Blue and Red Argyle Sum Block

In the 1800s the Bank of England asked printmakers to submit banknote designs which were difficult to imitate, to prevent forgeries. This is part of a design that was submitted by printing partners Applegath & Cowper as an 'inimitable note.' This is the centre panel or sum block of their design, which reads 'Five Pounds' and has a white, red, blue and black honeycomb pattern.