunk cards that were designed and engraved by Laubenheimer and are possibly the most extensive offering of these lovely and rare items that have ever crossed the auction block at one time. The fact that they were created by one man only adds to their desirability. Additional advertising cards for early New York printers, some by Laubenheimer and others obtained from his contemporaries are highlighted by an early coated stock A.C. Paquet, Business Card, ca.1850-60's who was famous for the scarce reverse design on the Liberty head $20.00 gold piece as well as many U.S. Mint medals. An extensive group of Die Sunk and engraved Corporate and organizational seals by Laubenheimer follow which include a diverse group of topics including military, religious, fraternal, banking, railroad and many other companies, countries, cities and states. All are proof impressions kept as a record by Laubenheimer, sometimes on his embossed letterhead. An extensive offering of “Works on Paper” including pencil and charcoal sketches, water colors and various other formats are offered and date between 1849 to 1905 including portraits, landscapes, portrait character studies and numerous artists renderings and designs for jewelry, decorative objects and medals that round out this portion of the archives.
An extensive group of token, medal and jewelry design and production material are included that is sure to attract considerable interest. The Laubenheimer section finishes with over 70 lots of Ernst Laubenheimer, Rudolph’s son’s, commercial art and design work including work done while employed with American Bank Note Company lithography department for many years.
“We are privileged to offer this historic collection maintained by the artist’s family for over 110 years. Rudolph was truly a Renaissance man, a master of numerous art forms including engraving, die sinking, medal, jewelry and token design as well as being an avid cello player and exceptional composer”, said Dr. Robert Schwartz, President of Archives International Auctions of this, the firm’s 26th sale. “We anticipate extensive interest in the Rudolph P. Laubenheimer family archives and with this sale, are granted a view of an earlier world where artisanship and craftsmanship were treated as an art form and not a commodity”.
Also included in the sale from a different consignor is a remarkable archive from a Continental Bank Note Company engraver that was held by the family for over 130 years. Included are engravings, designs, proofs, specimens and sample books from Continental BNC and other early printers. Additional historic ephemera include Clipper Ship Trade cards, ca.1850’s as well as historic ephemera.
Rare proprietary proof sheets from the ABN archives are offered in the U.S. section. World banknotes follow with highlights including 3 different Angola 1944-46 Specimen banknotes; a 1966-67 Commonwealth of Australia $5 Specimen rarity; Three different lovely and high denomination Chilean Specimen notes including a 100 Pesos, Banco de Credito Unido note; A Banque de France, 1959, 500 NF Specimen in CU condition; an extremely rare and attractive Kingdom of Hawaii (ca.1879) $100 Silver Certificate of Deposit Proof that is rarely seen and is PMG graded CU 64; an extremely desirable Banque De Madagascar 1930 Issue 50 Francs Specimen in CU condition; Three exceptional Peru, El Banco Nacional Del Peru multicolor Specimens are offered that are rarely seen in any form or condition; Peru offerings also includes five different Essay Mockup Proofs of either proposed and never issued designs or designs that were close to the final design but issued slightly differently from the ABN Archives; Spain includes a very attractive and rare set of six different 1936 Banco De Espana Specimens from 10 Pesetas to 1000 Pesetas; a very attractive United Kingdom Treasury Note, 1914 ND, 1 Pound note in Choice VF condition and literally dozens of other notes that are rarely seen at auction.
U.S. Coins are represented by a wide variety of issues in various conditions beginning with a lovely New Jersey 1787 Copper penny and include early U.S. type coins, silver dollars and various issues and multiple coin lots. 6 different lots of unsearched poker chips from numerous casinos are followed by a variety of U.S. and related medals. World coins include numerous single as well as group lots highlighted by a number of Australia, King George 5, EF to Uncirculated Shillings and Florins ca. 1917 to 1935; a Bolivia, 1686P VR, Carlos II Cob 8 Reales; an attractive assortment of German States coins, mostly in AU to CU condition with highlights including a Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach, 1908A, 5 Mark in CU 64 and a Hesse-Darmstadt, 1876H, 5 Mark NGC graded XF-40 followed by a wide variety of issuers and countries. Medals are represented by a large French medal collection with many desirable pieces.
The sale ends with more than 160 lots of Scripophily with topics including automobiles; banking and finance; railroads, mining and World Bonds and Shares with many rare and desirable items included.

Absentee and Phone bidding are available as well as live internet bidding through Archive International Auctions website at www.ArchivesInternational.com.

Archives International Auctions is always looking for U.S. and worldwide banknotes, coins, stocks, bonds, stamps, postal history, autographs and historic ephemera and documents for future auctions, or to buy outright. To sell or consign one piece or an entire collection, you may call AIA at (201) 944-4800; or you can send them an e-mail, to info@archivesinternational.com. You may also write to Archives International Auctions, at 1580 Lemoine Ave., Suite #7, Fort Lee, NJ 07024.

To learn more about Archives International Auctions and the firm’s upcoming auction on June 25th, please visit www.ArchivesInternational.com. Updates are posted frequently.

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