Guide to the 19th century currency items
MS 1139
National Library of Australia View Catalogue Record
Created: May 2016
Collection Summary
- Title
- 19th century currency items
- Date Range
- c1868-1895
- Collection Number
- MS 1139
- Extent
- 0.03 metres (1 folder)
- Language of Materials
- English
- Repository
- National LIbrary of Australia
- Sponsor
- The digitisation of the Library’s Currency Collection was made possible by the generous financial support of donors to the Banknotes and Currency Preservation Appeal (2015). The Library gratefully acknowledges this support.
Introduction
Scope and Contents
Includes merchants' promissory notes, Fijian treasury notes and money issued in "New Australia", Paraguay.
Conditions Governing Access
Please refer to the collection's catalogue record for the access conditions (http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn1132324).
Conditions Governing Use
Copying and publishing of unpublished manuscript material is subject to copyright restrictions. For such material, written permission to publish must be obtained from the copyright holder(s). Copying of unpublished material for research purposes is permissible 50 years after the death of the creator of the material.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Acquired from Tyrrell's Antiquarian Bookshop, Sydney, in 1953.
References
References used in the creation of this finding aid include:
Australian colonial currency and promissory notes by Michael P. Vort-Ronald, second edition, 2012 and Standard catalogue of world paper money by Albert Pick, vol 2, c1990.
Item Descriptions
Envelope with pencil inscription 'Paper money issued in "New Australia' colony, Paraguay 1895, 1 dollar, 10 cents (Item 1)
Additional information
The utopian communal settlement of New Australia was founded by journalist and trade unionist William Lane in 1893 near Asuncion, Paraguay. After a schism in the original colony, Lane set up a new colony, Cosme, 72 kilometres south of New Australia.
Ten centavo note from Colonia Nueva Australia (New Australia Colony), Paraguay, signed by Frederick Kidd, stamped 3 October 1895 (Item 2)
Issue details
Category: banknote
Type: Type 1
Country: Paraguay
Denomination: 10 centavos
Domicile of issuer: Asuncion, Paraguay
Issue date: 3 May 1895
Signatures: F Kidd, Presidente
Overprinting: circular date stamp 'Nueva Australia, Paraguay 3 May 1895'
Circulation status: circulated
Illustrative content: Central vignette with clasped hands with bare arms
Physical description: dimensions - 124x68 mm; uniface blue print on white paper
One peso note from Colonia Nueva Australia (New Australia Colony), Paraguay, signed by Frederick Kidd, Presidente, stamped 14 October 1895 (Item 3)
Issue details
Category: banknote
Type: Type Three
Country: Paraguay
Denomination: 1 peso
Domicile of issuer: Asuncion, Paraguay
Issue date: 14 May 1895
Signatures: F Kidd, Presidente
Overprinting: circular date stamp 'Nueva Australia, Paraguay 14 May 1895'
Circulation status: circulated
Illustrative content: Central vignette with lion and Phrygian cap
Physical description: dimensions - 111x67 mm; uniface red print on white paper
Unissued one pound shinplaster from Colonial Sugar Refining Company, Darkwater Mill, Sydney (Item 4)
Issue details
Category: shinplaster
Country: Australia
Denomination: one pound sterling
Issuing agency: Colonial Sugar Refining Company
Domicile of issuer: Darkwater Mill, Sydney NSW
Issue date: about 1868-1873
Circulation status: unissued
Illustrative content: vignette of figure of Mercury and shield within sugar cane?
Physical description: dimensions - 207x123 mm; uniface black and red print on cream paper
Unissued bond store warrant for Stewart, Garrick & Co, Sydney (Item 5)
Issue details
Category: store warrant
Country: Australia
Issuing agency: Stewart, Garrick & Co
Domicile of issuer: Sydney
Additional information
Stewart, Garrick & Co, Sydney, were general merchants and commission agents operating between 1868-1872.
