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Australia 1880–1910 Commercial Bank of Australia £100 specimen, PMG 64 Choice Uncirculated

Australia 1880–1910 - Commercial Bank of Australia £100 Specimen (Pick Unlisted)

Engraved by Bradbury, Wilkinson & Co. in London and printed locally by Sands & McDougall in Melbourne, the note embodies the cooperative evolution of Australian banknote production. Bradbury, Wilkinson supplied the master plates, security devices, and engraving framework, while Sands & McDougall executed local printing to supply the bank's circulation demands across Victoria and the wider Australian colonies. The imprint 'Bradbury, Wilkinson & Co., Engravers, London' confirms its master-plate origin, while the local printer’s marks establish the dual-track production typical of the late colonial banking era. Read more →

AustraliaSpecimen1880100 PoundsPMG 64 Choice Uncirculated Specimen100 PoundsHigh DenominationCommercial Bank of AustraliaBradbury WilkinsonBWCSands & McDougallColonial SpecimenBilingualChinese-EnglishPick UnlistedColonial Banking HistoryAustralian Private BanknotesPre-Notes Act Era19th Century BankingMulticultural Trade NetworksSecurity Printing HistoryBritish Engraving InfluenceAustralian Monetary HistoryAustralia188019101880–1910PMG 64Museum GradeR9 Extremely RareUniqueAnnotationsHandwritten Annotations
Held
New Zealand 1907–1926 Bank of New Zealand £20 Blue audit-range serial-prefix specimen with dual control numbers, Bradbury Wilkinson & Co., PMG 55 AU, Pop 1/1, R9 Extremely Rare

New Zealand 1907–1926 - Bank of New Zealand £20 Blue Serial-Prefix Audit Specimen (Pick S194s)

The £20 denomination occupied the highest settlement tier within the BNZ system and was deliberately executed in a blue–slate color family reserved for upper-level clearing and interbank instruments. This chromatic choice followed Bradbury Wilkinson’s established BNZ color logic, progressing from £1 Green through £5 Red and £10 Brown to the subdued blue tones of the £20, visually signaling professional handling and high-value usage. Read more →

New ZealandSpecimen190720 PoundsPMG 55 About Uncirculated (Pop 1/1) Specimen20 PoundsBlueBNZ Color LineageHigh Denomination Color TierHigh DenominationAudit-Range SpecimenSerial PrefixDual Serial NumbersPerforated SpecimenBradbury WilkinsonBWCPick S194sBank of New ZealandPrivate Banknote EraPre-Reserve BankNew Zealand Banking HistoryBritish Engraved NotesMāori Portrait VignettesSecurity Printing HistoryHigh-Value NotesAudit Control SheetNew Zealand190719261907–1926PMG 58Pop 1Top PopMuseum GradeR9 Extremely RareUnique
Held
Australia 1877 City of Melbourne Bank Limited £20 specimen engraved by Bradbury Wilkinson, PMG 62 Uncirculated, unique surviving example

Australia 1877 - City of Melbourne Bank Limited £20 Specimen (Pick Unlisted)

The engraving is a characteristic example of Bradbury Wilkinson’s late Victorian security printing: a bold central title cartouche, finely balanced allegorical figures symbolizing commerce and navigation, and dense lathe-work designed to defeat contemporary counterfeiting. These elements were not decorative excess, but functional security features exported from London to colonial issuers seeking credibility and trust in rapidly expanding financial markets. Read more →

AustraliaSpecimen187720 PoundsPMG 62 Uncirculated Specimen20 PoundsCity of Melbourne Bank LimitedBradbury WilkinsonBWCPick UnlistedColonial SpecimenEngraved Security PrintingAustralian Private BanknotesVictoria Banking HistoryPre-Federation FinanceGold Rush Era BankingSecurity Printing History19th Century BankingAustralian Monetary HistoryAustraliaVictoria1877PMG 62Museum GradeR9 Extremely RareUnique
Held
Bradbury, Wilkinson and Company 1877 Portrait of Woman intaglio vignette proof, printer's library design element associated with the City of Melbourne Bank Limited 20 Pounds colonial Australian banknote design

