1856 J.T. Hodges’ New Bank Note Delineator. Sullivan Type B. Fine Contents and Finely Bound.The first Hodges title and important as the transition from the 1855 Dyess using the identical description plates. This 1856 "transitional" type merits much discussion and has been studied for generations by Dillistin and in the modern era by scholars such as Eric Newman and current bibliophilic catalogers. Finely bound, matching most of the Hodges in this collection, in impeccable style. These bindings were done by Sam Ellenport, binder of most of the fine volumes sold in the MJS Collection Part 1 Sale in March 2019.<p><p><p>Titles and Specifications: Hodges, John T. Hodges New Bank Note Delineator; A Complete Spurious and Altered Bill Detector, Giving Correct Printed Descriptions of All the Genuine Notes of Every Denomination, of All Banks Doing Business throughout the United States and Canada. The Only Work of the Kind Extant. New-York: Published by Hodges & Company, 1856. First edition. Folio 34.0cm by 21.0cm. Bound in three quarter morocco leather, spine compartments titled in gilt, front board titled in gilt. Printed yellow lithographic front wrapper, 2-page index, title page & verso, 3-310 pp., printed yellow lithographic rear wrap. Boarded typographical depictions of bank notes organized 3 by 9 to a page.<p><p><p><p>Distinguishing Features: Pages 3-287 are identical to Dyes 1855 work. <p><p><p><p>Notes: The first work of this genre, as discussed in the prior description, is Dyes Bank Note Delineator, 1855 followed by J. Tyler Hodges 1856 work noted here using the same plates. Dillistin notes that "there can be no question that Hodges publication was originally prepared from the identical plates used by Dye." Charles Davis concluded "the Dye was published in but a single edition, raising the possibility that one legally succeeded the other." Regardless of what the link between Dye and Hodges was legally, all [researchers] agree Hodges and Dyes were printed from identical plates and both bear "identical errors in the spelling of place names." The Hodges work is distinctive for the individual depictions of 27 note layouts per page (9 x 3 format). The depictions visually identify the locations all of primary design elements and their relative positions on the banknotes. J. Tyler Hodges printed the Delineator starting in 1856 then retitled it as the Bank Note Safe-Guard in 1857. Publishing responsibilities transitioned to Daniel M. Hodges, J. Tyler Hodges brother, resulting in Hodges American Bank Note Safe-Guard (1861 and 1862 revised edition). Finally, responsibility fell upon Daniel M. Hodges son, Edward M. Hodges, yielding the 1862 (unknown to Dillistin transition volume, Sullivan Type N as offered in this collection) 1863, 1864, and final 1865 editions. <p><p><p><p>The only other example traced at auction is the inferior Champa-Newman copy (Bowers & Merena, Champa Part I, November 1994, lot 340, subsequently Heritages Newman Part XI, November 2018, lot 15307). The Newman Part XI sale lot description discussion is as follows: "The very rare first issue of what came to be known, in subsequent editions, as the Bank Note Safeguard. The Hodges family were publishers of a prominent New York bank note reporter, along with several other similar publications, from the mid-1850s to the mid-1860s. According to Dillistin, this important work was pirated from John Dyes 1855 Bank Note Plate Delineator, but this is almost certainly incorrect. This 1856 issue was unknown to Dillistin and, given that it appears to have been printed from the identical plates used for Dyes 1855 work, it would seem that the copyright had been legally secured. All of the various editions are rare, but the first edition offered here is very rare indeed. The binding on this copy is damp-stained; text generally free of staining, though occasional exceptions are seen. Good to very good." There is also an example in the ANS Library.<p><p><p><p>This example is a lovely book. Within its elegant Sam Ellenport binding, sharp contents and fully Fine or better, Internal pages clean throughout, but with some penciled corner page marks made in modern era. Yellow wrappers bold, perhaps slightly trimmed at the front. Colorful and exceptionally visual. Ex: Gordon Frost Library sold as Kolbe & Fanning 2012 New York Sale, January 7, 2012, lot 297. Essential to any significant numismatic library and important in the grand scheme of Hodges detectors.
