 Russian-American Company. 10 Kopeck. Printed in brown on much thinner, off-white ''leather'' like parchment than lot 1230 previously. The note surfaces are much smoother to the point of being ''slick''. The brown printing first used in 1842 according to the Zander monograph. 52mm by 41mm. Upper two corners pierced as issued; widely spaced as shown in Zander Fig.17. The common face (as catalogued in the Clifford Sale) with a company seal using a double headed Imperial Russian eagle within an oval frame, legend in Russian translated UNDER THE HIGH PATRONAGE OF HIS IMPERIAL MAJESTY. The denomination in words below the seal, the letter upright and tightly spaced. The back (often considered the face by many) has a finely engraved oval protector with spiral details with the Russian legend translated NOTE IN AMERICA with the denomination '10 KOP' below. The serial number frame with 'No' is at the bottom of this oval, outlined white to allow the serial number to be written in. At the base is a shaded box with the authorized signature. No.5163. The signature is not visible. As stated previously, twenty four reported in 1996 by Zander. He records No.5763 as Private Collection. This may have been Uhl supplying the number based on Ford's report (the number in error).
Very Fine or nearly so. There is a hard vertical crease, some minor bends and some rough handling on the top edge. There is some brown discoloration on the top edge seen from the back and face. The printing details are fairly sharp and the vertical crease has broken the back oval printing only slightly. The face is centered down only slightly, but it does affect the written denomination. There is a small patch of foxing spots at the upper left face and the surfaces overall have a natural toned hue that is quite handsome. Not quite as sharp as the Clifford lot 345 on brown ''leather'', but close enough. A very sharp example from this well used denomination.
Ex F.C.C. Boyd Estate.
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