Ceylon, Volkart Brothers, Oil Mill token, task value 18 3/4 cents, uniface, VOLKART BROTHERS * around MARADABA / MILLS within a plain circle, pierced as issued, brass, 45mm (Prid. 105; cf. Ford 291); J. Walker & Co, uniface, 74 (a control number) / J.WALKER & CO / KANDY, crudely pierced, brass, 33mm (Prid. 106; cf. Ford 291); G. Wall & Co. (4), task value 4 1/2d, obv. GW&Co monogram, rev. script C; similar, rev. script M, brass, 28mm (Prid. 107, 108; cf. Ford 292); similar, task value 2 1/4d, uniface; similar, rev. stamped incuse 3, brass 23.5mm (Prid. 110, 110 variety; cf. Ford 292) [6]. Very fine with some staining, second crudely manufactured £100-£150

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, World Tokens, the Property of a North Country Collector.

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Provenance: first, second and forth bt. D. Vorley, 1987; other bt. Howard Simmons, 1990

The firm Volkart Brothers was formed in 1851 at Winterthur, Switzerland and Bombay, India. In 1857 a branch office was opened in Colombo. The business activity embraced the export of coconut oil, coffee, cinnamon, cotton and pearls. Later this was expanded to all forms of Ceylon produce and a large agency for shipping and insurance. John Walker commenced business in 1854 as a manufacturer of coffee machinery at Kandy. George Wall was one of the greatest Englishmen in Ceylon public life. He opened offices in Colombo in 1850 and by 1863 the business had grown into an important concern.