Catalogue
The City of Melbourne Bank Limited, Melbourne, one pound, dated 1st Jany 1875, printed on paper but stuck down on cardboard, not numbered, not watermarked, no imprint, signed by two signatures, (This note illustrated in Vort Ronald, Australian Private Banknote Pedigrees p.125, Vort-Ronald p.125-6 for background). Fair and apparently unique for type.
Estimate $2,500
SOLD $2,000
The City of Melbourne Bank Limited, Melbourne, specimen five pounds, dated 1st April 1877, printed on both sides, numbered A10001, not watermarked, imprint of Bradbury Wilkinson & Co, Engravers & c, London, unsigned, perforated 'SPECIMEN/BW & Co/LONDON' in three lines, unsigned, (This note noted in Vort Ronald, Australian Private Banknote Pedigrees p.127, Vort-Ronald p.125-6 for background). Nearly uncirculated and very rare.
Estimate $4,000
SOLD $6,200
The City of Melbourne Bank Limited, Melbourne, one pound, dated originally 1st April 1877 and red overprinted date 19th June 1893, (dates printed), No. A 343173, on paper, uncertain signatures, no watermarks, imprint of 'Bradbury Wilkinson & Co Engravers &c London' lower centre, vignette of female figure facing in oval tablet, 1 in circular geometric frames in corners and 'ONE' in value tablet lower left, all within rectangular frame built up on 'ONE POUND' in intricate design, states 'I Promise to pay the Bearer on demand ONE POUND Sterling. Melbourne ... For The City of Melbourne Bank Limited', with ONE in blue and yellow inside central area, on back arms, geometric ovals with value tablet '1' and 'ONE' written, inside border pattern, around, blue, yellow and black on white/red and blue on white, (Vort-Ronald, cfFig.134a & 134b and [p125-6], comments p125-6 on bank, also Tomlinson p48-49). Many creases and folds, perforation near vignette, stain on reverse, otherwise nearly fine and excessively rare, being one of two known.
Estimate $15,000
SOLD $14,500
The City Bank of Sydney, Sydney, ten pounds, 1st May 1893 (date fully printed), printed on paper both sides, numbered No.C00001 - C30200, officially perforated SPECIMEN BW & Co, LONDON (in three lines), watermarked City Bank of Sydney in three lines, imprint of Bradbury Wilkinson & Co Engravers & C, London, (This note listed Vort Ronald, Australian Private Banknote Pedigrees p.124, Vort-Ronald p.123 for type illustration). Nearly uncirculated and very rare.
Estimate $6,000
SOLD $6,400
Colonial Bank, proof one pound, uniface on card, black and white, Van Diemen's Land....184., imprint of Perkins, Bacon & Co. London, Patent Hardened Steel Plate, 'SPECIMEN' in Directors signature reserve (MVR unlisted). Glue remnants on back, otherwise extremely fine and very rare.
Estimate $1,000
SOLD $1,600
Colonial Bank, proof five pounds, uniface on card, black and white, Van Diemen's Land....184., imprint of Perkins, Bacon & Co. London, Patent Hardened Steel Plate, 'SPECIMEN' in Directors signature reserve (MVR unlisted). Glue remnants on back, otherwise good extremely fine and very rare.
Estimate $1,200
SOLD $1,700
The Colonial Bank of Australasia, third issue, one pound uniface partial printers proof on thick paper, includes vignette of lion and unicorn with shield as central motif and text 'The Colonial Bank of Australasia promise to pay the bearer on demand at the office here One Pound sterling, By order of the Board of Directors' with printer pencilled note '19/12/72' (MVR p.131 for complete note illustration). Very fine and very rare.
Estimate $300
SOLD $190
The Commercial Bank of Australia Limited, Melbourne, Victoria, one pound uniface, specimen note dated /18, numbered A800001 - A850000, unsigned, on paper, unwatermarked, floral lined frame around with Chinese script on each side, no imprint but perforated 'SPECIMEN B.W & Co LONDON' in lower field, vignette in centre of seated female on wharf, with globe and winged caduceus, and ornamental oval tablet with '£1' lower left, on upper right and left 'ONE', states below, 'I Promise to pay the Bearer on Demand the Sum of One Pound here Value received Melbourne For the Commercial Bank of Australia Limited', with brown 'ONE POUND' across centre, brown and black on white, (Vort-Ronald, comments on bank and type p.133-5, similar unissued note illustrated for £100, Fig. 140 [p.133], MVR 1). About uncirculated and extremely rare with few of this bank appearing in auctions over the last 15 years.
Estimate $6,000
SOLD $6,500
The Commercial Bank of South Australia, one pound, Adelaide, 1st day of November 1878 (date printed), No.A33592, handsigned by Manager and Acct., imprint of Sands & McDougall Engravers Melbourne (MVR type 1, p.136, note type not mentioned in Vort Ronald Colonial Currency & Promissory Notes, but type illustrated p.151). Creases, folds considerable edge damage, holes and foxing, poor but very rare.
