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                        THE UNIVERSAL COUNTERFEIT
                                   AND
                       ALTERED BANK NOTE DETECTOR,
                                AT SIGHT:

   A System of Infallible Detection at Sight, Applicable to all Banks
     in the United States, now in circulation, or hereafter issued.

                        COMPLETE IN SEVEN RULES:

                                  WITH
                  Diagrams and Illustrations on Steel,
                          FOR SELF-INSTRUCTION.

                  ARRANGED AND IMPROVED BY H. C. FOOTE,
                         71 BROADWAY, NEW YORK.

                    FOURTH EDITION.--FIFTH THOUSAND.

                                NEW YORK:
                 MANN & SPEAR, PRINTERS AND STATIONERS,
                            133 PEARL STREET.
                                  1853.

       Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1848, by

                           WHEELER M. GILLETT,

    in the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the United States,
                        for the District of Ohio.




TESTIMONIALS.


_New York, Sept. 18th, 1849._--I have examined Mr. Foote’s method of
detecting counterfeit Bank Notes, and have no hesitation in saying, that
in my opinion it will be exceedingly serviceable to any who will give it
their attention.

                             F. W. EDMONDS, Cashier Mechanics’ Bank, N.Y.

I concur in the above.

                                                  E. H. ARTHUR,
                                           Ass’t Cashier Union Bank, N.Y.

Mr. H. C. Foote’s method of detecting counterfeit and altered notes is
founded on true principles, and well worthy the consideration of all
money-takers.

                                                        J. McCHESNEY,
           Of Adams, McChesney & Co., Exchange Brokers, 71 Wall st., N.Y.

                   CHAS. COLGATE & CO., Exchange Brokers, 67 Wall street.

                           C. S. SLOANE, Exchange Broker, 23 Wall street.

                           ANTHONY LANE, Exchange Broker, 49 Wall street.

_Troy, Nov. 23d, 1849._--Two months since I attended Mr. Foote’s
instructions in detecting counterfeit Bank Notes, and am very willing now
to say that I am well satisfied with his system and mode of explaining it.

                                      C. P. HARTT, Teller Troy City Bank.

_New York, Nov. 28th, 1849._--I fully concur in the opinion respecting Mr.
Foote’s mode of detecting Counterfeit Bills as expressed above.

                              J. SIMPSON, Book-keeper, 72 William street.

_City Hall, New York, Nov 29th, 1849._--I fully concur with Mr. Simpson in
the above opinion.

                                                     GEO. W. MATSELL,
                                                         Chief of Police.

_Lansingburgh, N. Y., Nov. 23d, 1849._--I fully agree with the preceding
opinions on the subject of H. C. Foote’s Detector.

                              A. WALSH, Jr., Teller Bank of Lansingburgh.

_New York, Dec. 22d, 1849._--I concur in the above statements.

                      AMASA Z. FOSTER, Exchange Broker, 234 Pearl street.

_New York, Dec. 26th, 1849._--I have examined Mr. H. C. Foote’s system for
detecting counterfeit Bank paper and think it useful, especially in
well-executed counterfeits where judgment must depend upon the engraving
alone.

                                                      W. R. VERMILYE,
               Of Carpenter & Vermilye, Exchange Brokers, 54 Wall street.

_New York, Nov. 17th, 1849._--Having taken lessons in counterfeit Bank
Note Detection, as given by Mr. H. C. Foote, I hesitate not to say that I
am fully satisfied that if strictly followed and practised upon, any man
may detect the most ingenious counterfeit. It has the advantage of being
reduced to system, and the information imparted respecting genuine
engraving is worth double the cost of lesson.

                                                            A. LEWIS,
           Cashier at Loder & Co.’s Wholesale Dry Goods, 83 Cedar street.

_New York, Nov. 20th, 1849._--I have examined into Mr. Foote’s system of
counterfeit detection, and am satisfied it is useful and of great
advantage to all dealing in Bank Notes.

