An extraordinary pre-WWI financial document: a blue-tinted bill of exchange / check issued in New York City on July 18, 1912, drawn by N.P. Lakich of 585 Eleventh Avenue, payable for 1800 kroner to Vojvoda Mašo Đurović, or order.
Đurović was a distinguished Montenegrin vojvoda (military commander), politician, and national hero renowned for his leadership in the Balkan Wars (1912–1913) and his service to the Kingdom of Montenegro.
Addressed to Banque du Monténégro, Cetinje, and stamped with a violet oval receiving cachet "BANQUE DU MONTENEGRO CETINJE / USA". This piece stands out not only as a cross-border financial instrument but also due to its rare association with a major historical figure of the Balkans.
Mašo Đurović played a significant role in shaping Montenegro’s military efforts during the decline of Ottoman rule in the Balkans. This check not only reflects diaspora support for Balkan national causes but is a compelling bridge between the American and Montenegrin financial and political worlds of the time.
