 Chatham Bank. $500.00. A. New York, NY. 1850's. India paper Proof by Wellstood, Hanks, Hay & Whiting, New-York. Washington supported by flags and cannons, ship and fort in the background. At the lower left is the bank die and at the right is the New York City Arms. At the base is a vignette, used on this bank only, of William Pitt, the first Earl of Chatham. Haxby NY-1495 G18 SENC. A proof that is probably unique and the probability of an issued note of this denomination is nil. The bank became a National Bank and would have redeemed any high denominations that were held among the few with the means to possess them. Sadly, this proof had chunks severed from both lower corners and a long center tear from the bottom. Barrows in Richmond did a masterful job of rejoining the chunks and sealing the tear. The integrity is strong and the look is of a choice proof. Despite the condition, this is important, probably unique, and from one of the more interesting titles on New York City.
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