A unique sample book of Russian bank note proofs grabbed the top honors in the H.R. Harmer Inc. Oct. 17 to 19 auction of material originally from the American Bank Note Co. archives.

The album sold for $70,000 including the 15 percent buyer's fee. The bid helped hoist the total auction prices realized over the million dollar mark at $1,103,683.70, according to Dr. Robert Schwartz, a New York City dentist who has been in the paper money, stamps and scrip-ophily (the study and collecting of canceled stocks and bonds) businesses for 20 years, and who wrote the catalog for this auction.

The sample album, circa 1910 to 1920, includes rare bank notes on the first seven pages and additional loose bank note back proofs and vignettes mounted on card. The overall condition of the book and its contents ranges from About Uncirculated to Uncirculated with minor edge faults on one or two items, according to the catalog.

Allegorical figures, agricultural scenes, angels and animals are just a few of the engraved vignette subjects depicted on the more than 2,400 lots that were offered in the auction.

Some lots did not sell because reserve bids were not met, Schwartz said. Overall Schwartz said he was "very happy with the sale," which was conducted in six sessions over three days.

It is the second sale of materials from American Bank Note Co. by Harmer in 2007. The firm's first auction from the archives was conducted Jan. 31 to Feb. 2, 2007.

For more information about the auction results, contact H.R. Harmer Inc., 5 Francis J. Clarke Circle, Bethel, CT 06801-2845. The firm may be reached by telephone toll free at (800) 522-1607, by e-mail at hrharmer@hrharmer.com or via its Web site at www.hrharmer.com.

• Some highlights:

• Unique stock certificate specimen for the Panama Bank of the Canal Zone, circa 1910 to 1920, vignette of eagle, Extremely Fine, $2,400.

• Two stock certificate specimens, circa 1900 to 1910, one for the Garfield Safe Deposit Co. (New York City) with vignettes of cherubs and a portrait of President James A. Garfield; and the other for the New York Produce Exchange Safe Deposit Storage Co. with a vignette of a dog guarding a safe on the left and a vignette of another dog separating the inscription safety and fidelity, both in EF, $110.

• Stock certificate specimen for the U.S. Farmers Deposit National Bank (Pittsburgh), features vignette of "Prince" the dog, EF, $375.

• Uniface uncut block of four stock certificates for Barnum & Bailey Combined Shows Inc., 1969, blue border with multicolor circus animals surrounding central title and text with elephants and circus tents as light green undertint, very rare as an uncut sheet, possibly a proof on bank note type of paper, EF, $1,900.

• Bond specimen for Credito Hipotecario de Bolivia, for 500 bolivianos, circa 1900 to 1910s, horse and barn vignette at top with vignettes of two allegorical women below, coupons attached, EF, $170.

• Unique printing plate for a life member certificate from the U.S. Zoological Society of Philadelphia circa 1900 to 1910 featuring a vignette called Lions at Home engraved by James Smillie. The plate comes with the original paper wrapper from archival storage. Described in catalog as a well-used printing plate with hairlines from cleaning. It did not sell because it did not meet reserve bid limit.

• $100 bond specimen for the U.S. Clove Valley Rod and Gun Club, 1906, with a vignette that shows a hunter with shotgun flanked by retriever dog with bird in mouth at left, and a vignette of a dog flushing bird at right, EF, $275.