fy 
 
 University of California 
 
 Alexander Del Mar. 
 
 isre. 
 
 Accessions No. ./.#./#... Shelf No 
 
 * 1. 
 
/ ^ 
 


HOW TO DETECT 
 
 COUNTERFEIT BAM NOTES; 
 
 OB, 
 
 AN ILLUSTEATED TKEATISE 
 
 ON THE 
 
 DETECTION OF COUNTERFEIT, ALTERED, AND SPURIOUS 
 
 BANK NOTES, 
 
 WITH ORIGINAL BANK NOTE PLATES, ENGRAVED EXPRESSLY FOR THIS WORK 
 
 BY 
 
 RAWDON, WRIGHT, HATCH & EDSON, 
 
 BANK NOTE ENGRAVERS, OF NEW YORK. 
 
 BY GEORGE PEYTON, EXCHANGE BROKER. 
 
 LIBRARY 
 
 S.XTH THOUSAND, j Urj, j y j, R ^ , T y f) 
 
 I CALIFORNIA 
 
 NEW YOEK: 
 
 FOR, THE AUTHOR. 
 
 1861. 
 
 PRICE, TWO DOLLARS. 
 
ENTERED according to Act of Congress, in the year 1861, by 
 GEORGE PEYTON, 
 
 xX<# *^> 
 
 In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States, in and for the Southern 
 
 District of New York. 
 
 W. H. TINSON, Printer and Stereotyper, 
 43 & 46 Centre Street N. Y. 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 IN a work of this description, whose title is " How TO DETECT 
 COUNTERFEIT BANK NOTES," a preface is hardly necessary, because, 
 if the book possesses any merit it will immediately commend itself 
 to the business public. I would state, however, that this work is 
 written with a view of not only enabling all who take an interest in 
 the subject to become experts in the science of detecting fraudulent 
 bank notes, but also to make them conscious of the method by 
 which they become so. I have condensed the letter-press, and 
 avoided technicalities, as much as possible ; though, from the nature 
 of the work, I have been forced into repetitions, which, however 
 essential, rather mar, in a literary point of view, the symmetry of 
 the treatise ; and, in conclusion, if the reader will display as much 
 assiduity in studying it, as I have in my endeavors to make it clear 
 and comprehensive for his benefit, I shah 1 be amply compensated for 
 any labor that may have been expended in its production. 
 
 No. 470 BROADWAY. 
 
L I B H A K V 
 
 UNJVKKS1TY OF 
 
 CA.UFOR 
 
 PEYTON'S SYSTEM 
 
 OF 
 
 DETECTING COUNTERFEIT BAM NOTES. 
 
 IN presenting the third edition of this small volume to 
 the public, I have found no occasion to modify or ex- 
 punge any of the principles laid down in the earlier 
 editions ; on the contrary, I have received gratifying 
 evidence, not only of their practicability, but also of the 
 facility with which pupils, through their instrumentality, 
 became, in a short time, accurate judges of bank notes. 
 
 Since the first edition was issued, various efforts have 
 been made by bank-note engravers to prevent, if possi- 
 ble, the counterfeiting and altering of bank notes ; and 
 with, I regret to say, very indifferent success. The 
 truth is, that bank-note engraving has been carried to 
 such a degree of perfection in this country, that it may 
 well be questioned whether it is susceptible of much 
 further improvement. As I stated, however, in the 
 earlier editions of this treatise, and wish to state again, 
 
6 PEYTON'S SYSTEM OF DETECTING 
 
 in the most earnest manner, "that all the advantages 
 which the present system of bank-note engraving pre- 
 sents, and all the safeguards against fraud which it 
 furnishes, are beneficial to those, and those only, who 
 are critically familiar with it as a work of art." In other 
 words, those who are ignorant of the nature and con- 
 struction of the designs found on all modern bank notes, 
 known as lathe-work, bas-relief, parallel ruling ; and 
 who look upon the exquisitely engraved vignettes as 
 merely pictorial embellishments, can never become 
 capable of determining, with any degree of accuracy, 
 the genuineness of bank notes. 
 
 It certainly requires no argument to prove that the 
 most perfect bank-note design, both as to construction 
 and execution, can be of little service, so far as protec- 
 tion against fraud is concerned, to one who has lost his 
 eyesight ; and I cannot see the impropriety of consider- 
 ing all who have not availed themselves of the decided 
 advantages which a knowledge of modern bank-note 
 engraving confers, in the detecting of counterfeit bank 
 notes, as but little better off than their blind neighbor. 
 It is remarkable, in a business community like ours, in 
 which everything relating to profit is so perseveringly 
 kept in view, that so important a feature as that of 
 being able to distinguish a good bank note from a bad 
 one, should have received so little attention. 
 
 "The enormous quantities of fraudulent bank notes, 
 
COUNTERFEIT BANK NOTES. 7 
 
 of every possible character," says an influential Bank- 
 Note Detector, in a late issue, "put in circulation daily, 
 is incredible. 77 It is evident, notwithstanding the large 
 number of publications devoted to the description and 
 detection of fraudulent issues, that the number of forge- 
 ries is increasing every day. It is also certain that those 
 who consult the pages of these " detectors," obtain 
 nothing but vague and contradictory ideas, of no perma- 
 nent value whatever ; and who, after years of perplexing 
 study, find themselves as ignorant of the subject of 
 detecting counterfeit notes, as when they first began 
 their inquiries. 
 
 Hence it is that so many persons have abandoned the 
 idea of ever becoming competent judges. 
 
 Now, the true method of detecting counterfeit bank 
 notes will be found, on a careful examination, to be 
 quite simple. 
 
 If the reader had never seen a diamond, for instance, 
 and it became necessary for him to acquire a sufficient 
 knowledge of its character to enable him to distinguish 
 it readily from an imitation, what course would he pur- 
 sue ? He would, I think, obtain from a reliable source 
 a diamond of whose genuineness there could be no 
 doubt. He would then, by frequent and careful exami- 
 nation of this specimen, gradually familiarize his eye 
 with those characteristics by which, independently of its 
 physical properties, the true gem can alone be recog- 
 
8 PEYTON'S SYSTEM OF DETECTING 
 
 nized. If he is now informed that all genuine diamonds 
 are precisely of the character of the one under consider- 
 ation, and that the only shade of difference , if difference 
 it may be called, is that produced by the lapidary, in his 
 method of cutting the rough stone, his knowledge of the 
 subject will have been much increased. He will now be 
 shown the few styles in which diamonds are cut, and 
 these, with a little examination of the gems so shaped, 
 he readily comprehends ; and so obtains a practical 
 knowledge of a subject of which he was, a few days 
 before, entirely ignorant. If an imitation diamond, 
 made of glass, be now shown to him, he will imme- 
 diately detect its character ; and why ? because he 
 would perceive that it possessed none of those essential 
 qualities which he knows, by experience, are to be 
 found in the true stone. 
 
 Now the character of every commodity bank notes 
 included of which the eye is the determining agent, 
 has to be decided on precisely similar grounds ; and it is 
 only asserting a truism, in saying that it is impossible to 
 detect a counterfeit article without an intimate knowledge 
 of the genuine one j and that the ability to detect the one 
 is in direct ratio to the knowledge possessed of the 
 other. 
 
 The method of instruction adopted in this treatise 
 is analogous, in many respects, to the above illustra- 
 tion. 
 
COUNTERFEIT BANK NOTES. 9 
 
 The accompanying bank-note Designs, or illustrations, 
 were engraved, as the reader will perceive, by the emi- 
 nent house of Rawdon, "Wright, Hatch & Edson,* and are 
 of so general a character as to embody all the particulars 
 that go to make up the genuine bank note ; and while 
 the pupil is familiarizing himself with these, he is in 
 reality becoming familiar with the entire bank-note issue 
 of the country. All genuine bank-note engraving is 
 essentially the same, and a critical knowledge of one 
 bank note is as in the case of the diamond a critical 
 knowledge of all bank notes. 
 
