Lot 1624

Description

Scottish Australian Agency, twenty shillings sterling order, not dated (c.1850's with printed date 185-), printer's proof, on printed unwatermarked paper, vignette of Queen Victoria as on shield sovereign, no imprint, black on white, (cf.Butlin p.311-2 on Scottish Australian Investment Company). Many folds, crease holes, otherwise nearly fine and extremely rare, being the second known specimen of this Agency.

See previous lot for discussion on the Agency. The wording on this note is somewhat bizare 'On or after..... 185 and on presentation and redelivery thereof, I bind and oblige myself to deliver to ..... Five Dwts of British Standard Gold, or in the event of failure to forfeit and pay the sum of Twenty Shillings Sterling'. It is further possible that the Agency might have anticipated immigration to the gold fields and in lieu of payment entered people into a bond to pay in gold or coin by a certain date. The note lacks the butt on the end which is present on the previous note.