Most of the patents prior to 1836 were lost in the Dec. 1836 fire. Only about 2,000 of the almost 10,000 documents were recovered. Little is known about this patent. Only the patent drawing is available. This patent is in the database for reference only.

From the 1805-03-19 edition of Boston's Reportory newspaper: “Stereotype Plates for Banks. / The Patentee of the Stereotype Plates, for the impression of Bank Bills, informs the Publick that he has constantly, on hand, ready made plates (the name of the Bank and Town excepted) and will be happy to supply Banks on the shortest notice. his terms are reasonable and uniform, the plates well executed, and he has the authority of many eminent artists, as well as the sanction of experience, to say that bills impressed from these plates cannot be counterfeited. No attempts of the kind have ever yet been made, though it has been adopted and is now used by SIXTEEN banks in New England.

“Encouraged by the success of his principle, and the increasing demand for his plates, he has, at a great expence improved his former invention, by adding beauty to security. He has formed a steel plate of sixty four dies, impress by the same dies now used for copperplates, neatly fitted and keyed together in a strong iron frame. The name of the Bank and Town and the denomination of the Bill are removed and others substituted at pleasure. The standing parts of the pates are elegantly engraved by Mr. James Akin. When completed there will be from six to seven hundred days work in the plate, and being well hardened, it will, without injury, print more paper than will be used in the United States. It is now nearly finished, and any orders addressed to him at Newburyport, will be punctually honoured. / JACOB PERKINS. / Newburyport, March 5, 1805.”

Thanks to researcher Marge Motes for providing us with a scan of the above advertisement.

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