New Zealand Banknotes

Lot 4045    SESSION 15 (7.30PM THURSDAY 19TH APRIL)    New Zealand Banknotes

Estimate $1,000
Bid at live.noble.com.au

UNION BANK OF AUSTRALIA, Wellington, New Zealand, bill of exchange no.1101, dated 28 January 1875, for two thousand five hundred pounds due 31 May and payable to Sir Donald McLean, with impressed New Zealand duty stamp for one pound ten shillings and with affixed New Zealand duty stamp of twenty shillings written on this is the issue date 28/1/75, also with Union Bank of Australia Wellington, NZ stamp with entered no.3638(3 crossed out)4, endorsed vertically across centre, (printed) 'Accepted payable at' (written) 'The Union Bank of Australia Wellington' and signed personally by Donald McLean, also signed on back by the issuing signatories at the front and these back signatures ruled through. Folds and pin holes at left corner, as usual, otherwise good very fine.

Donald McLean was a significant figure in New Zealand's colonial history. He was a wealthy businessman-landholder as can be evidenced by the above draft which equates to about one million dollars in today's currency. When he died his estate was valued at over one hundred thousand dollars, or in today's terms about forty million dollars. He was appointed personally by the New Zealand Governor Sir George Grey to direct and oversee land purchases and negotiations with the Maori iwi.

With research comprising a detailed history of Sir Donald McLean 1820-1877.