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Ffrench's Bank, Tuam, Co. Galway • 1803–1814 (AKA Tuam Bank)

Posted: 08 Nov 2016 22:23
by Mac
Tuam Bank.
Another one of the better known Irish private banks of which there are a good few notes extant.

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Tuam Bank One Guinea 1812

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Tuam Bank Three Guineas 1812

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Tuam Bank One Pound 1814

Re: Ffrench's Bank, Charles & Co. Tuam, Co. Galway • 1812–1814 (AKA Tuam Bank)

Posted: 03 Dec 2017 00:17
by DOC
Here is an earlier version of the £1 note from this partnership.

Re: Ffrench's Bank, Charles & Co. Tuam, Co. Galway • 1812–1814 (AKA Tuam Bank)

Posted: 03 Dec 2017 20:52
by ThePloughman
A few more denominations from the Tuam Bank.

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One Guinea and a Half 1812

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Tuam Bank 4 Guineas 1813 Post Bill

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30 Shilling note

Re: Ffrench's Bank, Charles & Co. Tuam, Co. Galway • 1812–1814 (AKA Tuam Bank)

Posted: 29 Dec 2017 23:57
by DOC
Here is a later example of the 1 Guinea note from this partnership dated 25th June 1813.

Re: Ffrench's Bank, Charles & Co. Tuam, Co. Galway • 1812–1814 (AKA Tuam Bank)

Posted: 30 Dec 2017 00:03
by DOC
Here is a later type 30 Shillings from the same partnership dated 10th February 1814.

Re: Ffrench's Bank, Charles & Co. Tuam, Co. Galway • 1812–1814 (AKA Tuam Bank)

Posted: 13 Jan 2018 18:13
by DOC
Here is a £3 Bank Post Bill from this partnership dated 29th February 1812. The note is signed by one of the partners William Keary.

Re: Ffrench's Bank, Charles & Co. Tuam, Co. Galway • 1812–1814 (AKA Tuam Bank)

Posted: 13 Jan 2018 18:23
by DOC
Here is a £4 Bank Post Bill from this partnership dated 13th November 1811.

Re: Ffrench's Bank, Charles & Co. Tuam, Co. Galway • 1812–1814 (AKA Tuam Bank)

Posted: 15 Jan 2018 13:11
by ThePloughman
Seems like this bank concentrated mostly on lower denominations and issued the full range of values.
Four Pounds is a nice interesting one to have.

Re: Ffrench's Bank, Charles & Co. Tuam, Co. Galway • 1812–1814 (AKA Tuam Bank)

Posted: 16 Jan 2018 20:21
by DOC
Yes, many denominations were issued. The highest denomination I have seen for this bank is a £5 Post Bill, scan attached. This denomination is not mentioned in PMI so I suspect it is rare.

Re: Ffrench's Bank, Charles & Co. Tuam, Co. Galway • 1812–1814 (AKA Tuam Bank)

Posted: 16 Jan 2018 21:32
by Mac
Definitely interesting to see a fiver for this bank, even if it is a Post Bill.

Re: Ffrench's Bank, Charles & Co. Tuam, Co. Galway • 1812–1814 (AKA Tuam Bank)

Posted: 28 Oct 2018 21:09
by DOC
Ffrench's Bank was originally founded in Tuam in 1804 by Sir Thomas Ffrench. Here is a rare £1 note from 1809 with Thomas Ffrench as lead partner (now described as Rt Hon Lord Ffrench) and partners Henry Edmond Taafe, Michael Morris, William Keary and Hon Charles Ffrench.

Re: Ffrench's Bank, Charles & Co. Tuam, Co. Galway • 1812–1814 (AKA Tuam Bank)

Posted: 28 Oct 2018 23:38
by ThePloughman
Interesting also to see that the design of this bill is different to the others picured.

Re: Ffrench's Bank, Charles & Co. Tuam, Co. Galway • 1812–1814 (AKA Tuam Bank)

Posted: 04 Nov 2018 21:59
by DOC
Yes, the note has a different design but the vignette depicting a female figure is similar to that used on later notes. From the attached examples of the vignette from later Tuam and Dublin notes, it can be seen that the figure is surrounded by ears of wheat. It seems likely that the female figure is a representation of Ceres, Roman Goddess of the harvest.

Re: Ffrench's Bank, Charles & Co. Tuam, Co. Galway • 1812–1814 (AKA Tuam Bank)

Posted: 06 Nov 2018 19:47
by Mac
The earlier viginette is a much stronger engraving. Were they cutting back on the print quality of the notes, I wonder!

Re: Ffrench's Bank, Charles & Co. Tuam, Co. Galway • 1812–1814 (AKA Tuam Bank)

Posted: 06 Nov 2018 20:56
by DOC
Interesting point ! Things were not going well for Ffrench's Bank at the time the later note was issued (24th May 1814). The bank collapsed on June 27th 1814. :(

Re: Ffrench's Bank, Charles & Co. Tuam, Co. Galway • 1812–1814 (AKA Tuam Bank)

Posted: 07 Nov 2018 14:54
by Mac
Something to watch out for, quality reduction in a banknote issue!

Re: Ffrench's Bank, Charles & Co. Tuam, Co. Galway • 1812–1814 (AKA Tuam Bank)

Posted: 22 Dec 2018 11:51
by DOC
Here is a rare unissued Tuam Bank 3 Guinea Post Bill with Thomas Ffrench as lead partner. In 1805, Sir Thomas became Lord Thomas, a title he inherited upon the death of his mother. However, the title Lord Ffrench does not appear to be used on banknotes until about 1809. The partnership listings on this 3 Guinea note place the print date in the range 1806-1808.

Re: Ffrench's Bank, Charles & Co. Tuam, Co. Galway • 1812–1814 (AKA Tuam Bank)

Posted: 09 Mar 2019 14:15
by DOC
Here is an example of a rare unissued silver note printed during the early days of the bank. Thomas Ffrench is listed as the sole partner on this note for 3 Shillings & 9 Pence Halfpenny (1/6th Guinea). The year of printing is most likely 1804 as silver notes were discontinued in 1805.

Re: Ffrench's Bank, Charles & Co. Tuam, Co. Galway • 1812–1814 (AKA Tuam Bank)

Posted: 11 Mar 2019 11:34
by Mac
Very interesting. I haven't seen one of those bofore.

Re: Ffrench's Bank, Charles & Co. Tuam, Co. Galway • 1812–1814 (AKA Tuam Bank)

Posted: 29 May 2019 01:19
by ThePloughman
Design of the 'silver note' is very different from the later bills of the bank. Is it the same bank, or did the early bank go bust and then reform with more partners, and new designs for the paper issues?