“The Crossing” Locomotive Die Proof on india, by James Smillie, National Bank Note Co. 1861

This classic 19th-century engraving, titled “The Crossing,” is a renowned vignette widely used in security printing and philately. Engraved by the National Bank Note Company (NBNCo), the scene depicts a wood-burning 4-4-0 steam locomotive crossing a stone-arched bridge over a peaceful stream. The original work is most often credited to the master engraver James Smillie, who produced it around 1859–1861, though some company records suggest it may have been based on an earlier engraving by Robert Hinshelwood. One of its most famous historical applications was as the central vignette on the highly sought-after $500 Montgomery note issued by the Confederate States of America in 1861. Beyond currency, a reduced-size version of this iconic image served as the design for the 3-cent locomotive stamp in the United States’ 1869 Pictorial Series, making it one of the most recognized railway images in American history.

Formed in 1859 in New York by former employees of Danforth, Perkins & Co. and other bankers, the National Bank Note Company (NBNCo) emerged to challenge the existing printing monopoly. It quickly became a major contractor for the U.S. government, printing postage stamps and, following the National Banking Act of 1863, vast quantities of National Bank Notes. Known for high-quality engraving, the company continued operations until 1879, when it merged with the American Bank Note Company.