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V26 2023 INDEX E-SYLUM ARCHIVE

The E-Sylum: Volume 26, Number 3, January 15, 2023, Article 3

NEW BOOK: BEAUTIFUL BANKNOTES OF FRANCE

Peter Jones has written a new book; this one is on the banknotes of France. -Editor

This book shows the art and stories behind fifty of the most beautiful banknotes ever produced. Called the "French touch." France printed the notes during the 1900s. The author provides full page photos of each note with details of the designer and the meaning behind the designs, with fascinating biographies and details of history and economics. An introductory chapter gives a brief history of paper money, the Mississippi bubble, and paper money during the French Revolution. The remaining seven chapters describe the notes, complete with tables, graphs, glossary and index.

The format, starting on page 24, is a picture of the banknote on the right with a one page story about the note on the left.

The glossary lists Olympian gods, genealogy of gods, other allegories, mythical animals, real women on French banknotes, list of banknote designers, prix de Rome, timeline, and printing techniques.

About the author
Peter is a life member of ANA, NENA, and USMEXNA, and a member of ANS, IBSS, C4 and MCA, and president of his local coin club, the Mansfield Numismatic Society. He has also authored Notable Notes, Colonial History In Your Hands, Dow Jones by Peter Jones, Commemorative Coin Tales, The First Medals of America, The First Coins of the Americas, TREASURE! and with Prof. Cynthia Adams, Therapeutic Communication, now in its third edition. A graduate of both Oxford and Cambridge, and an MBA from the University of Connecticut, Peter moved from England with his wife and three daughters to rural Connecticut in 1977, where he practiced internal medicine for 39 years.

"I have always found the banknotes of France in the 1900s to be the most beautiful in the world and asked several dealers if there was a name for the style. But I always seemed to draw a blank. So, I started collecting them then wrote about them. I later found out the name I was looking for was "The French Touch."

I have a copy of the book and it's very well produced. The large-format book has printed glossy covers with full color throughout. The notes are well illustrated at larger-than-life size; the commentary on the notes is illustrated in color as well. There is an extensive glossary and index, making for a very handy reference. -Editor

For more information, or to order, see:
Beautiful Banknotes of France (https://store.bookbaby.com/book/beautiful-banknotes-of-france)