University Museums and Special Collections Service De La Rue Company Archive MS 937 The collection consists of financial and business records including account books, ledgers, cash books etc. (1837-1964); insurance documents (1871-1936); inventories (1920-1921); J.A. Weir minute books (1896-1921); De La Rue minute books (1919-1948); trade lists and price lists (1849-1911), registers. The collection also contains designs of material produced, including several pieces by Owen Jones, together with proofs and specimens of material such as cards, tickets, labels, diaries, stationery and programmes (1787-1960). Note books and photographs cover a wide range of subjects, including the earliest known English cheque (1664). Printed material includes various extracts and articles from publications relating to De La Rue (1749-1963), together with copies of De La Rue journal nos. 1-46 (1947-1963), Formica journal (incomplete, 1956-1961), Formica vol. 5 no. 3 (1961), Formica news vol. 1 no. 6 (1961), Furniture today nos. 1-10 (1961-1965), System vol. 1 nos. 1 & 2 (1961) , nos. 11 & 12 (1964). Other material relates to members of the De La Rue family, such as 23 extracts from Guernsey church registers, deeds, employment agreements, engravings of Warren De La Rue (1882 & 1894), and news cuttings. The collection also includes specifications for the envelope-folding machine patented by Warren De La Rue. The Collection covers the year’s 1830-1965. The physical extent of the collection is c. 50 boxes, plus c. 250 ledgers. Introduction Thomas De La Rue set up as printer, stationer and manufacturer of fancy goods in London in 1821, having previously been a Guernsey newspaper publisher. The firm of De La Rue was mainly associated with printing postage stamps (from 1855), banknotes, playing cards, diaries and stationery. After the First World War the company became involved in boilers (Potterton's) and plastics (Formica), also launching the successful fountain pen known as the Onoto. De La Rue is still trading and now describes itself as 'the world's largest commercial security printer and paper maker, involved in the production of over 150 national currencies and a wide range of security documents'. Warren de la Rue (1815-1889), son of Thomas de la Rue, worked in his father's business, where he invented an envelope-folding machine, but also became known as an astronomer and physicist. He carried out research on the discharge of electricity in gases and was the inventor of the silver chloride battery and the photoheliograph for use in celestial photography. Page 1 of 170 University Museums and Special Collections Service MS 937 1/1 Folder containing twenty mounted specimens of railway tickets in assorted colours c. 1900 produced by Thomas De La Rue and Co. Ltd, 110 Bunhill Row, London MS 937 1/3 Specimen of an ‘At Home’ book c. 1890 bound and gilt-edged by Thomas De La Rue and Co. Ltd: in a protective box MS 937 1/5 Specimen copy of De La Rue’s improved indelible diary and memorandum book 1863 In Box 15 MS 937 1/6 Wooden frame, with brass trimmings, for the production of paper water-marked ‘De La Rue and Co., London’ c. 1870 MS 937 1/7 Index to prices in private day book E 1872-1874 MS 937 1/9 Index to prices in private day book F 1874-1876 Page 2 of 170 University Museums and Special Collections Service MS 937 1/41 De La Rue patent for ‘Manufacture of Envelopes’. Number 10,565. 1845 MS 937 2/3 Embossing block mounted on wooden base c. 1870 MS 937 3/1 Two glass negatives and two sets of photographic prints of De La Rue and Co.’s improved pocket chess board and chess men complete 1846 MS 937 3/2 Printed schedule of prices of adhesive stamps, bank notes, post cards and other stamped articles; dies plates, embossing presses and obliterating ink Mar 1911 MS 937 3/3 Album containing mounted pen and ink drawings, prints, embossed papers, watercolours, pencil drawings 1840 ; inscribed ‘Maria C. Dalyell from her Affectionate Aunt Hennis Edinburgh 22nd April 1840’. Page 3 of 170 University Museums and Special Collections Service MS 937 3/4 Album of engravings of Greek and other statuary, vases, ornaments, utensils, portraits, pencil drawings, advertisements c. 1860 MS 937 3/5 Seccombe, T. S. ‘The Story of Prince Hildebrand and the Princess Ida’ No date with 110 illustrations by the author. London: Thomas De La Rue and Co. MS 937 4/1 Goldsmith: ‘an almanack for the year of our Lord God M.DCC.LXXXVI…London,’ printed for the Company of Stationers 1786 MS 937 4/2 Rider’s Almanack 1732 ‘printed for the ‘Company of Stationers’ by E. & R. Nutt’ 1732 MS 937 4/4 