HONG KONG, China – A beautiful Netherlands Trading Society $5 color trial specimen nearly doubled its pre-sale high estimate of $4,935 by hammering for $9,195 at the third auction held in Hong Kong by Archives International Auctions, based in Fort Lee, N.J. The Netherlands note was the top lot of the Sept. 27 sale, which grossed $138,161 including the 18% buyer’s premium.

The event was held in association with Kelleher & Rogers, Ltd., Fine Asian Auctions, one of Hong Kong’s premier philatelic auction houses. The auction featured 270 lots of Chinese and Asian banknotes, plus Chinese scripophily (stocks and bonds), and Empire-era notes; Republic era banknotes; Foreign Banks; Provincial Banks; notes from Hong Kong; Indonesia; Bank of Taiwan and more.

“The bidding was non-stop from the start of our third Hong Kong auction and only became more exciting as the night went on. There was considerable competition between the floor, internet and phone bidders, with many record prices achieved on issues previously overlooked or rarely offered in auction,” said Dr. Robert Schwartz, President of Archives International Auctions.

Following are highlights from the Sept. 27 auction. All prices quoted are in U.S. Dollars and include an 18 percent buyer’s premium. The auction results will also be available online on AIA’s website, at www.archivesinternational.com.

The auction began with a small section of 15 lots of Chinese scripophily with 100% selling. The highlight of the scripophily section being a 36th Year (1947) U.S. $5000 Short Term Treasury Notes of the Republic of China (First Issue) 20% Bond, which hammered for $1839.

Central Bank of China also attracted a considerable amount of attention with fierce bidding on many lots. There were 38 lots offered with all but 2 lots selling. One of the highlights from this section was a 1948 Central Bank of China, Unlisted 250,000 Customs Gold Units Specimen Essay Issue which hammered for $1,302.

A Commercial Bank of China 1920 $50 specimen banknote knocked down at $3,678; a Taiwan 1895, $1 T’ai-nan official silver note in XF-AU condition also realized $3,678; a trio of specimen Standard Charter Bank of Hong Kong $100 issues garnered $1,839; and an International Banking Corp. 1918 10-Tael face and back proof hit $1,839.

A Bank of Taiwan, 1950-1951, 50 cents “Kinmen Branch”, Sequential lot of 3 notes hammered for $843; a pair of lots from the Chinese-American Bank of Commerce sold for $1,532 and $1,685, with only one lot of 14 Foreign Banks going unsold; and a Sin Chun Bank of China $1 1907 Shanghai provincial issue banknote finished strong at $1,992.

Archives International Auctions is now preparing for their January 2015 auction in Hong Kong and February 2015 auction in the United States and is seeking suitable consignments Consignors are encouraged to contact them to discuss their participation in the upcoming 2015 auctions.

Collectors or dealers unable to attend their future auctions in person may participate live and online through the Archives International Live bidding portal of their website, at archivesinternational.com. The website also provides a link to a virtual catalog of all the lots, as well as information on absentee bidding.

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

To learn more about Archives International Auctions and the firm’s upcoming calendar of events, please log on to WWW.ARCHIVESINTERNATIONAL.COM.

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