Collection

Australia 1880–1910 — Commercial Bank of Australia £100 (Pick Unlisted, Specimen)

A monumental survivor from Australia’s private banking era, this £100 note ranks among the most important colonial-era specimens known. Printed circa 1880–1910 for the Commercial Bank of Australia Limited, it predates the 1910 Australian Notes Act that abolished private currency issuance. Engraved by Bradbury, Wilkinson & Co. ... Read more →

Mauritius 1839 — Mauritius Commercial Bank 20 Dollars / 4 Pounds Sterling (Issued & Cancelled, Pick S125)

Earliest known issued high-denomination note from the Mauritius Commercial Bank, dated 9 April 1839 and denominated Twenty Dollars / Four Pounds Sterling. Printed by Myers Frs. & Co. ... Read more →

Mauritius 1842 — Mauritius Commercial Bank 10 Dollars / 2 Pounds Sterling (Issued & Cancelled, Pick S122a)

A fully issued, hand-signed, and dated Mauritius Commercial Bank note — one of the earliest known examples of circulating paper money from the island. Dated 2 August 1842, this note bears manuscript signatures, serial numbers, and the characteristic oval CANCELLED stamps applied upon redemption. The engraving by Myers Frs. ... Read more →

Mauritius 1843 — Mauritius Commercial Bank 10 Dollars / 2 Pounds Sterling (Remainder, Pick S122r, PMG 50 NET)

Unissued remainder from the earliest Mauritius Commercial Bank dual-currency series, printed by Myers Frs. & Co., London. This note represents the archival stock of the 1840s issue — printed but never signed or circulated. ... Read more →

Argentina 1866 – Banco de Londres y Río de la Plata 1 Real (Rosario, PS1731, Bauman SFE 70, Type A)

Historical Context — Established in 1862, the Banco de Londres y Río de la Plata was the first major British-chartered bank to operate in the Southern Cone. Its Rosario branch, opened soon after Buenos Aires, served the fast-growing Santa Fe region, handling grain exports, shipping, and early railway finance. The 1 Real issue dated 15 December 1866 represents one of Argentina’s earliest fractional notes under foreign management. ... Read more →

Argentina 1866 – Banco de Londres y Río de la Plata 1 Real (Rosario, PS1731, Bauman SFE 70, Type B)

Historical Context — This note belongs to the same 1866 Rosario emission under the Banco de Londres y Río de la Plata, reflecting British financial integration into Argentina’s regional trade network. These early banknotes served daily commerce, circulating as substitutes for scarce silver coin in the province of Santa Fe. Design & Features — Identical frame and denomination layout as Type A, printed with the same typographic plates but signed by a different bank officer, demonstrating branch-level issuance flexibility. ... Read more →

New Zealand 1905–1916 — Bank of New Zealand £1 (Pick S212bs, Bradbury Wilkinson, Specimen)

A landmark Dominion-era specimen from the formative years of New Zealand banking, this £1 note exemplifies the artistry and precision of Bradbury Wilkinson & Co., London. Produced circa 1905–1916 for the Bank of New Zealand, it reflects the institution’s transformation from a colonial issuer to the nation’s financial cornerstone prior to the creation of the Reserve Bank in 1934. Engraved and printed in London, the note’s design unites symbolism of nationhood, trade, and indigenous heritage. ... Read more →

New South Wales 1865 — Embossed 'ONE HALF PERCENT' Stamp Duty Proof (Specimen)

Archival embossed proof prepared for the New South Wales Treasury in 1865, showing the crowned arms of the colony and the inscription 'ONE HALF PERCENT' surrounded by laurel wreaths. Produced on Cowan & Sons watermarked paper, this piece combines colourless embossing with printed blue 'Specimen' text and framing lines, representing the official presentation format used for fiscal die approval. This proof belongs to the earliest generation of Australian government fiscal printing, created to authenticate legal documents and financial instruments before the widespread adoption of adhesive revenue stamps. ... Read more →