Catalog
10 Pounds
| Issuer | Cape of Good Hope Bank, Cape Town |
|---|---|
| Year | 18xx |
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| Shape | Rectangular |
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| Obverse description | The obverse carries a large intaglio vignette at left of a standing allegorical female figure draped in classical robes, set within an ornate oval frame with the word TEN below. The central text panel, printed in green and gold guilloche underprint, bears the promise-to-pay inscription with the denomination TEN POUNDS in large letterpress. The bank title CAPE OF GOOD HOPE BANK LIMITED / CAPE TOWN appears across the top, with the denomination £10 repeated in ornamental cartouches at upper left and upper right, and serial number panels at upper centre and lower right. |
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| Obverse lettering | CAPE OF GOOD HOPE BANK LIMITED CAPE TOWN No £10 10 TEN I promise to pay the Bearer on demand at our office here the Sum of TEN POUNDS, value received. CAPE TOWN SPECIMEN DW & Co By order of the Board of Directors For the Trustees Ent'd |
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| Comments |
The Cape of Good Hope Bank was one of the earliest joint-stock banks established in the Cape Colony, operating from 1837. Bradbury Wilkinson produced the plates in London, a common arrangement for colonial issuers who lacked local printing infrastructure capable of the intaglio work required for high-denomination notes.
The "18xx" dating indicates the year was completed by hand at issue — a standard practice for the period, though it complicates precise dating of surviving examples. At ten pounds, this was a substantial instrument, unlikely to have passed through many hands before returning to the bank.