Australia 1877 - Bradbury, Wilkinson and Company Portrait of Woman Intaglio Vignette Proof for City of Melbourne Bank Limited 20 Pounds Design (Pick Unlisted)

In the completed 20 Pounds specimen, the portrait is incorporated into the left-side ornamental panel and surrounded by denomination counters, bank title, serial fields, security patterns and border work. The surviving proof therefore documents the portrait at the component stage, while the specimen records its final use within the finished banknote composition. Read more →

AustraliaVignette Proof1877Reference VignetteArchival Intaglio Proof Vignette ProofIntaglio Vignette ProofPortrait VignettePortrait of WomanEngraved PortraitPrinter's Library ElementPrinter's Design ArchiveProduction Stage ArtifactStandalone VignetteReference VignetteCity of Melbourne Bank Limited Design Source20 Pounds Design SourceBradbury, Wilkinson and CompanyBradbury, Wilkinson and Company LondonLondon Security PrinterIntaglio PrintingIntaglio EngravingSecurity EngravingBanknote PrintingSecurity PrintingPrivate Banknote ProductionProofing and Plate ApprovalDesign Verification ArtifactPick UnlistedAustralian Banking HistoryAustralian Colonial BankingPre Federation AustraliaVictoria Banking HistoryCity of Melbourne BankCity of Melbourne Bank LimitedColonial VictoriaPrivate Banknote TraditionNineteenth Century Paper MoneyVictorian Era EngravingHistoryAustraliaVictoria1877R9 Extremely RareUniqueMuseum Grade
Held
New Zealand Bank of Australasia £50 Christchurch proof note dated 1896, Victorian engraved colonial banknote printed by Perkins Bacon, PMG 55 proof

New Zealand 1896 - Bank of Australasia £50 Christchurch Proof (Pick Unlisted)

This proof displays the fully engraved obverse design, including denomination roundels, the seated allegorical vignette at center, and the formal promise to pay the bearer on demand. The layout reflects mature Victorian security printing practice, balancing ornamental complexity with legibility and authority. The absence of serial numbering, signatures, and circulation elements confirms its status as a proof prepared for reference and institutional record rather than issue. Read more →

New ZealandProof189650 PoundsPMG 55 About Uncirculated Proof Banknote50 PoundsPre Issue ProofNon Circulating ProofInstitutional Presentation NoteBank of AustralasiaBritish Chartered BanksColonial Banking in New ZealandColonial FinanceBritish Security PrintingVictorian EngravingExport Engraved NotesNew ZealandChristchurch188819211896Pick UnlistedMuseum GradeR9 Extremely RareUnique
Held
Australia Bank of Australasia 10 Pounds Melbourne proof note, early Victorian colonial banknote, Perkins Bacon engraving, PMG 45 proof

Australia 1835-1850 - Bank of Australasia £10 Melbourne Proof (Pick Unlisted)

The layout reflects early Victorian security printing practice, with heavy border engraving, balanced symmetry, and restrained ornamentation intended to convey authority and trust. The absence of serial numbering and signatures is consistent with proof status and confirms that the note represents a design-stage artifact rather than an issued instrument. Read more →

AustraliaProof183510 PoundsPMG 45 Choice Extremely Fine Proof Banknote10 PoundsPre Issue ProofNon Circulating ProofInstitutional Presentation NoteBank of AustralasiaEarly Australian BankingBritish Chartered BanksColonial FinanceBritish Security PrintingEarly Victorian EngravingExport Engraved NotesAustraliaMelbourne183518501835-1850Museum GradeR9 Extremely RareUnique
Held
Poland 1994 50 Złotych front proof, Pick 175ap1, PMG 63 Choice Uncirculated, final approved obverse design by Thomas De La Rue

Poland 1994 - 50 Zlotych Front Proof (Pick 175ap1)

The design features the portrait of King Kazimierz III Wielki (Casimir the Great), rendered in De La Rue’s modern intaglio style and integrated into a complex guilloche framework reflecting European security-printing standards of the early 1990s. Typography, denomination layout, panel geometry, color balance, and the finalized NBP emblem are all present in their definitive form. The printed date, 25 March 1994, anchors the proof within the official design-approval phase of the series. Read more →

