Lot 1601

Description

The Royal Bank of Australia, one pound, Sydney, Feb 21, 1848, (184 printed), not numbered, hand signed by Manager, Director and Accountant, Interest bearing note, printed on watermarked paper probably with [ROYAL BANK OF] AUSTRALIA with a frame, with imprint on centre of bottom, 'W.H.Bruce Engraver and Printer, Trump St., King St, Cheapside', with vignette of modified Royal Arms with supporters and St. Andrew, all within rectangular spiral border, on front of note, 'Promise to pay the Bearer on the Twenty first day of May 1848 at Sydney the Sum of ONE POUND Sterling with Interest to that day at the rate of five Per Cent Per Annum', also in background in large letters 'POST NOTE ONE POUND', black on white, (Vort-Ronald, p.208-209 on bank, This Note illustrated as Fig. 217 on p.209). Folds and creases, with unobtrusive pinholes from folds and small hole lower left, some aging tone, otherwise good fine, extremely rare and possibly unique.

Ex. Spink Noble Sale 36 lot 2716. $$ This issue of The Royal Bank of Australia (1840-1850), is of most interest, particularly as it was founded by Benjamin Boyd of whaling fame. It collapsed in 1850 but has a link with the other note in this sale, the Australian Wool Company one pound, as it used the same printer W.H.Bruce for those notes and made a similar arrangement of interest payment on the note, all to the same bank. The similarity of these two notes indicate a common association and the link in both ventures was probably the founder, Benjamin Boyd. Both these notes are possibly unique issued notes for both institutions and are important examples of note issue of the 1840's.