Lot 2810

Description

Bank of Van Diemen's Land, Hobart Town, twenty pounds, [altered from one pound], July 1 1832 (year 18 printed), No. 9420, hand signed by W. Bunster and Charles McLachlan on printed form without imprint but believed to be engraved by Thomas Bock, black on white, on unwatermarked paper, sheep and ships scene upper left, in black ink, on back Mr Johnston, (Vort-Ronald [p.108-112]). Large segment of corner missing, rough edges and reinforced on back with new backing on portion of the note, some minor stain marks on the back, otherwise nearly fine, the note overall except for tear and holes, being in better than average condition for this period, very rare.

This note is another of the known few surviving issued example of this type from the Bank of Van Diemen's Land (1823-1891) and like the Derwent Bank note is also one of the earliest surviving issued Australian Colonial banknote's, in private hands. It was fraudulently altered from a one pound note to a twenty pound note and survived because it was an exhibit in a court case of crown v. John Sharman and Charles Parish held on May 3, 1835 before Justice Montague and a military jury (both received life imprisonment). The alterations on the note were quite skillfully done and add to the interest in this rarity.