 In concluding these introductory remarks, I may add 
 that I shall endeavor to make this subject clear to the 
 pupil in the following pages, and to place him in a posi- 
 tion by which he may be enabled, with a little persever- 
 ance on his part, to claim for himself the unquestionable 
 advantages which a correct knowledge of bank notes 
 confers. 
 
 * -This house is now a component part of the American Bank Note Company, incorporated in 1858, 
 and comprises among its members all the former Bank Note Houses (as enumerated below), having 
 thus at its command all their talent, skill, and experience, both artistic and mechanical. 
 
 The following firms were united in the formation of this Company : Rawdon, Wright, Hatch & 
 Edson ; Toppan, Carpenter & Co. ; Danforth, Perkins A Co. ; Bald, Cousland & Co. ; Jocelyn, Draper, 
 Welsh & Co. ; Wellstood, Hay & Whiting; New England Bank Note Co. ; John E. Gavit; Edmonds, 
 Jones & Smillie. 
 
10 PEYTON'S SYSTEM OP DETECTING 
 
 Many years' active experience in the exchange busi- 
 ness has convinced me, conclusively, that the multiplicity 
 of counterfeit, altered, and spurious bank notes,* which 
 have, from time to time, been forced into our circulating 
 currency, has been owing more to the very imperfect 
 knowledge we possess of what constitutes good bank- 
 note engraving, than to any ability, in point of work- 
 manship, displayed by the counterfeiter in producing 
 those fraudulent issues. 
 
 So diffused, indeed, is this ignorance, that not one per 
 cent, of the community knows the object or character 
 of those beautiful devices which are to be found on every 
 genuine bank note, and which constitute the only safe- 
 guard against fraud it can furnish. With the remaining 
 ninety-nine per cent., paper money is strictly enigmatical. 
 Some judge from the first impression their minds receive 
 on glancing at a note ; others place great faith in pin 
 
 * Counterfeit notes are those which are fac-similes of the genuine. 
 Spurious notes are those which differ entirely from the genuine. 
 
 Altered notes are those whose title, locality, or denomination, has been extracted and some other 
 one pasted or printed in Hs place. 
 
COUNTERFEIT BANK NOTES. 11 
 
 holes ; others, again, consider certain conditions of the 
 ends, whether they be thumbed or not, infallible. Numer- 
 ous other methods might be mentioned, if it were at all 
 necessary, which would show the apparently hopeless 
 condition we are in respecting a correct knowledge of 
 our paper currency. The cause of this confusion 
 unquestionably arises from the multitude of banks issu- 
 ing notes, together with the universal idea, that to be a 
 good judge of paper money, it is essential to be acquainted 
 with each individual issue in the country. I shall endea- 
 vor to prove that this idea is as erroneous as it is 
 impracticable, and that a correct and certainly rational 
 method may be determined by investigating and reduc- 
 ing the science of bank-note engraving to a few fun- 
 damental principles, which must, from the peculiarity 
 of the present style, enter into and form an integral 
 part of each genuine bank note issued. 
 
 Every science originates in fixed and definite princi- 
 ples; and in the most abstruse, these are few and simple. 
 
 Botany was so admirably systematized by the cele- 
 brated Linnaeus, that a few hours' attentive study affords 
 the student as much knowledge of the science as so 
 many years' labor under the old method. 
 
 And that profound naturalist, Cuvier, informs us " that 
 if you have but the extremity of a bone well preserved, 
 you may, by attentive consideration, and the aid of the 
 resources which anatomy furnishes to skill, determine all 
 
FETTOK^S m.M'MI OP niLini.i|a^| 
 
 the rest quite 93 well as if you had the entire skeleton 
 submitted to you." And I would add that a bank note 
 can he as accurately determined, in the majority of 
 cases, from an inch of the engraving, as if the entire 
 note were present 
 
 The remarkable facility with which a broker will detect 
 a bad note, whether he has ever before seen it, or not* 
 would prove that the difference between the genuine and 
 the counterfeit is of an exceedingly intelligible nature. 
 
 ft is a truth, beyond dispute, that the counterfeit note 
 has never yet been made, which on close examination did 
 not iBaf-lnM* its base origin. And as this is universally 
 admitted by every pereon who has had experience in 
 bank notes, I think no better evidence can be required 
 to prove that the present system of bank-note engraving, 
 if it wen generally understood, is essentially perfect in 
 every respect Indeed it would be a very difficult matter 
 to invent a method or system of engraving bank notes, 
 that would be superior to the one used mt the present 
 time, in consequence, among other reasons, of its admi- 
 rable divlHioDS of labor, by which the various parts of the 
 note are engraved by different artiste, each one making 
 a specialty of his part, and consequently not only excel- 
 ling in execution, bat naturally checking each other, if 
 any is disposed to be a rogue. Few persons would 
 credit the fact, that to prepare a bank note for circula- 
 tion, the united efforts of a dozen artists are required, 
 
13 
 
 each of whom is perfect in his department. Sock, how- 
 ever, is the case : hence it is that our bank-note cur- 
 rency, in an artistic point of view, is superior to any in 
 the world. 
 
 But however perfect the system of hank-note engrav- 
 ing may he, there wifl always he more or leas ^Umijfa 
 at counterfeiting ; and until the community are instructed 
 as to what constitutes good engraving, and become fami- 
 liar with the characteristics of genuine bank notes, they 
 cannot be capable of protecting themselves from coun- 
 terfeits. 
 
 Impressed with tins view of the matter, and which 
 every hour's experience confirms, I have in the following 
 pages endeavored to familiarize the reader with JJIA 
 basis upon which afl genuine notes are constructed, 
 confident that with a little attention to the points laid 
 down, he wifl rapidly master a science that has hitherto 
 been considered by the mass of the population incom- 
 prehensible. 
 
 It may be proper here to inform the reader that, 
 about the year 1820, the basis of the present Systran of 
 bank-note engraving was initiated by Jacob Perkins, of 
 Boston, who invented and introduced the transfer-press, 
 by whose agency engraved designs may be reproduced 
 any number of times from the original. The perfection 
 to which bank-note engraving has been brought is, in a 
 great measure, owing to this admirable invention. A 
 
14 PEYTON'S SYSTEM OP DETECTING 
 
 few years later, Charles Spencer, of Philadelphia, suc- 
 ceeded, through the instrumentality of the geometrical 
 lathe, in producing a superior description of mechanical 
 engraving, which became immediately deservedly popu- 
 lar. This kind of engraving has been much elaborated 
 since it was first introduced, and now presents endless 
 varieties of those exquisite lace-like figures of every 
 possible combination, and which all attempts to produce 
 by hand have been unsuccessful. It is the ground-work 
 upon which the denominations 1, 2, 3, 5, etc., denoting 
 the value of the note, appear ; it is also used for " bor- 
 ders/' 1 " backs," and " tail-pieces j" the net- work of fine 
 lines, which tints the faces of some notes, printed in 
 green or red, is geometrical lathe-work, in its simplest 
 form. In connection with the transfer-press and geo- 
 metrical lathe may be mentioned the parallel ruling 
 machine, for drawing fine parallel lines, invented by 
 Wilson Lowry, of London: these three constitute the 
 principal mechanical appliances used in the manufacture 
 of our bank-note currency, and to which I shall devote 
 a few pages, to convince the reader that a correct know- 
 ledge of this important subject may be obtained by a 
 little careful attention, on his part, to the points laid 
 down. 
 
 As I have already stated, one of the most prominent 
 obstacles in the way of acquiring an accurate knowledge 
 of bank notes is the erroneous idea that an intimate 
 
COUNTERFEIT BANK NOTES. 15 
 
 acquaintance with each individual issue in the country is 
 indispensable. If we consider that there are 1,500 
 Banks, issuing, on an average, seven denominations of 
 notes each, making, in the aggregate, more than 10,000 
 distinct issues, the magnitude of the task becomes at 
 once apparent ; and its practicability would be best 
 illustrated by citing the case of an individual who should 
 endeavor to learn a language by merely committing to 
 memory all the words found in it, without knowing any- 
 thing of its alphabet, or of the relation those words bear 
 to each other. In the study of bank notes, notwith- 
 standing there are 10,000 distinct issues, the student 
 will, in a little while, discover that there are a few distin- 
 guishing features which are COMMON to the entire bank-note 
 currency; and these, which, if you please, you may call 
 the alphabet of bank-note engraving, when once ac- 
 quired, render the whole subject plain and intelligible, 
 in every respect. 
 