Estimate $200
SOLD $1,200
Commercial Bank of Sydney, Sydney, uniface card trial or proof twenty pounds not dated (18-- printed), c.1840s, not numbered, imprint Engraved by W. & A.K. Johnston, Edinburgh, for Cowan & Coy Sydney, (Vort-Ronald type two comments on bank and type p.142-146, this note illustrated Vort Ronald, Australian Private Banknote Pedigrees p.146). About uncirculated and very rare.
Estimate $1,500
SOLD $1,600
Commercial Bank of Sydney, one pound, Sydney, 18 March 1856, No. 15218 (MVR p.142-152 on bank type 2), Printed by Perkins, Bacon & Co., London. Folds and repair to tears, paper toning, good colour and nearly fine, extremely rare and the earliest known example, probably unique.
Estimate $6,000
SOLD $5,000
Commercial Bank of Sydney, five pounds, Sydney 1st August 1881, signed W.Ducker and R.L.McDonald, No.231197 (New England Hoard no 35) (MVR 3, (Type note illustrated Vort Ronald, Australian Private Banknote Pedigrees p.140). Tear at top otherwise very fine and rare.
Estimate $3,000
SOLD $4,400
Commercial Bank of Sydney, uniface five pounds, Sydney, 1 day of Nov 1878 (date partially handwritten), No.195370, hand signed by Manager and countersigned, imprint faded (MVR type 3 similar note illustrated p.146 fig.153). Partially cleaned of toning, nearly fine and very rare.
Estimate $3,500
Passed in
Commercial Bank of Sydney, uniface five pounds, issued at Sydney, October 1, 1877, (18 printed), No. 187462, hand signed by Manager, 'Engraved by W. & A.K.Johnston Edinh. for Cowan & Coy Sydney', with vignettes of females grouped in top corners and in centre the bank building in Sydney, all within rectangular ornate spiral border, red-brown rectangular block with FIVE inside it, red-brown and blue on white, (New England Hoard No. 15 [Report of ANS 1974 yearbook, pp 49-68], Vort-Ronald, p.142-152 on bank, similar note illustrated as Fig.153). Folds, ragged edge and creases, centre cut in two and rejoined by paper tape, with some aging tone, otherwise very good and rare.
Estimate $600
SOLD $1,300
Commercial Bank of Sydney, uniface five pounds, issued at Sydney, July 1, 1876, (18 printed), No. 168937, hand signed by Manager, 'Engraved by W. & A.K. Johnston Edinh. for Cowan & Coy Sydney', with vignettes of females grouped in top corners and in centre the bank building in Sydney, all within rectangular ornate spiral border, red-brown rectangular block with FIVE inside it, red-brown and blue on white, (New England Hoard No. 13 [Report of ANS 1974 yearbook, pp 49-68], Vort-Ronald, p.142-152 on bank, similar note illustrated as Fig.153). Extensive rust and hole damage to left centre otherwise good fine, rubber stamp of Dungog branch on back.
Estimate $400
SOLD $850
Commercial Bank of Sydney, type 2, Sydney, one pound uniface partial printer's proof on thick paper, includes frame and all the text details but missing vignettes, text 'Commercial Bank of Sydney On Demand We Promise to pay the Bearer One Pound Sterling, Sydney ...18.., (MVR p.144 for similar complete note illustration, this note as a complete specimen note illustrated in Vort Ronald, Australian Private Banknote Pedigrees p.134). Extremely fine and very rare.
Estimate $400
SOLD $400
Commercial Bank of Sydney, type 2, Sydney, one pound uniface partial printer's proof on thick paper, includes only half the bottom part of the note, but with some text details but missing vignettes, text 'On Demand We Promise to pay the Bearer One Pound Sterling, Sydney ...18.., etc., imprint W. & A.K.Johnston, Edinburgh, (MVR p.144 for similar complete note illustration, this note as a complete specimen note illustrated in Vort Ronald, Australian Private Banknote Pedigrees p.134). Extremely fine and very rare.
Estimate $200
SOLD $70
Commercial Bank of Sydney, second issue, proof five pounds, uniface, black and white, Sydney, 18.., No.., imprint of Perkins, Bacon & Co. London, 'SPECIMEN' in Manager signature reserve, '31st August 1860' added in pencil in bottom margin (MVR 2b?). Repaired 10mm tear in bottom margin, otherwise extremely fine and very rare.
Estimate $800
SOLD $700
Commercial Bank of Sydney, second issue, proof ten pounds, uniface, black and white, Sydney, 18.., No.., imprint of Perkins, Bacon & Co. London, 'SPECIMEN' in Manager signature reserve, '24th August 1860' added in pencil in bottom margin (MVR 2b). Good extremely fine and very rare.
