Lot 1559

Description

Commercial Bank, Hobart Town, Van Diemens Land, one pound, forgery in Indian ink, 1 July 1835 (year 18 printed), No. 1351, forged hand signatures of John Dunn (founder of the bank) and Wm. Gellibrand, copied from an original note, black on white, on unwatermarked paper, vignette of standing figure, in black ink, on front additional initials and date '11 Oct 41' in two places and 'Exhibited in the Reprieve(?) Court in Reg v. Watkins this 20th October 1841', and on back in black ink 'Produced Police Office Oct 11/41. and additional '20 Febry 1836 Exhibited in the prosecution of Eugene McCarthy this day' and signed by an uncertain signature, also additional uncertain words on back in black ink, (Vort-Ronald [p.138-141]). Missing corner and some edges, minor pin-holes and edge splits, otherwise nearly fine, believed to be unique, and of great historical interest.

This contemporary forgery of a genuine banknote is the only known surviving example, forgery or genuine, from the earliest period of the Commercial Bank (1829-1921), which was later known as the Commercial Bank of Tasmania Limited. It is also one of the earliest surviving forgeries of a bank of issue, held in private hands. This note was an exhibit in apparently two court cases. The quality of the forgery is poor, but as most persons were illiterate it seems probable that the note passed readily for some time until it was detected.