2017-03-29 Wed

The US became a pioneer and a world leader in the art-form of security engraving in the mid-19th century. There was a big demand for banknotes before the Civil War as banks in every state issued their own notes. Federal security paper like stamps and federal notes were in high demand during and after the war.

The relationship between art, security engraving, and printing was described beautifully in The New York Times of 24th February along with a colour catalogue and back stories. Mark D. Tomasko, a retired lawyer and collector is the curator of the exhibits displayed at New York’s Grolier Club.

This collection of 150 years of art contains original wash drawings, paintings, period photographs and prints used by the engravers to make paper money and certificates. The exhibits have artefacts belonging to the United States, Argentina, China, Italy, Spain, and Venezuela. All the examples were produced in the United States between the 1830s and 1960s.

The Early Years section contains Miniature Drawings (1830s–1840s) that were of the same size as it would be engraved. The Golden Age of Vignette Art (1850s–1870s) was when the invention of photography allowed the use of larger drawings which were later reduced to engraving size. “Prints and Salon Art of the Mid-to Late Nineteenth Century” section included images from different books, journals, and prints. The 20th-century section has photographs of Chinese subjects turned into engravings on banknotes for China but produced by American banknote firms.