 If the reader will now turn to plate No. 4, specimen 
 D, he will perceive, on examination, that it is a strip of 
 engraving composed of beautiful lines, fine, clear, and 
 mathematically parallel. This is the product of the 
 parallel ruling machine, and is to be found upon every 
 modern* bank note in existence. It is used by bank- 
 
 * The bank notes which are not modern are those struck from what is known as the "Patent 
 Stereotype Steel Plate," issued in the Eastern States ; they are few in number, and are going out of 
 circulation rapidly. There are a few other old plates whose engraving does not come up to the 
 modern standard. 
 
16 PEYTON'S SYSTEM OF DETECTING 
 
 note engravers for shading letters, particularly those 
 composing the titles or names of banks (see " Bank of 
 Ohio " on the plate); also for " backs" on which denomi- 
 nations appear in the centre of the note (see "five 
 dollars " on the same plate) ; also for ground- work of 
 "clear skies," " still water," architecture, etc. If it 
 were now possible for the reader to have before him 
 the entire bank-note currency of the country, and to ex- 
 amine minutely all the parallel engraving thereon, and 
 to compare the same with the specimen strip here given, 
 he would find that they are IDENTICAL in every respect. 
 In a word, the specimen given in the plate is a type of 
 all this kind of engraving ; and it must be evident that 
 when the pupil's eye becomes thoroughly familiar with 
 it, he will have obtained the mastery over a portion, at 
 least, of every bank note engraved after the modern 
 process. 
 
 Counterfeiters have always been severely exercised in 
 their attempts to produce parallel ruling. The impossi- 
 bility of doing it effectually by hand, the skill and expe- 
 rience necessary, even with the aid of machinery, to 
 make the most ordinary quality, render it no trifling 
 obstacle to overcome. Hence, the experienced eye has 
 no difficulty in detecting the counterfeit work its lines 
 being coarse, clouded, and otherwise imperfect ; or, to 
 avoid coarseness, they are engraved so indistinctly as to 
 suggest the idea of having been put on with a brush. 
 
COUNTERFEIT BANK NOTES. 17 
 
 the genuine, on the contrary, always presenting the 
 lines clear, uniform, and perfect in every respect. 
 
 The specimen given in the plate has been prepared 
 for the purpose of affording the student an opportunity 
 of familiarizing his eye with standard work ; his progress 
 will, in a measure, depend upon his intelligence and per- 
 severance. It is, perhaps, unnecessary to inform him 
 that the strips are larger than any he will find on notes, 
 as there are no letters or figures cut upon them ; the 
 specimens given are about the extremes used. 
 
 In examining bank-note engraving, everything de- 
 pends upon judicious analysis the art of separating the 
 engraving under examination into the smallest possible 
 intelligible parts, each of which must be scrutinized as 
 if its quality determined the whole. Hence, in studying 
 the ruling given, the pupil should separate it into lines, 
 as if he were counting it, holding it as near the eye as 
 possible, without distressing the sight, and permitting 
 the light to fall upon it over the left shoulder. 
 
 The next important feature in bank-note engraving is 
 the geometrical lathe-work. By looking at the centre 
 of fig. A, plate 3, the net- work, or simplest execution of 
 the geometrical lathe, will be distinctly visible. As the 
 figure increases in size, it becomes more complicated, 
 until half-a-dozen figures are encircled one within the 
 other, all showing different styles of work. It will be 
 perceived that the lines are fine and perfect, like the 
 
 3 
 
18 PEYTON'S SYSTEM OF DETECTING 
 
 parallel ruling, but are woven into a pattern, which is the 
 peculiarity of this work. If the pupil will examine 
 carefully all the Counters given in this plate, except 
 those marked B, he will find that they are composed of 
 similar work, but of a more elaborate pattern. 
 
 The endless varieties of these Combinations, formed 
 by the aid of the geometrical lathe, can only be equalled 
 by the kaleidoscope. 
 
 In determining the genuineness of lathe-work, the 
 pupil must bear distinctly in mind that the fineness of 
 the line or thread, and the clearness and regularity of 
 the pattern into which it is woven, are alone the evi- 
 dences upon which his judgment must rest. 
 
 In all genuine work, no matter how intricate it may 
 appear, the lines, and the manner in which they are 
 woven, will be clearly and distinctly visible. Counter- 
 feit lathe-work, on the contrary, is always -imperfect. 
 The boundary of the figure and its subdivisions are the 
 same in appearance as the genuine j but the fine lace- 
 work which fills up these divisions is always wanting, 
 while dots and scratches of a smoky and unsatisfactory 
 appearance are substituted instead. 
 
 The Counters marked B are also composed of lines, 
 which by the introduction of light and shade, appear 
 raised hence the name bas-relief. This style of work 
 is, to a certain extent, abandoned at the present day. 
 The genuine can be determined by observing the pattern 
 
COUNTERFEIT BANK NOTES. 19 
 
 formed by the lines which stand out distinctly from the 
 groundwork. In the counterfeit the lines are scratchy, 
 and the pattern is coarse and clumsy. 
 
 In geometrical lathe-work, I would inform the reader, 
 if he has not noticed the fact, that the color of the line 
 is sometimes black and sometimes white: black on a 
 white ground, and white on a black ground. The black 
 line is the original production of the lathe ; but, by an 
 elaborate process, it is converted into a white line on a 
 black ground. The white line is usually adopted in 
 preference to the black one, though the quality is the 
 same in each. The various parts of the note, whether 
 the engraving be mechanical or artistical, are executed 
 on thin squares of steel, after which they are TRANSFERRED 
 on cylinders thus becoming the " rolls," or dies of the 
 bank-note engraver. 
 
 In using the term transfer, it may be necessary to 
 state what is understood by the word. 
 
 If you take a coin and press it on the surface of a piece 
 of wax, or any other equally soft substance, certain 
 indentations corresponding to its letters and characters 
 will be produced ; if these indentations are filled with 
 ink, and paper or cloth pressed over them, an exact 
 printed copy of the original coin is the result. In bank- 
 note engraving, a piece of softened steel, about three 
 inches square and one-eighth of an inch thick, is selected, 
 and upon its surface is engraved, either by hand or 
 
20 PEYTON'S SYSTEM OF DETECTING 
 
 machinery, the design required. After it is finished in 
 every respect, it undergoes the process of carbonization, 
 or in other words, it is converted into the hardest steel ; 
 it is now ready to be transferred. This is performed by 
 means of a powerful machine termed a transfer press, 
 weighing about a ton, and capable of exerting an immense 
 pressure ; the design is brought under a small cylinder 
 of softened steel, which is rolled over it with such force 
 by the machine, as to take up in relief every line in the 
 most perfect manner. The cylinder is hardened, and is 
 then capable of transferring its design to a bank-note 
 plate, by being rolled over it in the same manner. 
 
 "We now come to Letters and Figures. 
 
 Genuine letters and figures are distinguished by their 
 fine finished clear outlines, and by their neat and grace* 
 ful proportions. The principal point which distinguishes 
 counterfeit letters and figures is the outline, which beard 
 evidence of the unsteadiness of the hand that engraved 
 it. In notes whose titles have been altered, this defect is- 
 strikingly apparent. 
 