                      WILSON DEFENDORF, Exchange Broker, 82 Wall street.
                      SMITH & HAWS, Exchange Brokers, 137 Chatham street.

_New York, Jan. 8th, 1850._--Having been instructed by Mr. H. C. Foote in
his method of detecting counterfeit Bank Bills, I can say with confidence
that his system is perfect.

                       CHAS. W. HUBBELL, Cashier with Lee & Brewster,
                                        Print Warehouse, 44 Cedar street.

_New York, Dec. 5th, 1849._--Having availed myself of the instruction
imparted in counterfeit detection as taught by Mr. H. C. Foote, I have no
hesitation in saying that I am fully satisfied that it can by strict
attention to the rules be made an infallible means of detecting all kinds
of spurious Bills.

                           A. CARPENTER, Domestic Goods, 52 Cedar street.

_New York. Feb. 19th, 1850._--I take pleasure in stating that the
instruction I have received from Mr. Foote is of great service to me in
detecting counterfeit and altered Bills.

                      CHAS. F. GOODHUE, Cashier at D. & D. H. Brooks,
                   Clothing Warehouse, cor. Catharine and Cherry streets.

_New York, Feb. 19th, 1850._--About the best three dollars I have spent
was with Mr. Foote for his valuable lesson in detecting counterfeit money.

                                                       JOHN T. BROWN,
                     Of Andrew Brown & Son, Clothiers, 114 Cherry street.

_New York, 16th Nov. 1849._--I have examined the system of Mr. Foote for
detecting counterfeits, and am satisfied that it is infallible when all
the rules are applied.

                                                        S. M. ALFORD,
                                      Wholesale Hardware, 5 Platt street.

Also several hundred more testimonials from Bankers, Brokers, and
Merchants in New York City, Troy, Buffalo, Detroit and Ohio.




Notices by the Press of the “Universal Counterfeit Detector.”


“COUNTERFEIT BANK-NOTE DETECTOR AT SIGHT.”--We have seen a little pamphlet
of 20 pages, by H. C. Foote, of 763 Greenwich-street, N. Y., with this
title. It gives eight rules, with illustrative diagrams, by an
acquaintance with which, any person may readily distinguish the engraving
of a counterfeit bill from a genuine one--founded upon the principle that
no counterfeiter, working with his hand, can possibly attain the beauty
and accuracy of engraving by the perfect and costly machinery of
professional engravers. The difference between the two is shown by the
diagrams. The writer says he has never seen a counterfeit which a judgment
by these rules would not condemn at sight. Well-informed dealers in Bank
Notes usually act upon this principle, but Mr. Foote has here attempted to
give rules and explanations to render it more clear and easily understood,
and by which every man may judge for himself. Its price is $2. We think,
with Mr. Edmonds, Cashier of the Mechanics’ Bank, N. Y., that it will be
“exceedingly serviceable to any one who will give it due
attention.”--_Newark Daily Advertiser._

COUNTERFEIT DETECTOR.--Our readers will notice in another column the
advertisement of H. C. Foote’s Universal Counterfeit Detector. We have
examined the system, and have no hesitation in stating that it will do
more than all others now in use towards ridding the country of counterfeit
notes. The instructions which accompany the magnifying glass will enable a
person, with very little trouble, to determine between good and bad notes.
We notice among those who have recommended the system, the names of F. W.
Edmonds, Esq. Cashier of the Mechanics’ Bank, N. Y.; E. H. Arthur, Esq. of
the Union Bank; C. S. Sloane, Broker, Wall street, and many other
prominent money dealers. From what we can learn, we should think it a
subject of universal interest.--_Scientific American._

🖙 H. C. Foote has published a little book of 20 pages, called the
Counterfeit Note Detector. It seems to us to contain much important
information for the detection of counterfeit Paper-money.--_New York
Express_, November 24.

TO DETECT COUNTERFEITS.--We have been made acquainted with a very valuable
method of detecting counterfeit Bank Notes at sight, which may be learned
by any one in one hour. The author is Mr. H. C. Foote, No. 763
Greenwich-street, N. Y.--_New York Sun_, November 6th, 1849.

