Ceylon BankNote Essays Catalog
This Provitional catalog of Ceylon essays with over 150 records is restricted to
banknote designs which were never used to issue a banknote,
and ignores color trials, color separations, specimens etc of issued notes.
The Government of Ceylon
GC Promise to Pay
ET02a 1919-12-08 TDLR F Gry 500 S.. G. Thomson & B. Senior A/3 00000 GC - Colonial Type
ET02b 1925-10-01 TDLR F RGB 500 SS. E.B.Alexander & W.W.Woods A/3 00000 GC - Colonial Type
Ceylon Pictorial essays
ET03a 1928-01-01 TDLR FB RGB 5 SS. E.B.Alexander & W.W.Woods 000000 GC - Fishing Boat
ET03b 1928-01-01 TDLR FB RGB 5 SS. E.B.Alexander & W.W.Woods 000000 GC - Elephant
ET03c 1928-01-01 TDLR FB RGB 5 SS. E.B.Alexander & W.W.Woods 000000 GC - Catamaran
ET03d 1928-01-01 TDLR FB RGB 5 SS. E.B.Alexander & W.W.Woods 000000 GC - Rowing Boat
ET04a 1928-01-01 TDLR FB RGB 10 SS. E.B.Alexander & W.W.Woods 000000 GC - Sigiriya Rock
ET04b 1928-01-01 TDLR FB RGB 10 SS. E.B.Alexander & W.W.Woods 000000 GC - Scrub jungle
ET04c 1928-01-01 TDLR FB RGB 10 SS. E.B.Alexander & W.W.Woods 000000 GC - Siripada
ET04d 1928-01-01 TDLR FB RGB 10 SS. E.B.Alexander & W.W.Woods 000000 GC - Bullock Cart
Elephant Head Watermark
EB03a 1928-10-01 BWCL FB Gry 5 SS. none A/1 000000 GC - Woman with Pot
EB03b 1928-10-01 BWCL FB Gry 5 SS. none A/1 000000 GC - Ferry
EB03c 1928-10-01 BWCL FB Gry 5 SS. none A000000 GC - Dalada Maligawa
EB04a 1928-10-01 BWCL FB Gry 10 SS. none A/1 000000 GC - Dalada Maligawa
EB04b 1928-10-01 BWCL FB Gry 10 SS. none A/1 000000 GC - Kandyan Chief
EB04c 1928-10-01 BWCL FB Gry 10 SS. none A000000 GC - Lanka Road Map
King George V essays
EB11 1936-06-30 BWCL F Gry 1 S.. H.J.Huxham & C.H.Collinse 000,000 GC - King George V
EB14 1936-03-23 BWCL FB Gry 10 SS. H.J.Huxham & C.H.Collinse 000000 GC - King George V
King George VI essays
EC09 1938-07-01 CNP PB RGB 1000 SS. Sig nature & S.I,Gnature 0/00 000000 GC - King George VI
GC Legal Tender
EC24 1938-07-01 CNP PB RGB 10 SS. A.Signature & S.Ignature 0/00 000000 GC - King George VI Blue
EC24a 1938-07-01 CNP PB RGB 10 SS. A.Signature & S.Ignature 0/00 000000 GC - King George VI Purple
ET12 1938-07-01 TDLR FB Gry 2 SS. Signature & Signature N/25 000000 GC - King George VI R
ET13 1938-07-01 TDLR FB Gry 5 SS. Signature & Signature N/25 000000 GC - King George VI R
ET14 1938-07-01 TDLR F Gry 10 S.. Signature & Signature A/1 000000 GC - King George VI R
ET16 1938-07-01 TDLR FB Gry 50 SS. Signature & Signature A/1 000000 GC - King George VI R
ET17 1938-07-01 TDLR FB Gry 100 SS. Signature & Signature A/1 000000 GC - King George VI R
ET18 1938-07-01 TDLR Gry 500 .L. Signature & Signature GC - King George VI R
