Question about the printing plates in ANR's auction, and the profitable reprinting by Smythe

Longacre

The new ANR catalog is spectacular. I particularly liked the information on the American Bank Note Company, and all of the interesting items being offered (many for the first time ever). In the historical background, the firm mentions that in the past, some of the old printing plates have been used to reprint old notes (with the proper discloses under the Hobby Protection Act that they are reprints, of course). The narrative notes that R.M. Smythe did such a reprinting of a four subject bank note plate of the Bank of Mount Pleasant, Ohio. Smythe made 25 impressions and presented them to valued clients. It appears that one such item either has been offered, or will be offered at auction (by Smythe, I believe) this month.

Does anyone know what that auction lot has sold for (or what the bidding is at currently)? Who at Smythe came up with this idea? Does anyone think that other firms will jump on this bandwagon and start to produce collectibles, similar to what the visionaries at Smythe did? I wonder how big a market there is for reprinted notes, because the original purchasers of the ABN Co. materials are savvy marketers and didn't fall off of a turnip truck, so if there is some profit to be made with these old plates, I am sure it would have been exploited by now. Does anyone have any comments?

kranky

<< <i>if there is some profit to be made with these old plates, I am sure it would have been exploited by now. Does anyone have any comments? >>



Perhaps the exploiting will come after some plates have been sold at auction. It's possible that not all of the buyers will be sticklers for those pesky Hobby Protection Act rules.

291fifth

The fact that the American Bank Note Co. sold the plates should tell you something. Back in the late 80's/early 90's? I seem to recall that they attempted to market products made from some of the plates. They apparently weren't successful. (I have a few from a cereal box promotion.)

PerryHall

Have the old plates been cancelled?

Conder101

No.