There are two distinct printings of the "violet Nevada" checks. The one at top has a dateline of 186_ where the bottom one has 187_, and the borders are different (see below.) The colors are different as well. Several students of revenue stamped paper had argued that the paler color of the earlier checks is due to fading or water stain, but the three copies I have seen exhibit a uniform brownish violet shade in contrast to the later printing. Both copies I have seen of the dull violet color are dated 187_. (The copy of the dull violet type shown here is courtesy of Hermann Ivester.)


A detail of corners of both checks to show that there was a distinctive second printing, not just a change in dateline. The two varieties now have their own minor numbers in the catalog.


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