Watch List notes:

FANNING ISLAND. Fanning Island Plantations LTD. 1 Pound, 1940. P-100. PMG Choice Uncirculated 64 EPQ.
(Schwan-Boling 1541b) This classic and highly sought after World War 2 Emergency Note was issued on Fanning Island which is the closest landmass to Hawaii. The area was first discovered by Captain Edmund Fanning of the American ship Betsy in 1798. At the time, this atoll was uninhabited like the other Line Islands. Once it became a known island, it was visited by other seamen thereafter. It was formally annexed to Great Britain in 1888. By 1902 it was used as part of the All Red Line, a system of electrical telegraphs that linked much of the British Empire, when it became a relay station for the Trans-Pacific Cable between Canada and Australia.

The station was later attacked by the Germans in 1914 posing as the French. By the time employees noticed, it was too late. The cable station was ruined, and became inoperable. However, a connection was reestablished 2 weeks later thanks to Hugh Greig, who dove for the severed ends of the cable.

Then in 1942, US Soldiers were stationed on the island. A depletion of the supply of Australian Currency occurred as the influx of soldiers caused a shortage of money to go around. R.G Garrett, who managed the area, ordered 3,000 emergency banknotes from Honolulu to fulfill the demand. His signature is printed on the bottom right of all the banknotes. However, many of those notes were never actually issued. Most of these scarce examples that exist today are cut in half, because they were once used as admission tickets for movie theatres. Those halves eventually became 1 and 2 Shilling notes and were recirculated. Very few notes are known to be fully intact. This note however, is one of the very few survivors. It is seen here in immaculate condition, and far nicer than any that have been available in public auction.

PMG Choice Uncirculated 64 EPQ.

Estimate: $7500.00- $10000.00