ET19 1938-07-01 TDLR B Gry 1000 .S. Signature & Signature GC - King George VI R
EC01 1939-10-01 CNP FB Gry 1 SS. none A/00 000000 GC - King George VI L
EC02 1939-10-01 CNP FB Gry 2 SS. none B/00 000000 GC - King George VI L
EC03 1939-10-01 CNP FB Gry 5 SS. none C/00 000000 GC - King George VI L
EC04 1939-10-01 CNP FB Gry 10 SS. none D/00 000000 GC - King George VI L
EC06 1939-10-01 CNP FB Gry 50 SS. none E/00 000000 GC - King George VI L
EC07 1939-10-01 CNP FB Gry 100 SS. none F/00 000000 GC - King George VI L
EC08 1939-10-01 CNP FB Gry 500 SS. none G/00 000000 GC - King George VI L
EC09 1939-10-01 CNP FB Gry 1000 SS. none H/00 000000 GC - King George VI L
EC14 1939-07-01 CNP F RGB 10 S.. Signature 0/00 000000 GC - Bullock Cart
EC16 1939-07-01 CNP FB RGB 50 SS. Signature B/43 000000 GC - Dalada Maligawa
EC17 1939-07-01 CNP FB RGB 100 SS. Signature B/43 000000 GC - Kelaniya Entrance
EC18 1939-07-01 CNP B RGB 1000 S. Signature B/43 000000 GC - Issurumuniya Rock Temple
EC19 1939-07-01 CNP F RGB 10000 S . Signature B/43 000000 GC - Colombo Harbour and Jetty
EX23 1948-11-01 FB Gry 5 SS. none 000000 GC - KGVI - Kandy Perahara
EX29 194x-None FB Gry 1000 SS. none 000000 GC - KGVI - Moonstone
Reserve Bank of Ceylon
EX24 1949-None FB Col 10 SS. Illegible Illegible A/A 000000 RBC - sketch
EB21 1950-01-01 BWCL FB Gry 1 SS. Governor none A/10 000000 RBC - Vatadage Steps
EB22 1950-01-01 BWCL FB Gry 2 SS. Governor none A/10 000000 RBC - Vatadage Balustrade
EB23 1950-01-01 BWCL FB Gry 5 SS. Governor none A/10 000000 RBC - Pulasthi - KPB
EB24 1950-01-01 BWCL FB Gry 10 SS. Governor none A/10 000000 RBC - GuardStone
EB26 1950-01-01 BWCL FB Gry 50 SS. Governor none A/10 000000 RBC - Kirivehera Polomnaruwa
EB27 1950-01-01 BWCL FB Gry 100 SS. Governor none A/10 000000 RBC - Sigiriya Frescos
EB29 1950-01-01 BWCL B Gry 1000 SS. Governor none A/10 000000 RBC - Isurumuniya Lovers
Central Bank of Ceylon
Preliminary essay
EX32 1948-02-01 F Gry 2 L.. CBC - Sketch
EX33 1948-02-01 F Gry 5 L.. CBC - Sketch
EX36 1948-02-01 F Gry 50 L.. CBC - Sketch
EX37 1948-02-01 F Gry 100 S.. 2 x Signature A000000 CBC - Sketch
Minister of Finance - Governor Central Bank of Ceylon.
Draft essays
EB31 1951-06-01 BWCL FB Gry 1 SS. none A/10 000000 CBC - KGVI
EB32 1951-06-01 BWCL B RGB 2 .S. none A/10 000000 CBC
EB33 1951-06-01 BWCL B RGB 5 .S. none A/10 000000 CBC
EB41 1951-03-01 BWCL FB Gry 1 SS. J.R.Jayawardena John Exter A/1 123456 CBC - Vatadage Steps
EB43a 1951-03-01 BWCL FB Gry 5 SS. J.R.Jayawardena John Exter G/1 123456 CBC - Pulasthi - KPB
EB44 1951-03-01 BWCL FB Gry 10 SS. J.R.Jayawardena John Exter A/10 123456 CBC - GuardStone
Final essays
EB42 1951-01-20 BWCL PB RGB 2 SS. J.R.Jayawardena John Exter E/1 123456 CBC - Vatadage