Levuka [Fiji] Treasury five dollar banknote. Unissued and untrimmed, 187[-] (Item 6)
Issue details
Category: banknote
Type: second Treasury Note issue
Country: Fiji
Denomination: FJ $5
Issuing agency: Cakobau Kingdom, Treasury in Levuka
Printer: S T Leigh & Co Sydney
Domicile of issuer: Levuka, Ovalau, Fiji
Issue date: ca.1872-1874
Circulation status: unissued
Illustrative content: ornate border containing “CR” monogram of Cakobau Rex and arms in centre
Physical description: dimensions - 212x152 mm (uncut); uniface violet print on off-white paper
Levuka, Ovalau, Fiji promissory note for one pound. Unattributed and unissued, 187[-] (Item 7)
Issue details
Category: promissory note
Country: Fiji
Denomination: 1 pound sterling
Issuing agency: unknown merchant
Printer: S T Leigh & Co Sydney
Domicile of issuer: Limanatola, Fiji
Issue date: 1870s
Circulation status: unissued
Illustrative content: central vignette of ship, bales and mountains
Physical description: dimensions - 201x131 mm; black and fawn print on off-white paper
Levuka, Ovalau, Fiji promissory note for one pound from William Marshall Moore, Lima na Tola, Levuka, Fiji. Payable on Sydney at sight. Undated and unissued (Item 8)
Issue details
Category: promissory note
Country: Fiji
Denomination: 1 pound sterling
Issuing agency: William Marshall Moore
Printer: S T Leigh & Co Sydney
Domicile of issuer: Lima na Tola, Levuka, Ovalau, Fiji
Issue date: 1870s
Circulation status: unissued
Illustrative content: central vignette of Cakobau Rex
Physical description: dimensions - 201x124 mm; black print on off-white paper
Mona Cotton Ginning Establishment promissory note for one pound with attached counterfoil. Payable at Messrs Smith Brothers, Sydney. Unissued, 187[-] (Item 9)
Issue details
Category: promissory note
Country: Fiji
Denomination: 1 pound sterling
Issuing agency: Mona Cotton Ginning Establishment
Printer: S T Leigh & Co Sydney
Domicile of issuer: Levuka, Fiji
Issue date: 1870-1872
Circulation status: unissued
Illustrative content: Central vignette of the triskeles and motto of the Isle of Man, UK
Condition: mint
Physical description: dimensions - -265x121 mm; black print on off-white paper
Additional information
The Mona Cotton Ginning Establishment was set up on Levuka Beach to exploit the cotton boom. It was owned by Clarke, Spowart & Co. The gin was sold in 1872 after the partnership was dissolved.
Bond store warrant for Bisquit, Dubouche Hos. Brandy warehoused by Stewart, Garrick & Co, Sydney. Unissued (Item 10)
Issue details
Category: store warrant
Country: Australia
Issuing agency: Stewart, Garrick & Co
Domicile of issuer: Sydney
Physical description: dimensions - 280x140 mm; black print on biscuit underprint
Additional information
Stewart, Garrick & Co, Sydney, were general merchants and commission agents operating between 1868-1872.
Blank cheque form from the Scottish Australian Mining Co. Limited. Unnumbered, 187[-] (Item 11)
Issue details
Category: cheque
Country: Australia
Issuing agency: Scottish Australian
Mining Co. Limited
Printer: S T Leigh & Co Sydney
Domicile of issuer: 3 O'Connell St, Sydney, NSW
Issue date: 187[-]
Circulation status: unissued
Illustrative content: Company initials in cartouche left side
Physical description: dimensions - 225x128 mm; black print on off-white paper
Bond store warrant for Bisquit, Dubouche Hos. Brandy warehoused by Stewart, Garrick & Co, Sydney. Unissued (Item 12)
Issue details
Category: store warrant
Country: Australia
Issuing agency: Stewart, Garrick & Co
Domicile of issuer: Sydney
Circulation status: unissued
Physical description: dimensions - 280x110 mm; black print on biscuit underprint
Additional information
Stewart, Garrick & Co, Sydney, were general merchants and commission agents operating between 1868-1872.
