Author |
Replies: 254 / Views: 30,898 |
Pillar of the Community
United States
4409 Posts |
I was curious if anyone here collects old checks. I spent a day going through a box that had been sealed since 1956. It contained a bunch of old checks from about 1915 to the 1950's.
I thought the older checks were neat. A check for $5 in 1918--that was quite a sum back then.
Is there a market for these? Or are they generally worthless?
I'll upload some pics in a little while.
-MV
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
797 Posts |
I have a few I have randomly picked up, Not sure of the market for them, or even what they are worth. But they are pretty interesting pieces of History. I tend to go for semi-famous people(Have a 1934 Check from Harry S Truman, Stamped as most of his were). Then a Civil War general's Check he cashed
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
675 Posts |
People collect checks for a variety of reasons -- revenue stamps, vignettes, banks, etc.
I collect US government checks.
|
Valued Member
Canada
408 Posts |
My father and I pick up old cheque books whenever we can at the right price, there are a lot out there so we stick to mostly Canadian Chartered banks. For some banks there are so few banknotes known to exist that sometimes just having any piece can be quite a feat. Check out my earlier thread on copper cheque printing plates, for example the Home Bank of Canada only has a handful of banknotes known to exist so having the cheque plate is pretty cool IMO. http://goccf.com/t/163167It might be different in the US, but you never know when your going to find a rare gem, and a cheque book is something that can be easily disregarded by one person but would be highly valued to another.
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
4409 Posts |
 This is the somewhat illustrated check in the group. The others were plain. -MV
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
6365 Posts |
I have a check from Oklahoma from 1912 for $72. I got it for free, so I'm not complaining.
|
New Member
France
2 Posts |
Hi there I have looked into combining the collection of national banknotes with obsolete checks and have for example a check from 1853 from the national bank of ilion, herkimer county. Now I need the banknote. I was wondering if there exists a catalog of obsolete american checks? Thanks Curt 
Edited by cebcollect 08/19/2015 09:45 am
|
Pillar of the Community
Canada
4217 Posts |
Catalog? Not so much. There's a lot of info on this site: http://www.ascheckcollectors.org/The organization was having some problems getting members to stay active, but dropping an email to a contact may be worthwhile. I collect Canadian cheques and was an active member of the above for many years - too bad it hasn't been able to remain viable.
|
New Member
United States
11 Posts |
^^^^^^^^^^^ I wouldn't hold your breath on emailing them. I actually sent them an email over a week ago that remains unreplied to. Not a good look for these guys.
|
Valued Member
260 Posts |
Those old checks are worth a few.
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
1027 Posts |
I think the market for old checks is an underrated area of exonumia.
Looking for pre-1961 Russian and Soviet coins.
|
Pillar of the Community
Canada
4217 Posts |
Quote: I think the market for old checks is an underrated area of exonumia. Extremely underrated.
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
675 Posts |
I think the market for old checks is an underrated area of exonumia.
Except among he dealers at shows who tend to be overpriced.
|
Pillar of the Community
Canada
4217 Posts |
Quote: Except among he dealers at shows who tend to be overpriced. That's almost always the case here too. Unfortunately, the dealers don't know what to do with the material, so they either put crazy prices on a few pieces or don't show it at all (and don't buy it). There needs to be somewhat large-scale education and that was where the above organization came in, but their demise is a setback.
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
2545 Posts |
Years ago I was overbid on an interesting book that contained the signatures of every BofA manager authorized to sign a certified bank check. Dang, I wanted that! I had made a handsome snipe bid and lost. It was from the early 1900's.
|
Valued Member
United States
462 Posts |
Edited by GregAlex 01/17/2016 10:15 pm
|
Replies: 254 / Views: 30,898 |
|