A very interesting and rare item.
Denomination set of circulated banknotes from 1 to 100 zlotys cancelled with deletions. Diagonal deletions on the obverse, straight on the reverse, and the MUSTER stamp on the left margin of both obverse and reverse. Probably made shortly after the introduction of the 1941 issue, which can be inferred from the early series of 1, 2 and 5 zloty bills (AA, AA and AB series, respectively) as well as the absence of the image-explicitly changed 1941 100 zloty, which was not introduced until 1944.
For a complete set of denominations, only the 500 zloty from Highland is missing.
The making of specimen sets, based on circulated banknotes, is known from the practice of the German issuing authority and its affiliates. In particular, in the case of the 1940-41 banknotes of the Issuing Bank, no cash designs were prepared. Such was only provided for the 1941 100 zloty (for more see the description of item A21/3310).
Such banknotes have so far appeared (and very rarely) usually only in the form of single pieces. Very few of them had to be prepared, and at present knowledge of them is still poor. In the form of such a set we see them for the first time.
Also known is an entire album of such invalidated banknotes, made by the German occupation authorities for Polish banknotes from before World War II. It was sold at PDA auction 16/1697, and collected and invalidated for presentation purposes banknotes circulating before and shortly after the outbreak of the war, which the authorities had designated for withdrawal. The invalidation was made using the same technique and in the same style as the present set.
According to Sergius Stube of the PDA, who is well acquainted with issues of the German monetary system, the genesis of the preparation of the Free City of Danzig designs on circulating banknotes, including pieces in circulating condition, is also analogous. Such as were discussed in our video Time teaches us humility.... or loose numismatic divagations inspired by Danzig banknotes. According to him, when Danzig currency was withdrawn, such specimen sets were prepared for the Reich's coffers so that it would be known which types were being withdrawn and which were subject to possible exchange.
All such specimens are very rare. They appear sporadically, usually only in single pieces. Here we have a very nice set. Cancellation marks made on banknotes that are out of circulation, but are of nice appearance, in states of preservation in the 3-2 range.