Blank promissory note from Messrs Elliott Brothers in pounds sterling. Unnumbered and unissued, 187[-] (Item 13)
Issue details
Category: promissory note
Country: Australia
Issuing agency: Messrs Elliott Brothers
Printer: S T Leigh & Co Sydney
Domicile of issuer: Balmain, Sydney
Issue date: 187[-]
Circulation status: unissued
Illustrative content: company initials in cartouche left side
Physical description: dimensions - 225x128 mm; black print on off-white paper
Additional information
Manufacturing chemists and wholesale agents.
Geo. A Lloyd, & Co. sight note. Dated 185[-], payable on Lloyd, Bielby & Co London. Unnumbered and unissued (Item 14)
Issue details
Category: sight note
Country: UK
Issuing agency: Geo. A Lloyd & Co.
Printer: John & Fredk Biden, Cheapside, London
Domicile of issuer: 474 George St, Sydney, NSW
Issue date: 185[-]
Circulation status: unissued
Illustrative content: central vignette of harbour scene
Physical description: dimensions - 217x108 mm; black print on off-white paper
Bond store warrant for Frazer's Bonded Stores, O'Connell St., Sydney. Unissued, 187[-] (Item 15)
Issue details
Category: store warrant
Country: Australia
Issuing agency: John Frazer & Co
Printer: S T Leigh & Co Sydney
Domicile of issuer: O'Connell St, Sydney, NSW
Issue date: 187[-]
Circulation status: unissued
Illustrative content: company initials in cartouche left side
Physical description: violet print on cream paper with perforated edge
Order for railway ticket from Phillips & Company, Land investors, 6 Castlereagh St, Sydney. No.E432, unissued, 18[--] (Item 16)
Issue details
Country: Australia
Issuing agency: Phillips & Company
Printer: Gibbs, Shallard & Co.
Domicile of issuer: Sydney NSW
Issue date: 18[--]
Overprinting: stamped 'Available for day of issue only'
Circulation status: unissued
Illustrative content: Vignette of woman on pedestal left side
Physical description: dimensions - 204x115 mm; violet print on cream paper with perforated edge
Blank cheque from Anvil Creek Coal Mining Company, Sydney. Unsigned and unnumbered, 187[-] (Item 17)
Issue details
Category: cheque
Country: Australia
Issuing agency: Anvil Creek Coal Mining Company
Printer: S T Leigh & Co Sydney
Domicile of issuer: Sydney NSW
Issue date: around 1873
Circulation status: unissued
Illustrative content: company name in cartouche left side
Physical description: dimensions - 197x104 mm; red print on cream paper with perforated edge
Sales approval slip with two carbon copies from bookseller Tyrell's, Sydney, 10 December 1953 (Item 18-20)
Unissued Atlas Association share certificate for 7000 shares at one pound each, with attached counterfoil, 186[-] (Item 21)
Issue details
Category: share certificate
Country: Australia
Issuing agency: Atlas Association
Printer: Tintes office
Domicile of issuer: Maldon, Victoria
Issue date: 186[-]
Circulation status: unissued
Illustrative content: cartouche with blank centre left side
Physical description: dimensions - 300x160 mm; black print on cream paper with torn edge
Additional information
Atlas Association was a mining and quartz crushing company in Tarrengower, Maldon, Victoria
Unissued licence royalty to use Sleeboom's Antileeway False Keel, by Her Majesty's Letters Patent, No.7 Little Tower St London, 18[--] (Item 22)
Issue details
Category: royalty licence
Country: UK
Issuing agency: HM Treasury
Domicile of issuer: London UK
Issue date: 18[--]
Circulation status: unissued
Illustrative content: cartouche with letters S.P.A.F.K. left side
Physical description: dimensions - 364x244 mm; black print on cream paper
Additional information
A 'false keel' is an extension to the keel of a vessel either for protecting the keel from damage or for reducing leeway.
Letters patent (always in the plural) are a type of legal instrument in the form of a published written order issued by a monarch, president, or other head of state, generally granting an office, right, monopoly, title, or status to a person or corporation.