Collection PL

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

Printed by Myers Frs. & Co. of London, the note displays the earliest state of the Port Louis harbor vignette, a detailed maritime scene portraying the colony’s commercial lifeline. This vignette-used later in modified form on the 1842 and 1843 series-stands among the first engraved representations of Mauritius ever to appear on paper money. The absence of the later red overprint reinforces its status as the first design generation in Mauritius’ dual-currency (dollars / sterling) lineage. Read more →

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

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. & Co. depicts the busy Port Louis waterfront, with ships and warehouses illustrating Mauritius’s role as a maritime trading hub between Africa, India, and Europe. Read more →

Mauritius 1843 - Mauritius Commercial Bank 10 Dollars / 2 Pounds Sterling Remainder (Pick S122r)

This note represents the archival stock of the 1840s issue - printed but never signed or circulated. It carries the same engraving and layout as the fully issued 1842 Ten Dollars / Two Pounds Sterling notes, showing the Port Louis harbor with moored vessels, bonded warehouses, and the neoclassical bank building anchoring the composition. The vignette is among the earliest engraved landscapes used on any Mauritian banknote, reflecting the colony’s maritime identity and its economic dependence on shipping and re-export trade. Read more →

Mauritius 1940 - Government of Mauritius 1 Rupee Uncut Pair Remainder (Pick 26r1)

The centre of each impression contains the legal-tender declaration THESE NOTES ARE LEGAL TENDER FOR THE PAYMENT OF ANY AMOUNT above the principal denomination. ONE RUPEE is printed prominently across the central band, accompanied by the denomination in additional scripts reflecting the multilingual monetary environment of Mauritius. Beneath the value, OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONERS OF CURRENCY and PORT LOUIS identify the issuing authority and administrative centre. The denomination is repeated through the four Re.1 corner counters, making the value immediately recognizable throughout the design. Read more →