Lot 1633

Description

George Shenton, Perth, issued at Perth, one pound, currency note, dated 1st Aug. 1865, (18- printed), number No.271, no watermark, value tablets in upper corners, vignette of swan, no imprint, stating on front 'On Demand, I Promise to pay the Bearer One Pound Sterling, at Perth, Western Australia', signed G. Shenton (father), and entered by Charles Grunther, with two additional black ink oval stamps for, The National Bank of Australia, Perth W.A., green on yellow, (Vort-Ronald, [p.23], Fig.29 a similar note). A few folds and creases, some minor pin-holes, otherwise fine and extremely rare.

George Shenton was an important figure in early Western Australian history. He and his son George (later Sir George) (1842 - 1909) who joined with the father in 1858, had a business which was to become Perth's biggest emporium. It was probably the son who initiated the issue of their own notes, he being a signatory as entering the notes (see next lot). The son George had a rapid rise in the city, as in 1867 he was elected as a member of the Perth City Council and then chairman from 1875-1877. In 1880 became the first mayor of Perth a position held to 1884 and again 1886-1888. He was also in parliament from 1875-1890. Later on in life he was colonial secretary, and then president of the Legislative Council, where he stayed until 1906. His home and land became the site of the University of Western Australia, (an extensive biography in Australian Dictionary of Biography p.118-9). Only a few circulating notes are known and most representative issues are unissued proofs.