Lot 1523

Description

Bank of Australasia, Launceston, one pound, dated 15 Sept. 1863, (date fully printed), not numbered, proof, unsigned except 'from this', on paper, no watermark, imprint of 'Perkins Bacon & Co. London Patented Hardened Steel Plate', vignette on left of bank arms, in centre female figures portraying commerce and prosperity as a farming and mining scene, and ornamental oval tablet with ONE on upper right and ONE in rectangular tablet lower left, all within rectangular ornate spiral border, states below, 'Promise to pay the Bearer on Demand One Pound here or at Hobart Town. For the Bank of Australasia', black on white, (Vort-Ronald, Type two (a), comments on bank and type p.57-63, similar issued note illustrated Fig. 58 [p.60], no exact examples from this date and city in the Spink Perkins Bacon Archive sale but cf. lot 266). Gum in corners with stain in centre, on the back, otherwise extremely fine and very rare.

Notes of some similarity of design were prepared as proofs for many cities. This the type two first issue (1863-1877) was prepared with more complexity in the vignettes, and other features to reduce the incidence of forgery.