(Springfield), IL - Bank of Lucas & Simonds $1 185_ IL-765 G2 SENC. Proof. PCGS Very Choice New 64. Like the Springfield, Illinois Clark's Exchange Bank proofs, these Bank of Lucas Simonds demand note proofs appeared in the 1990 American Bank Note Company Archive sale and were unknown until then. Most sheets from this St. Louis-founded firm in that historic sale had faults, but the Newman Collection proofs are top-quality examples. Lucas, Simonds & Co. was a St. Louis-based banking house. James H. Lucas was the youngest son of Judge John B. C. Lucas (who was a friend of Benjamin Franklin). James's brother Charles was killed dueling with tempestuous Thomas Hart Benton in 1817, a few years prior to anti-bank \"Old Bullion\" Benton winning a senate seat in the first Missouri State election. James formed the banking house in 1851, adding partner John Simonds the following year. (After leaving the firm, Simonds, was killed in a collision on the Iron Mountain Railroad, of which he was the treasurer.) Like Page & Bacon, the firm also issued exchanges (these were finely engraved and are known issued) that circulated widely and had branch offices that included San Francisco (which was managed by future general William Tecumseh Sherman). These notes are interesting for their lack of an engraved \"Springfield\" on the plates. Lucas & Simonds were well known St. Louis bankers, and these \"on demand\" obligation notes could navigate around Missouri banking laws forbidding such notes. An India paper proof mounted on original card by Danforth, Bald & Co., Cincinnati. This office branch for the imprint is rarely seen. The wide hay-harvesting vignette at top center shows men toiling with grain cradles. The first part of the title arcs above and the latter part is straight across. The left end shows fancy scrollwork counters with the perpendicular auditor's seal between. Beneath a ONE die at the upper right, seated Tellus holds the globe topped by a standing bird. Plate B. A sharp impression from a $1-$1-$3-$5 sheet array (one of two sheets from this \"185_\" series). Noted as \"Hole Punch Cancelled\" and \"Mounted on Card Stock\" as made. Well margined and appearing nearly perfect. Ex: Christie's Important Early American Bank Notes 1810-1874 from the Archives of the American Bank Note Company, September 14-15, 1990, part of lot 383; Eric P. Newman Numismatic Education Society. \n\n
From Newman VIII (Heritage Auctions, 11/2017), lot 28540, realized $360. Image and description courtesy of Heritage Auctions, https://ha.com.
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