Lot 1549

Description

Bank of Tasmania, Launceston, twenty pounds, dated April 1854 in pencil (185- printed), numbered No.128 in pencil, proof, signed Rowe & Kentish in pencil, on card, no watermark, no imprint, vignette of Colonial wharf scene with ships in background, all within rectangular spiral border which includes LAUNCESTON in the base frame, black on white, (Vort-Ronald, Fig.111, [p.107], similar note but for one pound, further comments p.105-6). Some edge toning on front and on back scattered stains, otherwise extremely fine and extremely rare, probably unique.

See note on previous lot. This issue of a proof on board was partly filled in pencil, to demonstrate the type of form the note would look like when issued. No second colour is used in this note as occurred on the other lesser value notes described in the previous three lots. This note appears incomplete and may be an early printer's trial, variations occur such as the absence of a value in the words before '... Sterling on Demand ...' in the text.