Catalog
5 Pounds
| Issuer | Standard Bank of British South Africa Ltd. |
|---|---|
| Year | 18xx |
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| Currency | Pound sterling (1694-date) |
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| Obverse description | Specimen trial note printed by Waterlow & Sons Limited, Bank Note Engravers. At left, an intaglio vignette of Britannia standing with a flag, accompanied by a lion and sheep in a pastoral landscape, enclosed within an ornate frame. Centre right, the promise-to-pay text in letterpress and script reads 'FIVE POUNDS', with the denomination numeral '5' in a guilloche medallion at upper right. The bank's title 'THE STANDARD BANK OF BRITISH SOUTH AFRICA LIMITED' appears in bold letterpress across the upper centre, above a blank serial number field. The entire design is bordered by a repeating numeral '5' pattern and intricate engraved scrollwork. |
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| Obverse lettering | SPECIMEN WATERLOW & SONS LIMITED, BANK NOTE ENGRAVERS THE STANDARD BANK OF BRITISH SOUTH AFRICA LIMITED No. Promise to pay the Bearer on Demand at their Office the sum of FIVE POUNDS. Value reed. BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. FIVE 5 Entd. Account! MANAGER GREAT WINCHESTER STREET, LONDON E.C. |
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| Comments |
The Standard Bank of British South Africa was incorporated by Royal Charter in 1862 and became one of the dominant colonial banking institutions across southern Africa. Waterlow & Sons in London produced the bulk of its early note issues — the firm handled a considerable volume of colonial bank printing in this period, often supplying partially completed sheets with date and serial fields left blank for completion at the issuing branch.
The "18xx" dating indicates an undated or incompletely dated remainder or proof, almost certainly never formally issued into circulation. Pick S583B is a scarce reference in any form.