Rider’s 1719 Almanack in skin cover 1719 MS 937 4/5 Collection of eight frames for photographs or miniatures printed in colour c. 1870 Carte de Visite album pages Page 4 of 170 University Museums and Special Collections Service MS 937 4/6 The Formica Journal Aug-Sep 1956 Volume 1, Number 2 MS 937 4/8 De La Rue Journal Nov 1954 Number 22 MS 937 4/9 De La Rue Journal Nov 1952 Number 18 MS 937 4/10 De La Rue Journal 1963 Number 46, 150th anniversary MS 937 4/11 De La Rue Journal Aug 1952 Number 17, Front cover only MS 937 4/12 De La Rue Journal Apr 1952 Number 16 2 copies Page 5 of 170 University Museums and Special Collections Service MS 937 4/13 De La Rue Journal Oct 1948 Number 7 MS 937 4/14 De La Rue Journal Apr 1947 Number 1 MS 937 4/15 De La Rue Journal Oct 1947 Number 3 MS 937 4/16 De La Rue Journal Jan 1948 Number 4 MS 937 4/17 De La Rue Journal Spring 1962 Number 42 MS 937 4/18 De La Rue Journal Summer 1961 Number 41 MS 937 4/22 Whole plate glossy black and white print of a painting of Dr. Warren De La Rue No date Page 6 of 170 University Museums and Special Collections Service MS 937 4/27 The Three Banks Review Sep 1955 No. 27 MS 937 4/28 Furniture Today Aug 1963 Number 3 MS 937 4/29 De La Rue’s portable diary and memorandum book - MISSING JULY 2019 1882 MS 937 4/30 De La Rue’s improved indelible diary and memorandum book 1876 MS 937 4/32 De La Rue’s pocket book for 1882 1882 in a note-case made by Waterlow and Sons Ltd MS 937 4/33 Copper printing block showing five signatures in reverse 15 Mar 1894 Page 7 of 170 University Museums and Special Collections Service MS 937 4/36 Blank specimen of a season ticket for the Great Western Railway, printed by De La Rue and Co. Ltd c. 1930 MS 937 4/37 De La Rue’s improved red letter calendar 1880 MS 937 4/39 ‘London Almanack for the Year of Christ 1793’ 1793 in a green leather wallet MS 937 4/40 ‘London Almanack for the Year of Christ 1819’ 1819 in a red leather wallet MS 937 4/41 Copper printing block of a photograph illustrating a printing process used by De La Rue and Co. Ltd c. 1950 MS 937 4/42 Specimens of De La Rue’s improved condensed diary and engagement book, finger shape, 1885, 1887, 1889, 1890, 1895, 1896, 1897, 1898, 1899, 1900, 1901, 1902, 1903, 1904, 1905, 1906, 1907, 1908, 1909 1890 (x2 one burgundy one black) Page 8 of 170 University Museums and Special Collections Service MS 937 4/43 Specimen of Goodall’s Porte monnaie calendar 1886 MS 937 5/1 De La Rue’s improved indelible diary and memorandum book 1856 MS 937 5/2 Original design for Ransome’s patent pocket inkstands 1877 MS 937 5/3 Two original designs and specimens of the business call board manufactured by Thomas De La Rue and Co 1873 MS 937 5/4 Show card designed for De La Rue and Co., advertising music books, albums, blotting and card cases bound in illuminated patent vellum c. 1860 possibly designed by Owen Jones MS 937 5/5 Sixteen items relating to designs for chessmen and draughts by Edward Henry Corbould 1877 - 1879 Page 9 of 170 University Museums and Special Collections Service MS 937 5/6 Two original designs and specimens for season tickets to enter Alexandra Palace, by Thomas De La Rue and Co. 1873 MS 937 5/7 Souvenir menu card produced by Thomas De La Rue and Co. Ltd. 18 Oct 1960 For a luncheon given by the Corporation of London to the King and Queen of Nepal at Guildhall MS 937 5/8 Finished proof of specimen page and show card for photographic albums manufactured by De La Rue and Co 1859 possibly designed by Owen Jones MS 937 5/9 Ticket of admission to the Guildhall on the occasion of the visit of the King of Sardinia, produced by De La Rue and Co 4 December 1855 MS 937 5/11 Ten original designs for a writing cabinet and paper rack 1847 MS 937 5/12 Two photographic prints, illustrating the first Christmas card 1879 Includes a photocopy of an article entitled, "The HIstory of the Christmas Card" by George Buday, 1954 Page 10 of 170 University Museums and Special Collections Service MS 937 5/13 Menu card for the naval and military service dinner held at De La Rue’s Club, for returning soldiers 17 Jun 1919 MS 937 5/14 Programme of the ‘Welcome Back’ concert given at De La Rue’s Club by the Binding and Case making Department, for returning soldiers 6 Nov 1919 MS 937 5/15 Two original designs for show-cards for Jackson and Graham’s oriental ware merchants, Oxford Street 1879 MS 937 5/16 Programme of an evening fete at the Royal Cremona Gardens, printed by De La Rue and Co 9 Jul 1852 MS 937 5/17 Second proof and machine pull of printed sheet of labels for Colman’s mustard, produced by De La Rue and Co.