Fr. 364. 1891 $5 Treasury Note. PMG Gem Uncirculated 66 EPQ.

Fr. 364. 1891 $5 Treasury Note. PMG Gem Uncirculated 66 EPQ.，Exceptionally bright and fresh paper displays strong ink tones on both sides and some embossing visible on the back. The centering is nearly perfect, with broad margins all around. Excellent eye appeal and technical grade. This note has all the attributes necessary to have attracted the attention of the builder of the Vanderbilt Collection back in 1967, when he bought it in one of our sales. As is the case with several of his half-century old purchases, this note stands tall among the survivors of its variety. Only three notes have been graded finer by PMG.<p><p>This variety bears the signature of Blanche Kelso Bruce, a remarkable figure who is little known today. He was born the son of a slave and her master in 1841, but he was fortunate in obtaining an education, eventually attending Oberlin College in Ohio. Undoubtedly recognizing the value of his education and the opportunities it presented him, he taught school and also founded a school for African-American children in Hannibal, Missouri. Eventually, he entered politics and became the second African-American elected to the United States Senate (as a Republican representing Mississippi), and the first to serve a full term. His appointment as register of the Treasury was by President James A Garfield, in 1881.，From the A.J. Vanderbilt Collection. Earlier from Stacks sale of September 1967, lot 658.，