ry
large number of prints without any appreciable deterioration. Another
method of securing uniformity is the multiplication of plates by
electro-deposition, the surface of the copper-electrotype plates being
protected by the deposit of a film of steel which effectually prevents the
wearing of the copper and can be renewed at will.

The water-mark of the paper, on which formerly reliance was placed almost
exclusively, puts a difficulty in the way of the counterfeiter, but
experience has shown that in ordinary circumstances it does not in itself
afford adequate protection. The means by which it can be imitated are well
known, and, since a distinct water-mark is incompatible with strong paper,
the life of a water-marked note is much shorter than that of one printed
upon plain paper. The best bank-note paper is made from pure linen rags and
was formerly made by hand. Machine-made paper is however now largely used,
as it possesses all the strength of hand-made and is much more uniform in
thickness and texture.

In documents which pass current as money it is obviously the duty of the
bank or government issuing them to take all reasonable means to prevent the
public from being defrauded by the substitution of counterfeits; and a bank
whose circulation depends upon the confidence of the public must do so in
its own interests to insure the acceptance of its notes. This principle is
now recognized by all issuing institutions, but in practice there is room
for improvement in the issues of many important establishments, partly
because of the disinclination of the directors of a bank to change the form
of an issue to which the public is accustomed, partly because of the
difficulty of deciding what is really a secure note, and in certain cases
because, owing to exceptional circumstances, an issue may be practically
immune from forgery although the notes themselves present little or no
difficulty in imitation. The features essential to the security of an issue
are (1) absolute identity in appearance of all notes of the issue; (2)
adequate protection by properly-selected colours against photographic
reproduction; and (3) high-class engraving comprising geometric lathe work
and well-executed vignettes. In addition it is important that the design of
the note should be striking and pleasing to the eye, and the inscription
legible.

The notes of the Bank of England are printed in the bank from
surface-plates in black without colour or s