Catalog
1 Livre LIBAN 1939
| Issuer | Banque de Syrie et du Grand-Liban |
|---|---|
| Year | 1939 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | 1 Livre |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Designer(s) | Log in to see details |
| Engraver(s) | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | The obverse is printed in brown and orange tones on a cream ground, with an elaborate geometric and arabesque border in the Oriental style framing the entire note. A large unprinted oval vignette occupies the left-centre, flanked by Arabic inscriptions giving the denomination 'لیرة واحدة' (One Livre), the issuing bank name, and the date 'بيروت في أول شباط ١٩٣٩' (Beirut, 1 February 1939). Two manuscript signatures appear below the central text block, with serial number and series references printed at the corners. |
|---|---|
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| Reverse description | Log in to see details |
| Reverse lettering | BANQUE DE SYRIE ET DU GRAND-LIBAN GRAND-LIBAN UNE LIVRE REMBOURSABLE AU PORTEUR EN CHÈQUE SUR PARIS OU MARSEILLE À RAISON DE VINGT FRANCS LA LIVRE CL. SERVEAU FEC. RITA SC. |
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| Comments |
The Banque de Syrie et du Grand-Liban was already an institution living on borrowed time when this note was issued — France's League of Nations mandate over Syria and Lebanon was under increasing political pressure, and the bank's privilege to issue currency would eventually be restructured after the war. Clément Serveau was a prolific designer for French colonial currency of this period, his work appearing across multiple issuing authorities with the Banque de France handling production.
The engraving credit to Marguerite Dreyfus — who signed her work as "Rita" — is worth noting. She was among a small number of women working in intaglio engraving at the Banque de France during this period, a profession that was almost entirely male-dominated.