A unique discovery note will be auctioned by Spink’s in its Asian Banknote Sale to take place in Singapore on July 5th.

Sale 8014 Lot 0A: The $1000 “Government of the Straits Settlements” of 17 March 1911 has serial number A/1 000001. It is grey & black with crowned arms top centre flanked by a lion and a unicorn. The $1000 value in located in a black tablet at center of the note. The signatures of currency commissioners Brockman, Michell and David are visable and the notes value is also translated into  four languages, English, Chinese, Malay and Arabic around the edges of the note.

The Straits Settlements were a collection of territories of the British East India Company in Southeast Asia, which were given collective administration in 1826 as a crown colony,They were distinct from the native princely states, some of which later formed the Federated Malay States.

Initially, the Straits Settlements consisted of Penang, sometimes officially named Prince of Wales Island, Singapore with about a score of islets of insignificant size lying in its immediate vicinity, the islands and territory of the Dinding, Province Wellesley, the town and territory of Malacca and the islands of Labuan.

The colony was dissolved in 1946, when Singapore became a separate crown colony (ultimately independent), while Penang and Malacca joined the Malayan Union, which eventually became Malaysia.

The note was discovered by the consignor with an envelope titled SPECIMEN/ON HIS MAJESTY’S SERVICE and listing the serial number of the note in ink. (more…)

London, England - Spink, the world’s leading auctioneers of Coins, Stamps, Medals and Banknotes, Bonds and Share Certificates, based in London and established 1666, has acquired R.M. Smythe & Company, specialists in Antique Stocks and Bonds, Banknotes, Coins, and Autographs, based in New York City and established in 1880. Both Spink and Smythe are known around the globe for their illustrious histories, impeccable reputations and unparalleled expertise. The merging of these two companies is the next logical step in line with Spink’s strategy for the future and will create the first truly global, fully integrated, collectables house.

Spink is pleased to announce that John Herzog, owner of R.M. Smythe & Company since 1967, has become a shareholder in Spink. Mr. Herzog will act as Chairman Emeritus of Spink USA and will participate in the development of the combined entity which is valued in excess of $100 million by this deal.

Mr. Herzog stated, “I could not think of a better company to acquire Smythe. My wife, Diana, and I have been at Smythe’s helm for 40 years, and have tremendously enjoyed building the business and working with clients and collectors. I look ahead with great excitement to the opportunities presented by this joining of forces.”

Since their founding in 1880, R.M.. Smythe and Company has developed into one of the world’s premier auction houses, specializing in Antique Stocks and Bonds, Banknotes, Coins, Autographs and Photographs. In 2007 Smythe hosted six major auctions setting record prices for historical autographs, currency, coins, stocks, bonds and antiques. (more…)

Yesterday morning November 28th at Spink in London, a crowded auction room saw Russian lots sell for enormous prices. Amongst the highlights were the honours and awards bestowed upon General Thiébault Charles Maurice Janin (1862-1946), Commanding Officer of the Czech Legion, and one of the three most senior Allied Officers during the Allied Intervention in Russia, 1918-20.

A Parisian by birth, he was a controversial figure prominent in the Russian Imperial Court of Tsar Nicholas II during a period of high intrigue. After the infamous murder of the Russian Imperial Family it is reported by several contemporary sources, including Pierre Gilliard, the French tutor of the Tsar’s children (1905-18), that Janin carried out of Russia the human remains and effects of the Imperial Family on a high speed train from under the clutches of the Bolshevik agents charged with retrieving the damning evidence.

The collection was made up of 18 lots that sold for a total of £293,418. The top selling lot was the extremely rare Order of the White Eagle with swords, which sold for £161,100 to an anonymous phone bidder- a new world record price for this order at auction. There were ten phone bidders competing for the medals and awards of General Janin, making the sale a truly global event. (more…)

Last night Spink hosted a charity auction on behalf of the Bank of Scotland in Edinburgh. The auction took place the same day as the new “Bridges” banknotes went into circulation around Scotland. This is the 47th design in the 312 year history of the bank. The most desirable notes of the series, including special numbers like AA01 000001 and sheets, were held and auctioned off to the highest bidder, all in the name of charity. Governor of the Bank of Scotland, Dennis Stevenson, sold the first lot to a packed room for an astounding £12,000, three times the estimate. The second lot was sold by Treasurer of the Bank of Scotland, Colin Matthew, for £2,500, doubling the estimate. The sale totaled just over £80,000 with all proceeds going to the British Heart Foundation.

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