Lot 592

Description

Victorian Railways, Free Pass, handcrafted in gold (21ct, 19.7gms, 28mm x 23mm octagonal shape with small mount), inscribe on obverse 'Victorian Railways Free Pass' and on reverse 'South Aust Rlys Commission Member', manufactured by Kilpatrick & Co., Goldsmiths of 39 Collins St, Melbourne, in 1886, that Company being under the Vice-Regal patronage. With original case of issue. Extremely fine and rare.

The pass bears the plain gold Crown of Queen Victoria and as such could only be used by the Governor or a senior member of Government. The Gold Pass befits the momentous occasion of the opening of the Railway and would give the Governor or senior government leader's free travel between the colonies. The quality and cost of making the pass is evident by the intricate and minute screw pins holding the hand beaten Crown onto the main mounting. The gold content is in excess of any listed gold Railway Pass issued in subsequent years. It shows little sign of use particularly the case and its clasp and was probably used only at the time of the inaugural run of the first train in 1887. Tradionally all Railway Passes bearing the Crown of Monarch were scrapped upon the demise of the Monarch and the gold reused to produce replacement passes bearing the new Crown.