90 rublei 1917 (20 x 4.50)

Common. While regional Russian Civil War era bonds from provincial banks like Irkutsk are less frequently encountered than equivalent Moscow or Petrograd issues, uncut sheets of lottery bonds from this period appear in the market with reasonable regularity. The Pick catalog designation (P-S887) and standard notation suggest this is a documented, cataloged issue in steady collector supply. The VF condition grade and intact sheet status add value relative to individual tickets or damaged examples, but do not elevate the rarity classification. Such securities generally trade in the affordable to moderate range for collectors of Russian Civil War currency.

The Irkutsk State Bank Branch issued these lottery bonds during the tumultuous Russian Civil War (1917-1922), when the Bolshevik government's authority was contested and regional institutions operated semi-autonomously in Siberia. The multiple maturity dates inscribed on each bond (16 June 1920, 16 December 1922, 16 June 1925, and 16 December 1927) reflect the period's financial instability and the issuer's attempt to structure repayment across several years. The imperial crown symbol and formal governmental inscriptions ('Управління Государственного' - Administration of State) indicate these bonds carried official state backing despite the extraordinary political circumstances.

The sheet comprises 20 identical lottery bond tickets arranged in a 5×4 grid. Each ticket features an ornamental border with fine scrollwork and decorative elements typical of Imperial Russian security printing. A crown or imperial emblem appears in the upper left of each ticket design, reinforcing the governmental authority of the issue. The obverse displays the denomination (4 rubles 50 kopecks), series number 6835, ticket number 96, and four maturity dates indicating a multi-year redemption schedule. The reverse presents a complementary design with simplified ornamental frames containing numerals 1-20 printed in green ink, each within its own decorative cartouche. The overall aesthetic reflects late Imperial design traditions adapted for emergency wartime issuance by a regional Siberian bank.

OBVERSE: 'СЕРІЯ номер' (Series number) '6835' (6835) | 'БИЛЕТ' (Ticket) | '4 РУБЛЯ 50 КОП.' (4 rubles 50 kopecks) | '96' (ticket designation) | '16 ИЮНЯ 1920 ГОДА' (16 June 1920) | '16 ДЕКАБРЯ 1922 ГОДА' (16 December 1922) | '16 ИЮНЯ 1925 ГОДА' (16 June 1925) | '16 ДЕКАБРЯ 1927 ГОДА' (16 December 1927) | 'Управління Государственного' (Administration of State). REVERSE: Numerals 1-20 displayed in individual ornamental frames, representing individual ticket numbers corresponding to each bond in the sheet.

Intaglio (recess/engraved) printing, evidenced by the sharp, fine-line ornamental borders, crisp serif typography, and the precise impression quality visible throughout both sides. The dual-color printing (black and red on obverse; green on reverse) indicates separate printing passes. The fine detail work and decorative scrollwork are characteristic of security printing methods employed by Imperial Russian state printers. The printer for Irkutsk State Bank Branch issues of this period is not definitively identified in standard catalogs, but the quality suggests production by an established Russian state printing facility.

Series 6835, Ticket number 96. This specific series and ticket designation represents a discrete variety within the larger Irkutsk Bank issue. Individual varieties of these lottery bonds are typically identified by series number and the sequential ticket number within the sheet. The presence of four distinct maturity dates on a single bond type may represent a unique structural approach by the Irkutsk issuer. No alternative printing or overprint varieties are evident in the visual analysis. Collectors should note the complete uncut 20-ticket sheet format as the premium variety compared to individual detached tickets.