PolandFront Proof199450 ZłotychPMG 63 Choice Uncirculated (Front Proof, Top Pop 1/1) Front ProofPick 175ap1Thomas De La RueTDLRNarodowy Bank PolskiKazimierz WielkiCasimir the GreatModern Polish BanknotesRedenomination SeriesPoland1994PMG 63Top PopR9 Extremely RareUniqueMuseum Grade
Held
Australia 1877 Mercantile Bank of Sydney £1 specimen with red ONE overprint, Pick Unlisted, printed by Bradbury Wilkinson & Co., graded PMG 66 EPQ Gem Uncirculated Pop 1, only known example

Australia 1877 - Mercantile Bank of Sydney £1 Specimen (Pick Unlisted)

Produced in London by Bradbury, Wilkinson & Co., the note displays the firm’s finely controlled intaglio characteristic of the 1870s: geometric borders, elaborate guilloches, and a bold typographic layout. The large red overprint “ONE” identifies it as an internal specimen, intended for reference or approval rather than circulation. Its pristine surfaces, confirmed by PMG’s Exceptional Paper Quality designation, reflect its archival preservation and the superior paper stock used for BWC’s specimen and proof work. Read more →

AustraliaSpecimen18771 PoundPMG 66 EPQ Gem Uncirculated (Pop 1) Specimen1 PoundPick UnlistedRed OverprintColonial Private BankBradbury WilkinsonBWCMercantile Bank of SydneyNew South Wales Banking History19th Century FinanceAustralian Private IssuesSecurity Printing HistoryColonial PeriodAustralia1877Only Known ExampleR9 Extremely RareUniquePop 1Top PopPMG 66 EPQGem UncirculatedMuseum Grade
Held
Australia Federal Bank of Australia Limited one pound Sydney specimen printed by Bradbury Wilkinson, annotated 1882, PMG 64 Choice Uncirculated

Australia 1879–1903 - Federal Bank of Australia, Limited £1 Sydney Specimen (Pick Unlisted)

This note is a true specimen, not intended for circulation, and was produced as part of Bradbury, Wilkinson’s export engraving program for colonial banks. The design reflects late Victorian security printing conventions: a balanced bilateral layout with allegorical female vignettes, dense blue underprinting, and wide margins characteristic of British-engraved export notes. At left, a young woman holding a lamb symbolizes prosperity and trust; at right, a classical female figure represents authority and stability. Together these figures formed a visual reassurance to depositors and merchants in Sydney and other colonial financial centers. Read more →

AustraliaSpecimen18791 PoundPMG 64 Choice Uncirculated (Annotated, Top Population) Specimen Banknote1 PoundPrinter SpecimenAnnotated SpecimenExport Engraved NoteLarge Format BanknoteBradbury WilkinsonBWCBritish Security PrintingVictorian Era EngravingPrivate Banknote ProductionFederal Bank of Australia LimitedAustralian Private BanksPre Federation AustraliaSydney Banking HistoryVictorian Banking Crisis1893 Banking CollapseAustraliaSydney187919031879–1903Pick UnlistedTop PopMuseum GradeR9 Extremely RareUniqueAnnotationsHandwritten Annotations
Held
Poland 1926 10 Złotych remainder Pick 65br with Bolesław Chrobry 992–1025 portrait watermark, PMG 40 Extremely Fine

Poland 1926 - 10 Zlotych Remainder Bolesław Chrobry 992–1025 Watermark (Pick 65br)

During the production of the 1926 10 złotych issue, this historically charged watermark was replaced by a redesigned variant that incorporated clear denomination markings - “10” and “ZŁ” - directly into the watermark field. The change was driven by practical considerations. A denomination-based watermark could be identified more quickly and reliably, improving everyday authentication and reducing the risk of denomination confusion in circulation. The transition reflects a shift from commemorative emphasis toward functional clarity in the banknote’s security design. Read more →

PolandRemainder192610 złotychPMG 40 Extremely Fine RemainderBank Polski10 ZlotychPortrait WatermarkBoleslaw Chrobry992–10251926 Banknote IssueSecond Polish RepublicState SymbolismWatermark HistoryPoland1926Museum GradeR9 Extremely RareUniquePick 65brMilczak 64PMG 40
Held
Poland 1994 50 Zlotych discovery AR prefix approval specimen without overprints, serial AR0000000, red vertical control numbering, final issued-style design, and Thomas De La Rue production origin.

