Showcasing the art of currency

Money

By: Victoria Hurley-Schubert – Staff Writer
When you think of money, do you pause to look at the bills and reflect on the artistry of the images?
The new exhibit at Princeton University’s Firestone Library does just that, showcasing the art currency from the first bills created in 14th century China to notes from Colonial America to art nouveau illustrations from Czechoslovakia in the 1920s. "Money on Paper" is an exhibition of bank notes and related graphic arts from the collections of Princeton resident Vsevolod Onyshkevych and Princeton University, on display at the Leonard L. Milberg Gallery for Graphic Arts at the Firestone Library through Jan. 2, 2011.
A good portion of the exhibit, which opened yesterday, is devoted to early Colonial American paper money and Benjamin Franklin’s early anti-counterfeiting techniques, which used pictures of leaves on paper money. "It was the only way to have any kind of economy going," said Alan M. Stahl, curator of numismatics, Firestone Library, RBSC. "Just like no two snowflakes are alike, no two leaves are alike. Franklin invented a way to transfer the image of the leaf onto a printing plate. Since it was anti-counterfeit, he never wrote down how he did it. We’re still not sure how he did it." The highlight of the exhibition are original works by John J. Audubon, including his first printed work, a proposal and sample sheet with the image of a grouse, a small bird, for a banknote for The Bridgeport Bank, Connecticut in 1824. The piece is on loan from a New York collector. No bank ever chose the grouse or used it on issued currency.
An original signed pastel work of a raven from 1809 is also on display. "It’s not a printed work, it’s something he actually did himself very early in his career," said Mr. Stahl. "It’s something we’ve always wanted to put on display, original signed works by Audubon are very rare, especially from that early in his career."
An elephant folio first-edition book of Audubon’s hand-drawn bird studies is also on display. "It’s probably the most valuable book published in America," said Mr. Stahl. The images were engraved and painted by Robert Havell, a professional engraver. A steel printing plate from "The Birds of America," a seven volume text describing wildlife, will be displayed with the collection.
Special attention is given to New Jersey artists and New Jersey Banks. When the banking industry was in its infancy, each bank issued it own notes, giving lots of artists opportunities.
One example of this on display is Asher B. Durand, a famous painter from Maplewood and South Orange, who got his start in the arts engraving paper money plates. These plates were used to print money with images of George Washington in a toga, at the Battle of Princeton and for the Monmouth Bank, among others for various banks around the Garden State. Mr. Durand’s classical, patriotic approach to bank note design dominated the medium for the first half of the 19th century.
"He’s one of the most famous 19th century American painters," said Mr.Stahl. "He got his start engraving bank notes. He engraved bank notes for 20years before he was able to make a living as a painter."
Mr. Durand’s brother Cyrus, also invented a highly decorative series of anti-counterfeiting devices.
Other historically significant American money is a complete set of six notes printed by the National Bank Note Company in New York and smuggled into the Confederacy in 1861 for distribution as notes of Montgomery, Ala., and Richmond, Va. This section of the exhibit explores the divergence of imagery on the bank notes of northern and southern issuers before and during the Civil War. Colorful examples of foreign currency are also on display, a bright contrast to the early United States examples. "American paper money really has not changed for 100 years and is quite dull," said Mr. Stahl. "In other countries paper money has been far more beautiful than in America, especially in the 20th century." Hours for the Milberg Gallery are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, noon to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The gallery is closed on holidays. Curatorial tours of the exhibit are scheduled for at 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 22, and Sunday, Dec. 12.
A free lecture by paper money expert Mark Tomasko on "The Art of Bank Note Engraving" will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 17, in McCormick Hall, Room 101 on the University campus. A reception in Firestone Library and a curatorial tour of the exhibit will follow the lecture.
Vschubert @centraljersey.com