Wednesday 03 July 2013
Guernseyman Thomas De La Rue's name is synonymous with the printing of money around the world - and this Thursday (4 July) commemorative Guernsey £1 notes will be issued to mark the 200th anniversary of his first commercial venture.
The commemorative note is the same as the existing £1 note but is enhanced by a special design featuring Thomas De La Rue on the reverse of the note. It is also the first series of £1 notes to feature the signature of States Treasurer Bethan Haines. The notes also have a special prefix - TDLR - replacing the usual letter prefix. The Thomas de la Rue £1 note has an issue limit of just 300,000.
The commemorative notes will circulate alongside the existing notes. The total face value of all Guernsey notes and coins in circulation is just over £44.2million, of which £33.5million are banknotes. £3.4m are £1 notes. Guernsey £1 banknotes were first issued in to circulation in 1816.
In 1980, the De La Rue Company printed £1, £5, £10 and £20 notes for Guernsey for the first time.
The commemorative notes are due to be available for issue to banks from Thursday 4 July 2013. Sales of uncirculated notes are also available through the Guernsey Philatelic Bureau at Envoy House and can be contacted on 01481 716 486, by e-mailing philatelic@guernseypost.com or at www.guernseystamps.com.
-ENDS-
Further Information
Biography of Thomas De La Rue
Thomas De La Rue was born in Guernsey on 24 March 1793. In 1803 he was apprenticed to a master-printer in St Peter Port, and a decade later, in 1813, he launched his own publication, Le Miroir Politique. A year later he married Jane Warren, and in 1821 he moved to London and set up as a printer, stationer and fancy goods manufacturer. In 1830 he founded a business of cardmakers, hot pressers and enamellers with Samuel Cornish and William Rock.
In 1831 the De La Rue Company received the rights to print playing cards, and a year later they issued their first deck of print cards. In 1838 the company printed a special golden edition of the Sun newspaper. In 1853 the De La Rue Company was awarded a contract to print adhesive stamps - the first to be surface printed and to have perforated edges.
In 1855 De La Rue was made a Chevalier of the Légion d'honneur, and three years later, in 1858, he retired from the De La Rue Company.
In 1860 the De La Rue Company printed its first paper money - the Mauritius 1, 5 and 10 shilling notes.
Thomas De La Rue died on the 7 June 1866.In 1963 a bronze bust unveiled at the site of his first printing business to mark the company's 150th anniversary. In 1967 the site of the first printing business is granted a licence and opens as the Thomas De La Rue pub, and in 1971 and again in 1993 commemorative postage stamps issued were issued by Guernsey Post Office.
Contact Information
Guernsey Philatelic Bureau
Tel: +44 (0)1481 716 486
E-mail: philatelic@guernseypost.com
Website: www.guernseystamps.com
