Subject Bank Note Issues
(US) Date:
Mon, 04 Jan 1999 01:01:06 GMT
From:
andycheese@cwix.com
Newsgroups: rec.collecting.stamps.discuss
Wrote:
"Any suggestions on
tools for successfully identifying the American Bank Notes
vs. the National Bank
Notes vs. the Continental Bank Notes (other than secret markings)?"
Differentiating the Banknote issues by paper
CBNco. paper comes in at least 12 varieties (The number isolated so far). The standard CBNco. paper is a hard white wove cotton rag paper with a "yellowish" cast to the paper. More heavely calendered, the short fibers tended to "cluster" into little "islands" of short fibers surrounded by areas of less dense concentrations of pulp fiber.
The 1873-1879 period was a period of intensive experimentation in the papers used to fulfill the tenets of the contract to print U.S. stamps. Charles Steele, the inventor of the grilling apparatus used to "grill" the 1869-1876 issues, was the superintendent of printing for CBNco. He had hoped to reduce the labor costs involved with the printing and grilling processes, by employing the first steam powered printing press to print stamps, replace the grilling operation with a stamp washing proof paper, and by reducing the cost of the paper used to print stamps.
The hard white wove paper used on the labor intensive hand operated presses proved too brittle to withstand the rigors of the steam press process. To solve the problem, Steele tried using a machine made, continuous web, soft paper that was "porous" because it lacked "seizing", the "filler" (usually starch), used to harden the paper and provide a smooth surface to print on. This resulted in the introduction of thick to medium soft porous paper in the printing of U.S. stamps. *2
The resultant printings were unsatisfactory as the porous paper sucked up the ink and distributed it through capillary action to make a "fuzzy" image. This low cost paper was also made from cotton rags and old paper, with sometimes a little straw added. This extremely calendered paper, looks "mottled" (like modern newsprint) when held to the light*
He
began to add his own starch in an attempt to produce a printing
surface which would produce an acceptable image; while trying to
maintain enough flexibility to withstand the rigors of the steam
press. The resultant paper is called "Continental Intermediate
paper". This paper is a hard paper with the mottled pattern of the
soft papers. This paper is identified by holding the stamp up
to the light and seeing a "mottled" pattern in the paper similar to
what you see when you hold newsprint up to the light, yet retains the
high pitched "ping" response characteristic of the hard papers when
subjected to the "snap test"
How
to tell the difference between hard and soft paper of the Bank Note
issues.
The most accurate way to differentiate hard paper from soft is
by sound. Hold the stamp between the thumb and forefinger and "snap"
it close to your ear. A high pitched reply is hard paper. A dull
thud, "flop", or no sound, is soft paper.*2a
Other
papers used by the CBNco.
Steele also tried using "ribbed" paper in the hopes it would provide the flexibility he needed for the steam press.
The failure of any hardened paper to work in the steam press, and the "unacceptable" quality of soft paper printings, led to the specific exclusion of the steam press, to print stamps, in the second CBNco. contract with the U.S. Government. *2b
CBNco. issues can also be found on the "Special Printing of 1875" paper, as well as on one of the four "silk" thread banknote security papers, isolated to date.
Although Scott U.S. Specialized Catalogue lumps all
printings on soft porous papers into the product of the American Bank
Note Co.; this is incorrect. American Bank Note company "soft porous"
is usually medium to thick mottled paper with a yellowish caste, and
which does not "ping" when it is given the snap test. Current
research is trying to determine if it is possible to differentiate
the "early" soft porous paper(pre-1882) used by ABNco. from that used
by it predecessor company, CBNco. Cancel dates on 1873-1879 U.S.
Dept. Officials covers, owned by the leading authoritys on U.S.
Officials, clearly proves that Scott is incorrect, and that the
ongoing effort of Society members, and others, is well worth the
time.
One of the best ongoing sources of new information concerning the
Bank note issues is the "Chronicle"
of the U.S. Philatelic Classics Society
*2(A tissue paper thin soft paper was used as the top layer of Steeles 1875 patented "double paper" and has been identified on Jocques Jolie's O83 1c War Officials were it has had seizing added to it to make it hard. Type II Continental Intermediate paper is very thin, light weight; and extremely brittle.
*2a (Stamps with gum still on them will report a high pitched sound also, so the best technique to differentiate soft paper from hard, only works with stamps which the gum has been washed off.). There are those who claim they can tell the difference between soft porous and intermediate by inspecting the face of the paper. With enough experience, this is perhaps possible, but we have to take their word for it. I would rather snap it without gum so I know for sure if it's intermediate or truly soft porous.
*2b (This
exclusion and the active oversight of printing quality, mysteriously
disappeared around mid to late 1878. Once the "Trust" consolidated
NBNco. and CBNco. into the American Bank Note co.(early 1879) the use
of soft porous paper became standard as well as the the use of steam
presses to continue the contract. The "relatively" poor quality of
product produced by ABNco.in the 1880's, helped lead to the BEP
taking over U.S. stamp production l3 years later.}.
