As the finishing touches are put on the August 2024 Global Showcase Auction of World Paper Money (to take place the week of August 12, with the premier world paper money session on that day) there is a special collection worth highlighting. The Gran Colombia Collection of Colombian paper money includes select rarities from this South American nation, including notes not previously offered by us, despite having handled some of the most advanced South American collections ever assembled. Some of the rarities from the Gran Colombia Collection are listed below, but there are many others, so be sure to watch our website for the entire catalog, to be posted shortly.
Lot 30197 is the finest known example of the overprinted El Banco de Bogota 50 Pesos, graded About Uncirculated 53 by PMG. This note was issued as part of the provisional Banco Nacional series in 1899. As a cost saving measure and to save time, old stock of private banknotes were overprinted on the back and released into circulation. Many were remainders dating back several decades. It created a fantastic series of banknotes, many of which are the only way to acquire some of these earlier types, which are not known in their original form.
Another example of this provisional series is lot 30200. Overprinted on a circa 1877 issue of the Banco Popular, this 5 Pesos is graded Very Fine 30 by PMG. The host note is particularly interesting for its central vignette, a scene that first appeared in the book “Ballads of Bravery” by George Melville. It was first published in 1877, meaning that the designer of the note decided to copy it relatively quickly for the banknote. The host note was printed in Bogota, Colombia. Perhaps it was an early example of copyright infringement? We’ll never know, but it certainly made for a unique design on the note.
Moving on from the provisional 1899 series we take a step back in time to the 1880s, and a quartet of notes from the Banco de la República offered in lots 30205 to 30208. This series, produced by the American Bank Note Company of New York, is particularly interesting as the portrait of George Washington appears on three of the four notes offered. The presence of the first President of the United States of America is perhaps a bit odd, but at the time there was a sense of Pan-American unity throughout the Americas. In addition, Simon Bolivar had seen Washington as an inspiration, so many older Colombians were familiar with him. Even today there is a statue of George Washington in a small park in Bogotá.
Lots 30214 and 30215 are an interesting and extremely rare pair of railroad issues dating from around the turn of the 20th century. At the time, Colombia was trying to establish its railroad system (with varying rates of success) and the companies put out bonds and banknotes to finance the construction of their respective lines. Typically, these were redeemable after a certain amount of time or after a section of the railroad was completed. Not surprisingly, these Ferrocarril issues are highly collectible, and many are rare. Both examples offered in these lots are from issuers that we have not previously offered.
The final lot of the Gran Colombia Collection we will discuss in this blog (although we could highlight at least a dozen other notes, so make sure to take a look at the entire catalog) is lot 30217. It is a proof for a 50 Pesos of the Credito Maritimo, dated 1886 and graded About Uncirculated 50 by PMG. Very little is known about this note or its issuer. It is unlisted in the Pick catalog. Few proofs are known, which appear to have been produced by “LIT. ROBES, AGLA 3 y 5 BARCELONA”, at least according to the imprint on the bottom of the note. An exceptional rarity that will no doubt be a welcome addition to whatever advanced collection of Colombian paper money it next enters.
Even though the consignment deadline for this sale has passed, Stack’s Bowers Galleries is always accepting consignments for upcoming sales. To start the consignment process, please contact Stack’s Bowers Galleries at 800-458-4646 or email Dennis Hengeveld at Dennis@stacksbowers.com.
