BankNotes4U - For collectors and researchers of banknotes, cheques and banking history

(Click here for ordering details)

Date Guide

1836 – Birmingham & Midland Banking Co established

1880 – became “Ltd”

1891 – became London & Midland Bank Ltd

1898 – became London City & Midland Bank Ltd

1918 – became London Joint City & Midland Bank Ltd

1923 – became Midland Bank Ltd

1999 – became HSBC

The SIX different Midland titles prior to HSBC take over provides a useful framework for a cheque collection– with the Midland Bank Ltd title remaining in use for some 76 years from 1923. Most of the earlier cheques have a purple security panel but there is very wide variation in colour, apparently random, and the widest possible interpretation should be placed on the description “purple”

Cheques with a list of Branches to the left appear to have been used for only a relatively limited period. This list of branches can be found initially in double and then triple column format. Double column is more difficult to find. This was replaced with a cheque design with an information panel at the left. This information panel initially contained financial details of the Capital of the Bank and these monetary values vary over time leading to different collectable varieties. On later cheques these Capital values were omitted from the information panel. To further complicate matters all these very collectable variations in design interact with the frequent changes in Bank title to produce varieties of design + title which have yet to be fully identified and appreciated by collectors. For our own Midland collection we collect everything and anything by date and branch just to ensure we do not miss a design variation!

It is noticeable that we have no cheques to offer from the early Birmingham & Midland Bank titles (with or without “Ltd”). Please note that we are buying any cheques with these titles.

London & Midland Bank Ltd
901	Bewdley	1894	Order	Unused
	Black on white, pink micro print panel, branch list left in double column.			£8

London City & Midland Bank Ltd
902	St Annes on Sea	1905	Order	Unused
	Black on white, pink micro print panel, branch list left in triple column.			£7
903	Lytham	1908	Order	Unused
	As above with “Old Bank” top.			£8
	Derby, St Peters St	1909	Order	Unused
	Design as above. Centre fold.			£5

904	Derby, St Peters St	1910	Order	Unused
	Black on white, red micro print panel, info. panel at left			£5
905	Bewdley	1910	Order	Unused
	Black on white, red micro print panel, branch list left in triple column.			£5
906	Carlisle	1912	Order	Unused
	Black on white, purple micro print panel, info. panel left.			£5
907	Carlisle	1914	Order	Unused
	Black on white, purple micro print panel, info. panel left – details diff. To above.			£5

908	Birkenhead	1913	Order	Unused
	Black on white, purple micro print panel, shield left with “North & South Wales Bank”.			£7

909	Threadneedle St	1916	Order	Unused
	Black on white, purple micro print panel, info. panel left.			£5
910	Redditch Old Bank	1917	Order	Unused
	Black on white, purple micro print panel, info. panel left, DOUBLE STAMP (1d red oval + 1d postage). No c/foil.			£9
London Joint City & Midland Bank Ltd
911	Longtown	1920	Order	Unused
	Black on white, purple micro print panel, info panel left.			£5
912	123, Chancery Lane	1920	Order	Unused
	As above, crossed in brown.			£5

Carlisle	1896	Bearer	Unused
Blue on white, purple panel, 8 branches listed left, DOUBLE TITLE, overprint on Carlisle City & District Bank Ltd. Centre fold + marks.			£10

913	Threadneedle St	1921	Bearer	Unused
	Black on purple micro print background, info panel left, larger size.			£8
914	Kidderminster	1922	Order	Unused
	Black on white, purple micro print panel, info. panel left.			£5
915	Bewdley	1922	Order	Unused
	Design as above.			£5
916	Carlisle, Court Sq.	1922	Order	Unused
	Desing as above.			£5
Midland Bank Ltd
917	Holborn Viaduct	1923	Order	Unused
	Black on white, blue micro print panel, info. panel left. DOUBLE TITLE with new Bank title overprinted on “London Joint City & Midland Bank Ltd”.			£8
918	Liverpool, Castle St	1924	Order	Unused
	Black on white, purple micro print panel, info panel left.			£5
919	Hull, Silver St	1925	Order	Unused
	Black on white, purple micro panel, info panel left.			£5
920	Brampton	1927	Order	Unused
	Black on white, purple micro print panel,			£5
921	Pontefract	1928	Order	Unused
	Black on white, purple micro print panel, info panel left. Crossed in brown.			£5
922	122, Old Broad St	1929	Order	Unused
	Black on white, green/blue panel, info panel left, crossed with black lines. Overseas Branch and no duty stamp.			£8

923	Ellesmere Port	1930	Order	Used
	Black on white, purple micro print panel, info panel left, crossed in brown.			£2-50
924	Ellesmere Port	1930	Order	Used
	Design as above but open.			£3
925	Whitehaven	1933	Order	Unused
	Black on white, purple micro print panel, info. panel left.			£4
926	Kidderminster	1933	Order	Unused
	Design as above			£4
927	Abergrave sub to Ystradgynlais	1934	Order	Unused
	Design as above, “Abergrave” manually deleted.			£6

928	Carlisle, English St	1934	Order	Unused
	Design as above.			£5

929	Leicester Square	1934	Order	Unused
	Black on purple micro print background. Small size.			£4

930	Liverpool, St. Luke’s	1934	Order	Unused
	As above.			£4
931	Ellesmere Port	1934	Order	Used
	Design as above.			£2
932	Ellesmere Port	1935	Order	Used
	Black on white, purple micro print panel, info panel left.			£2-50
933	Ellesmere Port	1935	Order	Used
	Black on purple micro print background, info panel left.