United States of America. Act of March 31, 1848. $200 6% 20 Year Registered Bond. Hessler X119C. Specimen. Uncirculated.A second impressive Specimen bond that appeared in the second of the Vattemare sales in September 1982. A very unusual denomination for any note or bond adds to its appeal. This $200, like its companion $100, is a Specimen printed on bond paper on two sides by Toppan, Carpenter & Co. 26.5cm by 16.5cm within original rim mounting from the albums. No plate letter. A grand layout with Fame (an angel trumpets with eagle and globe) at top center flanked by Indian princess encircled left and right. Justice seated left end and standing Washington on horseback at the right, all within intricate scrollwork. Red 200 protector across. Light reddish-brown back with transfer text. The Hessler Plate Note illustrated on page 170. Unique to our knowledge and last sold in the 2000 Memphis Sale by Smythe for $5,500 which was ten times what it realized in 1982. This is its second offering in 36 years after being in the Vattemare Albums for well over a century. Presents well with strong paper quality. Petty tack hole at lower right and small ink speck at the top margin as also seen on the Hessler plate. Small faults and big rarity. Hard to argue against this being a five-figure example. It is irreplaceable after the hammer falls and the new owner has pride of ownership.From the John E. Herzog Collection; 2000 Memphis Sale #199 (R.M. Smythe & Co. June 16, 2000, lot 2210); originally Alexander Vattemare Presentation Albums Sale Part Two (Robson Lowe/Christies, September 17, 1982, lot 1502).
