Branston R. ON SIR W. CONGREVE’S BANK-NOTE STAMPS. Two-part letter to the editor of Ackermann’s Repository of Arts, Literature, Commerce, Manufactures, Fashions, and Politics. Volume XIII, No. LXXVIII (June 1, 1822). 8vo, self-covered. Pages 345–350 [content being on 346–349]; three extraordinary plates, as follows: 1) a uniface print of the front of a one pound note of the Commercial Bank, with intricately engraved design elements; 2) a uniface print of the back of the same note, printed in black and blue with exceptionally intricate designs elements over the face of the entire plate; and 3) and example of the watermark to be used on the note. Extracted from the original publication. Spine reinforced; plate quality near fine with only marginal spotting. Housed in an archival sleeve within a custom-made folder. A response by Robert Branston to a letter by Thomas Bewick appearing in the May 4, 1822 issue of Ackermann’s Repository that attacked the work being sponsored by William Congreve and undertaken by Branston. The excellence of the plates here present, particularly the two-colored plate of the back of a one pound note of the Commercial Bank, says more than the letter could possibly say, though this line makes the point forcefully: “I have to request that you will insert in your next Number the annexed copy of my reply; together with certain other, which are alluded to in that reply, and which I have now brought forward in performance of the pledge there given, to shew Messrs. Perkins and the public, that there is no part of the most intricate and difficult figures (for so I readily allow them to be) which they can print in one colour, that I cannot produce and print in two or more colours, with consequently enhanced value as to their security...” Ex MJS Library.