Gibbons & Williams. Dublin • 1833–1835

[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 ... homas.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

[Mac]

The dividend stamps are interesting alright. I have seen similar marks on the bank's notes occasionally.
10s in the Pound is quite a lot better than nothing!