The E-Sylum:  Volume 9, Number 14, April 2, 2006, Article 27

SIMILLE SIMILARITIES AND JEFFERSON PORTRAITS

Regarding Bob Neale's question in last week's E-Sylum, Mark
Tomasko writes: "I was puzzled at the inquiry about whether
James Smillie or Charles Burt engraved the portrait of Jefferson
for stamps and currency. James Smillie was an etcher, and did
not do portraits, which in the bank note tradition are all
"cutting", i.e., with a graver, as opposed to etching. I would
e interested to know where James Smillie is credited with
engraving a Jefferson portrait ( I suspect it was Fred Smillie
- see below).

Charles Burt did the portrait of Jefferson used on the $2 United
States Note, series 1869 and 1874-1917. There is a portrait of
Jefferson done by George Frederick Cumming ("Fred") Smillie for
U. S. stamps, used, for example, on the 50 cent stamp of the
1902 & 1903 series. I recommend my friend Gene Hessler's book
The Engravers Line for further information about James Smillie,
G.F.C. Smillie and Charles Burt.

The Smillies had a remarkable bank note industry family tradition,
and I sorted the various Smillies out (particularly how Fred
Smillie was related to James Smillie and James D. Smillie) in an
article I did for the Bank Note Reporter on the estate sale of
Fred Smillie's son's collection several years ago."

Bob Neale writes: "Many thanks for your reply to my inquiry
regarding Jefferson portrait on notes starting in 1869. I
recall (perhaps incorrectly...) that James Smillie is credited
in a couple of books but, most definitely, in the 15th edition
of Friedberg, page 17.  My upcoming exhibit "Jefferson - On
Paper" at our local coin show here in Wilmington, NC, will
now contain the correct information."

  Wayne Homren, Editor

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