De La Rue then as a stationer and printer. In 1831 he secured his business a Royal Warrant to produce playing cards. In 1855 it started printing postage stamps and in 1860 banknotes. In 1896, the family partnership was converted into a private company. In 1921, the de la Rue family sold their interests. The company was first listed on the London Stock Exchange in 1947. Then called "Thomas De La Rue & Company, Limited", it changed its name in 1958 to "The De La Rue Company Limited". A takeover bid for De La Rue was made by the Rank Organisation plc in
Thomas de la Rue By 1837 his wife, his two sons William Frederick and Warren De la Rue and his eldest daughter were involved in the business. In 1855 Thomas was made a Chevalier of the Légion d'honneur. In 1858, he retired from De La Rue, handing over the management of the business to his sons. Thomas de la Rue died in London in 1866. He married Jane Warren (17 June 1789 – 22 September 1858) on 21 March 1816. He had six daughters and two sons: Mary, Elizabeth, Georgiana, Louisa, Jane, Warren and William. The Guernsey Post Office has issued two sets of