What is truly fascinating about this book is that it does begin coverage in 1368, in the Ming Dynasty of China. I know that it has always been one of the great maxims of numismatics that paper currency was invented by the Chinese, and this one is true. The notes are large-sized bills in high cash denominations (remember, the cash was the little bronze coin with the square hole in the middle). They continued to be issued until the sixteenth century, and this series in one of the more exotic to be featured.

It is always a treat to look at illustrations of early currency, when there was a bit more manual attention to the notes. The paper was made by hand. The blocks for the vignettes were hand cut or engraved. The printing itself involved real muscle work, and the signatures were in pen and ink

As might be expected, however, the bulk of the coverage extends over the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. As you follow the progress issues for many nations, it is illuminating to see the impact of technology on the appearance and quality of the notes, including such features as colored ink, intricately engraved security device, security paper and so forth.

To me, what differentiates this book from its earlier predecessors are two major factors. The first of which is that we now know of more issues from many countries, and the second is that we know more about most issues. Plus, there is the consideration that there has been in increase in issuing authorities in the decades after the Second World War.

Now, one of the considerations with modern world paper money is that it is possible to build a very respectable collection, with many and colorful items, from all over the world. And not spend an arm and a leg doing it. This much cannot be said for many other branches of collecting.

This catalog is incredibly useful (and easy to use – an important feature) in sorting out an accumulation of banknotes. Even if you can’t actually read the inscriptions, there are usually enough clues (as in style of numbering or variety of script) so that you can figure out roughly where the note might be from, and then use the old match item with picture trick to make the identification. This process tends to be successful as the book is profusely illustrated.

Another feature which is really helpful is that some of the more modern issues are broken out by signature variety, which means that you get a better feel not only for the date of the note but also a real handle on the individuals responsible for the issue. With some notes the attention to signature is incredibly precise, noting differences among hand signed, printed signature and stamped signature (as on some of the late ninteenth-century notes of Cuba).