Lot 3814

Description

New Zealand, Bank of New Zealand, sixth issue, specimen one pound, Wellington, undated 19..., No. 050001/150000, without serial letter, booklet issue, imprint of Bradbury, Wilkinson & Co Ld Engravers & c London, perforation "CANCELLED", in pencil at top 22nd October 1902, (Robb.D.621[previously 16.ai]; L.455; P.S212). Good extremely fine and very rare.

The sixth issue one pound purportedly ceased being issued in 1916. The illustrated example in his book "Bank of New Zealand Banknotes 1861-1934" was no doubt an early "specimen" for the issue and shows a lettered prefix in contrast to the above note. Robb indicates (in his 2006 draft catalogue) that the un-lettered notes were issued from 1902-1904. The date in pencil at the top of the note makes this as confirmed. It now seems that the first notes from the sixth issue which started in 1902 had no prefix letter "A" and that notes from the end of the series had serial letters. See footnote from Sale 91 (lot 2593) where a different analysis was made on the issues with and without letter prefixes.