Collection PL

Australia 1877 — Bradbury, Wilkinson & Company Portrait of Woman Intaglio Vignette Proof (Printer’s Library Master)

This intaglio vignette proof represents an original portrait engraving produced by Bradbury, Wilkinson & Company in London in 1877, prepared as a master design element within the firm’s internal plate library. It depicts a classical female figure engraved as a stand-alone vignette, intended for later integration into complete banknote layouts commissioned by private banks across the British Empire, including Australian colonial institutions. In the Bradbury Wilkinson production workflow of the late nineteenth century, portrait vignettes were engraved independently of any specific banknote. ... Read more →

Poland 1994 — 50 Złotych Remainder (Pick 175ar Miłczak 198a–b)

Remainder of the 50 złotych note issued by Narodowy Bank Polski within the first fully modern banknote series of the Third Republic, dated 25 March 1994. This example represents production-stage material retained outside the finalized circulation workflow and is cataloged as Pick 175ar, corresponding to Miłczak 198a–b. The note preserves the complete printed design prepared by Thomas De La Rue, London, including the portrait of King Kazimierz III Wielki (Casimir the Great), the integrated guilloche structures, and the finalized denomination and emblematic layout of the modernized Polish currency system. ... 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 →

Luxembourg 1970 — 100 Francs Archival Gridlines Calibration Specimen Serial D170001 (Pick 56s)

Archival calibration specimen of the 1970 one hundred francs issue of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, produced during the Belgian Luxembourg Economic Union period and printed by Thomas De La Rue & Company, London. Unlike standard specimen notes bearing placeholder serials, this example carries a live production-format serial number D170001, linking it directly to an active print batch within the manufacturing process. Across the full surface, original blue registration gridlines remain visible. ... 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 →

North Macedonia 1996 — 5000 Denari Photographic Transparency Essay (Maenad Vignette)

This photographic transparency records the engraved Maenad vignette prepared during the design development of the Republic of Macedonia’s inaugural 5000 Denari banknote. Created within the pre-press workflow of Thomas De La Rue & Company Limited in London, the transparency preserves the original engraved image before the design progressed into plate production and full banknote printing. In modern security printing, photographic transparencies were produced after the engraver completed the steel die but before the design was transferred to printing plates. ... Read more →

North Macedonia 1996 — 500 Denari Vignette Die Proof (Golden Death Mask)

This engraved vignette die proof preserves the Golden Mask motif prepared for the 500 Denari denomination of the Republic of Macedonia’s first post-independence banknote series issued in 1996. Produced by Thomas De La Rue & Company Limited in London, the proof represents one of the earliest physical stages in the creation of the banknote’s final design. A vignette die proof is printed directly from the engraved steel die before the image is transferred to the working plates used for banknote production. ... Read more →

New Zealand 1981 — 100 Dollars (Pick 175as, H.R. Hardie Signature, Serial YAA000000, Printer Annotation Specimen with Single Punch Hole, PMG 40 Extremely Fine)

The 1981 one hundred dollars printer annotation specimen represents a working-stage production artifact from New Zealand’s decimal currency series, issued within the ND (1981–1985) period under the signature of H.R. Hardie as Chief Cashier. This note belongs to the later Hardie design phase, identified by the revised portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, reflecting the mature visual update of the series. ... Read more →

Uruguay 1900 — Banco de la Republica Oriental del Uruguay 100 Pesos Photographic Proof Pair, (Pick Unlisted)

An undated photographic proof pair for the 100 Pesos denomination produced by the American Bank Note Company for the Banco de la Republica Oriental del Uruguay. Printed on photographic paper and mounted on cardstock, this pair documents an early twentieth-century design stage preceding later interwar issues, preserved outside the currency production workflow. The obverse presents a formal portrait of José Gervasio Artigas in profile within a dense ornamental framework of laurel and guilloche elements, with the denomination prominently displayed. ... Read more →

Uruguay 1935 — Departamento de Emisión del Banco de la Republica Oriental del Uruguay 100 Pesos Photographic Proof Pair (Pick Unlisted)

A photographic proof pair for the 1935 100 Pesos issue produced by the American Bank Note Company for the Departamento de Emisión del Banco de la Republica Oriental del Uruguay. Prepared as part of the redesigned monetary series authorized in 1935, this proof pair records the finalized face and back designs prior to reduction to circulating format. The obverse combines two principal motifs within a dense ornamental framework: a formal portrait of José Gervasio Artigas and a classical female figure holding scales, arranged symmetrically around the central national arms and denomination. ... Read more →

Uruguay 1939 — Departamento de Emisión del Banco de la Republica Oriental del Uruguay 1,000 Pesos Large-Format Presentation Photo Proof Pair (Pick Unlisted)

This exceptionally large-format photographic presentation proof pair for the 1,000 Pesos issue dated 1939 represents the apex of archival proof material prepared for the Departamento de Emisión del Banco de la Republica Oriental del Uruguay. Produced by the American Bank Note Company, this pair documents the finalized design of Uruguay’s highest denomination in its fully resolved form, preserved outside the currency production workflow. Printed on heavyweight photographic paper and mounted on archival cardstock, this presentation format was intended for institutional reference rather than technical testing. ... Read more →