City of Philadelphia - 10 Vignettes on One Bond dated 1860's - Gorgeous State of Pennsylvania Bond

$300 6% Bond printed by American Bank Note Company. 10 Engraved vignettes, red "Free From All Taxes" print and a blue 10 cents Washington revenue stamp. Paper tear at fold. Available $500 dated 1866 without revenue stamp and no tear for $150.

This elegantly engraved City of Philadelphia loan certificate, issued to Isabella Brown for $5,000 on April 3, 1863, during the Civil War, represents a significant municipal obligation of that era. With an interest rate of six percent per annum, payable semiannually in January and July, the certificate showcases the city’s financial commitments. It bears the signatures of the city controller and city treasurer and is prominently marked “TRANSFER FROM ALLEN’S.” Cancellation holes and several dated registration stamps document its subsequent transfer and administrative history. Near the upper left corner, a blue 10-cent United States internal-revenue stamp is affixed, featuring a manuscript cancellation.

The certificate is adorned with an ornate border and numerous intricately engraved vignettes that celebrate Philadelphia and American history. Independence Hall stands as the focal point in the upper center, flanked by scenes of commerce and transportation, including a locomotive and an industrial waterfront. Portraits of prominent American figures, such as George Washington, grace the sides, alongside images symbolizing labor, trade, and the city’s colonial heritage. Printed by the American Bank Note Company, this remarkable financial document seamlessly combines Civil War-era municipal history with exceptional engraving, making it a particularly captivating example of nineteenth-century American scripophily.