Henry Gugler

Henry Gugler
Born	Johann Heinrich Gugler (1816-09-27)September 27, 1816 Württemberg Germany
Died	September 6, 1880(1880-09-06) (aged 63)
Other names	Henry
Occupation	Engraver
Notable work	Abraham Lincoln engraving

Johann Heinrich “Henry” Gugler also known as Henry Gugler (September 27, 1816 - September 6, 1880) was an engraver for the US Bureau of Engraving and Printing. His most important work was an engraving of Abraham Lincoln. The Lincoln engraving was used on the United States five-dollar bill beginning with the Series of 1928.

Early life

In 1816 Henry Gugler was born in Württemberg Germany. While in Germany Gugler learned the engraving trade; he focussed on creating book illustrations.[1] He spent three years at an art school in Stuttgart Germany.[2] In 1853, he emigrated to the United States with his wife and his six year old son Julius.[1]

History

After the United States Civil War he began working for the National Note Bureau. At the bureau he focussed on creating engravings for a variety of financial instruments.[1] He was hired at the US Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) on January 15, 1863.[3]

Gugler executed the center portrait that appeared on the obverse of the United States 1869 United States five-dollar bill known as the "Woodchopper" note. Gugler engraved the center image on the obverse which portrayed a pioneer family.[4] Also in 1869, Gugler completed his most important work, an engraving of Abraham Lincoln which was based on an 1865 painting by John H. Littlefield. The Lincoln engraving took Gugler three years to complete.[5] The engraved image was used on the United States five-dollar bill beginning with the Series of 1928; the bill featured the portrait of Lincoln.[6]

Gallery

• 
  Engraving of Abraham Lincoln by Henry Gugler
• 
  Gugler vignette - The Pioneer (Woodchopper) on the obverse of the 1869 United States five-dollar bill
• 
  Woodchopper Note

References

1. Tanzilo, Bobby (19 December 2022). "From Lincoln to Lennon, Milwaukee's Gugler Litho had a long history". OnMilwaukee. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
2. Merrill, Peter C. (1997). German Immigrant Artists in America: A Biographical Dictionary. Lanham, Maryland: Scarecrow Press. p. 83. ISBN 978-0-8108-3266-4. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
3. History of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, 1862-1962. Washington D.C.: Treasury Department. 1964. p. 8. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
4. Friedberg, Arthur L.; Friedberg, Ira S. (1 July 2013). Paper Money of the United States-20th edition. United States: Coin & Currency Institute. p. 43. ISBN 978-0-87184-020-2. Retrieved 29 September 2024.
5. Sullivan, George (2000). Picturing Lincoln: Famous Photographs that Popularized the President. New York, New Yok: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. p. 81. ISBN 978-0-395-91682-7. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
6. "Brown University Portrait Collection". library.brown.edu. Brown University.