1870 First National Bank of Amsterdam, New York – Original Antique Bank CheckMontgomery County, N.Y. | Dated March 15th, 1870
A wonderful example of post-Civil War American banking ephemera, this original bank check was drawn on the First National Bank of Amsterdam, located in Montgomery County, New York. Amsterdam, NY was a thriving mill and manufacturing town along the Mohawk River, and its First National Bank served the region's growing merchant and industrial class throughout the Reconstruction era.
Check Details:
- Bank: First National Bank of Amsterdam
- Date: March 15th, 1870
- Pay To: William Mudy (Moody), Amsterdam, N.Y.
- Amount: Nine and 90/100 Dollars ($9.90)
- Signed By: Robert Calderwood (drawer)
- Endorsed: Reverse bears the bold ink endorsement signature of Wm. Moody – indicating the check was cashed or transferred
Additional notations on the face reference Van Franken, suggesting possible agency or intermediary involvement in the transaction — a nice detail for researchers of Montgomery County families and commerce.
Condition:Good antique condition consistent with age — light toning, minor foxing spot near the check number box, with the printed text and handwritten entries remaining clear and fully legible. The reverse endorsement is bold and well-preserved. No tears or significant losses noted.
Collector Appeal:This check appeals to collectors of New York banking history, Montgomery County genealogy (Mudy/Moody, Calderwood, Van Franken family names), Gilded Age financial ephemera, and 19th-century American paper Americana. The ornate Gothic-style bank imprint with chain-link border design is a fine example of Victorian-era bank engraving.
