10th August 2015
We have been instructed to sell a rare first issue postal order in our 21st October 2015 Coins, Medals and Banknotes Auction.
The postal order was first introduced on 1st January 1881 as a safe means for sending money from one part of the country to another. Ten different denominations were initially issued for usage. They were numbered serially at each of the issuing Money Order Offices, this changing in subsequent issues to national numbering. These Victorian first issue postal orders are therefore quite rare, especially the much sought after No. 1 issues.
According to the Postal Order Society there are now 7 known examples of the one shilling No. 1 issues, two of which, Leighton Buzzard and Lombard St, have been sold in the last few years by Warwick and Warwick.
The postal order in our 21st October 2015 auction is a one shilling example from Wellington, Somerset and is offered by a gentleman local to that area. His grandfather was the original owner and was gifted it by his employer, Somerset County Council for long and loyal service when the council was reorganised. The postal order is graded as fine and is attached to a backing board ideal for display purposes.
The full 21st October 2015 auction catalogue will be published on our website in the coming weeks, and you can also keep an eye on our Twitter and Facebook accounts which will include updates of our latest auction news.
Are you thinking of selling your collection or perhaps part of it? Would you like us to value your collection and give you advice on how best to market it? Visit our selling pages for more information, or call us on 01926 499 031 and ask to speak to one of our experts.
Jill Smith.