PREVIEW: ASIAN BANKNOTES: 19 JUNE

Noonans will present rare Asian Banknotes in this special auction to be held in the Crystal Room of the Holiday Inn, Golden Mile, Hong Kong, on 19 June.

Highlights already catalogued would do honour to any auction, with more to be unveiled in the next few weeks. Initial examples of outstanding notes relate to the Governments of Sarawak and the Straits Settlements of the 1920s, and Malaya.

The familiar figure of Charles Vyner Brooke (1874-1963), the third and last White Rajah, can be seen at the centre of each of the two leading Sarawak highlights. The first is a Government of Sarawak specimen $100, dated 1 July 1929, with serial number F/1 000000, and the Rennie signature. With red SPECIMEN overprints and CANCELLED perforations, this uncirculated note is one of only four graded by PMG and carries an estimate of HK$120,000-160,000.

The second is a specimen $50 from the same test run, also dated 1 July 1929, and with serial number E/1 000000 and Rennie signature, as well as red SPECIMEN overprints and CANCELLED perforations. The joint finest of only five examples graded by PMG of these uncirculated notes, this example is very rare and a beautiful and expected to fetch HK$100,000-150,000.

At the same estimate comes a Government of the Straits Settlements, $50, dated 24 September 1925, with serial number B/5 74435. Featuring the crowned head of George V and a tiger at centre, it carries the Marriott, Pountney, and Colman signatures. A choice very fine and very attractive example, it has an exceptional grade for this type.

A colour trial $100, ND (1942) from the Board of Commissioners of Currency Malaya also features. With the bust portrait of George VI, it has no serial numbers or signature, but does carry red Bradbury Wilkinson seals and two cancellation holes, as well as the words SPECIMEN OF NO VALUE. The note displays light handling and two corner folds. Uncirculated and very rare, it is also guided at HK$100,000-150,000.