"Pearl" No. 5 Nickel Plated Antique Check-SIgnature Protector

Description

This "Pearl" Check Protector  No. 5 is likely from the 1890's as best as I can tell.  It was manufactured by Peiffer Brothers of Philadelphia and was sold from about 1892- 1924.  The purpose of the check protector was to make a hatched embossment over the payment due amount on the check.  This was to prevent the recipient of the check from increasing the amount due!  Making hatch embossments on all or part of the checks was a very common practice at the turn of the century as I guess check tampering must have been an ongoing problem.
I believe this check protector may have been nickel plated, and it still works as it always did, making hatch marks on paper which would tear the check if any tampering is attempted.  There is a flower rosette molded into the top round "presser", a floral pattern down the back, and a Greek waffle pattern edging around the 3 sides of the rectangular base.  The word "Pearl" is in raised letters across the bottom front of the embosser, below the embossing bed.
The check protector is 4" long x 2 1/2" wide x 3" high.
I've included a photo of the advertising line art that was used for marketing purposes.  This item is a beautiful example of the detail that went into the design of tools at the turn of the century, and a piece of history.