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FUN Signature Currency Sale 3552 5 January 2017
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Russia Ashkabad, Turkestan Draft of the British Military Mission 500 Roubles 14.12.1918 Pick UNL. In 1918, an autonomous force of British troops was sent to Trans-Caspia, the area east of the Caspian Sea, now known as Turkmenistan. The group was commanded by General Wilfred Malleson; the operation was thus referred to by some as the Malleson Mission. The mission was launched under the auspices of protecting British interests in Persia and British India from German advances through the region. Political turmoil in the region was nothing new and grew even more complicated by the Bolshevik revolution. A volunteer army was formed to counter Bolsheviks' Red Army. Appropriately named, the White Army, this army grew to 100,000 or more by 1919, including all forms of anti-Bolsheviks, Kuban Cossacks, Don Cossacks, and even conscripted Ukrainian peasants. The Red Army viewed the British presence as an act of hostility, accusing them of conspiring to help the White Army, along with United States forces that were also present in south and eastern Russian territories. Malleson's forces actively engaged the Bolsheviks with the help of the Transcaspian Government, also known as the Ashkabad Committee. In late 1918, Malleson looked to raise funds for his forces, printing drafts on behalf of the British Government that were to pay 500 roubles 3 months after the date to bearer. This draft is signed "for Генерал-Майор Маллесонь [Major-General Malleson]" by Captain J.B. Haines, a military officer specially selected for this mission due to his working knowledge of Russian and administerial experience. With some spelling partially obscured, the stamps include, "Великобритания Военкая Миссиая [British Military Mission]" and "Государственнаго Банкь Асхабадское Отдьлсние [State Bank Ashkabad Branch]". We found just one other appearance of one of these very important military related notes, a 500 Ruble example that realized more than 7,000 Euros in an auction last year. While the design elements are essentially the same between both pieces, the type is set different between the two notes, including a handwritten "for" on this example, vs. typeset "за" on the other. This piece is about the same condition, but with much clearer stamps on the face. Fine-Very Fine with some weakness in the paper at the top and bottom of the center fold.
Estimate: 5000-7000 USD
Russia Ashkabad, Turkestan Draft of the British Military Mission 500 Roubles 14.12.1918 Pick UNL. In 1918, an autonomous force of British troops was sent to Trans-Caspia, the area east of the Caspian Sea, now known as Turkmenistan. The group was commanded by General Wilfred Malleson; the operation was thus referred to by some as the Malleson Mission. The mission was launched under the auspices of protecting British interests in Persia and British India from German advances through the region. Political turmoil in the region was nothing new and grew even more complicated by the Bolshevik revolution. A volunteer army was formed to counter Bolsheviks' Red Army. Appropriately named, the White Army, this army grew to 100,000 or more by 1919, including all forms of anti-Bolsheviks, Kuban Cossacks, Don Cossacks, and even conscripted Ukrainian peasants. The Red Army viewed the British presence as an act of hostility, accusing them of conspiring to help the White Army, along with United States forces that were also present in south and eastern Russian territories. Malleson's forces actively engaged the Bolsheviks with the help of the Transcaspian Government, also known as the Ashkabad Committee. In late 1918, Malleson looked to raise funds for his forces, printing drafts on behalf of the British Government that were to pay 500 roubles 3 months after the date to bearer. This draft is signed "for Генерал-Майор Маллесонь [Major-General Malleson]" by Captain J.B. Haines, a military officer specially selected for this mission due to his working knowledge of Russian and administerial experience. With some spelling partially obscured, the stamps include, "Великобритания Военкая Миссиая [British Military Mission]" and "Государственнаго Банкь Асхабадское Отдьлсние [State Bank Ashkabad Branch]". We found just one other appearance of one of these very important military related notes, a 500 Ruble example that realized more than 7,000 Euros in an auction last year. While the design elements are essentially the same between both pieces, the type is set different between the two notes, including a handwritten "for" on this example, vs. typeset "за" on the other. This piece is about the same condition, but with much clearer stamps on the face. Fine-Very Fine with some weakness in the paper at the top and bottom of the center fold.
Estimate: 5000-7000 USD