Sketchbook Cover Trompe L'Oeil

A letter from E.T. Snow attached to the back reads, "Harnett was painting for the writer a Five Dollar Bill, at the same time he was painting one for Theodore Stewart, but after delivering Stewarts bill it got to the ears of the Secret Service Bureau of the Treasury Department at Washington and their agents seized it. The bill was sent to Washington and when examined by an expert it was shown to be merely a painting in oil. The late Judge McCue, solicitor of the Treasury decided the painting was a work of art and not a conterfeit and could not be confiscated by the Government. It was then restored to Mr. Stewart but Harnett was warned by the Secret Service authorities not to indulge his fancy in that direction again, therefore he would not finish this one any further than he had already gone, but said 'I will give you an autograph upon it instead' which is unique in itself."