An exceptionally fine colour trial of $50 from the Board of Commissioners of Currency, Malaya and British Borneo, dated 1953 with a portrait of Elizabeth II and arms of the Federated States sold for £12,000 in Spink London two-day sale of 'World Banknotes'. The auction start on 15th July 2014 with over 1000 lots of issued notes, colour trials, composite essays, die proofs and specimens, Spink offered established collections from Sune Persson and Steve Wright.
The $50 Malaya colour trial note garnering interest from both Spink Live and bidders on the phone, the colour trial realised a price of £12,000, exceeding five times its estimate.
Lot: 851
Item description:
Board of Commissioners of Currency, Malaya and British Borneo, colour trial $50, ND (1953), brown and multicoloured, Elizabeth II at right, value in field, reverse brown, arms of the Federated States in field, value top left and right. (Pick 4ct, Tan M21s), perforated, red SPECIMEN overprint, light mounting traces at left, good extremely fine and very rare.
Another highlight of the auction is a scarce specimen of 25 riyals from the Qatar and Dubai Currency Board Co. This example is printed with an exceptionally rare Arabic specimen overprint as well as the usual English. Choice uncirculated, it achieved £12,600.
Lot: 996
Item Description:
Qatar & Dubai Currency Board, specimen 25 riyals, ND (1960's), serial number A/1 000000, blue on multicolour underprint, Dhow, Oil Derrick and Palm at left, value at each corner, reverse value at centre, one cancellation hole, red SPECIMEN overprint in English and Arabic on obverse and reverse. (Pick 4s, Linzmayer QDCB B4as), PMG 63, choice uncirculated NET, staining, minor rust, pinholes, very rare and an even scarcer Arabic specimen overprint.
The first day (15th July 2014) began with a comprehensive selection of banknotes from across the globe accumulated by the late Professor Sune Perrson, an eminent expert on the Middle East and avid collector for over 40 years.
A highlight of this section was a very rare and fine 'Karachi' Issue of 5 rupees, from the Government of India, serial number; BG/53 37601 (Lot 144). With fresh and original paper quality, this 1916 issue realised £3,720.
Price Realised: £3,720
Following the Sune Persson collection was a general world section, featuring notes from a multitude of sources, both trade and private. This included an extremely rare pale tan booklet containing 23 specimen 2 rupee notes issued by the Ceylon Government, serial number M/35 00000 (Lot 521). Dated 2nd October 1939, the attractive yet unusual booklet achieved £7,800.
Price Realised: £7,800
Offered towards the end of the 1666 lot auction is the Steve Wright Collection from the Isle of Man, most certainly the largest group of its type ever to be offered in a single session.
Within the collection was a £1 note from Lloyds Bank Limited (Lot 1562). Dated 12 March 1941, it originally belonged to the sister of a young farmer, and WWII recruit, who grew up on the Isle of Man and posted money to his mother as soon as he had been paid by the army. Unfortunately, the news of his death arrived to his mother before the post, which contained his note. She kept it until her death in the 1980's. This poignant note realised £1,320.
Estimate: £1,320
Source: Spink
