Contrary to my expectations it wasn’t Lot. 253. The 1913 Lockout Proclamation that stole the show at Whyte’s sale last Saturday but rather a small, rather grubby banknote which carried a pre-sale estimate of €4,000-6,000 and which sold for an incredible €14,000.  The description of it in Whyte’s catalogue pulls no punches – ‘about fine, one inch tear at top left of centre, half inch tear lower left of centre, edge tears, overall toned, some stains, brittle’. 

Lot .701. Currency Commission Consolidated Banknote ‘Ploughman’ Northern Bank Ten Pounds, 6-5-29   

NOTE: 01 0T 007335. Signed Knox. Only 8,000 believed to have been issued – the scarcest of the Ploughman series. About fine, one inch tear at top left of centre, half inch tear lower left of centre, edge tears, overall toned, some stains, brittle. A much better example than that illustrated in Paper Money of Ireland by Blake & Calloway. An exceedingly rare and desirable banknote. Estimate: €4000-6000. Sold for €14,000

Catalogue with full list of prices realised here: