Collection PL

Argentina 1883 — Banco de la Provincia de Buenos Aires 2 Pesos Oro Proof (Pick S536fp)

Superb proof engraving prepared by the American Bank Note Company for the Banco de la Provincia de Buenos Aires, dated 19 de Enero de 1883. The design features an equestrian vignette at center symbolizing progress and vitality, flanked by portraits of Florencio Varela and Valentín Alsina, two influential figures in Argentina’s political and intellectual life. Printed directly from ABNC master plates in black ink on thin India paper and mounted on card stock, this piece confirms its pre-issue proof status. ... Read more →

Brazil 1963 — Tesouro Nacional 20 Cruzeiros (Front & Back Proof)

Superb archival proof of the 20 Cruzeiros note, produced by the American Bank Note Company for the Tesouro Nacional. Both obverse and reverse are mounted on a single presentation sheet, showcasing the portrait of Dom Pedro II at right and an allegorical vignette of reclining Industry on the reverse. The pair demonstrates the harmony of engraving and typographic composition typical of Brazil’s mid-century currency. ... Read more →

Great Britain ca. 1904 — Thomas Cook & Son $50 Circular Note Photographic Proof (Pick Unlisted)

A photographic proof of the 50 Dollars Circular Note produced for Thomas Cook and Son circa 1904, representing a pre-issue production artifact created during the final design and approval phase of one of the earliest globally recognized private payment instruments. This proof predates finished circulation notes and preserves the engraved face as prepared for reproduction rather than for direct financial use. These instruments are directly related to what later became known as Travellers Cheque and Travelers Check systems and are often collected within the same category of early international payment instruments. ... Read more →

Great Britain ca. 1922 — Thomas Cook & Son Travellers Cheque £5 Photographic Proof (Pick Unlisted)

A photographic proof of the £5 Travellers Cheque issued by Thomas Cook & Son in the early 1920s, produced during the post–First World War consolidation phase of the firm’s international payment system. This proof represents a pre-issue production artifact created for design verification and internal reference prior to finalized cheque issuance. By the early 1920s, Thomas Cook & Son had established one of the most extensive private financial networks in the world. ... Read more →

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

A photographic proof of the 100 Rupees Travellers Cheque produced by Thomas Cook & Son circa 1923, created as part of the design verification and internal approval process for the firm’s rupee-denominated instruments intended for use across British India and associated territories. This proof represents a distinct production-stage artifact documenting the engraved face prior to finalized cheque issuance. By the early 1920s, Thomas Cook & Son had fully transitioned from a travel agency into a global financial intermediary, operating one of the most extensive private payment networks in the world. ... Read more →

Australia ca.1939 — Commercial Banking Company of Sydney LIMITED £5 Travellers Cheque Photographic Proof (Pick Unlisted)

Photographic proof of a £5 Travellers Cheque prepared for the Commercial Banking Company of Sydney LIMITED around 1939, mounted on cardstock and annotated at upper margin for archival use. This early pre-war layout marks one of the first generations of CBC traveller’s cheques, preceding the coloured issues of the 1960s. Produced during the late interwar period when secure portable payment instruments were vital for travel within the British Empire, this proof reflects the evolution of Australian financial printing in collaboration with Bradbury Wilkinson & Co., London. ... Read more →

Australia ca.1963 — Commercial Banking Company of Sydney LIMITED £5 Travellers Cheque Photographic Proof (Pick Unlisted)

Photographic proof of a £5 Travellers Cheque for the Commercial Banking Company of Sydney LIMITED, mounted on cardstock and dated '9/3/63' in pencil at the lower margin. Produced circa 1963 as part of the bank’s internal approval and recordkeeping process for its international traveller’s cheque program. In the mid-20th century, before widespread credit card adoption, traveller’s cheques were the safest form of portable currency for customers abroad. ... Read more →

Brazil 1943 — 100 Cruzeiros (Back Proof, Pick 138p2, ABNC)

Back plate proof printed by the American Bank Note Company for the 100 Cruzeiros issue of 1943, executed on card with broad margins and strong embossing. The reverse design features an allegorical seated female figure holding a globe, symbolizing Brazil’s connection to global commerce and navigation—recurring motifs throughout mid-20th century ABNC engravings. Proofs like this one were pulled directly from steel plates to check engraving depth, line clarity, and inking quality before full production. ... Read more →

Brazil 1964 — 100 Cruzeiros (Essay Face Proof, SCWPM 170b)

Large-format essay face proof for a proposed 100 Cruzeiros design, mounted on card and attributed to the early Tesouro Nacional redesign period of the 1960s. This archival printer’s pull demonstrates the face layout considered for adoption under SCWPM 170b, with unfinished margins and unprinted color fields typical of pre-production material. Essays such as this served as presentation pieces for government and bank approval before finalizing plate engravings. ... Read more →

Luxembourg 20 March 1970 — 100 Francs Face Photographic Proof Grand Duke Jean (Pick Unlisted)

Face-side photographic proof of the 1970 one hundred francs issue of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, produced as part of the final design validation process prior to full printing. This example presents the complete obverse layout in monochrome, mounted on archival cardstock, and retains full design clarity without color application. The note displays serial number A000000 in dual placement, consistent with specimen-format numbering used for internal production and review material. ... Read more →

Luxembourg 24 February 1970 — 100 Francs Back Photographic Proof (Pick Unlisted)

Back-side photographic proof of the 1970 one hundred francs issue of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, produced during the final design validation stage prior to full printing. The image is presented in monochrome and mounted on archival cardstock, preserving the complete reverse composition without color separation. A handwritten production annotation dated 24 February 1970 is visible along the lower margin, providing a direct reference to the internal review timeline. ... Read more →

Uruguay 1939 — Departamento de Emisión del Banco de la Republica Oriental del Uruguay 1 Peso Photographic Proof Pair (Pick Unlisted)

A photographic proof pair for the 1 Peso issue dated 1939, prepared for the Departamento de Emisión del Banco de la Republica Oriental del Uruguay. Produced as part of the unified 1939 series, this proof pair documents the finalized design of the lowest denomination in photographic form prior to circulation printing. The obverse features a formal engraved portrait of José Gervasio Artigas at right, balanced by the national arms and denomination within a structured ornamental framework. ... Read more →