National Commercial Bank of Albany NY

This inkwell is three cornered with each corner decorated with an Art Nouveau scrollwork design. It is hinged and holds a glass insert. The inkwell’s lid is emblazoned with the “Seal of the National Commercial Bank of Albany, New York A.D. 1825”. The coat of arms of the bank shows a ship and a fortress upon the shield, and a full-rigged ship on the crest – the ship typifying commerce and the fortress, strength. The motto is: Fortiter – Fideliter – Feliciter (Bravely – Faithfully – Felicitously).

The bank’s history dates to 1825 when New York Governor Dewitt Clinton signed a bill chartering the Commercial Bank of Albany. In 1865, the Commercial Bank was reorganized under the National Banking Act of 1864, and its name was changed to the National Commercial Bank of Albany.  In 1919, the National Commercial Bank of Albany went through a reorganization, consolidating with Union Trust Company to become National Commercial Bank and Trust Company. While the bank did business as the National Commercial Bank of Albany between 1864 to 1919, we date this inkwell to around 1900 based on its Art Nouveau design. Subsequent mergers changed its name, which ultimately became Key Bank Inc. in 1979.