Engraver's Presentation by Scottishmoney

scottishmoney · 11-01-2009, 08:45 AM

One of the more prolific and talented engravers of the late 19th and early 20 centuries was G. F. C. Smillie. Indeed, his work encompassed creations for the Homer Lee Bank Note Company, then later American Bank Note Company and most prominently with the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. His works ranged from vignettes for foreign notes, to work on the Silver Certificates from the 1896 series, to portraits of presidents on the FRN's and some would be used well after his lifetime on United States Military Payment Certificates.

This work is titled Liberty and was created early in the 20th century, like many of his works - it would be used again much later on.

A very popular engraved vignette that was used on numerous works of currency, and also several bonds is Ceres seen here on the Series 521 $10:

Smillie is a popular engraver with collectors like myself, because he produced many feminine vignettes:

This is a series 541 $1.

scottishmoney · 11-01-2009, 08:52 AM

Union was featured on the Series 1902 National $20s:

And lastly on the Series 661 $10:

Which would represent the last printing of currency by the BEP that had a depiction of bare feminine anatomical features.

And of course Ceres had her swan song also. An adapted version of Ceres was also used on the Standard Bank of Canada $5 denomination from 1914-1926, a very very rare series.

The near end of the usage of Smillies works was the Series 691 MPC series that was printed and held for usage in Korea but was never used and mostly destroyed in 1999.

scottishmoney · 11-01-2009, 08:56 AM

Smillies works encompassed many denominations of currency, here his work of Grover Cleveland is prominent on the $1000 denomination, first used beginning in 1928 for the small sized FRNs, and used through the Series 1934 and Series 1934 A notes:

urbanchemist · 11-01-2009, 09:06 AM

great presentation SM. those are some beautiful vignettes. the info you posted is very interesting.

**RickieB** · 11-01-2009, 08:55 AM

SM...

What a great presentation of vignettes by Smilie.
What a talented artist he was and he did have many vignettes to his credit.
If I am not mistaken, there were (7) Seven Smilies and they all were engravers including his son. Is anyone else noticing the color planchetts used on some of the MPC vignettes SM has posted? These are used on many World Bank Notes as anti counterfeiting devices...never thought they were used on US Issues.

Fantastic display as always!! Thank you for a a wonderful presentation!!

10

RickieB

Art · 11-01-2009, 09:22 AM

Super job on this presentation. The notes and engravings are beautiful.

**De Orc** · 11-01-2009, 11:29 AM

Have to agree guy's they are wonderful but for me the highlight so to speak has to be the image of Ceres that is stunning

Thanks SM

connor1 · 11-01-2009, 11:39 AM

SM,
Your presentation of Smilie is fabulous in the vignettes & story of his life,the use of multiple vignettes adds such a complete description of Smilie's talent as a master engraver.
Well Done...congrats !

Billy Kingsley · 11-01-2009, 11:46 AM

An excellent post, as usual!

**Daggarjon** · 11-01-2009, 01:55 PM

Exellent presentation!!! Some very nice notes too!

wiggam007 · 11-01-2009, 05:00 PM

Nice presentation with lots of examples. Maybe we can get another presentation for Smilie's other works.

USS656 · 11-01-2009, 06:12 PM

Great Post Scottishmoney! I also like the work by Mr. Smillie and one of my favorites is the Black Eagle. It was based on an engraving by Charles Bannister - Eagle of the Capitol.
The 1st image is the BE and the second is the EotC.

connor1 · 11-01-2009, 06:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by USS656

Great Post Scottishmoney! I also like the work by Mr. Smillie and one of my favorites is the Black Eagle. It was based on an engraving by Charles Bannister - Eagle of the Capitol.
The 1st image is the BE and the second is the EotC.

Mr. Smilie is a favorite of mine also, you did him justice with all those vignettes & your great Presentation,I like the Black Eagle Vignette also.
Job well done !