Private Bank Issues

Lot 1522       Private Bank Issues

Estimate $2,500
Bid at live.noble.com.au

BANK OF AUSTRALASIA, Geelong written in replacing Adelaide, one pound altered to ten pounds, 2 Aug, 1852, (18 printed), No. 64918, hand signed by uncertain Manager and clerk as entered, note altered from one pound to ten pounds by carefully inking in TEN on the ONE in each of the ovals and block, and replacing with hand drawn TEN POUNDS for ONE POUND in text, printed on unwatermarked paper (?), with imprint on centre of bottom frame, 'Perkins Bacon & Petch, London Patent Hardened Steel Plate' vignette of Royal Arms in centre, all within rectangular spiral border with ADELAIDE on three sides, rubber stamped, 'ISSUED & PAYABLE AT GEELONG' at top and additional stamp in text 'HERE OR AT MELBOURNE' black on white, on back two signatures with one signed Joseph Hill, (Vort-Ronald Type One (b) (p.60), and one pound illustrated fig. 56, type for Adelaide not in Spink sale Perkins Bacon Archive, but compare the illustrations of specimen proofs for other cities). Heavily frayed edge, also some small holes, otherwise very good, as a forgery probably unique, and very rare for a one pound note from this bank at this time.

The forger has been reasonably successful for the alterations of the One to Ten in the ornamental frames. But the alteration is less successful in the replacing of the ONE POUND in the text to TEN POUNDS, and the ONE undertype is still visible on the note. Consequently this note is easily detected as a forgery. The additional stamps on the note, add to its interest as the original One Pound issue is the only surviving note from the Geelong emergency issue, produced as a result of the gold rush. It survival is as a consequence of it being an exhibit at a court case.