Is It Art Or A Banknote - Paraguay 500 Pesos 1923

This is just one of those fantastic notes that just exudes aestheticism with it's use of fine design coupled with a menagerie of colour evoking amazement that this could have been used as a currency.



This lovely note was printed by American Banknote Company in the 1920's and is a printers proof that was sold off when the company's archives were sold off. During the time from the 1890's - 1940's American Banknote Company was the superior printer for the currencies of the world, their multiple printing pass notes with fine engravings were the envy of German, French, and British security printing companies. Later on the company was eclipsed by Thomas De La Rue, and their printings from the early part of the last century lie testament to a glorious past.

 

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SM.. that is a beautiful vignette and write up.
Are you considering this your submission for the Group??

Very impressive note to say the least...The De Le Rue Co is World famous for Banknote engravings...

10 Thumbs up!! :thumb: :thumb:

 

Indeed, I know what I am doing. Will be up with the roosters in the morrow.

 

:thumb: :smile

RickieB

 

I think it is art ,I like the way you take the vignette out and have that beautiful background,how do you do that w/photo shop ? I love your "Beauties on Bank Notes ' web page !http://www.scottishmoney.net/banknotes/banknotes.html
Can't wait for your presentation !

 

That's a superb note. Thanks for the neat post.

 

No, I don't have photoshop, I never liked it.

 

It's art that happens to be on a banknote :smile

 

That is very nice. I am not used to seeing so much color on notes that aren't relativly new, of cource, most of the time I see these notes it is the first time I've ever seen them, with my experience limited to what I recieved in change here in NY.

 

Obviously this is great art. Interpretation is where I become lost. While I can certainly appreciate the engravers talent, I am lost as to the meaning of the artwork. Any clues?

 

Totally! The merging of the two! hya: The contrast of the colours in the central 'device' in red/blue against the vignettes in green / black is very striking for me. Thanks for sharing can't wait to read more.

 

:thumb: Art that is surely missed these days on US notes!

 

Very nice banknote. My wife is into BNs collecting

On the right you can see the "Ruinas de Humaita". Here is a picture I took about 7 months ago.

Humaita ruins are also in 100 Guaranies coins.

 

nice banknote, congrats!

 

Super nice piece!! Exceptional!!

 

Great post SM, would love to hear more about the main vignette! Wish I had been into collecting these types of things when they sold off the ABNC artifacts! I bet there were some great pieces of art sold to some lucky collectors!

 

Indeed, as this still holds true today. The Thomas De La Rue Company designs/engraves and prints not all but most of the Worlds Banknote still today!

I too would have loved getting some of the Old ABN Co Hoard..but it was not to be.

Cry foul thou Romeo...:crying:


RickieB

 

There are still other great printers that come to mind, Joh Enschede en Zonen, Giesecki und Devrient but they do far far less business than the monopoly of De La Rue. Some of my favourite banknote prints from the early part of the 20th century are G&D prints, from the German Lander and Uruguay.

 

Do you have a citation for that? I find it very hard to believe, and would be very curious to see the numbers.

Dave

 

I don't know that De La Rue would disclose what they print and in many cases not for whom. They do have a very significant market share in the security printing business though and are the major player. Most of their growth has been since the acquisitions of Bradbury Wilkinson from ABNCo as well as many other smaller printers.