In our January NYINC sale we are offering two Internment Camp notes from Hay, New South Wales. The notes were issued for use within Internment Camp 7. The issue was printed in three denominations; One Shilling, Two Shillings, and Sixpence. With most pieces stamp cancelled, or destroyed, very few survivors exist. Seldom are these available lightly circulated and fully original like the pieces we are offering.
The notes, which were designed by George Teltscher, show a coat of arms with a sheep flanked by a kangaroo and emu with a ribbon below that reads “Camp Seven Bank.” When looking at the sheep’s fur, noticeable is Camp Leader Andrew Eppenstein’s last name engraved in the coat. His signature on the Sixpence appears at left making it one of the most desirable of the three combinations for that type.
In addition to the hidden Eppenstein engraving in the sheep, the notes also include additional hidden words. WE ARE HERE repeats in the barbed wire that surrounds the note; this was the theme song of the internment amp. At left of the kangaroo, secretly written, is the ship name HMT Dunera, the ship that transported the detainees from Liverpool to Australia. At right of the emu vignette Liverpool to Hay appears to be written, signifying the journey taken by the detainees. It has been said within the coats of the sheep on the reverse of the note, the names of other internees can be seen upon very close examination.
The Two Shillings is the highest denomination of the series from Camp 7. Mendel and Stahl signature. The bright orange colored paper shows gorgeous detail and is absent any cancellations. The sheep on the reverse show the number 7 for the camp, in addition to the names of the internees inscribed in the wool. “THIS NOTE IS VALID ONLY WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF CAMP SEVEN INTERMENT CAMP HAY” is printed in bold on the reverse along with “The Bank is under no obligation to honour this Note if presented by Holders outside of this Camp.” in italics. Additional history of these notes includes being printed by Harry Byers in the newspaper Riverine Grazier’s printing station. It is believed that the total amount printed for the Two Shillings denomination is 2,000; considerably less than the 4,000 One Shilling pieces printed. It is also believed that of the around 9,000 total pieces produced for the series, only 200 survived.
For more questions regarding these notes, or other highlights in our upcoming sale, please contact our Director of World Currency Auctions at Aris@StacksBowers.Com. We have stopped taking consignments for our January NYINC sale, but are currently collecting World Paper Consignments for our April Hong Kong, and May Collector’s Choice Sales.
