Search Results for "early twentieth century" - Collection

China 1915 South Sinkiang Border Defence Headquarters 1 tael textile emergency banknote printed on woven cloth with red overprint and bilingual inscriptions

China 1915 - South Sinkiang Border Defence Headquarters 1 Tael Textile Emergency Issue (Pick Unlisted)

As a historical artifact, this note documents how military authority on China’s western frontier constructed a functioning monetary instrument using locally available materials, established visual conventions, and bilingual administration. Its combination of textile substrate, woodblock printing, military symbolism, and frontier iconography places it among the most distinctive and academically significant emergency currencies of early twentieth-century China. Xinjiang Cloth Money (Sinkiang) 1880-1924 - Textile Emergency Currency on Red Cloth, Seven-Note Reference Set Read more →

ChinaTextile Banknote19151 TaelFine (Textile Issue) Textile BanknoteTextile Emergency CurrencyCloth CurrencyMilitary Emergency Issue1 TaelWoodblock PrintingRed OverprintSouth Sinkiang Border Defence HeadquartersFrontier Military AdministrationRegional Monetary SystemUyghur-Chinese Bilingual IssueCentral Asian Frontier FinanceSecurity Printing HistoryChinaSinkiangSouth Sinkiang1915R9 Extremely RareUniqueMuseum GradePick Unlisted

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China 1918 Xinjiang textile emergency currency printed on red cloth by woodblock, with framed inscription panel, vegetal side borders, winged emblem, and wave-pattern lower band

China 1918 - Xinjiang Textile Emergency Currency Printed on Red Cloth, Local Authority Issue (Pick Unlisted)

As a historical artifact, this cloth note documents how monetary authority adapted under extreme frontier conditions, substituting material, format, and production method to maintain basic economic function. It stands as direct evidence of how currency operated at the margins of state control in early twentieth-century Xinjiang. Read more →

ChinaTextile Emergency Currency1918UnspecifiedIssued (Textile Emergency Currency) Textile BanknoteTextile Emergency CurrencyCloth BanknoteIssued Emergency MoneyWoodblock PrintingFrontier CurrencyXinjiangSinkiangLocal Authority IssueEarly Republican PeriodRegional Monetary SystemChina1918Museum GradeR9 Extremely RareUniquePick Unlisted

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Commercial Banking Company of Sydney LIMITED £5 proof, circa 1905–1910, PMG 63 EPQ

Australia 1905–1910 - Commercial Banking Company of Sydney LIMITED £5 Specimen Proof (Pick Unlisted)

Unlisted in Pick and graded PMG 63 EPQ Choice Uncirculated (Top Pop), this specimen marks the transition from private colonial issues to the newly centralised Commonwealth currency introduced after 1910. It reflects both the confidence of early-twentieth-century Australian banking and the enduring partnership between London engravers and Australian financial institutions. Read more →

AustraliaSpecimen Proof19055 PoundsPMG 63 EPQ (Top Pop) Specimen5 PoundsSpecimen ProofProofPick UnlistedCommercial Banking Company of Sydney LimitedBradbury WilkinsonBWCLarge SizePre-FederationColonial SpecimenEngraved Security PrintingAustralian Private BanknotesSydney Banking HistorySecurity Printing HistoryEdwardian DesignBritish Engraving InfluenceTransition to Commonwealth CurrencyEarly 20th Century BankingAustralian Monetary HistoryAustraliaSydney190519101905–1910PMG 63 EPQTop PopMuseum GradeR8 Extremely Rare

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New Zealand ND 1924-1933 Bank of New South Wales ten shillings proof printed by Charles Skipper and East, perforated SPECIMEN control marking, single sided with blank reverse

New Zealand ND (1924-1933) - Bank of New South Wales Ten Shillings Proof, Perforated SPECIMEN (Pick S161s)

