Private Bank Issues

Lot 2886    Session 10 (7.30pm Wednesday)    Private Bank Issues

Estimate $20,000
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $29,000

SYDNEY BANKING COMPANY, five pounds, Sydney, Jan'y 10, 1840, (184 printed), No. 1236, made out to T. Long, hand signed by Directors, James Watkins and Charlie Nicholson and entered by Henry W. Cockburn (the Chief Cashier), printed on unwatermarked paper, with imprint on centre of bottom frame, 'Engraved by W. Moffitt Sydney', within rectangular spiral border, on back in black ink, 'Received for Albert Black' and signed 'D. Fraser 27/9/67', black on white, (Vort-Ronald, p.217 on bank, note not known). Heavy folds and creases, with unobtrusive holes from folds, normal aging tone, otherwise nearly fine, and unique.

Ex Spink Noble Sale 35A (lot 2494) and Dr. Alan Nicholson Collection, Sale 49 (lot 1605). The Sydney Banking Company was established in 1839 but failed during the bank crisis of 1843. Only two circulation notes are known to survive and this, the five pound note, is the only known specimen of this denomination. Very few if any (other than this note), five pound notes of this period survive today. W. Moffitt, founder of W.C.Penfold, was the leading printer and engraver in Sydney. This note was discovered in Canada in 1990.