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Banknotes4u - Gallery - No.2 – Cheques of
London Banks
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(Please click an image for a larger view.)
By
Roger Outing.
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All the
below listed items are cheques from a selection of private bankers in
London. They illustrate the progression of cheque design from the 18th
century to the present day. Many of these private banks are continue in
business today – albeit as elements of larger banks.
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Please
note that the illustrations are a sample only – the cheque supplied to you
will be the same but not the actual and particular example illustrated. |
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Cheques
are illustrated without counterfoils. The unissued cheques will be supplied
with their counterfoils attached. Issued cheques have no counterfoils
attached.
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Dorriens,
Mello & Martin, Finch Lane.
Used cheque dated 1780 signed by
James Gordon (of the Gordon Gin family). Very
simple and typical of the period. The Dorrien,
Mello & Martin partnership ran from 1779 to 1814.
Dorriens was taken over by Curries & Co in 1842;
then by Glyn, Mills & Co in 1864; became Williams &
Glyn’s Bank in 1970 and Royal Bank of Scotland since
1985...£28 |
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Goslings & Sharpe,
19, Fleet Street.
Used cheque with the three squirrels
emblem top left – sophisticated for the period. Dated
1832 and signed on behalf of the “Society Promoting
Christian Knowledge”. Goslings & Sharpe were one of the
foundation banks that created Barclays Bank in 1896.
Still in business in Fleet Street as a branch of
Barclays Bank...£7 |
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Hoare, Barnetts, Hoare &
Co, 62, Lombard St.
Black on white with ornate initials left.
These are undated but examples will come with a completed
counterfoil that establishes they were used in 1825. Formed
into Lloyds, Barnetts & Bosenquets Bank in 1884 and then
became Lloyds Bank Ltd in 1889. This private bank was the
original source of the ‘Black Horse’ symbol currently used
by Lloyds TSB...£18 |
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Messrs Drummond,
Charing Cross.
Used cheque dated 1827 and pale
green/grey with a security panel added to the design –
early indications of security printing to combat
misuse. Drummonds were taken over by Royal Bank of
Scotland in 1924 and the branch still does business from
Charing Cross. Paper is watermarked with “Staunton,
London” and is a sophisticated production for the
period...£12.50 |
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Messrs. Drummond.
Unused cheque dated by the embossed
Duty Stamp as 1864. Brown on green with security panels
for amounts in words and numbers. Paper is watermarked
– now with “Staunton & Sons”. No address shown on
Drummonds cheques – everyone knows where it is!..£6 |
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Messrs.
Drummond.
Unused cheque, dated 1893, black on
white with purple security panel that has micro
printing of Bank name, watermark of “Drummond”.
Note that this cheque is crossed with black lines
and is payable to “Order” and not the “Bearer” as in
previous examples...£6 |
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Coutts & Co, 59,
Strand.
Unused cheque dated 1896. Black on white
with pale blue security panel with micro print of Bank
name. Famous Three Crowns symbol upper left. Taken
over by National Provincial & Union Bank in 1920 which
became National Westminster Bank in 1968 – now known as
NatWest. Yes, this branch is still in business and
apparently doing quite well...£6 |
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Cox & Co,
16/17, Charing Cross.
Unused cheque dated 1899. Blue
on white, blue security panel, Bank address left.
Distinctive style whereby “Order” or “Bearer” could
be filled in as required. Cox’s were Army
bankers and many officers would have their account
here – especially when travelling overseas. Taken
over by Lloyds Bank in 1923 and now Lloyds
TSB...£4.50 |
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Cox & Co, Hornby
Road, Bombay.
Unused cheque dated 1917, brown on white
with security panel. Cox’s had 5 overseas branches and
these are listed on the left of the cheque. This
example was printed for Bombay but has been overprinted
with “Karachi”. Cheque book cover indicates it was for
“Mr White,1/4th Hampshire Regiment”. Note
that it is in Rupees denomination and that the Duty
Stamp is “One Anna”...£14 |
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Glyn, Mills & Co,
Kirkland House, Whitehall.
A
modern cheque from 1960’s. The cheque states “Holt’s
Branch” which is a reference to the original private
bank on this site that was taken over Glyn, Mills & Co
who in turn were taken over by Royal bank of Scotland.
Unfortunately there is no Bank at Kirkland House today –
but you can still acquire the cheque...£5 |
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All
content copyright (c) Roger Outing 2005, except where stated.