 The round hand or script, in the body of the note* 
 "Will pay to bearer on demand" which is given ii* 
 Plate 4, is to be found on all bank notes, and must be 
 carefully studied in the following manner. Fix your eye* 
 on the extreme point of the curve which forms the left 
 of the W, and trace it over with your eye slowly and 
 carefully ; then down the heavy stroke, up again the 
 
COUNTERFEIT BANK NOTES. 21 
 
 hair stroke, down again the heavy stroke, and up the 
 graceful curve which completes the letter. In the same 
 manner trace all the letters, always beginning at the hair 
 stroke, as it is the only method by which counterfeit 
 work of this kind can be detected with facility the 
 minute irregularities, particularly in the curves and hair 
 strokes, becoming visible by such close scrutiny only. 
 This should be practised frequently. 
 
 "We have now arrived at the Pictorial Illustrations, or 
 vignettes, which embellish bank notes, and which consti- 
 tute by far the most important subject yet discussed in 
 these pages. It cannot be expected that the ordinary 
 reader shall fully realize the many beauties with which 
 these illustrations abound, even after they have been 
 pointed out to him, without constantly exercising his 
 eye on the models given ; nor is it reasonable to assume 
 that he is at all familiar with the art by which the expert 
 recognizes that certain laws are harmonized in the genu- 
 ine vignette and transgressed in the counterfeit. The 
 education of the eye, with reference to engraving, is a 
 subject of vast importance, not only to those who wish 
 to avail themselves of the knowledge of engraving for a 
 specific purpose, but to the general student who wishes 
 to study and contemplate the exhaustless beauties of 
 nature and art, clearly and understandingly. We are 
 taught by those who have made the subject a specialty, 
 that the beauty of form and expression, arising from a 
 
22 PEYTON'S SYSTEM OF DETECTING 
 
 perception of utility, or of fitness of certain means to 
 produce a certain end, may be observed both in animate 
 and inanimate objects in the works of nature and art. 
 In animate beings we are gratified by recognizing that a 
 certain form is suited to the wants of the animal, and 
 that certain desired effects or motions, are produced with 
 ease, or little effort. It is on this principle that we 
 admire the beauty of the human form, every part of 
 which is perfectly fitted for its intended purpose ; and 
 that we admire the motions of a horse, a stag, or a grey- 
 hound, as being made without any apparent difficulty, 
 and as the result of a power which accomplishes its end 
 with the least possible exertion. 
 
 The same feeling which makes us take pleasure in 
 movements and forms indicating ease, leads us likewise 
 to dislike those which express constraint and toil : hence, 
 both in nature and art, all forced and labored attitudes, 
 all tension of muscle, all visible and over-strained efforts 
 to produce a certain effect, or to express a certain feel- 
 ing, are offensive to taste. And thus all angular or 
 jerking action, and all heavy dragging of the limbs, are 
 devoid of beauty, as being signs of violent and toilsome 
 effort, and as being opposite to that equable, flowing and 
 easy motion in which grace consists. 
 
 And this may be further exemplified by considering 
 the beauty and unity of the features of the human 
 countenance ; and although we may labor under the 
 
COUNTERFEIT BANK NOTES. 23 
 
 indifference which familiarity generally creates, and 
 overlook their perfection, yet, if a deformity presents 
 itself say the absence of the nose a feeling of intense 
 commiseration is immediately excited, which the other 
 features, no matter how beautiful they may be, cannot 
 relieve. And thus it is with inanimate objects, whether 
 in nature or art : in viewing a landscape, either natural 
 or on canvas, the mere sensual gratification of the eye 
 is comparatively so small as scarcely to be attended to ,- 
 but yet, if there occur a single spot offensively harsh or 
 glaring, all the magic instantly vanishes, and the imagi- 
 nation avenges the injury offered to the senses. The 
 glaring and inharmonious spot, being the most promi- 
 nent and obtrusive, irresistibly attracts the attention, so 
 as to interrupt the repose of the whole, and leave the 
 mind no place to rest upon. 
 
 Acting upon these general principles, the vignette 
 designer introduces into his picture certain combinations 
 of figures, which, from their local character, are familiar 
 to every eye ; and whose beauty and expression require 
 the utmost skill and ability of the engravers to develop 
 their characteristics naturally and gracefully. Hence 
 human figures are the most prominent, and upon which 
 the most reliance is placed. Next come domestic ani- 
 mals, with whose outlines and beautiful proportions every- 
 body is supposed to be acquainted ; a landscape will 
 now be necessary to show the figures to advantage ; and 
 
24 PEYTON'S SYSTEM OF DETECTING 
 
 this in turn must have the usual quantity of water, sky, 
 and perspective. 
 
 It will be seen, then, that the genuine vignette is not 
 merely a fancy sketch suggested by the whim of the 
 artist, but a scientifically arranged picture, drawn to the 
 life, complete in all its parts, and presenting to the coun- 
 terfeiter the most serious obstacles to imitation ; who, in 
 order to be a successful imitator, must be a master of at 
 least half a dozen different branches of engraving ; as 
 this is impossible, even with a professional artist, it must 
 be considered beyond dispute, that the counterfeit vig- 
 nette will exhibit the imperfections which usually charac- 
 terize base imitations. 
 
 The following vignettes, introduced to illustrate the 
 pictorial or artistical portion of the bank note, were 
 drawn and engraved in strict conformity with the pre- 
 ceding remarks. From the very general nature of vig- 
 nette engraving, it cannot be reduced to any positive 
 unit ; yet sufficient data may be obtained from a few of 
 its leading characteristics, when well understood by the 
 pupil, to determine its genuineness with certainty. If 
 the reader has been at all observant, he has noticed, long 
 before this, that upon every bank note one vignette at 
 least is composed of human figures : in the majority of 
 notes in circulation all the vignettes are so composed 
 the female figure, from its absolute perfection in an 
 anatomical point of view, combined with the grace and 
 
COUNTERFEIT BANK NOTES. 25 
 
 harmony with which association clothes it, invariably 
 predominating. Now, as all human figures are drawn 
 in accordance with a certain ideal standard of perfection, 
 it must be evident that it is only necessary to be 
 thoroughly familiar with the peculiar characteristics of 
 any one, to be really acquainted with the characteristics 
 which determine ALL. I shall endeavor to make this 
 clear as we proceed. 
 
 No. 1 is Cupid rolling a dollar ; a village, and rail- 
 road cars in the distance. The principal object of this 
 vignette is to show the admirable manner in which what 
 is technically called fash-work is executed, and as this is 
 an important branch of vignette engraving, it may be 
 proper to state that it is seldom, if ever, successfully 
 counterfeited. 
 
 No. 2 is a group of females, emblematic of Commerce, 
 Agriculture, and Manufactures, whose chaste outline, 
 beauty of expression, and artistic execution, cannot be 
 excelled. 
 
 Their arms, necks, and feet are bare, in consequence 
 of the insurmountable difficulty experienced by coun- 
 terfeiters in their attempts to execute these parts. 
 
 It will be perceived that the texture of the skin is 
 represented by fine dots and lines an admixture to be 
 found in every human figure, and with which the pupil 
 must at once familiarize his eye ; this, together with the 
 expression or naturalness of the eyes, nose, mouth, neck, 
 
 4 
 
26 PEYTON'S SYSTEM OF DETECTING 
 
 fingers, and toes, always determine genuine work. I 
 cannot too forcibly impress on the pupil's mind the abso- 
 lute necessity of studying carefully and efficiently (until 
 he can retain their peculiar naturalness with facility in 
 his memory) the points just named. This accomplished, 
 he will find that in the counterfeit the skin is coarse 
 that is to say, the lines and dots which represent it 
 and the other features equally defective. 
 
 It will be perceived that in the present group, our 
 beautiful goddesses represent Commerce, Agriculture, 
 and Manufactures ; and that the distinguishing features 
 before referred to, viz., the skin, eyes, nose, mouth, neck, 
 fingers, and toes are identical in each. Now if the back- 
 ground of this picture were converted into a landscape, 
 a basket of flowers placed in the hand of one of the 
 females, a sword in that of the second, and a wreath of 
 laurel in that of the third, the local character of the pic- 
 ture would be changed, without interfering in the least 
 with those artistic peculiarities before mentioned, and 
 by which its genuineness is to be determined. 
 
