I picked up an interesting note today -- or more accurately it would be a proof, I think. It's intaglio printed on salmon colored paper with the inscription "Test Die One" and "Experimental." The microprinting shows "Bank of England." The engraving on this is really sharp and I like the color. Can anyone provide details on what this is and who did the printing? It seems a lot like the BEP's test proofs that include sections of U.S. currency designs.
The term "proof" is typically reserved for prints from plates of an actual released note. It might be a uniface print, or a print without serial numbers, but it will look a lot like the released note. I would classify this as a "test note" (a sample, "echantillon" in the French parlance), which can be of any design, for a huge variety of purposes. Dave
These were given away by Bank of England personnel at trade fairs and paper money shows as an advertising and promotional item.
