Rare Set of Antique Forgers Engraving Bruins Tools

Description: Please feel free to make an offer. A Loverly Set of Antique Engraving Bruin Tools which are Fresh to the Market. I was told that they originally belonged to a Forger. I've since found out that amazingly; "Over 300 people were hanged for the counterfeiting of Bank of England notes during the Restriction Period of 1781 - 1827. There is 19 complete Tools consisting of a handle & cutting steel. There are 4 spare handles. One handed is a little different where the blade is inserted. They are all different types of hard wood. Some have nice primitively hand carved initials on them. They have some loverly colours & feel great in the hand, the are very tactile. It would be great if they could be purchased by a museum or even someone who still wished to use them. In expected used condition for an items of this age. Some of the steels are a little lose but I guess you just pop the steel out & put it in the handle of your choice. Some of the wire looks a little newer but again I imagine that they've been used for hundreds of years & got repaired through history as they're just held in with wire. It's impossible to put a size as they vary so much but obviously fit in your palm or hand. "Engraving is the art of inscribing forms of design, decoration, symbols & lettering into a hard surface by hand. The graver, or burin, is a steel stemmed or bladed cutting tool that can come in a variety of differently shaped cutting tips. They usually had a mushroom shaped or knobbed handle that sat comfortably in the palm of the hand to aid hand propelling". "The surge in counterfeit notes was a consequence of the Napoleonic Wars in the 18th century which had led to the Restriction Period, a time when the Bank was no longer able to pay out gold in exchange for Bank notes. The result was the issuing of low denomination 1 & 2 notes in 1797, with many soon being forged & circulated across the country. From 1697, those convicted of forging Bank of England notes had committed a capital offence. By 1725, the crime of uttering, or the known circulation of forged notes, had also been classified as a crime deemed worthy of capital punishment. However, a significant change to the way the Bank of England prosecuted those suspected of severe forgery was introduced at the start of the nineteenth century. As the Bank had grown to recognise that another solution to the crime of forgery needed to be found. A bill drafted by Freshfields, the Banks solicitors, was passed as law in May 1801 & offered those convicted the option of a plea bargain. This gave a prisoner the option of pleading guilty to being in possession of counterfeit notes; a plea that would be met with a punishment of 14 yrs transportation. Letters written by, or on behalf of, prisoners who were convicted of forgery of the Bank of Englands paper currency are currently held at the Bank of England Archive. A significant majority of the London letters were written from Newgate Gaol, whilst the Provincial letters were written from prisons such as Bath, Horsham, Portsmouth & Warwick. Ref the Bank of England Museum." Please study the images as they also form part of the description & please do your own research. All UK postage includes the extra cost of being signed for, for added peace of mind. Positive feedback is always appreciated. Please check out my other items by scrolling down to my "Seller's Other Items" as I will be selling other unusual tools.

Price: 425 GBP

Location: Stoke-on-Trent

End Time: 2024-11-09T23:37:04.000Z

Shipping Cost: 96.44 GBP