American Bank Note Company International Advertising Certificate in Three Languages

American Bank Note Company Advertising Certificate
A Rarity of the Highest Order

Provenance: The William A. Keegan family scrapbook, spanning 1860 to ca. 1903. Three members of the Keegan family worked for the American Bank Note Company, one of whom was employed as a plate printer.

This ABNC presentation proof advertises their services in three languages: French, Spanish, and English. Transcripts below. Certificates similar to this were used in some of ABNC’s large and ornate presentation frames, one of which was auctioned by Stacks Bowers in 2021.

Brown and black on very delicate white paper, possibly India, measuring approx. 11.5″ x 7.25″. The color registration between brown and black is superb, with overlapping registration marks in the left margin attesting to this. The central portrait of Washington is flanked by two female figureheads. Below are vignettes of a soldier and an allegorical female figure seated on a cannon, holding a lance. The certificate reads:

In French, left of center: Le charge de graver sur plaques d acier et d imprimer, Billets de Banques, Obligations de Gouvernements, Certificats d’actions, Traites, Timbres, poste etc.

In Spanish, right of center: Se gravan e imprimen en planchas de acero billetes de Banco, Bonos del Gobierno, Certificados de Acciones, Letras de Cambio, Sellos de Correo &c.

In English, below the shield framing Washington’s portrait: Engraves and Prints Steel Plates for Bank Notes, Government Bonds, Certificates of Stock, Bills of Exchange, Postage Stamps, &c.

Paper exhibits a few small flaws. Repair to the upper right corner was performed by renowned paper conservator Nancy Poli. Backed with an unattached piece of acid-free, archival quality paper to mask a thin. But these faults are inconsequential given the beauty and extreme rarity of this piece.