Estimate $900
SOLD $1,000
Commercial Bank of Sydney, twenty pounds, Sydney 18-, with pencil notation dp 11/72 wet proof, with three vignettes of Britannia, commerce and the head office in Martin Place, (MVR 3, this note type vignettes are illustrated Vort Ronald, Australian Private Banknote Pedigrees p.146), black and white uniface partial printer's proof on paper. Nearly uncirculated with several thins from being glued into a book.
Estimate $500
SOLD $150
Commercial Bank of Sydney, type 2, Sydney, fifty pounds uniface partial printer's proof on thick paper, includes no frame some text details but includes the three vignettes, text 'Commercial The Bearer Fifty Pounds Sterling, in pencil 'Dry Proof' below and 29/4/72 above, (This note as a complete specimen note illustrated in Vort Ronald, Australian Private Banknote Pedigrees p.148). Extremely fine and very rare.
Estimate $500
SOLD $400
Commercial Bank of Sydney, fifty pounds, no domicle or date, partial front black and white printer's proof, with three vignettes of Britannia, commerce and the head office in Martin Place, (MVR 3, this note type vignettes are illustrated Vort Ronald, Australian Private Banknote Pedigrees p.148). On paper, nearly uncirculated.
Estimate $300
SOLD $180
The Commercial Banking Company of Sydney Limited, one pound sterling, 1st day of March 1902, No.F838809, imprint of Bradbury Wilkinson & Co Ld engravers London (MVR type 5b). Post Office stamp on front, nearly very good and rare.
Estimate $2,500
SOLD $2,600
Commercial Banking Company of Sydney Limited, type 5, Sydney, not numbered and not dated, one pound sterling, uniface printer's proof or specimen on paper, includes vignette of female to left, Captain Cook to right, note is stamped twice in red 'Cancelled'; with full text details, text 'On Demand We Promise to pay the Bearer One Pound Sterling, Sydney ...189.., etc., imprint of Bradbury, Wilkinson & Co, Ld. Engravers, London, (A similar complete issued note is illustrated in Vort Ronald, Australian Private Banknote Pedigrees p.138). Extremely fine and very rare.
Estimate $500
SOLD $850
Commercial Banking Company of Sydney, type 5, (Sydney), green printed back as a uniface printer's proof or specimen on paper, includes vignette of building to left, Sydney Harbour to right, note is stamped three times in red 'Cancelled'; imprint of Bradbury, Wilkinson & Co, Ld. Engravers, London, (probably matches up to the face of a similar complete issued note illustrated in Vort Ronald, Australian Private Banknote Pedigrees p.138). Extremely fine and very rare.
Estimate $400
SOLD $700
The Commercial Banking Company of Sydney, Sydney, five pounds, undated as 19.. only (printed), printed on paper, numbered No.C400001 - C410000, officially perforated SPECIMEN, no watermark Imprint of Bradbury Wilkinson & Co Engravers & C, London, in ink upper left November 1909, (Vort-Ronald p.148, fig 155 similar). Good extremely fine, very rare.
Estimate $8,000
SOLD $6,000
Commercial Bank of Tasmania, second issue, proof twenty pounds, uniface on card, black and white, Hobart Town, ..18.., imprint of Perkins, Bacon & Co. London, Patent Hardened Steel Plate, 'SPECIMEN' in Director signature reserve, 'December 6th/54' added in pencil in bottom margin (MVR 2a). Glue remnants on back corners, otherwise good extremely fine and very rare.
Estimate $900
SOLD $1,700
Commercial Bank of Tasmania, second issue, proof one pound, uniface, black and white, Launceston, 1st January 18.., imprint of Perkins, Bacon & Co. London, Patent Hardened Steel Plate, a 65mm strip removed by way of cancellation from Manager signature reserve, 'from this' added in pencil near date (MVR 2b). Glue remnants on back corners, otherwise extremely fine and rare.
Estimate $500
SOLD $700
English, Scottish & Australian Chartered Bank, South Australia, first issue, ten pounds, black and white printer's proof, Melbourne, ..185., no imprint, printer's instructions in pencil 'from this' in Manager signature reserve (MVR 1). Tears near remnants of glue marks on corners, otherwise good extremely fine and rare.
Estimate $600
SOLD $1,300
English, Scottish & Australian Chartered Bank, South Australia, first issue, ten pounds, black and white printer's proof, Adelaide, ..18.., no imprint, printer's instructions in pencil 'to this. Sept 5th/73.' in Manager signature reserve (MVR 1). Remnants of glue marks on back, otherwise good extremely fine and rare.
Estimate $800
SOLD $1,500