EB43b 1951-01-20 BWCL PB RGB 5 SS. J.R.Jayawardena John Exter G/1 123456 CBC - Pulasthi - KPB
EB46 1951-01-20 BWCL PB RGB 50 SS. J.R.Jayawardena John Exter R/1 123456 CBC - Moonstone Steps
EB47 1951-01-20 BWCL PB RGB 100 SS. J.R.Jayawardena John Exter V/1 123456 CBC - Sigiriya Frescos
EBG2 1954-10-16 BWCL FB RGB 2 SS. MDHJayawardena&AGRanasinha none LPB - Vatadage
EBG6 1954-05-12 BWCL FB RGB 50 SS. OEGoonetilleke&NUJayawardena none LPB - Moonstone Steps
EB51a 195x-none BWCL FB RGB 1 .S. none 123456 Sin - Peacock - SaptaNari
EB51b 195x-none BWCL FB RGB 1 .S. none 123456 Sin - Flower - Deer
EB52a 195x-none BWCL FB RGB 2 .S. none 123456 Sin - Statue Grill - Flower
EB52b 195x-none BWCL FB RGB 2 .S. none 123456 Sin - CeylonArms-ElephSculpt
EB53a 195x-none BWCL FB RGB 5 .S. none 123456 Sin - CeylonArms-Sigi-Fresco
EB53b 195x-none BWCL FB RGB 5 .S. none 123456 Sin - Elephants Bathing
EB54a 195x-none BWCL FB RGB 10 .S. none 123456 Sin - Sigiriya Fresco Rock
EB54b 195x-none BWCL FB RGB 10 .S. none 123456 Sin - CeylonArms-Dancer
EB56a 195x-none BWCL FB RGB 50 .S. none R60/000000 Sin - CeylonArms-Isu-Lovers
EB56b 195x-none BWCL FB RGB 50 .S. none R60/000000 Sin - CeylonArms-SigFresco
EB57a 195x-none BWCL FB RGB 100 .S. none V31/000000 Sin - CeylonArms-Secretariat
EB57b 195x-none B RGB 100 .S. Unknown Sin - - Dalada Maligawa
ET22a 196x-none TDLR B RGB 2 .S. Unknown Sin - Thuparama
ET22b 196x-none TDLR B RGB 2 .S. Unknown Sin - Peradeniya University
ET34 1959-07-30 TDLR F RGB 10 S.. 2 X Signature A 000000 Sin - Seated Lion
ET36 1959-07-30 TDLR F RGB 50 S.. 2 X Signature A 000000 Sin - Standing Statue
ET26 1962-12-30 TDLR F RGB 50 S.. 2 X Signature A 000000 Sin - Sirimava & SWRDBanda
ET37 1959-07-30 TDLR FB RGB 100 .S. 2 X Signature A 000000 Sin - Isu-Lovers-Independance Hall
ET47 1960-07-30 TDLR F RGB 100 S.. 2 X Signature A 000000 Sin - Kandyan Dancer Head
ET27 196x-none TDLR B RGB 100 .S. Unknown Sin - - Peradeniya University
EW03 195x-None WSL FB RGB 5 SS. none A/1 000000 Sin - Statue - Polonnaruwa Dalada
EW04 195x-None WSL FB RGB 10 SS. none A/1 000000 Sin - Elephant - Watadage
EB61 1962-11-08 BWCL FB Gry 1 .S. P.B.G.Kalugalla&WRajapatirana B/95 000000 Sin - SWRD - Entrance Watadage
EB62 1960-08-18 BWCL FB RGB 2 SS. FRDBandaranaike&WRajapatirana B/64 789012 Sin - SWRD - Madirigiriya
EB65 1960-08-18 BWCL F RGB 5 S.. FRDBandaranaike&WRajapatirana B/64 123456 Sin - SWRD -
EB73a 1964-06-12 BWCL FB Gry 5 SS. N.M.Perera&W.Rajapatirana 000000 Sin - KPB - Panel Embekka?
EB73b 1964-06-12 BWCL FB Gry 5 SS. N.M.Perera&W.Rajapatirana 000000 Sin - KPB - Panel Embekka?
EB73c 1964-06-12 BWCL FB Gry 5 SS. N.M.Perera&W.Rajapatirana 000000 Sin - KPB - Panel Embekka?
