[patrickg-zill]

Somewhat related but not exactly the same is this scan of a paper document described as a "Safe Keeping Receipt" from the Federal Reserve:

http://etleboro.com/documents/copy-title.pdf

Note Page 2 phrase: "This ... is an operative instrument, and it is confirmed, irrevocable, unconditional, divisible, transferable and assignable without presentation to us."

So at least until 2006, the Fed did issue paper instruments.

[wallflower]

This article says that scanned document is illegitimate:

http://cannonfire.blogspot.com/2009/06/italian-job.html