The Chartered Bank of India, Australia and China (or simply The Chartered Bank) was a bank incorporated by Royal Charter in London in 1853 by James Wilson. It opened its first branches in 1858 in Calcutta and Bombay and then Shanghai. The company changed its name to the Chartered Bank in 1956. Following a few acquisitions it was renamed Standard and Chartered in 1969 when merged with the Standard Bank of South Africa, later becoming Standard Chartered - see http://www.standardchartered.com/about-us/history/app/index.html
These moulds were made by E Amies & Son in 9/1857 - very soon after the bank was formed. Note the watermark is for the abbreviated name. I also have a pair made in 1921 with the full name (see M251). These are a very good example of the art of watermarking. The letters are debossed into the wove wire which makes the paper thicker and look darker. In addition wire is sewn to the edges of parts of the letters to provide highlighting. The paper was probably used for the bank's share certificates.
© Copyright Simon Barcham Green 2011. Not to be copied or reproduced without written permission
Click on images to enlarge
Comments