The design itself exemplifies Skipper and East mature interwar engraving style. Ornamental guilloche frames, dense microlettering within the TEN SHILLINGS value panels, and balanced symmetry reflect London security printing conventions intended to convey institutional authority and trust. The central vignette combines maritime and pastoral imagery, showing an allegorical female figure with sheep in the foreground and a fully rigged sailing vessel behind. This imagery functions as a visual synthesis of agriculture, trade, and transport, representing the economic foundations of Australasian banking and commerce during the early twentieth century. Read more →

New ZealandProof192410 ShillingsChoice Uncirculated Proof Banknote10 ShillingsPrinter ProofPerforated SPECIMENPrinter Control MarkingNon Circulating ProofBank of New South WalesColonial BankingAustralasian BankingCharles Skipper and EastLondon Security PrintingGuilloche EngravingMicroletteringBlank ReverseNew ZealandND 1924-193319241933Pick S161sPick S161Museum GradeR8 Extremely Rare

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Ireland 1920 Ulster Bank Limited 1 Pound proof, Pick 388p and UB39, serial A 00,005, graded PMG 64 Choice Uncirculated, with blue central denomination panel, maritime vignette, Belfast and Dublin border, and Charles Skipper and East Limited London printer imprint

Ireland 1920 - Ulster Bank Limited 1 Pound Proof (Pick 388p / UB39)

This 1920 Ulster Bank Limited 1 Pound proof is a completed proof-stage example of one of the most visually distinctive private-bank issues from Ireland before partition. Dated Belfast, 1st June 1920, and bearing serial number A 00,005, the note belongs to the Ireland category rather than the later Northern Ireland issue structure. Its PMG classification as Proof, together with the Pick 388p and UB39 references, places it among the specialized archival forms of Ulster Bank Limited's early twentieth-century note production. Read more →

IrelandProof19201 PoundPMG 64 Choice Uncirculated ProofCompleted ProofPrivate Banknote IssueAuthorized Banknote IssueIrish Private BankSerial A 00,0051 PoundUlster BankUlster Bank LimitedBelfastDublinBlue Central Denomination PanelMaritime VignetteSailing ShipDockside SceneCharles Skipper and East LimitedCharles Skipper and East Limited LondonLondon Security PrinterBanknote PrintingSecurity PrintingEngraved ProofPrivate Banknote ProductionProof-stage MaterialPick 388pUB39Irish Banking HistoryPre-partition IrelandPrivate Banknote TraditionCommercial Banknote IssueIrish Financial HistoryEarly Twentieth Century Paper MoneyHistoryIreland1920PMG 64PMG 64 Choice UncirculatedTop PopPopulation 1R9 Extremely RareMuseum Grade

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Great Britain ca. 1922 Thomas Cook & Son £5 Travellers Cheque photographic proof mounted on card stock, PCGS 63 Choice New

Great Britain 1922 - Thomas Cook and Son 5 Pounds Travellers Cheque Photographic Proof (Pick Unlisted)

At present, no other photographic proofs of the 5 Pounds Thomas Cook and Son Travellers Cheque from this period are documented in grading census records, auction archives, institutional collections, or published references. This establishes the piece as a unique visible example of its specific type and a primary reference artifact for the study of early twentieth-century private travel finance. Read more →

Great BritainPhotographic Proof19225 PoundsPCGS 63 Choice New Photographic Proof5 PoundsTravellers ChequeTravelers CheckPrivate IssuePre Issue Production ProofMounted on Card StockThomas Cook and SonInternational Travel FinancePrivate Payment InstrumentsPost World War One FinanceSecurity PrintingDesign Verification ArtifactProofing ProcessGreat Britain1922Pick UnlistedMuseum GradeR9 Extremely RareUnique

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Great Britain ca. 1923 Thomas Cook & Son 100 Rupees Travellers Cheque photographic proof mounted on card stock, PCGS 62 New

Great Britain 1923 - Thomas Cook & Son Travellers Cheque 100 Rupees Photographic Proof (Pick Unlisted)

As a production-stage artifact, this photographic proof occupies a reference-level position in the study of early twentieth-century private finance, imperial monetary systems, and the evolution of traveller-based payment instruments. It documents Thomas Cook’s adaptation of its cheque system to the Indian monetary environment at a moment when private financial media were central to global mobility and colonial commerce. Read more →