 Therefore, the pupil must never permit himself to be 
 embarrassed by the display of paraphernalia, but must 
 determine the genuineness of the figure by scrutinizing 
 the parts mentioned, whether the goddess be floating in 
 the clouds, reposing in a bower of roses, or condescends 
 to adopt the more substantial occupation of milking cows 
 or feeding chickens. 
 
COUNTERFEIT BANK NOTES. 27 
 
 No. 3 represents the United States Mail Steamship 
 Baltic in a gale of wind ; the action of the wind and 
 water is delineated in a masterly manner. 
 
 No. 4 " The Mechanic." The expression of the coun- 
 tenance is admirable ; he is evidently constructing in 
 his mind's eye some new labor-saving machine. The 
 directions given as to the proper manner of examining 
 the female figure, are strictly applicable to this also ; the 
 dots and lines representing the texture of the skin are 
 heavier and more -shaded to produce the masculine ap- 
 pearance, and should be carefully studied, as also the 
 eyes, nose, mouth, chin, arms, and fingers. The figures 
 in the background present a natural and expressive 
 outline. 
 
 No. 5 An agricultural scene : the farmer ploughing ; 
 the horses are drawn to the life ; the one in the back- 
 ground is well executed. It will be seen that in the 
 human figure, the eye, mouth, hands and attitude are per- 
 fectly natural. 
 
 No. 6 is a very pretty sketch, showing sky, still water, 
 and shrubbery. 
 
 No. 7 A marine view : the ships under canvas, and 
 the action of the water, are very spirited. 
 
 No. 8 A locomotive and a train of cars. This vig- 
 nette is very popular at the present day, owing, no 
 doubt, to the spirited appearance which it presents, 
 together with the intricate nature of the machinery and 
 
28 PEYTON'S SYSTEM OF DETECTING 
 
 the architecture of the cars, which require no ordinary 
 ability to execute. 
 
 No. 9 A distant view of a house, such as is usually 
 given in vignettes, showing the proportion and architec- 
 ture, in a very neat manner. 
 
 No. 10 is a portrait of a beautiful female, exquisitely 
 finished ; the texture of the skin can be seen here in per- 
 fection ; the hair, showing the strands and the reflection 
 of light, is admirably given. 
 
 No. 11 is a medallion portrait of Washington, whose 
 countenance will be immediately recognized ; this is a 
 specimen of bas-relief ; the lines are waved, and by the 
 aid of light and shade, appear raised from the surface. 
 This is a mechanical production. 
 
 No. 12 is an Indian viewing the evidences of civiliza- 
 tion. The dots and lines which denote the texture of 
 the skin are placed close to each other, thereby giving it 
 a darker and coarser appearance. With this figure end 
 the artistic specimens, all of which I shall frequently 
 refer to in the sequel. 
 
 Before closing the subject of vignettes, it may not 
 be out of place to say a few words regarding the style 
 and manner of executing them. The style of engraving 
 universally adopted for vignettes is known to artists as 
 the line engraving, and is composed of etching, " stip- 
 pling," and lines cut with the graver. The etching is a 
 chemical process ; the plate prepared to receive the en- 
 
COUNTERFEIT BANK NOTES. 29 
 
 graving is first coated with a composition like varnish ; 
 the artist then, with an etching needle, engraves his 
 design on the coated surface, cutting at each stroke 
 through the varnish only, and thereby exposing a portion 
 of the plate, corresponding of course to the mark of the 
 needle. A preparation of nitric acid is now poured over 
 the engraved part, which corrodes the lines or characters 
 made by the needle (the varnish protecting all the other 
 parts of the plate). This is termed " biting in," and the 
 length of time the acid is allowed to remain on the plate 
 determines the depth of the part so corroded. The prin- 
 cipal advantage of this process is the saving of labor 
 the acid corroding or eating the lines into the plate, which 
 otherwise would have to be cut by the artist. 
 
 The etching finished and the plate cleaned, the artist 
 with his graver a tool not unlike an awl, the blade of 
 which, however, terminates in an angular point, of which 
 there are many varieties retouches the corroded parts 
 sharpening, shading, and finishing adding new lines or 
 crossing those already formed working, at each step in 
 the process, with the utmost care, caution, and delicacy, 
 often spending weeks on a bit no bigger than the head 
 of a pin, until the picture is finally completed in all its 
 parts. 
 
 Stippling is the term applied to that portion of the 
 engraving composed of dots, and which is introduced in 
 human figures, to convey the idea of softness and plump- 
 
30 PEYTON'S SYSTEM. 
 
 ness. It is executed with the point of the graver, or 
 sometimes with a finely pointed punch. 
 
 Assuming that the pupil has now made himself ac- 
 quainted with the various points which have been dis- 
 cussed, I shall devote the remaining pages to a series of 
 rules arranged for his guidance: those relating to the 
 genuine note will be, to a certain extent, a recapitulation 
 of what has already been stated ; those relating to the 
 counterfeit note will point out all the imperfections 
 which experience has proved to be inseparably con- 
 nected with it these should be carefully studied, and, if 
 possible, committed to memory. 
 
CAL1FOKSIA 
 
 THE PKINCIPAL POINTS 
 
 WHICH CONSTITUTE 
 
 A GENUINE BANK NOTE. 
 
 1. NAME OF THE BANK. 
 
 THE letters which compose the name of the Bank are 
 cut with unerring accuracy, presenting a sharp and fin- 
 ished outline, and are invariably neat and uniform, see 
 
 lettering on the Plate. 
 
 2. LOCATION. 
 
 The name of the State, and the locality in which the 
 Bank is situated, are composed of smaller letters than 
 those in the title, but equally perfect, and should always 
 be examined. 
 
 3. DENOMINATION. 
 
 The figures expressing the denomination of the note 
 are beautifully engraved ; their outline, proportions, and 
 general execution can be seen to advantage in the speci- 
 mens given in Plate 3. 
 
 81 
 
32 PEYTON'S SYSTEM OF DETECTING 
 
 The denomination in the centre of the note, composed 
 of letters, should be scrutinized attentively. s ee piate4. 
 
 4. LETTERS AND FIGURES. 
 
 All other letters and figures of the note will be found 
 perfect in every respect ; the curves, angles, and hair-lines 
 are without breaks or flaws, and have a finished and 
 graceful appearance. The writing or script, "will pay 
 on demand to the bearer," should be carefully studied, 
 letter by letter, and the hair-lines and curves, with a 
 little attention, will become impressed on the mind. 
 
 5. ENGRAVERS' IMPRINT. 
 
 The engravers' signature or imprint, near the margin 
 of the note, is clearly and beautifully engraved, the let- 
 ters, particularly the capitals, are perfectly executed, 
 without the slightest flaw or imperfect turn in the entire 
 
 See illustration. 
 
 6. - TINTS. 
 
 The green and red tints which are to be found on 
 most bank notes, are composed of a net- work of fine but 
 plain lines, executed with the lathe ; the letters and 
 figures printed in those colors, denoting the value of the 
 note, are also lathe-work. A very pretty specimen of 
 the plain style is given in Plate 4, border C, in which 
 the line, and the manner in which it is woven can be 
 distinctly traced. 
 
COUNTERFEIT BANK NOTES. 33 
 
 7. PARALLEL RULING. 
 
 Parallel ruling, as before described, is always clear 
 and regular. Examine critically the shading of the let- 
 ters which compose the title of the Bank ; also the 
 shading of those which compose the name of the State 
 and the locality in which the Bank is situated. In every 
 instance, the pupil will find, on the genuine note, the 
 parts referred to executed in the most perfect manner. 
 
 See Plate 4. 
 
 8. BAS-RELIEF. 
 
 Bas-relief is composed of lines which, by the judicious 
 introduction of light and 'shade, appear raised. seePiates, 
 
 Fig. B. 
 