EB73d 1964-06-12 BWCL FB Gry 5 SS. N.M.Perera&W.Rajapatirana 000000 Sin - KPB - Lankathileke
EB73e 1964-06-12 BWCL FB Gry 5 SS. N.M.Perera&W.Rajapatirana 000000 Sin - KPB - Throne Nisankamalla
EB74a 1964-06-12 BWCL FB Gry 10 SS. N.M.Perera&W.Rajapatirana M/51 944696 Sin - KPB - D.S.Senanayake
EB74b 1964-06-12 BWCL FB Gry 10 SS. N.M.Perera&W.Rajapatirana M/51 944696 Sin - KPB - D.S.Senanayake
EB74c 1964-06-12 BWCL FB Gry 10 SS. N.M.Perera&W.Rajapatirana M/51 944696 Sin - KPB - D.S.Senanayake
EB74d 1964-06-12 BWCL FB Gry 10 SS. N.M.Perera&W.Rajapatirana M/51 944698 Sin - KPB - Anagarika Dharmapala
EB74e 1964-06-12 BWCL FB Gry 10 SS. N.M.Perera&W.Rajapatirana 000000 Sin - KPB - King ParakaramBahu(KPB)
EB82 1966-01-15 BWCL FB Gry 2 SS. UBWanninayake&W.Rajapatirana 000000 Sin - KPB - Moonstone Steps
EB83 1966-01-15 BWCL FB Gry 5 SS. UBWanninayake&W.Rajapatirana 000000 Sin - KPB - Entrance Watadage
EB84 1966-01-15 BWCL FB Gry 10 SS. UBWanninayake&W.Rajapatirana 000000 Sin - KPB - Peradeniya Gardens
EB86 1966-01-15 BWCL FB Gry 50 SS. UBWanninayake&W.Rajapatirana 000000 Sin - KPB - Leopard Seated
EB87 1966-01-15 BWCL FB Gry 100 SS. UBWanninayake&W.Rajapatirana 000000 Sin - KPB - Elephant Bathing
EB92 1966-01-15 BWCL FB Gry 2 SS. UBWanninayake&W.Rajapatirana 000000 Sin - KPB - Kandy Lake
EB93 1966-01-15 BWCL FB Gry 5 SS. UBWanninayake&W.Rajapatirana 000000 Sin - KPB - Catermaran
EB94 1966-01-15 BWCL FB Gry 10 SS. UBWanninayake&W.Rajapatirana 000000 Sin - KPB - Farmer Ploughing field
EB96 1966-01-15 BWCL FB Gry 50 SS. UBWanninayake&W.Rajapatirana 000000 Sin - KPB - Bird near Ravana falls
EB97 1966-01-15 BWCL FB Gry 100 SS. UBWanninayake&W.Rajapatirana 000000 Sin - KPB - Tea pluckers
EBA2 1966-01-15 BWCL FB Gry 2 SS. UBWanninayake&W.Rajapatirana 000000 Sin - KPB - Colombo Port Building
EBA3 1966-01-15 BWCL FB Gry 5 SS. UBWanninayake&W.Rajapatirana 000000 Sin - KPB - Gal Oya Dam
EBA4 1966-01-15 BWCL FB Gry 10 SS. UBWanninayake&W.Rajapatirana 000000 Sin - KPB - Castlereigh Dam
EBA6 1966-01-15 BWCL FB Gry 50 SS. UBWanninayake&W.Rajapatirana 000000 Sin - KPB - Central Bank Building
EBA7 1966-01-15 BWCL FB Gry 100 SS. UBWanninayake&W.Rajapatirana 000000 Sin - KPB - Parliament Building
EBB2 1966-11-22 BWCL FB Gry 2 SS. UBWanninayake&W.Rajapatirana G/89 000000 Sin - KPB - Central Bank Building
EBB3 1966-11-22 BWCL FB Gry 5 SS. UBWanninayake&W.Rajapatirana G/89 000000 Sin - SWRD - Castlereigh Dam
EBB4 1966-11-22 BWCL FB Gry 10 SS. UBWanninayake&W.Rajapatirana G/89 000000 Sin - DSS - Peradeniya University
EBB6 1966-11-22 BWCL FB Gry 50 SS. UBWanninayake&W.Rajapatirana G/89 000000 Sin - DSS - Colombo Port
EBB7 1966-11-22 BWCL FB Gry 100 SS. UBWanninayake&W.Rajapatirana G/89 000000 Sin - AD - Rubber Tea Coconut Rice
ET56 1971-01-01 TDLR FB RGB 50 SS. N.M.Perera&W.Tennekoon A/1 000000 STE - SWRD - Sun over Paddy Field
ET57 1971-01-01 TDLR FB RGB 100 SS. N.M.Perera&W.Tennekoon A/1 000000 STE - SWRD - Ruwanwelisaya
EBC2a 1971-02-15 BWCL FB RGB 2 SS. N.M.Perera&W.Tennekoon E/1 000000 STE - SWRD - Multiracial
EBC2b 1971-02-15 BWCL FB RGB 2 SS. N.M.Perera&W.Tennekoon E/1 000000 STE - SWRD - Farmer Paddy Field
EBC3 1971-02-15 BWCL FB RGB 5 SS. N.M.Perera&W.Tennekoon G/155 000000 STE - SWRD - Woman planting
