Ulster Bank Notes Pre-1929

[DOC]

Hi Mac,

Nice job on the 1918-1928 pre-partition all-Ireland issues.
I attach scans for two other signature variants on Ulster Bank £1 notes, Robert Russell and James Ussher.

[DOC]

Here are two attractive colour proofs for the £1 notes: a branchless general issue note from ca.1920 and a multi-branch note from ca.1883.

[DOC]

Here are examples of Ulster Bank proof £100 notes, showing an interesting transition from multi-branch to branchless general issue notes. The example from 1904 shows all the branches, the 1918 proof is a transitional design with the branches in the side panels replaced by ‘One Hundred’. The design was modified again in 1920 and was ultimately used as the basis for the 1929 Northern Ireland Issue.

[Mac]

The 1918 transitional proof is interesting. Always nice to see the construction proofs that show the evolution of a design.

[DOC]

Here is an early Ulster Bank £1 note which turned up recently at auction. It appears to have suffered fire damage. Amazingly, this is the second example observed for this date which could well be the first date of the Series. It is the earliest example I have seen for of an issued multi-branch note from any of the Irish Joint Stock banks. Despite the damage, the signature is clearly visible and appears to be that of James Heron, a director of the bank at that time.

This type of note appears to be a previously undocumented type having no outline ‘ONE’ and printed by Charles Skipper & East, London. The proof notes of 1857 are similar in design with 18 branches but were printed by Perkins Bacon & Co.

[Mac]

A pity about the grade! Even with the damage, it is still a presentable note, and remains redeemable at its face value!
The low serial number suggests that it is close to the start of its run, unless there was a run with just numbers and no prefix, which could have had an earlier date.

[DOC]

It is possible that there is an earlier date without prefix. We may never know for sure as PMI reports that many of the bank’s early records, including most of the note registers, were lost when the Head Office was destroyed in 1941 during World War II.

Here is the other known example of the 1st July 1852 date. This is signed by Thomas Ringland who appears to have occupied the role of Secretary of the Bank at the time this note was issued. An example of an 1857 proof £1 note is also shown for comparison.

[DOC]

Perkins Bacon & Co. also printed higher denomination proof notes, examples of the £5 and £10 notes attached. Higher denomination notes from the 1850's have not been observed to date in issued form.

[DOC]

A £20 proof note is also known dated 1st July 1857. This was the highest denomination produced at the time although no issued examples have been documented. It is interesting to see that the branch panels of the notes issued by Charles Skipper & East are much darker than those of the proof notes produced by Perkins Bacon & Co.

[Mac]

Nice one, I will add that £20 to the web site!

[DOC]

Here is a later multi-branch £1 note issued in 1861 with prefix G and most likely a continuation of the Issue introduced in 1852 starting with prefix A. This note has a modified design with an outline 'ONE' over the central panel. Curiously, ‘BELFAST’ is missing from the lower border.

The note is signed by Robert Grimshaw, one of the founding directors. He was a key figure in the early history of the Ulster Bank.

[DOC]

In 1862, Ulster Bank opened an office in Dublin. From 1862, the notes were modified to include Belfast and Dublin in the lower border. Here is an image of a £1 note that appeared on the web some time ago, dated 1st November 1878. The note is signed by A.J. Mulligan. An interesting feature is the red serials. It seems that there is an earlier variant of this type with black serial numbers but no images are available.

[Mac]

The prefixing on the 1878 has also been changed to a letter over letter, from using a single letter seen on the 1861 note above. Presumably prefixes reached Z and the double letters then started at AA.

[DOC]

Yes, the move to fractional letter prefix is interesting as the prefix reached the end of the alphabet.

An image of a £5 note of this type also appeared on the web some time ago. The note is dated, 2nd Feb. 1874 with red serials, prefix letter C. The note is signed by Francis R. Lepper, a director of the bank at the time.

[DOC]

The bank changed its name in 1883 from the ‘Ulster Banking Company’ to the ‘Ulster Bank Limited’. Just before the bank name change, the design of notes was modified to include a coloured value panel. Notes with coloured value panel and old bank title ‘Ulster Banking Company’ are extremely rare and few examples survive.

A £100 proof note is known dated 1st May 1878. The first £100 notes were not issued until 1883 and unlike the 1878 proof note, had the bank title ‘Ulster Bank Limited’.

[Mac]

I will add that £100 to the web site. It's one I missed!

[DOC]

An Ulster Banking Company £1 note, dated 1879, is also known with coloured value panel. This example is another variant with the bank title modified by an overprint: from ‘Ulster Banking Company’ to ‘Ulster Banking Company’ Limited as from 1st Sep. 1883. It seems likely that similar notes without the overprint exist but no examples have been seen to date.

[Mac]

And black serial numbers in place of the red seen on EE 46103, above.
The overstamp suggests that the notes were being put into circulation well after their 'issue' dates (which are notional anyway).

[Mac]

I was having a look at the Ulster Bank section on the web site, and adding some pics. I rearranged things to reflect two extra Types.

The £1 note 1861 is in fact a Type distinct from earlier known notes and the 1857 proofs and specimens.
The solid background on notes was introduced a bit earlier on the £1 denomination, an extra short-lived Type there before the change in the style of the bank title and 'BELFAST' 'DUBLIN' on bottom to script.


Series B. Type C. 1861. Ulster Banking Company Belfast omitted from bottom. 21 branches listed.



Series B. Type G. 1907. Denomination in central panel changed to solid ink in place of outline, creating better contrast on £1 notes.