Lot 1616

Description

Western Australian Bank, Perth, Western Australia, five pounds forgery, dated 1 June 1902, (date fully printed twice), numbered No A/820, signed Jno G. Gregory, manager and countersigned by Hodgkinson, on paper, no watermark, no imprint, vignette of swan in wreath, and ornamental shield tablets with '5' these in upper corners, all within rectangular ornate spiral border inscribed 'WESTERN AUSTRALIAN BANK' above and 'PERTH' below, states below, 'On Demand I Promise to pay the Bearer Five Pounds Sterling at Perth. For the Western Australian Bank', with red 'FIVE POUNDS' across centre of note, on back 'FIVE POUNDS' and '5' in geometric frame of circles and ovals all within block, ink and pencil signatures and dates on back, red and black on white/red on white, (Vort-Ronald, Type three (c), comments on bank and type p.235-8, similar issued note illustrated Fig. 243 & 244 [p.237-8]). Heavy folds and creases, otherwise nearly fine and a very rare forgery.

The Western Australian Bank (1841-1927) note numbers are noted in Vort-Ronald and the forger made an error by having an inconsistency of date with number. In this case to match the date the numbers should be in the range of A 73001 to A 145000 and not be A 820 (appropriate for July 2, 1894). The quality of print is poor, whereas the signatures look good and original. The note has an overall roughness which shows that the forger's skill is limited but allowed it to pass to the uneducated. The note however is poor in comparison with a genuine note, but unfortunately the notes were deceptive and often passed, making the banks improve their skills in having notes more difficult to copy.