Lot 3427

Description

Bank of Tasmania, Launceston, five pounds, not dated (185- printed) or numbered, proof with CANCELLED stamp in red, on paper, watermarked BRIGHTON UNION BANK, HWB, HALL WEST & BORRER, all within a watermarked frame, imprint at base for Rowe Kentish & Co London, vignette of Colonial wharf scene with ships in background, all within rectangular spiral border which includes LAUNCESTON in the base frame, blue and black on white (MVR fig.111, p.107), similar note but for one pound, further comments on p.105-6). File hole in left margin, otherwise extremely fine and very rare.

This Bank of Tasmania was founded in 1853 at Lauceston, Tasmania, and was purchased by the National Bank of Tasmania Ltd in 1885 (see McNeice 'The Bank of Tasmania robbery of 1884', ACR Dec 1970). This issue of proof notes was initiated with changes in the design to reduce the possibility of forgery, and this included the addition of colour (different for various denominations for this bank) and contrasting style variations around the various value tablets.