This blog is the result of a recent interaction I had on a post I made elsewhere. That post detailed a note that had been previously mounted at some point in the distant past. The mounting was quite subtle yet detectable with a close visual examination. However, those who responded failed time and time again to even acknowledge the evidence of that mounting and instead kept referring back to the scattering of fibers found in the Wilcox Security Paper that was used through 1880.

Answers ranged from incredulous explanations such as "horsehair" or even a fault in the production process, while a number of posters specifically mentioned the fibers without any context. And so, I would like to highlight the Wilcox Security Paper and set the record straight on this short-lived albeit appealing technical distinction that once stood at the forefront of anti-counterfeiting methods during the 19th century

First used for the Series of 1869 Legal Tender Notes, Wilcox Security Paper is best known for its distinct blue color and excess of fibers. The color, which resembles an almost cool-blue, can often be observed unaided. A number of large fibers can also be observed and largely correlate with the blue strip. These are often of varying thicknesses and range in size from small hair-like fibers to large fibers of considerable thickness that can even be felt through a PMG or PCGS Banknote holder (as in the case of lot 21012 from out August 2024 Global Showcase Auction.

This distinct blue coloration resulted from the spreading of a localized slurry of blue-stained pulp (which contained the aforementioned fibers) onto the white pulp that would eventually form the core of the paper stock. Both layers would merge as the paper proceeded through a series of rollers that squeezed it to a specified thickness before drying. Additional information can be found in Peter Huntoon's article The Origin of the Series of 1875 and Blue Stained Paper, which primarily details the impetus behind the Series of 1875 National Bank Notes and the lessening influence of private companies in the manufacture of banknotes.

This type of paper would linger through 1880 when existing supplies were finally exhausted; Congress had opted not to renew their contract with the Wilcox Company. The contract instead went to the Crane Paper Company as Congress desired to minimize costs.

Late printings are best distinguished by a horizontal rather than vertical orientation of the blue strip seen on most notes using Wilcox Security Paper. Possibly the result of measures taken to prolong a limited supply, the horizontal orientation is seldom encountered and can be reliably dated to between 1879 and 1880.

The Series of 1878 Legal Tender Notes and Series of 1878 Silver Certificates are by far the best examples of the horizontal arrangement, while National Bank Notes account for a sizable portion of the notes printed using the horizontal arrangement.

Notes printed using the blue-stained paper favored by the Wilcox Company are not rare, but premium examples with exceptional color and eye appeal are seldom offered. Such a distinction is best emphasized by the $1 and $2 Legal Tender Notes issued under the Series of 1869 where demand outstrips the supply of high-grade examples. Consider Lot 21011 from our August 2024 Global Showcase Auction and you'll see why notes produced using this short-lived anti-counterfeiting measure attributable to the Wilcox Company are as popular as they are with collectors.

To read the complete article, see:
The Curious Case of the Wilcox Company's Blue-Stained Security Paper(https://stacksbowers.com/the-curious-case-of-the-wilcox-companys-blue-stained-security-paper/)