Henry Bradbury was the son a printer and followed in his fathers footsteps. From 1856 he took an interest in the security aspects of banknote printing, and set up the business Bradbury & Wilkinson in London. The firm was partnership with engineer, Robert W. Wilkinson. He took his own life at the age of 31, by drinking acid, after being accused of plagiarism.

Recent research has cast doubt that Bradbury Wilkinson submitted any 1851 essays and that all the essays on this page are exhibition stamps produced to advertise its services as security printers.