 9. GEOMETRICAL LATHE- WORK. 
 
 Geometrical lathe- work has been discussed at length 
 in another page ; nothing can be added here but a reit- 
 eration of the same remarks : study carefully and dili- 
 gently the genuine work. 
 
 10. VIGNETTE. 
 
 The vignettes described on bank notes, from their 
 exquisite beauty and finish, present to the counterfeiter 
 the most serious obstacles. The engravings given in the 
 plates are conclusive evidence of the advanced state of 
 the art, in this country, at the present day. 
 
 11. PRINCIPAL FIGURE. 
 
 The principal figure in the vignettes of the various 
 
 5 
 
34 PEYTON'S SYSTEM OF DETECTING 
 
 engravers, is, with few exceptions, a female : this, from 
 its expressive anatomy and graceful proportions, requires 
 the most skillful efforts of the artist. 
 
 12. HAIR. 
 
 The hair is neatly and naturally arranged ; and on 
 closely examining it, the strands, and the reflection of 
 the light on it, are discernible, see Fig. 2 and rig. 10. 
 
 13. FLESH. 
 
 .. The texture of the skin is represented, as before 
 stated, by fine dots and lines, intermixed : the dots usu- 
 ally denoting the parts upon which the light falls as 
 may be seen by examining the forehead of the female, 
 Fig. 10 and the lines denote the parts that are slightly 
 shaded, as may be seen on the neck of the same figure. 
 The shaded part is made by the lines crossing each other 
 at acute angles, forming a beautiful lozenge work ; 
 though sometimes but one course of lines is given, espe- 
 cially when the shading is intended to be heavy. 
 
 Examine Fig. 2, particularly the shaded sides of the arms and neck. 
 
 14. EYES. 
 
 The eyes are an important point in the note ; their 
 principal characteristic being that the pupil is distinctly 
 visible, showing the white clearly. 
 
 In examining them, it is well to look at both at the 
 same time, and the naturalness of their expression will 
 then be manifest, see rig. 2, 
 
COUNTERFEIT BANK NOTES. 35 
 
 15. NOSE, MOUTH, AND CHIN. 
 
 The nose, mouth, and chin are well-formed, natural, 
 and expressive ; the lips are slightly pouting, and the 
 chin is well thrown out. seeFig.2. 
 
 16. NECK. 
 
 The natural contour of the neck is displayed by the 
 delicate shading, and its proportions perfectly harmonize 
 with the rest of the figure, see Fi gs . 2 and 10. 
 
 17. ARMS. 
 
 The arms have their graceful curve ; the flesh, as 
 before mentioned, is represented by delicate dots and 
 fine lines, so intermixed as to convey an idea of plump- 
 ness. See Fig. 2. 
 
 18. HANDS. 
 
 To delineate the hands properly, requires all the ability 
 of the artist. 
 
 Observe carefully the fingers, and the natural manner 
 in which they are displayed : the life-like sense of touch 
 they exhibit is masterly, see Fig. 2. 
 
 19. FEET. 
 
 The feet require a like degree of skill ; the toes are 
 clearly and accurately defined. seeFi g .2. 
 
 20. DRAPERY. 
 
 The drapery is neatly and elegantly arranged ; the 
 heavy lines denoting the coarse texture, and the fine ones 
 
36 PEYTON'S SYSTEM OF DETECTING 
 
 the ethereal gossamer, which is evidently a fashionable 
 fabric in the regions of fancy, see Fig. 2. 
 
 21. MALE FIGURE. 
 
 The male figure in no respect differs from the female, 
 except, of course, that it is more masculine, and the dots 
 and the lines representing the flesh are closer to each 
 other and appear coarser ; but the eyes, mouth, hands, 
 feet, and general expression, are determined in precisely 
 the same manner. 
 
 Indians have their peculiar dark complexion and 
 muscular appearance ; the white of the eye is clearly 
 seen, and the fingers and toes are properly developed. 
 
 See Figs. 4 and 12. 
 
 22. PORTRAITS. 
 
 The portraits, whether representing males or females, 
 are executed in the most elaborate manner ; all the fea- 
 tures of the countenance before mentioned, are admirably 
 
 given. See Fig. 10. 
 
 23. LANDSCAPES. 
 
 The landscapes to be found on bank notes, are well 
 finished in every respect trees, water, sky, etc. 
 
 Trees and shrubs are neatly drawn, the limbs are well 
 proportioned, and the foliage has a luxuriant appearance. 
 
 The " still" water is represented by parallel lines, with 
 streaks of white to show the reflection of light, and to 
 produce a limpid effect. 
 
COUNTERFEIT BANK NOTES. 37 
 
 Clear skies are formed of fine parallel lines, and when 
 clouds or heavy skies are required, they cross each other. 
 
 For trees, shrubs, still water, and clear skies, see Fig. 6. 
 For heavy skies, see Figs. 8 and T. 
 
 24. DOMESTIC ANIMALS. 
 
 Domestic animals of every description horses, oxen, 
 sheep, etc., etc., are drawn to the life ; their eyes, limbs, 
 and proportions are perfectly accurate, and cannot fail 
 to impress the reader favorably with the accuracy of 
 bank-note engraving. 
 
 25. PERSPECTIVE. 
 
 The perspective, showing a distant view of the sur- 
 rounding country, is always clear and distinct the sky 
 fades away into distance until it mingles imperceptibly 
 with the horizon. The small figures in the background 
 are always exceedingly well engraved. It must be borne 
 in mind, that they are placed there for the purpose of 
 being seen, consequently their outline and general cha- 
 racter can always be recognized, see Fi g . i. 
 
 26. - ARCHITECTURE, SHIPS, AND RAILROAD CARS. 
 
 The lines denoting the surface of the materials in 
 buildings are arranged in accordance with the law of 
 light and shade : hence very fine lines, gradually becom- 
 ing indistinct, leaving the surface white, denote the part 
 upon which the light falls, and on the opposite or dark 
 side, these are parallel and quite distinct, see Kg. 9. 
 
38 PEYTON'S SYSTEM. 
 
 Ships are well defined, and the canvas has a clear tex- 
 ture. Bee Figs. 7 and 2. 
 
 Railroad cars are very accurately delineated ; in exam- 
 ining a train, observe carefully the car most distant from 
 the eye. seerig.8. 
 
 I shall now describe these twenty-six divisions of a 
 bank note, counterfeited. 
 
 The many species of counterfeit engraving used in 
 making fraudulent bank notes Photographic, Anastatic, 
 Lithographic, and impressions from wood, copper, steel, 
 and pewter, all differing from each other, though equally 
 bad, when compared with the genuine preclude the pos- 
 sibility of giving counterfeit illustrations with any degree 
 of advantage. 
 
 When the reader becomes familiar with genuine work, 
 he will then detect every kind of counterfeit work without 
 any difficulty because what is not genuine must be 
 counterfeit. 
 
PKINCIPAL POINTS 
 
 WHICH DETERMINE 
 
 A COUNTERFEIT BANK NOTE. 
 
 1. NAME OF THE BANK. 
 
 THE letters which compose the name of the Bank are 
 principally defective in their outlines, which lack the 
 sharpness and finish of the genuine. This is particularly 
 so in titles which have been altered. Many counterfeit 
 titles are, however, so well executed that no written 
 rules can possibly point out the slight shade of differ- 
 ence existing between them and the genuine. Constant 
 practice on genuine letters is the only remedy. 
 
 2. LOCATION. 
 
 The small letters which compose the name of the 
 State and the locality of the Bank are poorly executed ; 
 examine each letter separately and the defects will be 
 apparent. 
 
40 PEYTON'S SYSTEM OF DETECTING 
 
 3. DENOMINATION. 
 
 The large figures expressing the denomination of the 
 note are generally well engraved ; the small ones, on the 
 contrary, are always the reverse. 
 
 The vulnerable point of the counterfeiter lies in the 
 small engraving. Run your eye over the outlines of the 
 small figures, and their imperfections cannot escape you. 
 
