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Auction: 22172 - British Banknotes - e-Auction
Lot: 2001

Treasury Issue, John Bradbury, third issue £1, ND (1917), serial number F/87 832550, brown, white, green and lilac, George V at right, Saint George and the dragon at left
(EPM T16), pressed, good extremely fine. My 38 year career started the week after King George VI died in 1952. I was indentured as an apprentice lithographer to the Bank of England. The white Fiver was still being printed at that time. Printing banknotes was a skill I had to master, as in this era technology as we know it today didn't exist. It was a hands on and physical skill. As an apprentice everybody was senior to you. You addressed journeymen as mister, and anybody above that as sir. My journey started by learning how to produce the printing plates, and then progressed in coming to terms with the technical, manual and responsibility of running a printing press. Because of the nature of the product consistency was the prime consideration. Although banknotes was the major part of the production, bearer bonds, deed certificates, treasury bills, Bretton Woods certificates, and various other security documents were all part of the learning curve. My apprenticeship was interrupted by National Service. This actually became an advantage because I spent the 2 years as a printing teacher at the Royal Engineers School of Military Survey. After becoming a journeyman I continued my career on conventional lithographic machines. When the Bank took the step into web (reel fed) printing I worked on both the German Goebel machine, and the Masson Scott Thrissell machine. My career then moved into lower production management through to becoming Manager Printing Sections, and finally to Commercial and Printing Development Manager. During my period as a manager I served on an Intaglio Research Group, an international committee involving18 countries researching the intaglio printing process.
After retiring from the Bank of England I started a consultancy business. I worked for the Banque de France, U.S. Bureau of Printing and Engraving, and Ashton Potter U.S. postage stamp printers.

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Sold for
£190

Starting price
£80