Promissory Notes

Lot 2817    Session 10 (7.30pm Thursday)    Promissory Notes

Estimate $5,000
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $5,400

TREASURY BILL BY THE DEPTY COMMISSARY GENERAL'S OFFICE, Sydney New South Wales, 24th September 1818 for pounds sterling 700.0.0 to the order of Thomas Macvitie Esq. No.1076 and handsigned by Deputy Commissary General, David Allen and approved by Governor Lachlan Macquarie. On official 'crown' international parchment with the impressed Seal of the Bank of New South Wales, has been impressed. One of the earliest Colonial Treasury Bills known and of the highest rarity. Large section of the bottom of the note missing, but does not affect the design and signatures, otherwise fine and very rare.

The Commissariat in New South Wales was a branch of the Army Commissariat under the control of the Treasury in London. It's activities within the Colony were not unlike that of the Reserve bank of Australia today. This treasury Bill was a payment to Thomas MacVitie (1781-1833) who arrived in New South Wales in 1816 with a cargo of merchandise and set himself up as a wholesale merchant and importer. He was one of the merchants who was invited to form the Bank of New South Wales, made a director of that bank, resigning in 1826. He was appointed by Governor Lachlan Macquarie, as a magistrate in 1821. Settled in the colony in the Camden and Shoalhaven areas. rst year of the Bank of New South Wales. This sum from the Commissariat Office was probably for his imported goods sold to the government as a wholesaler. Endorsed by Major Antill and Edward S. Hall, the Bank's first cashier. Bills remained in the Bank's cash tin until the next ship sailed to England. This Bill in turn endorsed by Captain Joseph James who sailed the Brig Daphine to Capetown, Cape of Good Hope and traded the Bill for much needed goods to bring to the colony.