27th November 2025 at 11:00
An important collection of banknote essays, designs, specimens and archive from Bradbury Wilkinson from the collection of Richard Adams.
Please contact us at mail@specialauctionservices.com if you would like to order your Catalogue, £30.00 including P&P.
We are currently consigning for future 2026 'Coin and Banknote' Auctions. For further information, please email mail@specialauctionservices.com or call 01635 580595.
This important auction will be in two sections. The first section will concentrate on bank note designs, essays, models and test prints from Bradbury Wilkinson & Co Engravers and Printers from the 19th and 20th century. It will include banknotes from the Far East, Africa, Europe and around the World. The second section will focus on bank notes and projects that Richard Adams worked on at his time and Bradbury Wilkinson & Co.
As a bit of background, Richard joined Bradbury Wilkinson Security Printers in 1972 aged 24. It was here working alongside six other notable designers as well as the very best engravers he learnt that security printing was all about cheques, bonds, stamps and passports which became a good preparation for embarking on designing banknotes. Bradbury’s was quite unique in having the sales, design and engraving, plate making and print shop all on one site at New Malden, producing currency for over 150 countries. The 1970s and 80’s saw many changes at New Malden, new printing machines and advances in photography all playing their part in the fight against forgery that lead to new techniques or features each time a new series of note were envisaged as a business with such complexity and unique demands.
Richard remained a key player in the design team until his retirement in 2016 having produced a number of notable designs for Saudi, Malta, Suriname and Kenya. Richard now pursues his interest in Vincent Motorcycles and continues to work on the Georgian chapel in Wiltshire where he lives with his wife Jill.
He feels it is now time to for some of his varied collection to go new homes.
Lot 190
An early 20th century hand printed printer's proof for a bank note
Sold for £50
Estimated at £50 - £100
Lot 191
An early 20th century hand printed printer's proof for a bank note
Sold for £50
Estimated at £50 - £100
Lot 192
An interesting early 20th century hand printed printer's proof for a bank note
Sold for £130
Estimated at £50 - £100
Lot 193
An interesting Far Eastern early 20th century hand printed printer's proof for a bank note
Sold for £50
Estimated at £50 - £100
Lot 194
An early 20th century hand printed printer's proof for a bank note
Sold for £200
Estimated at £50 - £100
Lot 195
An early 20th century hand printed printer's proof for part of a bank note
Sold for £200
Estimated at £50 - £100
Lot 196
An early 20th century hand printed printer's proof of a bank note
Sold for £90
Estimated at £50 - £100
Lot 197
Three early 20th century hand printed printer's proof prints
Sold for £280
Estimated at £50 - £100
Lot 198
A set of four early 20th century hand printed printer's proof prints for bank note designs
Sold for £850
Estimated at £100 - £200
Lot 199
Two interesting early 20th century hand printed printer's proof prints for bank note designs
Sold for £220
Estimated at £50 - £100
Lot 200
An early 20th century hand printed printer's proof for a bank note design
Sold for £50
Estimated at £50 - £100
Lot 201
An early 20th century hand printed printer's proof for a bank note design
Sold for £50
Estimated at £50 - £100
Lot 202
Two early 20th century hand printed printer's proof prints for parts of a bank note design
Sold for £30
Estimated at £50 - £100
Lot 206
Two rare hand painted bank note vignette designs from Bradbury Wilkinson
Sold for £110
Estimated at £80 - £120
Lot 208
A very rare and interesting hand painted essay of a bank note design
Sold for £23,000
Estimated at £5,000 - £10,000
Lot 216
Three interesting card tickets relating to the Crystal Palace from the 1870s
Sold for £170
Estimated at £100 - £200
Lot 217
An 1867 ticket for the Royal Italian Opera in Covent Garden
Sold for £50
Estimated at £50 - £100
Lot 220
A hand drawn and painted model of a Barclays Internation Money Order
Sold for £100
Estimated at £100 - £200
Lot 221
A set of seven Specimen Thomas Cook United States Dollar Travelers Cheques
Sold for £130
Estimated at £80 - £120
Lot 224
An 1860s Credito Commercial De Cadiz banker's bond cheque
Sold for £850
Estimated at £50 - £100
Lot 226
A pair of 1980s Bradbury Wilkinson Engravers Annual Dinner invitations
Sold for £70
Estimated at £30 - £50
Lot 236
A collection of Bradbury Wilkinson & Co Ltd Advertising booklets and other booklets
Sold for £60
Estimated at £60 - £100
Lot 237
An interesting montage of bank seals and a metal seal block
Sold for £250
Estimated at £50 - £100
Lot 238
Books, Prints and Inspiration from Bradbury Wilkinson & Co
Sold for £60
Estimated at £50 - £100
Lot 239
A hand painted essay for the crest of The Moutawakilte Kingdom Of Yemen
Sold for £320
Estimated at £50 - £100
Lot 241
A collection Bradbury Wilkinson & Co Ltd presentation boxes and other items
Sold for £50
Estimated at £50 - £100
Lot 242
Four large Bradbury Wilkinson & Co Ltd presentation boxes
Sold for £50
Estimated at £50 - £100
Lot 245
An early 20th century hand printed printer's proof for a bank note or possibly a calendar
Unsold
Estimated at £50 - £100
Lot 247
Two sets of printers proofs relating to the Bradbury Wilkinson 1977 calendar
Sold for £30
Estimated at £50 - £100
Lot 248
Fourteen items relating to the Bradbury Wilkinson 1977 and later calendars
Sold for £30
Estimated at £50 - £100
Lot 249
A set of five Bradbury Wilkinson & Co Ltd annual calendars
Sold for £50
Estimated at £50 - £100
Lot 250
A 1980s Bradbury Wilkinson & Co Ltd annual calendar and three test prints
Sold for £25
Estimated at £30 - £50
Lot 251
An interesting design for a Bradbury Wilkinson & Co Ltd calendar by Clive Cavanagh
Sold for £160
Estimated at £100 - £200
Lot 252
Eight test prints relating to the Bradbury Wilkinson & Co Ltd 1973 calendar
Sold for £110
Estimated at £40 - £60
Lot 253
A 1970s Bradbury Wilkinson & Co Ltd annual calendar with a test print and two envelopes
Sold for £70
Estimated at £30 - £50
Lot 254
Four 1980s Bradbury Wilkinson & Co Ltd annual calendars and two test prints
Sold for £30
Estimated at £40 - £60
Lot 255
A 1970s Bradbury Wilkinson & Co Ltd annual calendars and three test prints
Sold for £45
Estimated at £40 - £60
Lot 257
Two test prints for the 1922 Bradbury Wilkinson & Co Ltd calendar
Sold for £750
Estimated at £50 - £100
Lot 258
A group of items relating to Richard Adams from Bradbury Wilkinson & Co Ltd
Sold for £850
Estimated at £50 - £100
Lot 259
Two Bradbury Wilkinson Plate Colour Chart No. 2 booklets
Sold for £300
Estimated at £30 - £50
Lot 262
A printers test of Charles Dickens and a photographic print
Sold for £20
Estimated at £30 - £50
Lot 266
A design for a Bradbury Wilkinson & Co Ltd Annual Calendar by Richard Adams
Sold for £120
Estimated at £50 - £100
Lot 267
A design for a Bradbury Wilkinson & Co Ltd Annual Calendar by Richard Adams
Sold for £120
Estimated at £50 - £100
Lot 268
A design for a Bradbury Wilkinson & Co Ltd Annual Calendar by Richard Adams
Sold for £45
Estimated at £40 - £60
