Royal Bank Charters, including Australian banks. Volumes I, II & III.
(London): George E. Eyre and and William Spottiswoode, 1835 - 1865. Hardcover. Three volumes of Royal Bank charters granted by Queen Victoria, many of them for Australian banks, including the Bank of Australasia, the London Chartered Bank of Australia, the English, Scottish & Australian Bank, and the Chartered Bank of India, Australia & China.
The first volume is a compilation of proof read copies of the original charters, interleaved with blank pages for notes, and heavily annotated throughout, possibly to be published as Volume I of a set of 3. Obviously someone with in depth banking knowledge has undertaken the annnotations for the Treasury.
The first charter, heavily annotated, for the Bank of Australasia has a printed authorship of "Fred Pollock", and "W. W. Gillet". A manuscript note on the following page states, "these were intended for the names of the Law Officers, but by a curious blunder, the name of the late eminent Sir Wm. W. Follett, is printed Gillet!" (facing p20). In yet another hand, below this note is another which states that the names should be omitted and the charter should end with date May 1. The New or Supplemental Charter follows; it is hand dated 1856, with printed authorship of "Edmunds".
Also annotated is the London Chartered Bank of Australia Charter, with an annotation stating that its provisions are essentially the same as those for the Bank of Australasia, though granted 17 years later, and that "the duties imposed upon the Treasury are more manifold" (facing p37).
Volume I charters include: the Bank of Australasia, with Supplement; the London Chartered Bank of Australia, with Supplement; the Bank of British Columbia, with Supplement; the Bank of British North America; the Bank of Egypt; the English, Scottish and Australian Bank, with Supplement; the Chartered Bank of India, Australia and China, with 2 Supplements; and the London and South African Bank, with Supplement.
Volume II charters include: Agra and United Service Bank, with Supplement; Ottoman Bank, with Supplement; Bank of South Australia, with Deed of Settlement, and Supplement; Mercantile Bank of India, London and China; and Oriental Bank Corporation, with first, second and third Supplements, and Treasury Warrants.
Volume III charters include: Colonial Bank, with Supplement; Bank of British North America, with first, second and third Supplements; Ionian Charter Bank; Bank of Egypt, with Supplement; City Bank; Bucks and Oxon Union Bank; London and South African Bank; and Bank of Australasia, with third Supplement.
The second and third volumes have the volume number printed at the half title, and were printed in London by George E. Eyre and and William Spottiswoode.
Deaccessed from the Treasury Library, with their stamp at the half title of Volume II.
Vol I: hand numbered 196pp; Vol II: 262pp; Vol III: 219pp. Later library binding, half brown cloth, gilt titles to front boards. The covers in very good condition; internally, Vol I with the blank leaf at pp 10-11 neatly excised.
For the final published charter of the Bank of Australasia (incorporated by Royal Charter, 1835), London Office, no. 8, Austin Friars: OCLC: 219812325 cites one copy at the NLA; Trove 4324331. Very good condition. Item #24366
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