Beautifully engraved Specimrn certificate from Thomas de la Rue Inc. This historic document was printed by Thomas de la Rue and has a block border with a vignette of the outline of a man. This item is hand signed by the Company's President and Secretary.
Certificate Vignette De La Rue is the world 's largest commercial security printer and papermaker, involved in the production of over 150 national currencies and a wide range of security documents such as travellers cheques and vouchers. Employing over 6,600 people across 31 countries, the company is also a leading provider of cash handling equipment and software solutions to banks and retailers worldwide helping them to reduce the cost of handling cash. The stock is listed on the London Stock Exchange (DLAR). 1813 Thomas de la Rue's first commercial venture, publishing the first edition of Le Miroir Politique newspaper in Guernsey. 1821 Thomas de la Rue sets up as printer, stationer and fancy goods manufacturer in London. 1855 Thomas de la Rue began printing British postage stamps, and obtained the contract for all Indian postal requirements. 1860 Thomas de la Rue printed its first paper money - Mauritius £5, £1 and 10/- notes. 1896 Family partnership converted into private company. 1914 Treasury commissioned Thomas De La Rue to print £1 and 10/- notes at the outbreak of war. 1921 The de la Rue family leaves the business and the company converts to public ownership. 1925 The Bank of England takes over responsibility for the issue of sterling notes. 1930 Chinese government's first order for banknotes. A vital customer for the next 18 years. 1940 De La Rue's Bunhill Row factories in London destroyed in Blitz. 1944 The beginning of De La Rue's conglomerate phase to last until 1977 and to include Formica and Potterton. 1958 Parent company changes name from Thomas De La Rue to the De La Rue Company Limited. 1961 Waterlow & Sons banknote and security printing business acquired. 1963 150th anniversary. 1964 The Gateshead banknote factory opens. 1965 De La Rue Giori formed in Switzerland. 1967 The first ever cash dispenser was installed at Barclays Bank in Enfield, North London, on June 27 1967. De La Rue won the race to unveil the first machine, which drew crowds to the unveiling. 1968 The Rank Organisation bids for De La Rue. 1969 Rank bid fails. De La Rue sells playing card business to John Waddington. 1973 Potterton boilers business sold to Birmid Qualcast. 1974 Malta banknote factory set up. De La Rue acquires Crosfield Electronics. 1975 De La Rue Instruments and Crosfield become De La Rue Crosfield, later to become De La Rue Cash Systems. 1977 Formica sold to American Cyanamid. 1980 Royal Mint Services established: a 50/50 venture with the Royal Mint. 1984 Singapore banknote factory opens. 1985 Hong Kong banknote factory opens. 1986 Bradbury Wilkinson acquired. 1987 Fortronic acquired. Amblehurst acquired (later to become De La Rue Holographics). 1989 De La Rue acquires controlling interest in Garny AG. Sale of Crosfield Electronics Norton Opax plc makes a bid for De La Rue. Defeated when they were acquired by Bowater. 1990 Robert Maxwell's 21.7% shareholding dispersed among institutional investors. De La Rue House in Basingstoke officially opens. 1991 The De La Rue Company plc becomes De La Rue plc. 1992 Inter Innovation acquired (including LeFebure in USA). 1993 MB-Clarke acquired. 1994 Camelot is awarded licence to operate UK National Lottery. Nairobi banknote factory opens. 1995 Portals Group plc acquired. Brandt Inc acquired. McCorquodale Security Cards Inc acquired. Applied Systems Institute Inc acquired. Associated Cash Handling in South Africa acquired (now De La Rue Cash Systems South Africa Ltd). De La Rue buys Ensec's banking automation division and Ensec buys back De La Rue's 44.7% shareholding in Ensec. 1996 Hong Kong banknote factory sold to Hong Kong Monetary Authority. 1997 De La Rue acquires Harrison & Sons. De La Rue acquires Philips Cartes et Systèmes in France Brandon Gough takes over as Chairman from Lord Limerick. De La Rue launches major rebranding programme. 1998 Jeremy Marshall retires as chief executive. De La Rue sells Garny, LeFebure and Lerchundi exiting the physical security business. De La Rue acquires Cellograf Simp in Italy. Ian Much appointed as chief executive on 1 September. Haydn Abbott resigns as managing director Cash Systems. De La Rue closes Bensalem manufacturing plant in USA. 1999 De La Rue completes sale of terminals business to Ingenico SA. Launch of joint venture between Bank of Portugal and De La Rue. Sale of Card business to F C Oberthur of France for £200m. 2000 Appointment of Jon Marx as managing director of Security Products. Launch of new Global Services division. Michael Jeffries and Keith Hodgkinson appointed as non-executive directors of the Board following the retirement from the Board of Lord Wright of Richmond GCMG and Brian Birkenhead. Acquisition of Ascom Banking Automation cash handling business by Cash Systems. 2001 Acquisition of US based Currency Systems International Inc. wholesale cash processing business by Cash Systems. Acquisition of ATS Money Systems Inc., the US based provider of cash handling systems and software by Cash Systems. Disposal of 50:50 joint venture company De La Rue Giori, (banknote printing press manufacturer) to German printing press manufacturer Koenig and Bauer. Security Products and Global Services operations merged. 2002 Camelot awarded second seven year licence to operate national lottery. Acquisition of Papelaco, Portuguese self service cash handling machine manufacturer by Cash Systems. History from company press information.