Lot 2471

Description

The Union Bank of Australia Limited, fourth issue, one pound, Wellington, 1st March 1905, 4/N 131793, imprint of Waterlow & Sons Ld. London, unsigned, with 'Unissued Stolen Note' handwritten written in red (Robb M.42; L.533; P.S362b). Many creases and folds, 1cm tear in bottom margin, tone spots at top, a little dirty, otherwise very good.

Together with a handwritten note 'This is one of a batch of unsigned notes that was stolen at Wairoa, Gisborne or Tolaga Bay (or somewhere in that region) in the early 1920's. It came into my cash thro' the exchanges from the B.N.Z. following the local races when I was employed as a teller at Hastings Branch. It was not discovered until time permitted me to sort up the notes which was two or three days later. The bank refused to pay out as all tellers had been advised of the theft and that these notes were floating about the country. The share teller who had taken the exchange notes from the B.N.Z. paid half & I paid the rest so here it is. P.K. McAllum, 19/7/69.'