PREVIEW: WORLD BANKNOTES: 27 & 28 AUGUST

Robin Taylor was an engraver who worked for the bank notes specialists De La Rue.
Born in 1942, he was apprenticed to the printing firm of Evershed & Co before joining De La Rue in 1971. There he embarked on a career that spanned several decades, specialising in picture engraving and portrait engraving, training under prominent engravers including Gilbert Carradine and Stanley Doubtfire.

Taylor, who was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts in 1997, also studied figure drawing, modelling and sculpture at the City and Guilds of London Art School, and his collection includes many items of his own work as well as that of those who inspired him. None has been seen before by collectors.

The 130 lots from the Taylor collection cover a wide range of items, from portrait essays to die proofs and specimen notes.

Among the treasures from his hand in this sale, arguably the most beautiful are two reverse artworks for East Africa.

“In a remarkable twist of fate Noonans also consigned the obverse of one of them from an entirely different source, reuniting the two halves after more than 70 years,” said Head of Banknotes Andrew Pattison.

Highlights include a truly magnificent obverse essay for a proposed East African Currency Board 10 Shillings, dated 1 April 1954. With the serial number D/69 000000, and the Downie, Kershaw, Bourdillon and Rogers signatures, it depicts a hand-painted view of Victoria Falls and surrounding forest, with a vignette of Queen Elizabeth II at right.
The estimate is £2,000-£2,600.

The following lot is the hand executed composite essay on board showing the reverse of an unadopted East African Currency Board 10 Shillings, ND (1958-60). Mainly in red, featuring dancers with white plumed head-dresses, spears and drums, this choice uncirculated, unique and supremely well designed and painted essay has a guide of £1,000-£1,500.

Among the portrait essays is a green folder of 45 portrait tracings, all the work of Robin Taylor, including many examples of this early stage of the engraving process some for now famous engravings. They include Elizabeth II, Winston Churchill, Sir Cecil Wallace, Kate Sheppard, William Shakespeare, and many other world leaders and important figures, most of which appeared on notes in the 1980s and 1990s. Each one is unique and together they represent a significant body of work, and a lifetime of practice. The estimate is £1,000-£1,500

“This is a remarkable personal archive,” said Andrew Pattison.