Series A Specimen Notes

[DOC]

Here is an unusual Lady Lavery £10 Specimen note with the date, 3.1.62. Although the date is plausible, it does not appear to have been used on issued notes. A strange feature is the 01X prefix which would have been the prefix at the time for £20 notes.

[Mac]

This is a proof note made from a McElligott, Whitaker 1960 era note, where McElligott's signature has been removed, and O'Muimhneacháin's signature has been added. The denomination in words over the Sterling promise might be pasted in, or printed (not sure which). De La Rue did a few of these test notes with the new signature.

The 01X prefix is interesting, considering that it was used on the 11.3.63 £1 notes.

[DOC]

Well spotted, I had not noticed the signature alteration myself !

This is a printers 'Paste Up' Proof. The paste over in the sterling promise section is clearly visible at higher resolution.

[Mac]

There are a few more of these new signature proofs around also.
I have seen a £5 note, and a £100 note. I presume they were done for each of the denominations. I have not seen them for earlier or later signature changes, so it may be a function of De La Rue taking over the printing of the notes.

[JohnnyQ]

It’s also the numbering typeface of the £20 note as well as the prefix letter.

[JohnnyQ]

It also appears to have a plate letter.

[Mac]

It also appears to have a plate letter.

Indeed it does!

[DOC]

Here is an interesting Lady Lavery £100 specimen note with a real date from 1966 and no De La Rue overprint.

[Jenny007]

By chance is there a list of the TDLR specimen notes issued?. It looks like based on the lower left corner that there were a # of variations of these issued ? Any thoughts/ insights is welcome.

[DOC]

It seems that the number in the lower left hand corner was used by TDLR to track the number of specimens they provided. Here is an example with the number 17.

[callahiljo]

From my observations in the DLR archives some of these specimen numbers went up to 100 and in a few cases 200. Most of them are still in packs in their archives but of course a number of escapees have made it on to the market. They did use up a few of them to prepare pasted-up changes to the designs.

[DOC]

These two Lavery £20 specimen notes from about 1961 differ in the colour of the ‘SPECIMEN’ overprint, one in red, the other in black.

[Mac]

That's interesting. There will be a story behind that somewhere!

[Mac]

War code Specimen notes are among my favourite. The 10 Shillings is a particularly attractive note.

[DOC]

Here are examples of Lavery £10 and £50 Specimen notes with the McElligott Whitaker signature combination. These notes date from the period 1956-1960.

[Mac]

McElligott Whitaker specimens are one of the less common signature combinations seen as specimens. I guess relatively few of them were given out.