Rare first and only edition of a work on the prevention of forgery of early banknotes. It gives examples of different printing processes, which are illustrated with plates. Two of these plates illustrate the new steel-engraving technique. They are among the earliest successful examples of this technique, which later became the dominant printing technique for illustrations.
Early banknotes had the amounts inserted by hand. They were usually for large amounts (£40 and upwards) and were printed upon water-marked paper. Although no precautions were taken in the engraving to prevent fraudulent imitation, forgeries of these banknotes were relatively rare. However, when at the end of the 18th century notes for £1 and £2 were put in circulation, forgery became rife. From that time to the present, a constant trial of skill has been going on between the makers of banknotes and counterfeiters. Here are presented a number of different printing processes which were designed to help making the forgery of bank notes if not impossible, then at least more difficult. Suggestions include Hansard's typographic bank note, machine engraved copper-plates, engine turned ornaments, and delicate steel-engravings.
With an owner's entry in ink and a small bookseller's label on the front paste-down. The spine is slightly worn, the boards and spine have been rubbed. The second half of the work is somewhat water stained at the head. Otherwise in good condition. Goldsmith's 22503; Kress C.414.