British and Irish Banknotes

Bank of the Great Wizard of the World, a skit note for £50, ND (1850’s), serial number 154624, with the text: ‘Temple of Natural Magic and Ventriloquism’, and ‘Signor Alfred Bosco who had the Honour to appear before Her Majesty the Queen & the Royal Family begs respectfully to announce that he will give Unique Drawing Room Entertainment at the Strand Theatre’ and finally that ‘This note of fifty pounds will be presented to those who will patronage him with their presence’, signature of Signor Alfred Bosco, very fine and great fun
Outing unlisted £80-£100

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Sir David Kirch Collection of Skit Notes.

View
Collection

Signor Alfred Bosco writes the truth in that he did indeed perform for Queen Victoria and her family at Balmoral in around 1855, before touring large parts of the UK. The Queen appears to have been impressed with his performance but could not understand his accept at all (he may have been Polish or Italian). He continued to perform in the UK and Ireland until the late 1870s, sometimes with his wife as well, and was widely copied and emulated, even to the extent that some performers claimed to be related to him!