1860 Burlington NJ Bank Check Amos Keeler Obsolete Grattan Phila Antebellum For Sale

A bank check drawn on the Burlington Bank of Burlington, New Jersey, dated October 24th, 1860, offers a tangible link to the financial practices of antebellum America. This obsolete check, printed by Grattan of 113 South 4th Street in Philadelphia, is a specimen of the era\'s commercial paper, featuring a decorative red border along the left edge with the bank\'s name printed vertically in red, while the date line and payee instructions are set in a contrasting red script font. The check is made payable to \"Self\" for the sum of One Hundred Seventy-Five Dollars, signed by the drawer, Amos Keeler. The pre-printed \"or Bearer\" clause indicates the transferability of the instrument, a common feature of the period\'s banking customs.The artifact is in poor condition, bearing the significant patina of nearly two centuries. Multiple prominent tears and creases fracture the center of the paper, and the surface exhibits a general yellowish-brown discoloration with darker foxing spots scattered throughout. Small holes and pinpricks are visible in the upper central area, and the edges are worn and ragged. Despite this wear, the handwritten entries in black ink remain legible, documenting the transaction in a clear cursive hand. The printed text, though faded in parts, confirms the bank\'s location in Burlington, New Jersey, a town situated along the Delaware River in Burlington County. This check serves as a piece of Americana, illustrating the daily commercial life of a mid-19th-century New Jersey community and the printing trade of Philadelphia.