Lot 1546

Description

Bank of Tasmania, Launceston, one pound, not dated (185- printed) or numbered, proof with CANCELLED stamp in red, on paper, watermarked BRIGHTON UNION BANK, HWB, HALL WEST & BORRER, all within a watermarked frame, imprint at base for Rowe Kentish & Co London, vignette of Colonial wharf scene with ships in background, all within rectangular spiral border which includes LAUNCESTON in the base frame, blue and black on white, (Vort-Ronald, Fig.111, [p.107], similar note, further comments p.105-6, this note in Spink Noble Sale 37 lot 2735). File hole in left margin, minor paper tone in left field, otherwise extremely fine and very rare.

This Bank of Tasmania was founded in 1853 at Launceston in Tasmania, and was in 1885 purchased by the National Bank of Tasmania Ltd., (See also McNeice 'The Bank of Tasmania robbery of 1884', ACR Dec. 1970). This issue of proof notes was initiated with changes in the design to reduce the possibility of forgery, and this included the addition of colour, (different for various denominations for this bank) and contrasting style variations around the various value tablets.