References
Thanks
Images of these banknotes are from Dave Mills and Madison, two avid collectors and researchers of the area.
Huge thanks to Scott Guye for providing much of the translation of this site to French, and to Marcin Piotrowski for the translation to Polish.
Abbreviations and Icons Used
INV: (Latin: invenit, French: a inventé) the original artist
DEL: (Latin: delineavit, French: a dessiné), producer of the definitive sketch of the design
SC: (Latin: sculpsit, French: a sculpté), engraver of the plate (or other medium for printing)
FEC: (Latin: fecit, French: a fait), "he made it" - a broader term used when one person has the role of both INV and DEL
Imp: Imprimerie, printing house
The terms Relief, Intaglio, Lithography and Offset may be mentioned with reference to the printing technique used for a particular banknote. See The Creation of a French Banknote for details of these printing methods.
ND: No Date listed on banknote
(F): Face of note
(B): Back of note
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Micro-printing detail, often used on banknotes as a security device. |
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Ultraviolet image, another security device; these images were photographed under UV light. |
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Watermark detail, another security device. |
Catalogs and Reference Documents
France: Les Billets Française de la Banque de France et du Tresor 1800-2002 (F), by Claude Fayette
France Assignats: Les Assignats et les Papiers-Monnaies Emis par l'Etat au XVIIIe Siecle (L), by Jean Lafaurie
Catalogue Général des Assignats Français, detailed information on French assignats, by Jean-Luc Buathier
France: Les Billets Française de la Banque de France, by Maryse Souque et al, pub. Banque de France
France: Trois Siecles de Billets Français, by Michel Daspre
France Chamber of Commerce: Les Billets des Chambres de Commerce (Pir), by Jean Pirot
France Tresor: Les Billets Française du Trésor by Jean Paul Vannier & Claude Fayette, Pub. Claude Fayette
French Indochina (Indochina, Djibouti, French Polynesia, New Caledonia, New Hebrides): Les Billets de la Banque de l'Indochine by Maurice Kolsky and Maurice Muszynski, Pub. Victor Gadoury
French Africa: Les Billets Africains de la Zone Franc (LK), by Roger LeClerc and Maurice Kolsky
Paper-Money Inflation in France, a paper published in 1876 by Andrew White on the French Assignat issues that began in 1790. Fascinating reading.
West African States: The Many Varieties of West African States Banknotes, by Weldon D. Burson
World: Standard Catalog of World Paper Money (P, SCWPM), three volumes: General, Modern and Specialized Issues, Pub. Krause
Wiki: Both the French and English versions of Wikipedia have provided useful content to this site on monetary systems, banks, and artists.
Yugoslavia, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, Macedonia: Coins and Banknotes of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, by Zlatko Viscevic. This is the definitive volume of the region, with an updated edition for 2010.
Printing Firms
See The Emergence of Modern Business Enterprise in France, 1800-1930 by Michael Smith for interesting reading on printing in France.
Banque de France (BdF), founded in 1800 at the time of modernization of France's banking and finance systems. BdF has printed all banknotes for France other than during occupation.
François-Charles Oberthür (FCO), French printing firm producing modern banknotes including many for African states alongside Banque de France.
Forbes Lithograph Manufacturing Co., Boston MA, USA
DuPont et Cie, French "Industrial" publishing/print shop, opened in 1818 as a low cost book printing firm, with facilities in Paris and Clichy.
Chaix, Paris, Founded by Napoleon Chaix after leaving DuPont in 1945.
Thomas De La Rue (DLR), English printing firm, printed some of the French occupation notes.
Bradbury, Wilkinson & Co. (BWC), English printing firm, printed some notes for the French Colonies.
Banks and Economic Statistics
The Global History of Currencies
Professional Organizations
Association Française pour l'Étude du Papier-Monnaie - French banknote association
The International Bank Note Society - An International Association of World Paper Money Collectors
Banknote Galleries & Sites
Ron Wise's World Paper Money Gallery - Huge number of donated images
Le Site du Collectionneur - French site with many images and technical details
Numismondo World Paper Money Picture Catalog
Paper Money & Banknote Directory
Catalogs & Supplies
Fayette-Editions - Specialized French catalogs & references
Editions Gadoury - Specialized French catalogs & references
Krause Publications - General worldwide catalogs
Denly's of Boston - Melinex (Mylar D equivalent) banknote holders
Banknote News - Keep your eyes on Owen Linzmayer's new issue updates and progress on The Banknote Book, the new world catalog he's putting together
Link Back
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