Lot 2908

Description

The River Don Trading Company, River Don, Tasmania, issued at River Don, twenty two shillings and sixpence, currency note, dated 16 Jany 1889 (18-printed), No.129, no imprint but a possible product of Aikenhead & Button Launceston, impressed with Tasmania duty stamp for one penny, and stamped with oval bank stamp of the Commercial Bank of Tasmania, Latrobe, red counter stamp FORMBY on left hand side for the township of Formby, red on white. Holes on creases, edge tears, folds, otherwise nearly fine and very rare for this denomination.

The River Don Trading Company was founded in 1872 and was a successful business, even when their bankers the Bank of Van Diemans Land had failed in 1891, this company continued to trade. John Henry a signatory on this note, was clever at finances and in 1892 became Tasmanian Treasurer. He also was a member of the Convention that framed the Australian Constitution making this note a link to the formation of Australia. The River Don Trading Company issued a range of notes from five shillings to five pounds which included some odd denominations as 22/6, 25/- and 30/- which must have had some relevancy to the firm's business. Ex Noble Numismatics Sale No.40 (lot 1647)and Dr A.Nicholson Collection (lot 1647).