“THE UNIVERSAL COUNTERFEIT DETECTOR.”--Mr. H. C. Foote, of 763
Greenwich-street, has just published a pamphlet, entitled as above, small
in size, but exceedingly useful; a familiarity with the contents of which
will render every one fully competent to detect any counterfeit or altered
Bank Note at sight. From an examination into the system we are convinced
that the knowledge derived from the little work in question will be of
essential interest to every tradesman, and we therefore commend it to
their attention and consideration. By an advertisement in another column
it will be perceived that Mr. Foote will give lessons in his system, to
all who may desire it.--_New York Atlas_, February 3d, 1850.

_Water Cure Institute, Saratoga Spa_, Sept. 12th. 1849.--TO WHOM IT MAY
CONCERN:--The bearer, Henry C. Foote, is a young gentleman of
unexceptionable moral character, of excellent business habits, of strict
integrity, and is scrupulously honest. He professes nothing he is not
competent to perform. The business he is now engaged in is, and must be,
of great individual and public benefit, and a direct means of preventing
men from attempting to prey upon the community by fraud. If all that
handle money had the knowledge of detecting spurious Bank Notes at sight,
the trade would become extinct. Mr. Foote can impart this knowledge in one
hour to any person of ordinary observation. We most heartily commend him
and his art to the public.

                                                     W. A. HAMILTON, M.D.

“THE UNIVERSAL COUNTERFEIT AND ALTERED BANK-NOTE DETECTOR” explains a
method for the infallible detection of counterfeit notes. It is highly
recommended by experienced bankers, and with its clear descriptions of the
essential points in a genuine note, cannot fail to be of great practical
value.--_New York Tribune_, Aug. 21st, 1850.




UNIVERSAL COUNTERFEIT DETECTOR,

Applicable to all Banks in the United States.


The Steel-plate Illustrations contain standard specimens of all the
different styles of engraving of the notes of all the Banks in the United
States--six distinct kinds; four kinds of Engine-work, which is impossible
to be imitated by hand. In counterfeits it is attempted, and this book
explains the principle in such a manner as to enable any person to detect
_at sight_, infallibly, any counterfeit or altered note.




INTRODUCTION.


Heretofore the best judges of money have had nothing as a guide in judging
at sight but experience in handling money, a familiarity with the notes of
a few particular banks, and the general appearance of a note. They become
familiar with a certain (to them) undefined perfect appearance, generally
possessed by genuine notes, and any apparent want of which creates
suspicion as to the genuineness of a note; but the first impression, they
affirm, is the best, as sometimes upon continued examination the judgment,
having no particular guide, wavers, gets confused, and is often at fault.
Now this uncertainty may be entirely obviated, and the detection of
counterfeits at sight reduced to a perfect science or mathematical
certainty; and this great desideratum is held to be perfectly attained in
the rules here presented, when combined with a little practice in handling
money.

All genuine Bank Notes in the United States are engraved upon one uniform
principle, by regular Bank-note Engraving Companies. A company consists of
ten to twenty first-class artists, each perfect in his own department;
there is required a heavy capital to be invested, and the use of perfect,
costly and inimitable machinery. Since the invention of the Geometric
Lathe, Ruling Engine, and Medallion Ruling, and the invention of
transferring engravings by Perkins, it has been rendered entirely out of
the question--in fact, a physical impossibility--for any genuine note to
be perfectly imitated. Counterfeiters cannot procure all the machinery;
and even supposing they could, it would be against their own interest to
invest $50,000 to $100,000 in an illegitimate business, to run the
hazardous risk of seizure and confiscation. It would be more to their
interest to invest that amount in any honest business. They therefore
attempt to imitate the several kinds of inimitable engine-work by hand,
and the imitations thus produced vary in character from miserably poor to
tolerable, and sometimes exceedingly close imitations--deceiving the best
judges who do not understand the principle, but detected at a glance by
any one understanding it, as it is explained and illustrated in the
following pages. Sometimes they get hold of one or more worn-out stolen
genuine dies and use them in their issues--and so far their work will be
genuine; but there is always enough else of the other portions of the work
to indicate a counterfeit note.

