Delaware State journal and statesman., 1862-12-05


FORGERY OF BANK OF ENGLAND NOTES.
The Bank of England has had another serion.
alarm. The recent robbery Of lis water-marked ed
paper from the Savstock mills has set the gov
ernment OF the Bank upon the watch for the cul-
piit; but while engaged in this search the pho
tographic cOunerteits OF the notes suddenly come
up ln u shape still more serious than the pnper
robbery. The London Revisp says;
"A few years ago something was heard of nbo
tographic torgeries of bank notes. These wero
undoubtedly done in very skllhil manner |.
but, At tue same time, no person who had ever
examined genuine bnnk note could have been
led astray by them and while it was conceded
that the imitation was very good, the iden TINT
photography could ever be seriously employed by
the forger was generally dispelled at the first in
spection Of these Photographic limitations Since
then the matter has been lost sight of nv The
public, and the greatly extended facilities which
recent Photographic discoveries have placed at
the disposal of the torger have been apparently
overlooked by those who should be most upon
their guard.
1t may, therefore, be with some little surprise
that the bank authorities will learn that photo
graphic processes are not only known. hut are
actually in constant operation, by which fac
simaes OF their notes might be produced 50 per
leGtiy as to DEFY detection by the most practiced
expert. 1t is admitted that the image Of bank
note produced IN the camera is as absolutely per-
feet as the note itself Every stroke and line.
each accidental flaw or secret mark is as easily
produced as The most commonplace design The
opucal means employed can, in fact transfer on
10 the prepared plate as exact fac sinile of the
bank note would be found on the plate from
which the note was in the first Instance printed
as far as the negative is concerned, there never
has been the slightest difficulty in the way OF
successful forgery but 50 far as the means of
reproducing copies from such a negative was
confined to the ordinary process of photograpbic
printing, no successful imitation could be expect
cd. Here aud there an unwary person might be
taken in, but the risk of detection would be far
too great TO induce any one toFembark on this
dangerous pHstme.
Recently, however, discoveries have been made
by which it is possible to transfer the negative
image from the glass plate in all its minute in
tegrl'y and exquisite accuracy on to metal or
stone; and this office effected, impression can be
worked OIL in printers ink ofabsolutely the same
tint and material as that used in printing the
original note. The photozincographic process of
Sr Henry James, as practiced at SOUTHAMPTON
for the production aud reduction Of maps. and
the photolithographic process of Mr.. Osborne.
employed for similar purpose at Melbourne for
Tue colonial Government OF Victoria, have each
been brought to sufficiently high state of ptr-
ieotion to render the successful forgery of bank
note mere child's play to any one possessing the
manlpulatory skill of either Of the above
gentlemen.
The editor of the Photographic Ne,es, in draw
ing attention to the specimens of these processes
exhibited ia the international Exhibition, gives
1t us his firm opinion that, by these means copies
of Bank Of England notes might be prodneed
which would entirely defy detection. Ii so hap
pens that these notes offer very special adyan-
tages for initiating 10 such manner. The
design is clear, bold and we'll marked they are
produced, not from engraved plates in intaglo,
printed at the copper-plate press, (the printed
impression Of which always presents slight
amount Of relief which may be felt by the fnger,)
but by block printing at an ordinary topographic
press Such an impression can, therefore be
initiated by the photographer without difficulty,
and in such manner that, if printed on the
proper paper, the bank authorities themselves
would be incapable of detecting"