Issued uncanceled examples of Series A notes are generally rare. Cancelled notes are common, almost all of which have been split and rejoined.
It is said that the vast majority of Provincial banknotes prior to ca.1900 were split down the middle for transportation as separate halves for security reasons, and later rejoined. This may or may not have been the case. However it is likely that on being rejoined the notes would have had their serial numbers rematched, the number being an important security device.
A large quantity of cut-cancelled half notes turned up around 1970. It would appear that from observation most of the split and rejoined notes extant are those that had been previously cut-cancelled and then rejoined ca.1970 for collecting purposes, making cancelled rejoined notes with mismatching serial numbers quite common.
A considerable number of cut up and joined notes have had their serial numbers interfered with so that they appear to match. Some rejoined notes consist of more than two parts. Many examples of cancelled banknotes exist.
Denominations up to £20 were of a similar design with a border around each note. Banknotes of £50 and £100 notes were of a different design, being plainer with the bust of the Monarch on the left. The date ranges of William IV and Queen Victoria portraits overlap by a few years, due to notes bearing the former portrait being used up after the commencement of Victoria’s reign.
Uniface. Banknotes vary in size (Large except where stated). Head Office not listed on banknotes.
Vignette of Britannia with Lion and Eirin in centre of note. Denomination in words on right.
All notes payable in “Pounds British”.
There are seven Types by major design variation for Series A banknotes, as listed below.
Portrait in oval at left, with branch of issue to the right of it.
Bank title in Oblique Serif Upper Case Script in top border.
Branch of issue is engraved in solid lettering on the left, right and bottom borders.
Portrait of Monarch changed to a bust in a circle and surrounded by a wreath.
Bank title in Gothic Script in top border.
Bank title in Gothic Script in top border. Branch of issue is engraved in solid lettering.
Branch of issue is engraved in outline lettering on the left, right and bottom border.
Type F1. Denominated variously in “Pounds British”.
Type F2. Denominated variously in “Pounds”.
Additional printing of all 44 of the bank’s branches added on bottom left of each note. Dates range from 1848 to 1869. It is likely that this printing of all the branches on older notes was to facilitate the wider usage of unissued older notes as the bank moved to a multibranch General Issue.
Type A
Type B
Type C
Type D
Type E
Type F
Type G
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