Great BritainPhotographic Proof1923100 RupeesPCGS 62 New Photographic ProofTravellers ChequeTravelers CheckPrivate IssuePre Issue Production ProofMounted on Card StockThomas Cook and SonImperial Travel FinanceBritish India Monetary SystemPrivate Payment InstrumentsSecurity PrintingDesign Verification ArtifactProofing ProcessGreat BritainBritish India1923Pick UnlistedMuseum GradeR9 Extremely RareUnique

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United States 1914 50 Dollars Federal Reserve Note Philadelphia District Fr 1035 White Mellon PMG 30 EPQ

United States 1914 – 50 Dollars Federal Reserve Note – Philadelphia District White | Mellon (Fr.1035)

Printed by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, the note bears the signature pair of Treasury officials White and Mellon. Its large-size layout measures approximately 7.4 by 3.1 inches, engraved with elaborate guilloche and shaded lathework that define the artistry of early twentieth-century federal issues. The Friedberg reference number 1035 identifies the Philadelphia district variety, distinguished by its blue Treasury seal and serials beginning with the prefix C. Read more →

United StatesFederal Reserve Note191450 DollarsPMG 30 EPQ Very Fine 50 DollarsFederal Reserve NoteIssued NotePhiladelphiaFr 10351914 Series1914Large SizeGrantPanama ReverseUnited StatesPMG 30 EPQ

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Paraguay 1907 - Banco de la República 100 Pesos Issued Note (Pick 159)

The design is a strong example of Waterlow & Sons security engraving for South America in the early twentieth century. The face combines a yellow-green tint field with dense black intaglio work, broad ornamental side panels, large corner denomination tablets, and a central architectural vignette of the Banco de la República building. The engraved promise-to-pay wording, red serial number, Series A panel, and formal signature arrangement give the note a deeply institutional character. The reverse, built around elaborate guilloché rosettes, large denomination panels, and the national emblem, displays the same technical precision and decorative density that made Waterlow issues widely respected across Latin America. Read more →

ParaguayIssued Note1907100 PesosPMG 66 EPQ Gem Uncirculated Issued Note100 PesosPick 159Banco de la RepúblicaBase TypeNon-Overprinted IssueOriginal IssueSeries ARed Serial NumberWaterlow & SonsWaterlow & Sons London100 WatermarkWmk 100Architectural VignetteBanco de la República BuildingGuilloché Security DesignIntaglio PrintingYellow-Green TintBlack EngravingLarge Denomination PanelsMoneda NacionalDiez Pesos Oro SelladoGold-Value ClauseTen Sealed Gold PesosBase for 1912 State OverprintBase for Pick 134Base for Dual-Side Treasury RevalidationParaguayan Monetary HistorySouth American Monetary HistoryEarly 20th Century FinancePre-1912 Emergency IssueReference TypeCurrency Reform ContextHistoryParaguayRepublic of Paraguay19071912PMG 66 EPQGem UncirculatedMuseum Grade

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New Zealand 1934 Reserve Bank of New Zealand 10 Shillings photographic face proof Pick 154p showing kiwi vignette and portrait of Maori King Tawhiao

New Zealand 1934 - The Reserve Bank of New Zealand 10 Shillings Photographic Face Proof (Pick 154p)

The composition of the note combines national symbolism with landscape imagery characteristic of early twentieth-century Commonwealth banknote design. At left appears the kiwi, New Zealand’s endemic flightless bird and enduring national emblem. At center stands the New Zealand coat of arms supported by allegorical figures, reinforcing the authority of the state and the legitimacy of the new central bank. At right is the portrait of Tāwhiao, the second Māori King, whose presence reflects the historical importance of the Māori King Movement within New Zealand society. Read more →

New ZealandPhotographic Proof193410 ShillingsPCGS 64 Very Choice New Photographic ProofFace ProofEngraving ProofArchival ProofLefeaux SeriesReserve Bank First IssueReserve Bank Act 1933Leslie LefeauxKiwi VignetteMaori King TawhiaoNew Zealand Coat of ArmsNew Zealand193410 ShillingsPick 154pPick 154PCGS 64Very Choice NewMuseum GradeR8 Extremely Rare

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Poland 1919 Bank Polski 1 Zloty specimen, series S.36B, serial 060793 and specimen control number 1893, with red WZÓR and BEZ WARTOŚCI overprints and two vertically arranged circular perforations.

