Bank notes printed in Manchester and Macclesfield in the 19th century have been sold at auction for £5,000.
The biggest price was for an “extremely rare” black and white £100 note from the Macclesfield and Cheshire Bank, issued on January 27, 1840, Queen Victoria’s 21st birthday year. It had been expected to sell for up to £800, but went under the hammer at £1,265.

Also going for big money - £1,207 - was an 1840 Macclesfield and Cheshire Bank £50 note.

The notes were issued during a time when Manchester, Macclesfield and their neighbours printed their own money, as highwaymen made it too dangerous to transport large quantities of cash from London.

The notes are so rare because of their face values, sums which would, in the 19th century, have been enough to feed an entire family for several months. It is likely they were used in property deals.

Also sold were proofs of three notes issued by the Commercial Bank of Manchester - in £1, £2 and £4 denominations. Each was snapped up for £862 as the bank was only in business from 1875 to 1879.

Barnaby Faull, of auctioneers Spink’s, said: “In 30 years, I have never seen such high denomination notes from Macclesfield, and for some reason 19th century Manchester banknotes are also rarely seen.

“All towns and cities in England used to issue their own banknotes.

“Merchants would get together and start up their own banks, but their notes - which were like IOUs - could only be used locally. When these local banks went bust, their notes became completely worthless.”

The current world record for an English provincial banknote is £3,335, paid for an 1829 fiver.

Posted: 05|3|06 at 2:18 pm. Filed under: UK News.