Rule V. relates to the perfection of lettering. In the genuine the
lettering is done by a first-class artist, whose particular branch it is
to devote exclusively to that part of the work alone, and of course he
arrives at a degree of perfection that could not be approached without
such a sub-division of labor. In the genuine the letters are all exactly
of the same size, where they _pretend_ to be, and on the same _angle_ and
same size stroke, where they pretend to be. There are two great points to
observe as regards lettering, viz. _neatness_ in form, and
_uniformity_--the most important is UNIFORMITY. The want of uniformity in
size, slant, distances apart, thickness of stroke, and any deviation from
the line of the letters of a title, or the name of a bank for instance,
will show counterfeit work. See the lettering in the word COUNTERFEIT in
the steel-plate illustration compared with the lettering of the “UNIVERSAL
DETECTOR,” “UNITED STATES,” &c. The engraved writing in the genuine,
“Promise to pay on demand,” &c. is always beautifully done, the down
strokes _uniform in size and slant_, and the hair strokes extremely fine,
the curves _easy_ and _flowing_, while in counterfeits the down strokes
are apt to point in different angles, and the hair strokes coarse, and the
curves _stiff_ and defective. But perhaps the most important part of the
5th Rule, as it fails _invariably_, without exception, in all
counterfeits, is the engravers’ names or “imprint,” which in the genuine
is a _die_ cut in the most perfect manner, the letters very neat and
perfect and perfectly _uniform_ in every respect. In counterfeits it is
not a die, but letters cut in by hand, and never so perfect as the
genuine, but clumsy, not uniform distances apart, nor in size and slant,
and not all in a straight line, &c.