Monetarium Singapore will be offering 2 Straits Settlements watermark plates in their Monetarium Auction 12; Coin, Banknotes, Jade, Porcelin, Stamps, etc at Peninsular Excelsior Hotel, Singapore on 26 October 2013. The pair of watermark wire mesh plates are used for imprinting watermarks on Straits Settlement banknotes of denomination $50 to $10,000 during King George V era (1910-1936). The watermark plates are the first to appear in any auctions in recent years.
For centuries, watermarks are used as deterrents and counter-measures to counterfeit. As the watermarks were added during the paper production, making it more challenging to alter without affecting the paper itself. Watermarks are created when the embossing from the wire mesh is transferred to the paper pulp fibres, compressing and reducing their thickness in that area. Resulting in the patterned portion of the page thinner, hence transmits more light through and therefore has a lighter appearance than the surrounding paper. With reference to page 110 of “Banknotes of British Malaya: The Frank Goon Collection”, alteration of denominations on moulds was ordered for and delivered on 28th April 1916. For viewing pleasure of watermarked paper, kindly refer to “Banknotes of British Malaya: The Frank Goon Collection; pg 110-112”.
Lot 1155: Straits Settlements Wire mesh watermark plate Plate 1
STRAITS SETTLEMENTS / 海峡 Plate 1: Straits watermark plate “STRAITS SETTLEMENTS”” in between Elephant facing outward, card frame. Private purchased from Spink in 1990. VF
Estimate SGD15,000 - SGD30,000Starting Bid SGD15,000
Lot 1156: Straits Settlements Wire mesh watermark plate 2
STRAITS SETTLEMENTS / 海峡 Plate 2: Straits watermark plate design of flora background. Mounted on card frame. Private purchased from Spink in 1990. VF
Estimate SGD15,000 - SGD30,000Starting Bid SGD15,000
