Description
An engaging introduction to the attractions of collecting paper money, which in the last decade has become one of the major hobbies.
For those attracted to the artistic side of the hobby, a collection of banknotes can form a miniature art gallery featuring the talents of the best artists and engravers in the world. For those interested in research, the field is wide open and new discoveries are being made all the time. From its beginnings in China, when the “mulberry bark flying money” was created to avoid transporting heavy coinage, paper money has provided a window onto the history of the world. War, inflation and forgery have provided fertile breeding grounds for a huge variety of paper notes, often hand signed by famous men like General Gordon of Khartoum or printed by influential figures like Benjamin Franklin. Paper notes have also proved highly valuable in helping to document historical events.
Although some banknotes are very expensive to collect – over a million pounds has been paid for a single note – there are still thousands of attractive notes from all over the world available for 1-2 pounds or even less, putting them well within the reach of the ordinary collector. Extensively illustrated and full of expert tips for collecting, this book reveals the secrets of the banknote world and the little-known histories of particular notes, making it a must have for every new and established collector.
