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Show Bank of England Notes - - -an 1 mi "All Hank ot Hngland notes are printed In tho bank Itself. Six printing print-ing presses are In constant operation, the same machines printing first the particulars ot valuo, signature, etc., and then tho number of the note In eonsecutlvo order. The paper used Is of very peculiar texture, being at once thin, tough and crisp; and tho combination com-bination ot these qualities, together with the peculiarities ot the water mark, which Is distributed over the whole surfsco of the paper, forms one of the principal guaranties against Imitation. The paper, which Is manufactured manu-factured exclusively at one particular mill, la made In oblong slips, allowing allow-ing Just enough space for the printing of two notes, side by side. "No note,' declares the Chicago Hanker, "la over Issued a second tlmo. When once It finds Its way back to the bank to bo exchanged for coin It Is Immediately canceled, and the reader will probably be surprised to hear that the average life of a bank note, or the tlmo during which It Is In actual ac-tual circulation. Is not more than five or six days. Tho returned notes are brought Into what la known as tho accountant's sorting office. Here they are examined by Inspectors, who reject any which may bo found to be counterfilL In such a caso the paying pay-ing In bank Is debited with tho amount The notes come ln from various vari-ous banks la parcels, each parcel ac-compaaled ac-compaaled by a memorandum stating ithe nsmber and amount ot the notes contaised In It. This memorandum Is rmaraed with a certain number, and thes each nolo In tho parcel Is stamped stamp-ed to correspond, the stamping ma-chute ma-chute automatically registering how many aro stamped, and consequently, Mrawlng attention to any deficiency In the Dumber ot notes, as comparod with that stated in the memorandum. This done, tho notes are sorted according accord-ing to Bomber and date, and, after being be-ing defaced by punching out the letters let-ters Indicating the value and tearing oft the corner hearing the algnaturo, are passed to the bank nolo library, where they aro packed In boxoa and preserved for possible futuro reference refer-ence during period ot flvo years." |