EBC4a 1971-02-15 BWCL FB RGB 10 SS. N.M.Perera&W.Tennekoon M/1 000000 STE - SWRD - Tea plucking
EBC4b 1971-02-15 BWCL FB Gry 10 SS. N.M.Perera&W.Tennekoon M/1 000000 STE - SWRD - Rubber Estate
EBC6a 1971-02-15 BWCL FB Gry 50 SS. N.M.Perera&W.Tennekoon S/1 000000 STE - SWRD - ViharaMaha Devi Sratue
EBC6b 1971-02-15 BWCL FB Gry 50 SS. N.M.Perera&W.Tennekoon S/1 000000 STE - SWRD - Tea Estate
EBC7a 1971-02-15 BWCL FB RGB 100 SS. N.M.Perera&W.Tennekoon V/1 000000 STE - SWRD - Kandy Dancers
EBC7b 1971-02-15 BWCL B Gry 100 SS. STE - SWRD - Electric Power lines
Republic of Sri Lanka
EBD2 1972-05-22 BWCL PB RGB 2 SS. N.M.Perera&H.Tennekoon E/240 000000 STE - Sirimavo - Farmer Paddy Field
EBD3 1972-05-22 BWCL PB RGB 5 SS. N.M.Perera&H.Tennekoon G/155 000000 STE - Sirimavo - Coastal Catermaran
EBD4 1972-05-22 BWCL PB RGB 10 SS. N.M.Perera&H.Tennekoon M/189 000000 STE - Sirimavo - Rubber Tapping
ET63 1976-08-27 TDLR FB RGB 5 SS. 2 X Signature&H.Tennekoon AA000000 STE - Cattleya Orchid - Kingfisher
ET64 1976-08-27 TDLR FB RGB 10 SS. 2 X Signature&H.Tennekoon AA000000 STE - Honeysuckle - Deer Spotted
ET65 1976-08-27 TDLR FB RGB 20 SS. 2 X Signature&H.Tennekoon AA000000 STE - Daisy flower - Leopard Seated
ET67 1976-08-27 TDLR FB RGB 100 SS. 2 X Signature&H.Tennekoon AA000000 STE - Lily flower - Elephant Seated
EBF3 1976-08-21 BWCL FB RGB 5 SS. N.M.Perera&H.Tennekoon 123456 STE - Rubber Tapper - CBC Building
EBF4 1976-08-21 BWCL FB RGB 10 SS. N.M.Perera&H.Tennekoon 123456 STE - Dam - CBC Building
EBF5 1976-08-21 BWCL FB RGB 20 SS. N.M.Perera&H.Tennekoon 123456 STE - Rice Farmer - CBC Building
EBF6 1976-08-21 BWCL FB RGB 50 SS. N.M.Perera&H.Tennekoon N/50 100000 STE - Casket Tusker - CBC Building
EBF7 1976-08-21 BWCL FB RGB 100 SS. N.M.Perera&H.Tennekoon 123456 STE - Dalada Maligawa - CBC Building
EBF8a 1976-08-21 BWCL FB RGB 500 SS. N.M.Perera&H.Tennekoon N/50 100000 STE - CBC Building - Paddy Fields
EBF8b 1976-08-21 BWCL FB Gry 500 SS. N.M.Perera&H.Tennekoon N/50 100000 STE - Coconut Tapper - CBC Building
ET76 1977-01-01 TDLR FB RGB 50 SS. none D/1 000000 STE - Chakra - Viharamaha Devi Park Statue
ET77 1977-01-01 TDLR FB RGB 100 SS. none E/51 000000 STE - Chakra - Kandy Drummer and 3xDancers
CBC Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
ET82 1978-02-04 TDLR FB RGB 2 SS. 2 X Signature A/1 000000 STE - Chakra - Farmer Paddy Field
ET83 1978-02-04 TDLR FB RGB 5 SS. 2 X Signature A/1 000000 STE - Chakra - Catamaran Fisherman
ET86 1978-02-04 TDLR FB RGB 50 SS. 2 X Signature A/1 000000 STE - Chakra - Sigiriya
ET87 1978-02-04 TDLR FB RGB 100 .S. 2 X Signature STE - Chakra - Elephants at River
TDLR Thomas De La Rue
BWCL Bradbury Wilkinson Co. Ltd.
WSL Waterlow & Sons Limited
CNP Currency Note Press (A division of the India Security Press in Nashik)
FB Front and Back essay on card
F Front essay only on card
B Back essay only on card
PB Both sides Printed Banknote essay
Gry Grayscale Photographic Proof
RGB Red Green Blue Color Proof
S.. Scan of Front Side available
.S. Scan of Back Side available
SS. Scan of Both Sides available
L.. Front Side Listed scan not available
.L. Back Side Listed scan not available
LL. Both Sides Listed scan not available
Last Edited 2023-09-17