Jardines Galleries · Banknotes · The makers · Foreign era · Local era · Identification guide

South African banknote printers.

The companies behind South Africa's paper currency — from the earliest private bank notes printed in London in the 1820s to today's polymer notes printed locally in Pretoria. Two eras structure the story: the foreign-printer era (1782 – 1958) dominated by Bradbury Wilkinson, and the local-printer era (1958 – present) under the South African Bank Note Company. For the notes themselves, see Pre-1921 Banknotes and the First SARB Series.

Early printers Bradbury Wilkinson SABN Identification

— Era 01 · Foreign printers · 1782 – 1958 —

The foreign-printer era

London-led security printing · ZAR · early SARB · private banks

For nearly 180 years, South Africa's notes were printed abroad — primarily in London. The dominant houses: Bradbury Wilkinson, Thomas De La Rue, and Waterlow & Sons, with smaller contracts at Paul Solomon (Cape Town), Townshend & Son (Mafeking), and others.

The big name is Bradbury Wilkinson (1856 – 1986) — printer of ZAR government notes, the first SARB series, and most private bank issues. Acquired by De La Rue in 1986.

Bradbury1856 – 1986

De La Rue1821 – present

Waterlow1844 – 1961

— Era 02 · Local printer · 1958 – present —

The SABN era

Pretoria · Reserve Bank subsidiary · Van Riebeeck onward

The South African Bank Note Company — established 1958, fully operational from the Van Riebeeck series (1967). Wholly owned by the SARB; prints every modern note including the Mandela series and 2023 polymer issues.

Still depends on international partners — De La Rue, Giesecke+Devrient, Crane, Muhlbauer — for substrates, security features, and specialist equipment.

1782— First SA paper money —

1856 – 1986— Bradbury Wilkinson era —

1958— SABN established —

2023— First polymer notes —

Early printers (pre-1921)

Foreign-printer era · Seven houses · London-dominant

Seven printers appear repeatedly across the pre-1921 record. Most are London-based security printers of the colonial era; two were local — Paul Solomon (Cape Town) and Townshend & Son (Mafeking) — with the latter producing the famous siege notes. W.H. Wood (Pretoria) appears later, printing the first decimal banknotes (1961) before SABN was fully operational.

Bradbury Wilkinson & Co. (London, est. 1856) — ZAR government notes, the first SARB series (1921 – 1930s), numerous private bank issues. Known for high-quality engraving and complex geometric lathe work.
Thomas De La Rue & Co. (London, est. 1821) — some private bank contracts; later acquired Bradbury Wilkinson in 1986.
Waterlow & Sons (London, est. 1844) — British colonial work; some South African material.
William Brown & Co. (London) — printed the 1872 ZAR 1 Pond note.
Paul Solomon & Co. (Cape Town) — Stellenbosch Bank notes and the famous "woodblock" Cape triangular stamps.
Townshend & Son (Mafeking) — Mafeking siege notes (1899 – 1900).
W.H. Wood (Pty) Ltd. (Pretoria) — the first decimal banknotes (1961), before SABN was fully operational.

Bradbury Wilkinson & Co.

1856 – 1986 · The dominant SA contract holder · Acquired by De La Rue

One of the world's most respected security printers. For nearly a century — from ZAR government notes through to the first decades of SARB — Bradbury Wilkinson was the dominant printer for South African paper currency. Acquired by De La Rue in 1986.

Bradbury Wilkinson & Co. — London · 1856 – 1986 · Engraving + lathe work —

— Founded —: 1856
— Headquarters —: London (later Surrey)
— SA contracts —: ZAR government notes (1870s – 1902); first SARB series (1921 – 1930s); numerous private bank issues — Cape of Good Hope Bank, Stellenbosch Bank, others
— Specialism —: High-quality engraving and complex geometric lathe work
— Acquired by —: De La Rue, 1986
— Imprint —: BRADBURY WILKINSON & CO LD on lower margin

South African Bank Note Company

1958 – present · SARB subsidiary · Pretoria · Modern era

The local successor — established 1958 to produce SA banknotes domestically. SABN is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Reserve Bank, located in Pretoria, and prints every note from the Van Riebeeck series (1967) onward — including the Mandela series and the 2023 polymer issues.

SABN — South African Bank Note Company — Pretoria · 1958 – present · SARB subsidiary —

— Established —: 1958
— Headquarters —: Pretoria, South Africa
— Ownership —: Wholly owned subsidiary of the South African Reserve Bank
— Capabilities —: Intaglio · offset · letterpress · polymer printing · collaborates with international partners for substrates and security features
— Certifications —: ISO 9001 · ISO 14001 · ISO 18001
— Coverage —: Van Riebeeck (1967) onward · Mandela series · polymer notes 2023 –
— Imprint —: S.A.B.N. on notes printed since the 1960s

International collaborations

Substrates · Security features · Equipment · Four key partners

SABN prints the notes; international partners supply the materials. Substrate, security features, and specialist equipment come from four named partners. The 2023 polymer notes use international substrate but are printed entirely by SABN.

— Partner 01 · Substrate & consulting —

De La Rue (UK)

Technology transfer, consulting, and substrate supply. De La Rue absorbed Bradbury Wilkinson in 1986 — the same lineage that printed early SA notes now supplies materials and expertise to SABN.

— Partner 02 · Security features —

Giesecke+Devrient

Security features and banknote equipment — the German specialist. Watermarks, threads, holographic patches, and the production-line machinery to incorporate them.

— Partner 03 · Paper & polymer —

Crane Currency

Paper and polymer substrates from the US specialist. Critical for the 2023 polymer transition — the substrate is imported even though the printing is local.

— Partner 04 · Personalisation —

Muhlbauer Group

Personalisation equipment from the German manufacturer. Serial numbering and unique-issue features.

Printer identification guide

Imprint markers · Lower margin obverse · Five identifying strings

Look for the printer imprint on the bottom margin of the obverse (front) of the note. Modern notes often integrate the imprint into the design; on polymer notes it may be microprinted or hidden within the security features.

— Identification table · Imprint strings to printer — Printer imprints

Imprint	Printer
BRADBURY WILKINSON & CO LD	Bradbury Wilkinson
THOMAS DE LA RUE & CO. LTD	De La Rue
WATERLOW & SONS LTD	Waterlow & Sons
W.H. WOOD (PTY) LTD.	W.H. Wood — first decimal notes
S.A.B.N.	South African Bank Note Company

— On modern notes — Polymer issues from 2023 onward often integrate the SABN imprint into the design rather than displaying it as a discrete margin line. Check the security features under magnification — microprinted SABN identifiers may sit within the substrate's printed elements.

Sources

SABN · Hern · Pick · SARB references

— Reference works for this page —

South African Bank Note Company. "Company History". sabn.co.za
Hern, Brian. The Standard Catalogue of South African Coins, Medals and Tokens
Pick, Albert. Standard Catalog of World Paper Money
South African Reserve Bank. "Banknotes" and "History of Banknotes and Coin"

Library cross-references

Banknote cluster · Pre-1921 · First SARB · Modern series

— Notes from the foreign-printer era —

Revision history

Build dates · Editorial updates

22 Feb 2026 Initial build — expanded with verified SABN history, printer imprints, and international partner details

11 May 2026 Converted to v3 editorial format

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