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Auction: 19031 - The Lou Manzi and A. J. Simms Collections of British Banknotes & other properties
Lot: 2181

Bank of England, Leslie Kenneth O'Brien (1955-1962), specimen £5, London 17 January 1955, serial number Y71 000001, black and white, ornate crowned vignette of Britannia top left, 'I promise to pay to Bearer on demand the sum of Five Pounds' in text at centre, value in black tablet low left, printed serial number, date and signature,
(EPM B275, Pick 345), ex-O'Brien family. In PMG holder 55 EPQ About Uncirculated. This is the number 1 note for the whole issue; an exceptional find, unique and with excellent provenance - specifically a note on Bank of England headed paper (dated February 1962) detailing a brief history of these first issues and personally signed by O'Brien. This note also mentions the two previous Lots (2179 and 2180) as being from the same source.

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Sold for
£16,000

Sale 19031 Notices
In the catalogue it is described as a 'specimen', which is incorrect - it's an issued example. Estimate remains unchanged.