Important British and World Banknotes

The Southern Whale Fishery Company, Four Shillings Sterling, 18—, uniface proof on card, black on white ‘Promise to Pay....or bearer’ at the company’s office in London with bottom line n.b.this note will be received by the company, in all transactions, as cash (Pick –). A few spots of light foxing, paper remnants from mount marks on back and small area of thinning on bottom edge, good very fine, very rare (£2,000-2,500)

The Southern Whale Fishery Company was founded in England in 1849. Later that year Charles Enderby led a small party of settlers to Port Ross on the Auckland Islands. Plans failed to work out and in May 1852 the settlement was broken up with many of the settlers going to Australia