Louisiana “Baby Bonds”; uncancelled lot of four, 14 x 5 5/8.   At the close of the Civil War, the federal government imposed a large tax on state bank notes. The state of Louisiana issued small bank notes, and issued them as interest-bearing bonds. Thus these $5.00 "Baby Bonds" avoided the tax. Louisiana citizens knew that they were worth the same as federally approved currency, and used throughout the state. In the 1880's Louisiana's State Treasurer, Ed Bunker had used the original plates to reprint these bonds with identical numbers. About $300,000 in counterfeit Baby Bonds were discovered in his safe deposit box. He fled to Brazil. These are genuine $5.00 Baby Bonds each have their own serial number and Ed Bunker's facsimile signature.
Uncut sheet of 4 Bonds, uncancelled, somewhat irregularly cut rt side, overall VG- Fine condition. sbgv022