(FORT LEE, N.J.) – More than 1,000 lots of rare and highly collectible U.S. and worldwide banknotes, scripophily and security printing ephemera were offered at a live and internet auction held March 11 at Archives International Auctions, in the firm’s offices in Fort Lee. A total of 720 lots were sold out of the 1,043 lots offered, for an overall sell-through rate of 69 percent.  Total gross sales for the auction, including the 18 percent buyer’s premium, were $226,193.

A small but highly desirable Mexican scrip note from Agua Prieta in the amount of 25 centavos, dated 1913, sold for $4,130, making it the top lot for the sale. The note had a modest opening bid of $400, but a furious bidding war broke out between phone and floor bidders, quickly pushing the final price past the $4,000 mark.  AIA’s offices are located at 1580 Lemoine Avenue (Suite #7) in Fort Lee, N.J. Bidding was also done online, through www.archivesinternational.com.

The foreign banknotes saw 451 lots change hand out of the 600 offered, for a sell-through rate of 75 percent. This included Part 1 of the Scarsdale Collection, a fabulous grouping of mostly modern African banknotes. Of the 241 lots offered in the Scarsdale Collection, 209 sold, for an impressive sell-through rate of 87 percent.

United States banknotes and security printing ephemera together comprised 133 lots, of which 102 found new owners, for a sell-through rate of 77 percent. Scripophily proved to be one of the weaker categories, but it still managed to post a sell-through rate of a little more than 50 percent for the 309 lots offered. Lately, this seems to be the norm for this segment of numismatics.

Following are additional highlights from the auction. All prices quoted include the 18 percent buyer’s premium.

Worldwide banknotes kicked off the auction, and the first lot to come up for bid was a 1926 specimen note from Banca Nazionale D’Albania that sold for $767. A Chinese Ch’ing Dynasty 1500 cash banknote (circa 1854) brought $1,652; a 1991 original design essay for a proposed Cuban banknote made $2,124; and a Law of 1849, Danish West Indies $50 note made $1,357.

A historic collection of ten early French banknotes was 100 percent sold, with four lots fetching $1,239 each. A 1977 specimen Pakistan note gaveled for $1,711; an important Banco National del Peru specimen banknote from 1877 realized $1,534; a 1946 Armed Forces Leave bond went for $1,593; and a group of Liberty Loan proof partial payment coupons brought $354-$500 each.

From the Scarsdale Collection, a 1980 high-grade issue from Republique Centrafricaine breezed to $1,534; a Congo Republique 10,000-Franc issue from 1974-77 topped out at $1,121; and a nice collection of 19 Mauritanie banknotes dating between 1974 and 2002 hammered for $1,416.

The U.S. session was highlighted by a colorful Corn Exchange Bank uncut obsolete sheet of four banknotes ($2,950); a Virginia scrip note lot of nine notes ($1,416); and a 1934A, Fr.#2212-L, $1000 denomination U.S. Federal Reserve note ($2,714).

A few of the highlights from the scripophily offerings featured a Pabst Brewing Co. stock certificate from 1889 ($590); an 1850’s specimen stock certificate from Crescent Mutual Insurance Co. of New Orleans ($944); an 1806 Rennselear Glass (Co.) stock certificate ($767); a Submarine Boat & Torpedo Co., 1889 stock certificate ($1,888) and a 1909 Bessemer & Lake Erie Railroad Co. specimen bond ($885).

Archives International Auctions will hold its second Hong Kong auction on Saturday, April 12th. The event will be held in association with Dynasty Auctions Co., Ltd., a large Hong Kong-based philatelic company. Over 400 lots of Chinese and Asian banknotes, coins and scripophily will be offered. These will include many rare and desirable banknotes. Catalogs are now available and also online. Check the AIA website for details and information: www.archivesinternational.com.

Archives International Auction will also hold another U.S. & Worldwide Banknote, Scripophily, Historic Document and Ephemera auction on Tuesday, May 20th, at its Fort Lee, N.J., offices. Featured will be U.S. and worldwide banknotes, scripophily, historic documents and ephemera, coins and the balance of the Scarsdale Collection of modern African banknotes.

AIA is always looking for quality U.S. and worldwide banknotes, stocks, bonds, stamps, coins, autographs and postal history, from better individual items to large estate collections. To sell or consign a single item or a collection, you may write to them at 1580 Lemoine Ave., Ste. #7, Fort Lee, NJ 07024; e-mail them at info@archivesinternational.com; or call them at (201) 944-4800.

30 -