The Collection of British and Irish Banknotes formed by the Late Edward Barnby

British Provincial, Devon, Exeter, City Bank, Five Pounds, 21 January 1888, D 578, for John Milford, Thomas Maitland Snow and Thomas Snow, signed by Thomas Snow (Outing 757G; Grant 1113). Signature crossed through and ‘Cancelled’ written across front, small holes on left side, otherwise very fine, rare £500-600

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Collection of British and Irish Banknotes formed by the Late Edward Barnby.

View
Collection

The City Bank, the third such institution to open in Exeter, was founded in 1786 by Samuel Milford (†January 1800, aged 63), a serge and woollen merchant, and Richard Hall Clarke. In 1800 the bank suffered a serious robbery and payments were suspended for two months. When the bank reopened, Milford’s nephew, Samuel (1761-1829) led the newly reconstituted partnership until his death and the partners at the time of the issue of this note were John Milford, Thomas Maitland Snow (1817-99), of Cleve House, Exeter, mayor in 1863, and Thomas Snow (b. 1852), his son, who was mayor in 1889. The bank amalgamated with their city rivals, Sanders & Co, in 1901