The following items, quoted from newspapers (June, 1850), will serve to
show the necessity of the diffusion of some system of infallible detection
at sight:--

🖙 “The Western States, it is said, are flooded with $2 bills of the State
Bank, Indiana.”--_Times._

🖙 The _Boston Traveller_ of Wednesday, June 5th, says, “It is not supposed
that counterfeit money is manufactured in this city. The greater part of
the money of this description which has for years flooded the country,
comes from Canada, where, from various causes, its manufacturers have been
left comparatively undisturbed, to carry on their nefarious business. … It
is not perhaps an exaggeration to say that traders in our city are cheated
out of at least $50,000 annually, by means of counterfeit money.”

Now in New York city, which is four times larger than Boston, this system
has been pretty generally diffused among the merchants for nine months
past, and it may be safely predicted that for the year 1850 there will not
be one-tenth, or even a twentieth of the above sum lost here by
counterfeits. Men who handle any money should not refuse to expend the
trifling sum to learn this system. They should reflect that besides it
being against their own interests to remain ignorant of it, their neglect
to learn it _is just so much encouragement to counterfeiters_, because the
less this system is spread the greater the chance for counterfeit money to
circulate and defraud the public; therefore, every honest man should put
his shoulder to the wheel to facilitate the diffusion of the system, and
thereby assist to drive all spurious money out of circulation. The
different periodical Bank-note Lists are excellent guides, _as far as they
go_, but they do not and cannot go far enough. They assist too often
_after_ the mischief is done. In hundreds of cases their description of
counterfeits is necessarily vague and uncertain, especially where the
counterfeit is a _fac-simile_ of the genuine: they never make a man a good
judge of money _at sight_. But the greatest trouble is that new
counterfeits, it is said, are generally “rushed” in upon the community
preconcertedly, from different points at once, and the greatest mischief
is often done before they have time to get the description in the List.
Now this system will enable the poorest judge to detect _any_ counterfeit,
_new_ or old, AT SIGHT. It is arranged systematically into seven rules,
simple and comprehensive at a glance of the eye. For self-instruction a
magnifying glass will be of great assistance at first in learning the
principle, and afterwards the naked eye will be sufficient to detect, but
it is advisable to always have a glass on hand. Also a few specimens of
bills, good and bad, to compare and examine at first is necessary to make
the theory practical. The following is the list of


RULES:

  RULE 1. Geometric Lathe, }
   ”   2. Ruling Engine,   } Infallible when imitated.
   ”   3. Medallions,      }
   ”   4. Vignettes--viz: Stippling, Eyes, Hair, Drapery, Limbs,
            Scenery, &c.
   ”   5. Lettering and _Engravers’ names_.
   ”   6. Signatures and filling up.
   ”   7. Paper, printing, and general appearance.
  Alterations from broken Banks--the Magic Three.
  Altered Denominations--1st, 2d, 5th and 7th Rules.

It is believed, and experience has proved, that the above combination of
rules is arranged in the most judicious and effective order, and the best
adapted for practical use in detecting at sight that could be devised. It
is in fact nearly the order in which a genuine plate is originally got up.
First the “Geometric Lathe” dies, “Medallions,” and “Vignettes” are
transferred; then the “Lettering” and “Ruling Engine” work, next the
“Paper and Printing,” “Signatures and filling up,” and lastly, after all
is finished, the “General appearance” of the whole.




PREFACE TO THE FOURTH EDITION.


That this work merits the encouraging praise and high appreciation it has
met with seems to be confirmed by its rapid sale and by the permanent,
steady demand yet existing for it, as well now as when it was first issued
in 1849. Various miserable imitations of it (infringements of the
copyright) have been attempted in the form of circulars, pamphlets, and
