American Bank

History
The first official engraver of the young, began the company that would eventually grow into the nation’s premier high security and printing firm, the American Bank Note Company.
Founded in 1795 as Murray, Draper, Fairham & Company (after Scot's three partners), the company prospered as the young United States population expanded and financial institutions blossomed. Its products included superior quality and certificates, paper currency for the nation’s thousands of state-chartered banks, postage stamps (from 1847 to 1894), and a wide variety of other engraved and printed items.
Following the, seven of the nation’s most prominent security printers merged to form the American Bank Note Company on April 29, 1858. The new company made its headquarters. Less than two years later, a handful of the remaining independent bank note printers merged to form the National Bank Note Company.
To be close to the stock exchanges, brokerage firms, and banks in lower Manhattan, the American Bank Note Company established its New York City headquarters in the Merchants Exchange Building at 55 Wall Street. The company moved its office and plant to 142 Broadway (at the corner of Liberty Street) in 1867, to another new facility at 78-86 Trinity Place in 1882, and again to in 1908.
The first paper currency was circulated by the following the outbreak of the Congress passed authorizing legislation for $60 million worth of these “Demand Notes” on July 17 and August 5, 1861. Under contract with the government, the novel paper money, called “greenbacks” by the public, was produced by the American Bank Note Co. and the National Bank Note Co. A total of 7.25 million notes were produced in denominations of $5, $10, and $20. In an interesting historical sidelight, American and National were also producing paper money for the Confederacy at the same time.
Following the initial production of U.S. currency by the government’s in 1862, ABNCo sought a new source of demand for its services. They found it in foreign lands. By the latter part of the 19th century the company was engraving and printing currency and other high-security items for 48 countries.
In 1879, the security printing industry’s second major consolidation took place. American absorbed the National Bank Note and Continental Bank Note companies.
In 1887, ABNCo won the second four-year contract to engrave and print Postal Notes for the U.S. post office. (New York’s produced these notes during the first contract period.) American assigned Thomas F. Morris, its Chief Designer, the task of re-designing this early money order. The paper for this contract (as for all Postal Notes and a massive number of official U.S. high security documents) was produced by Crane and Co. of Dalton, Massachusetts.
In 1891 the American Bank Note Company began producing a new form of money for a longtime customer: the American Express "Travelers Cheque." In its first year, American Express sold $9,120. worth of its new invention. During 2000, sales of totaled $24.6 billion.
In 1894, ABNCo completed the final contract for the private printing of American stamps. Perhaps their most popular stamps were the one cent to $5 issues commemorating the 1892-93 in Chicago. On July 1, 1894 American delivered its entire stamp-producing operation to the U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing in, where U.S. stamps are still printed.
In 1943-1944 American Bank Note Company was contracted by the United States Government's to produce the stamps.
American Bank Note
The history of American Bank Note Company can be traced to the earliest days of our nation. The year was 1795. In the wake of her newfound independence, America was experiencing rapid growth. The adoption of the Constitution, the regulation of interstate commerce, and the rise in international trade all increased the demand for banks and bank note currency.Enter Robert Scot. As the first engraver to the federal mint, he brought experience, artistry, and innovation to the new government and the bank note industry. He also established one of the first bank note businesses, which, over the course of many decades, would become American Bank Note Company. American Bank Note Company’s success reflects the dynamic economic history of the country. As America expanded its borders and broadened its influence, American Bank Note Company did the same. We were among the first to print currency, postage stamps, war bonds, and stock certificates. We were pioneers in the production of our own secure papers, inks, and presses.During the past 200 years, our leaders have served as advisers to governments both local and foreign, thwarted counterfeiters with stringent security measures, and developed technology to support innovative ideas. Today, American Bank Note Company continues its tradition of excellence, craftsmanship, and leadership in the field of secure document printing. With an outstanding record of service to this country and the industry as a whole, we have earned the confidence of corporations, governments, and financial institutions around the globe. We believe in creating the most secure document possible, while preserving the artistic heritage of the craft. As a result, we have assembled the expertise, experience, and resources necessary to meet the challenges of printing secure documents in the 21st century.