Lot 2828

Description

New South Wales, Deputy Commissary General's Office, Sydney, New South Wales, 24th Dec 1817, No 97, third of exchange, to the order of Mr. Major West, the sum of sixty eight pounds eight shillings and nine pence, for salary as Assistant Surgeon in the Colony, signed by L.Macquarie (Lachlan Macquarie, Governor), Bank of New South Wales ink seal applied lower left. In excellent preservation apart from a split on the centre fold, nearly extremely fine and extremely rare, probably the finest available in private hands.

Endorsed on the back E.S.Hall, Cashier, Bank New South Wales, 'Please pay the within to George Thomas Esq or order Cape Town, Cape of Good Hope, Joseph James'.

The Commissariat in New South Wales was a branch of the Army Commissariat under the control of the Treasury in London. Its activities within the Colony were not unlike that of the Reserve Bank of Australia today. This treasury Bill would most likely represent a semi-annual payment to Major West. The Bill was deposited during the first year of the Bank of New South Wales. Bills remained in the Bank's cash tin until the next ship sailed to England. This Bill in turn endorsed by Captain Joseph James who sailed the Brig Daphine to Capetown, Cape of Good Hope and traded the Bill for much needed goods to bring to the Colony.