The activities of the resistance movement against the occupation are not only armed struggle, but also diversion in the fiscal field. An excellent example of this is the splendid forgery made in London of the highest denomination of the occupation banknote - 500 zlotys.
Legend has it that the Polish resistance movement stole the original matrices of this banknote from the PWPW and handed them over to England, where an excellent forgery was made on their basis. The banknotes printed in England and forwarded to the country supported local activities against the occupation.
With this excellent forgery of a 500 zloty note from 1940, a characteristic feature enabling its recognition has been preserved, perhaps intentionally, i.e. the unmarked interiors of the arrows at the right rosette with the denomination.
The subject of this auction is a steel engraving proof, printing the main obverse of just such a forgery. Probably one of the phases of its preparation. Made on fine paper, without watermarks. Paper dimension 212 x 145 mm. Color scheme too light for the final one, with a distinctly grayish-blue tint.
Very rare and historically interesting value.
