Gibbons & Williams. Dublin • 1833–1835

[DOC]

Interesting to see that the 1st July 1833 £5 note has a similar design to the later dates. This strongly suggests that there is only one type for the £5 notes. Given the low issue numbers for the £10 notes, there is most likely only one type for the £10 notes also (No.99 is the highest number I have seen, see attached). However, it would still be interesting to see a £3 note dated 1st July 1833 to confirm if there is just one type for this denomination also.

[DOC]

Had another look at the £5 notes. There appears to be a difference between the note dated 1st July 1833 and the later dates. The 'Five Pounds' centre and top right is hollow for the early date but shaded for the later dates.

[ThePloughman]

Yes, you're right. That's definitely a difference between the 2 fivers.
So the tenners probably have a difference too, if a later date is seen.
I guess the £3 notes will be different as well.

[Mac]

That £10 note above, No.99, is the highest number I have seen for the tenners.

Below is a scan of £3 note number 5485, 4th Dec 1834, which seems to me to be the same design as the 1 sept 1833 notes.


Gibbons & williams Three Pounds 4th Dec 1834.

[ThePloughman]

Not looking good for ther 3 pounders then!

[Mac]

Probably not, given the date on the note above.

[DOC]

I am still hopeful that there is a second £3 note type It would be interesting to see a £3 note dated 1st July 1833. The earliest date I have seen so far is 1st Sept. 1833. A second £10 type is possible if a date later than 1st July 1833 was issued.

[ThePloughman]

Maybe there's a 3 pound proof of an earlier design out there somewhere. It kinda fits that there would be 2 types for it too.

[Mac]

Here is an interesting Gibbons & Williams fiver.
It appears to have 'Johnstown' written across the signature panel—I have no idea what meaning that could have.
This is also the highest serial number I have seen for the £5 denomination.

[gaelicyoda]

Is it "Johnston"?

[Mac]

Is it "Johnston"?

Could be that alright. The signatory then?

[gaelicyoda]

Could be that alright. The signatory then?

That's what I'm thinking, but I don't know much about this bank TBH so I couldn't tell you for sure ...

[ThePloughman]

I'd vote 'Johnston' there. most likely a signature.

[DOC]

Yes, I think you are correct, it is Johnston & Co. They acted as agents in London for some of the Irish banks. It is interesting to see that the £5 and £10 notes were also payable in London at Jones, Loyd & Co. but not so for the lower denominations.

The appearance of Johnston & Co. in the signature area is difficult to explain. I wonder if they actually issued this note?

[Mac]

The appearance of Johnston & Co. in the signature area is difficult to explain. I wonder if they actually issued this note?

An interesting notion, and quite plausible considering that the notes were payable in London.

[ThePloughman]

The appearance of Johnston & Co. in the signature area is difficult to explain. I wonder if they actually issued this note?

An interesting notion, and quite plausible considering that the notes were payable in London.

I guess there is a lot about the operations of the private banks that remains to be discovered.

[DOC]

The notes issued by Gibbons & Williams were innovative for their time having features such as printing on both sides and pre-printed dates. An unusual feature of their notes is the absence of the partners’ names. Here is a link providing excellent information about the Williams family and those involved in ‘Gibbons & Williams’ Bank.

http ://alison-stewart.blogspot.com/2011/09/hutchins-thomas-williams-son-of-thomas.html

It appears that Hutchins Thomas Williams was the lead partner and the main decision maker in the Bank. The Gibbons family had only a minor involvement with one member occupying a junior clerical role. The signature of George Gibbons is seen on some of the issued notes in the entered section, so presumably this is the person in question.

Hutchins Thomas Williams signed most of the issued notes. His signature is seen in two formats: Hutchins T.Williams and H.T.Williams. Examples of the two signature variants are attached.

[ThePloughman]

I guess the Gibbons clan put in some of the money to back the bank then as their name was prominent on the bank's bills.

Nice link, btw.

[DOC]

Two designs have been observed for the £1, 30 Shillings & £5 notes. Design I notes have the date 1st July 1833, Design II notes have later dates.

A £1 note with Design II recently turned up with serial number 502 while a Design I note is known with serial number 378. This suggests that 500, Design I notes, were printed for each denomination. It appears that the Bank did not reset the serial numbers on the transition from Design I to Design II and so did not consider the two designs to be different issues.

[DOC]

The bank stamps on the 1st September 1833 £1 note are interesting. There are two of them stating: ‘PAID FIRST DIVIDEND 6/8’ and ‘PAID SECOND DIVIDEND 3/4’. So it looks like two dividends were paid to creditors during the bankruptcy, the first for 6 shillings and 8 pence in the pound, the second for 3 shillings and 4 pence in the pound to make a total of 10 shillings in the pound. Not too bad then to receive half the money owing