 4. LETTERS AND FIGURES. 
 
 All other letters and figures to which the pupiFs 
 attention has not been called, must be determined by 
 the general principles laid down in this work. 
 
 5. THE ENGRAVERS' IMPRINT. 
 
 The engravers' imprint near the margin of the note 
 is never correctly engraved ; the letters, when exam- 
 ined separately, will be found imperfect, some of them 
 being quite crooked. 
 
 6. TINTS. 
 
 It must be borne strictly in mind by the pupil, that 
 the color of the ink in which engraving may be printed 
 has nothing whatever to do with its merits in an artistic 
 point of view ; the quality of the engraving, not the 
 color, is the point to be determined. There are many 
 persons who labor under the impression that because 
 the surface of a bank note is decorated with prismatic 
 
COUNTERFEIT BANK NOTES. 41 
 
 colors, it must, necessarily, be a genuine one. Nothing 
 can be more fallacious. 
 
 It is certainly unnecessary to say that bad engraving, 
 print it in whatsoever color you please, is bad engraving 
 still hence the rules which apply to counterfeit engrav- 
 ing make no distinction as to color, quality being the 
 sole point at issue. It may be well to say, however, 
 that the red color has a tendency to spread, thereby 
 giving the engraving a coarser appearance than it really 
 possesses. Counterfeit work printed in colors can be 
 readily detected its defects being more glaring than 
 when printed with the ordinary ink. 
 
 7. PARALLEL RULING. 
 
 The parallel ruling used for shading the letters, 
 backs, etc., is generally imperfect : the lines are coarse 
 and seldom strictly parallel : to avoid coarseness, the 
 counterfeiter goes to the opposite extreme, and makes 
 these lines appear as if they had been put on with a 
 brush. By endeavoring to count them, the minute breaks, 
 irregular thicknesses, and want of uniformity will be 
 discovered. 
 
 8. BAS-RELIEF, OR MEDALLION ENGRAVING. 
 
 The medallion- work presents a scratchy appearance ; 
 in portraits, the eyes and mouth are imperfect, and the 
 expression is vague. 
 
 6 
 
42 PEYTON'S SYSTEM OF DETECTING 
 
 9. GEOMETRICAL LATHE- WORK. 
 
 Counterfeit lathe -work can be detected by the blurred 
 and dotted appearance of the lines where they intersect 
 each other. 
 
 In examining curvilinear figures, begin in the centre, 
 and then by gradually following around the circles, one 
 within the other, you will discover many defects which 
 would otherwise be overlooked. 
 
 I would mention to the reader, that on many counter- 
 feit, or rather spurious bank notes, the actual work of 
 the lathe is to be found, and though a practised eye 
 would instantly detect it, he cannot expect, without 
 some experience, to be so fortunate ; the figures I speak 
 of are generally made up of small circles, like the centre 
 of Figure A. 
 
 10. VIGNETTES. 
 
 The vignette, when closely examined, will be found 
 coarse and imperfect. 
 
 11. PRINCIPAL FIGURE. 
 
 The principal figure in the vignette is always the best 
 finished one, the counterfeiter knowing that if this is 
 passable, the surrounding imperfections will not be 
 observed ; when, however, this is a human figure, par- 
 ticularly a female, his skill fails, and the following 
 defects will be noticed. 
 
COUNTERFEIT BANK NOTES. 43 
 
 12. THE HAIR. 
 
 The hair is coarse and clumsy, and has an untidy and 
 smoky appearance. 
 
 13. SKIN. 
 
 The skin is invariably defective, and the most effectual 
 method of discovering the same will be as follows : 
 Centre your attention on the forehead of the figure, 
 gradually extending your observation down the face ; 
 centre your attention now on the neck, and examine 
 minutely the lines which cross each other and act as a 
 shade to throw out the chin ; extend your observations 
 now to the shoulders and down the arms to the hands ; 
 now take the feet, ankles, and any other exposed por- 
 tion of the body showing flesh-work. At each step in 
 your progress concentrate your whole attention upon but a 
 small portion of the engraving at a time say a few dots ; 
 this, though irksome at first, is infallible, and the coun- 
 terfeit-work will immediately display its true character, 
 the dots and lines being rough and unfinished, and the 
 texture of the skin hard and artificial. 
 
 14. EYES. 
 
 The eyes are always poorly engraved. In the major- 
 ity, there is nothing discernible but a black speck ; those 
 which are considered well executed have a little of the 
 white, though the pupil appears to mix even with this. 
 The distant one is the most imperfect ; look directly at 
 
44 PEYTON'S SYSTEM OF DETECTING 
 
 both pupils, and if either is crooked, which is often the 
 case, it will be noticed. 
 
 15. NOSE, MOUTH AND CHIN. 
 
 The nose, mouth and chin are poorly formed and lack 
 expression ; examine each separately, and then dwell for 
 a moment on the combined expression of the eyes, nose 
 and mouth. 
 
 16. NECK. 
 
 The neck is formed by coarse lines, which are intended 
 to throw out the chin ; but this, like all shading in coun- 
 terfeit figures, will be detected from its smoky appear- 
 ance. 
 
 17. ARMS. 
 
 The arms have a disjointed appearance as if they 
 were attached to the body by some new method ; the 
 elbow is rather sharper than is natural ; the wrist is dark 
 and not well formed ; the dots and lines which denote 
 the flesh are darker and coarser than the genuine ; the 
 shaded side of the arm is very dark. 
 
 18. HANDS. 
 
 The hands are invariably poorly drawn, particularly in 
 developing the fingers, which are coarse and clumsy, 
 without any apparent animation. Occasionally the 
 fingers are drawn to a point, and in many cases the little 
 one is not formed. 
 
COUNTERFEIT BANK NOTES. 45 
 
 19. FEET. 
 
 The feet are as imperfect as the hands. The toes are 
 seldom all developed, and the dots and lines are coarse. 
 
 20. DRAPERY. 
 
 The drapery is untidy, and arranged in a slovenly 
 manner ; the dark material is of a murky east, and the 
 delicate gossamer which enrobes the body shows many 
 very coarse threads. 
 
 21. MALE FIGURE. 
 
 The male figure has the same imperfections as the 
 female ; and the flesh, eyes, features, arms, and toes, are 
 determined in the same manner. 
 
 22. PORTRAITS. 
 
 The portraits, whether representing males or females, 
 from the fact that the proportions are large, a superficial 
 observer would likely overlook their imperfections. 
 
 The . eyes appear foggy, and the shading around them 
 is dark and gloomy ; the mouth lacks its characteristic 
 expression ; the flesh partakes of the defects already 
 referred to, and the entire countenance is stiff and arti- 
 ficial. 
 
 23. LANDSCAPE. 
 
 The landscape is usually poorly executed, particularly 
 the trees, which look dark and blasted. The lines repre- 
 
46 PEYTON'S SYSTEM. 
 
 senting " still " water' are scratchy rather than parallel, 
 producing a muddy appearance. 
 
 The sky is of the same consistency as the still water 
 scratchy and imperfect. 
 
 24. DOMESTIC ANIMALS. 
 
 Domestic animals are miserably executed ; to see this, 
 examine their eyes and limbs. 
 
 25. PERSPECTIVE. 
 
 The perspective is always imperfect ; the figures in 
 the background can seldom be recognized, and the sky 
 appears to surround every object in the vignette. 
 
 26. ARCHITECTURE, SHIPS, AND RAILROAD CARS. 
 
 The architecture has a black appearance, and when it 
 is represented in the distance, the lines, which ought to 
 be quite fine, are coarse and heavy. Ships are poorly 
 drawn, the texture of the canvas is very coarse, and the 
 general appearance is bad. 
 
 Railroad cars are also poorly executed, the lines which 
 denote the surface of the wood-work of which they are 
 made, are heavy and indistinct the car farthest from 
 the eye is usually the most imperfect. 
 
LI Bli A II \' 
 
 I'XJVK'KSITY <H< 
 
 CALIFORNIA. 
 
 ALTERED BANK NOTES. 
 
 THERE are two kinds of altered bank notes : those 
 that are altered from a smaller to a higher denomina- 
 tion, and those whose title or locality has been extracted 
 and some other stamped on. 
 
 WHERE THE DENOMINATION IS ALTERED. 
 
 Bank notes altered from a smaller to a higher denomi- 
 nation can be instantly detected by those who know 
 anything of genuine engraving, in consequence of the 
 striking contrast between the part which has been 
 altered and the rest of the note, which, like a patch of 
 coarse cloth on a fine garment, cannot be overlooked. 
 The counters are generally extracted and counterfeit 
 ones printed in their places ; on examination, the miser- 
 able execution will be at once perceived ; the letters or 
 figures, denoting the denomination, are poorly engraved, 
 and their outline and shading are coarse and imperfect. 
 In many instances, however, counters which have been 
 torii off genuine notes are substituted for those ex- 
 tracted, by what is termed the " pasting process." These 
 alterations can be detected by holding the note to the 
 
 47 
 
48 PEYTON'S SYSTEM. 
 
 light, when the parts pasted on will be discovered. The 
 denomination in the centre of the note, when examined, 
 letter by letter, will also disclose the fraud the letters 
 being poorly formed and blurred, and the parallel lines 
 upon which they are engraved, or by which they are 
 shaded, being irregular and imperfect. 
 
 Frequently the figure of the denomination is scraped 
 out of the counter, and one denoting a larger denomina- 
 tion printed in ; examine its outline, and this will be 
 discovered. 
 
 WHEN THE TITLE, OR LOCALITY IS ALTERED. 
 
 The note can be detected, by carefully examining the 
 letters and the parallel ruling which shades them. As 
 before stated, all counterfeit letters, particularly those 
 in altered notes, are poorly formed, blurred, and in 
 every instance without the sharp finished outline of the 
 genuine. 
 
 The parallel ruling, out of which many letters are 
 composed, and of which all shading is formed, may 
 always be detected by the coarse and irregular thick- 
 nesses, and otherwise scratchy appearance which it pre- 
 sents. In altering anything in a note, the surface of 
 the paper is very often destroyed : by comparing the 
 texture of the paper between the letters, with that which 
 is immediately above and below them, this defect will be 
 discovered. 
 
PHOTOGRAPHY 
 
 AS 
 
 A MEANS OF COUNTERFEITING 
 
 NOTWITHSTANDING the many statements put forth by 
 scientific men, as to the dangerous character of Photo- 
 graphy, when applied to the counterfeiting of bank 
 notes, it has thus far (fortunately) proved a failure. 
 And, although some bank notes counterfeited by this 
 process have been palmed off on the unwary, I doubt 
 very much if the photograph can be produced that will 
 deceive a good judge of bank notes. In its manufacture 
 there are physical difficulties to be encountered, at every 
 step : the colors in which genuine bank notes are printed 
 are, to a certain extent, anti-photographic ; but by far 
 the most effectual safeguard against this species of fraud 
 
 is the SUPERIOR QUALITY OF OUR BANK-NOTE ENGRAVING, 
 
 the sharpness, clearness, and finish of which CAN NEVER BE 
 
 IMPARTED TO THE PHOTOGRAPH, 
 
 7 
 
50 PEYTON'S SYSTEM. 
 
 The pupil will have no difficulty in detecting these 
 frauds : the parallel ruling, fine lathe-work, hair lines, 
 etc., etc., will be found very defective ; while the entire 
 engraving presents a peculiar purplish, or rather a 
 smoky appearance frequently suggesting the idea that 
 the note has been washed, and the ink partially ex- 
 tracted. 
 
A FEW WOEDS ABOUT 
 
 "BANK-NOTE REPORTERS" 
 
 AND 
 
 "DESCRIPTIVE LISTS." 
 
 A BANK-NOTE LIST, such as we find published in this 
 and other principal cities, is an exceedingly valuable pub- 
 lication : giving as it does the names and rates of discount 
 of all the banks in good standing ; the names of those that 
 are broken and worthless ; the character and quality of the 
 various frauds perpetrated in bank notes ; together with 
 a digest of general financial information. Certainly no 
 one in business can well do without it. That its power, 
 however, to prevent fraud is limited, admits of no ques- 
 tion, since it can only give information that a counter- 
 feit has appeared AFTER the public have been swindled 
 by the same. Counterfeiters are by no means so com- 
 municative as to inform the publisher of a Bank-Note 
 List that, on a certain day, and on a certain bank, they 
 are going to circulate a certain counterfeit : on the con- 
 
 51 
 
52 PEYTON'S SYSTEM OF DETECTING 
 
 trary, they will take good care to flood the various cities 
 simultaneously, so that even the telegraph has sharp work 
 to give publicity to their actions. Yet there are persons 
 to be found who suppose that the editors of these jour- 
 nals possess oracular power, by which frauds on the 
 bank-note currency can be anticipated, and that it is only 
 necessary to turn to the pages of their " Detector," to 
 obtain the desired information. It is no easy matter to 
 explain to them the true state of the case, as they per- 
 sist in telling you that they received it (the note which 
 you have just informed them is a counterfeit) * ' because 
 there was nothing about it in the Reporter." After the 
 counterfeit has made its appearance, a description of it is 
 to be found in the Detector ; but unfortunately, in the 
 vast majority of cases, language alone is not sufficient to 
 point out the defects, which only the practised eye can 
 detect, and the poor resource left to those thus ignorant 
 of what constitutes the genuine work is, in the expressive 
 and highly suggestive words of the " Detector" afore- 
 said, " better refuse all bills of this plate" 
 
 The Descriptive List is intended to give a description 
 of the leading features of genuine bank notes. To give 
 an example : We have before us a ten- dollar bill, pur- 
 porting to have been issued by the Broadway Bank, 
 New York City, and we wish to ascertain if it is good. 
 We turn to the Descriptive List and find the description 
 of the ten- dollar notes of that Bank to be as follows : 
 
COUNTERFEIT BANK NOTES. 53 
 
 " 10 10, female, cars, canal, ships and city." We now 
 examine our note, and find that it corresponds in every 
 respect with said description, and we of course pro- 
 nounce it genuine. We receive the note, and in due 
 time take it to the Bank for redemption but, to our 
 surprise, we are informed that it is not good, and 
 although it answers to the description of the genuine, it 
 is nothing but a counterfeit fac-simile of the same. On 
 the other hand, it will be perceived that if the note in 
 question had not answered to the description called for 
 by the List, it would have been pronounced bad, and 
 perhaps correctly so. 
 
 The Descriptive List, then, is useful in cases in which 
 fraudulent issues bear no resemblance to the genuine ; 
 but it is worse than useless in those instances wherein 
 similar notes are copied, in whole or in part, from the 
 genuine. 
 
 In conclusion, I have to say that no work whose pages 
 require to be constantly examined, in order to ascertain 
 the character of every note presented, can ever be a 
 serviceable one, since it would be utterly impossible for 
 a person engaged in business to be every moment turn- 
 ing to those pages, and then, after a lapse of years, find 
 that he knows as little about the quality of paper money 
 as he did at first. 
 
54 PEYTON'S SYSTEM. 
 
 CONCLUDING- REMARKS. 
 
 HAVING now brought this Treatise to a close, I may 
 be permitted to offer a word of counsel to those who 
 consider the subject discussed in the foregoing pages of 
 sufficient importance to them to devote a little of their 
 tune to its acquisition. I shall be frank to assure such 
 that without constant practice, and frequent application 
 of the points and rules laid down, they need not hope 
 for success. Nothing requires more care and caution 
 than the study of bank notes : a "little learning" here 
 will be found strictly in accordance with the Poet's defi- 
 nition and admonition. Those, however, who are 
 determined to improve themselves, will find that every 
 hour's study adds to their fund of knowledge, and that, 
 step by step, they are acquiring an accomplishment, the 
 value of which, in a business point of view, can hardly 
 be over-estimated. 
 
 THE END. 
 
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