Poland 1994 - 50 Zlotych Discovery AR Prefix Approval Specimen Without Overprints (Pick Unlisted)

Produced by Thomas De La Rue in London for the National Bank of Poland, the note carries Andrzej Heidrich's completed 1994 design with layered guilloche work, detailed denomination panels, ornamental security structures, and the King Casimir III the Great watermark in the left field. Read more →

PolandApproval Specimen Without Overprints199450 ZlotychUncirculated Approval SpecimenApproval Specimen Without OverprintsApproval-Stage SpecimenDiscovery AR PrefixDiscovery PrefixDiscovery MaterialProduction-Stage DiscoverySpecimenUncataloguedUnlisted Approval PrefixAR PrefixSerial AR0000000Zero Serial NumberRed Vertical Control NumberingThomas De La RueTDLRMilczak AA Listed Without ImageMilczak Unlisted AR PrefixPick UnlistedPreviously Undocumented AR PrefixApproval Prefix EvidencePhysical Approval SpecimenHidden Approval MaterialPoland Currency Redesign 1994National Bank of PolandNarodowy Bank PolskiModern Polish BanknotesSecurity Printing HistoryDesign Approval ProcessPre Issue Control NotePrinter Approval MaterialFinal Issued-Style DesignKing Casimir III the GreatKazimierz WielkiAndrzej HeidrichHanna Gronkiewicz-WaltzWieslaw BiernatowiczPolandPoland 1994199450 ZlotychMuseum GradeR9 Extremely RareUnique
Held
Poland 1994 50 Zlotych discovery AR prefix specimen with red SPECIMEN overprint, red oval NO VALUE stamps, punch cancellations, serial AR0000000, De La Rue specimen-control number 005, and Thomas De La Rue specimen tracking panel.

Poland 1994 - 50 Zlotych Discovery AR Prefix Specimen with Red Overprint and Oval Stamp (Pick Unlisted)

Discovery AR-prefix red-overprint specimen of the 50 Zlotych banknote from the 1994 Polish issue, bearing serial number AR0000000. The note carries a red diagonal SPECIMEN overprint, paired red oval NO VALUE stamps, round punch cancellations, and De La Rue specimen-control number 005. This AR-prefix form is unrecorded in Milczak and Pick and belongs to the same discovery-level production group as the related AR approval specimen. Read more →

PolandSpecimen with Red Overprint and Oval Stamp199450 ZlotychPMG 66 EPQ Gem Uncirculated SpecimenDiscovery AR PrefixDiscovery PrefixDiscovery MaterialProduction-Stage DiscoveryRed OverprintRed SPECIMEN OverprintOval NO VALUE StampPunch CancelledSpecimen Tracking PanelDe La Rue Specimen Control Number 005Specimen Control Number 005Control Number 005Unique Specimen Control NumberAR PrefixSerial AR0000000Zero Serial NumberThomas De La RueTDLRMilczak UnlistedPick UnlistedMilczak Unlisted AR PrefixPreviously Undocumented AR PrefixAR Prefix Specimen EvidencePhysical Specimen Control FormPoland Currency Redesign 1994National Bank of PolandNarodowy Bank PolskiModern Polish BanknotesSecurity Printing HistorySpecimen Control ProceduresPre Issue Control NotePrinter Control MaterialFinal Issued-Style DesignKing Casimir III the GreatKazimierz WielkiAndrzej HeidrichHanna Gronkiewicz-WaltzWieslaw BiernatowiczPolandPoland 1994199450 ZlotychPMG 66 EPQMuseum GradeR9 Extremely RareUnique
Held
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