World Tokens

Barbados, BRIDGETOWN, [Isreal] Bowen, an England, George III, Penny, 1797, rev. countermarked with a bookplate stamp t. bowen bookseller & stationer barbadoes in oval, 24.46g (Lyall 59, this piece; Prid. 30, this piece; Brunk 50530, this piece). Coin worn flat, countermark very fine; UNIQUE £500-1,000

Provenance: H. Peck Collection, Sotheby Auction, 29 October 1920, lot 156; H.D. Gibbs Collection, Hans Schulman Auction (New York), 18-19 March 1966, lot 1328; R.A. Byrne Collection, Jess Peters Auction 78 (Los Angeles), 13-14 June 1975, lot 62; R.J. Ford Collection, Part I, Spink Auction 79, 15 October 1990, lot 385.

It is presumed the maker of the bookplate stamp used a t instead of an i in error. Isreal Bowen (1802-80) established his printing and stationery business in Church street in 1834; by 1841 he was at 13 Trafalgar street and by 1863 at 20 Broad street. The business was restyled I. Bowen & Sons by 1866