Poland 1919 - Bank Polski 1 Zloty Specimen S.36B 060793 with WZÓR and BEZ WARTOŚCI Overprints (Pick 51s)

The note was printed in France by Imprimerie Benoit Arnaud in Lyon at a time when Poland's domestic security-printing capacity was still being rebuilt after independence. Its refined engraving, fine-line ornament, and layered pastel underprinting reflect the strong influence of early twentieth-century French banknote design. Read more →

PolandSpecimen19191 ZlotyPMG 40 EPQ Extremely Fine SpecimenBank Polski1 ZlotySeries S.36BSerial 060793Specimen Control Number 1893First Zloty IssueWZOR OverprintWZOR Overprint with PeriodBEZ WARTOSCI OverprintRed WZOR Overprint on Both SidesBilateral Specimen Overprint7 mm WZOR LetteringTwo Circular PerforationsVertical Perforation ArrangementPunch-Cancelled SpecimenSpecimen Control SystemTadeusz KosciuszkoKosciuszko PortraitGrabski Currency ReformPolish Monetary ReformRestoration of the ZlotyPost-Independence CurrencyImprimerie Benoit ArnaudIMP BenoitBenoit ArnaudLyon PrintingFrench Security PrintingSecurity Printing HistoryEngraved BanknoteGuilloche DesignPolandPoland 1919Second Polish RepublicSecond Polish Republic Currency19191924Pick 51sMilczak 47WcPMG 40 EPQMuseum Grade

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Ireland - Northern 1940 Northern Bank Limited 1 Pound issued note, Pick 178b and NR68, serial N-I/H 028711, black prefix and serial number variety, graded PMG 67 EPQ Superb Gem Uncirculated, with blue ONE counter, maritime and industrial vignette, architectural reverse, and Belfast banking identity

Ireland - Northern 1940 - Northern Bank Limited 1 Pound Issued Note, Black Prefix and Serial Number (Pick 178b / NR68)

The upper central vignette combines maritime and industrial imagery: a sailing vessel, dockside structure, industrial equipment, landscape elements, and the machinery of trade. This imagery connects the note to the commercial world served by Northern Bank Limited, including shipping, manufacturing, linen, engineering, and regional enterprise. The engraved borderwork, denomination panels, and ornamental counters continue the older visual language of private and regional banknote issue, even as the note belongs to the twentieth-century sterling banking environment of Northern Ireland. Read more →

IrelandIssued Note19401 PoundPMG 67 EPQ Superb Gem Uncirculated Issued NoteRegular IssuePrivate Banknote IssueAuthorized Banknote IssueIrish Private BankNorthern Ireland IssueBlack Prefix and Serial NumberSerial N-I/H 028711N-I/H Prefix1 PoundNorthern BankNorthern Bank LimitedBelfastDated 1st January 1940Blue One CounterMaritime VignetteIndustrial VignetteArchitectural VignetteSterling BanknoteCommercial Security PrinterBanknote PrintingSecurity PrintingEngraved BanknotePrivate Banknote ProductionCommercial Banknote IssueBlack Prefix VarietyBlack Serial Number VarietyPick 178bNR68Irish Banking HistoryNorthern Ireland Banking HistoryPrivate Banknote TraditionCommercial Banknote IssueIrish Financial HistoryEarly Twentieth Century Paper MoneyPre-decimal SterlingWartime Period BanknoteHistoryIrelandIreland - Northern1940Pick 178bNR68PMG 67PMG 67 EPQPMG 67 EPQ Superb Gem UncirculatedExceptional Paper QualityMuseum Grade

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