Watch List notes:

Five pounds, Riddle/Sheehan (1934), an officially issued specimen note, R/0 000031, serial numbers in black and signatures in blue, watermarked with Prince of Wales at centre bottom, perforated CANCELLED twice over signatures, black diagonal lines on both sides (R.44as). Crisp original body, nearly uncirculated and of the utmost rarity, the only specimen note of this type ever offered at auction.

A total of 20,338,000 were printed of this type with this signature combination. This number is recorded as part of a group of 31 numbers used for specimen notes (MVR p76). It is the fourth specimen type, cancelled by two crossed black diagonal lines and the word CANCELLED perforated twice. This note has the third last number used for the numbers allocated to these notes. Michael P.Vort-Ronald discussed this issue in 'Australian Banknotes' on pages 74-76 in chapter 7 on specimen notes and pages 181-4 on the five pounds note issue. Ex Noble Numismatics Sale 59 (lot 3269) and private purchase from John Pettit Pty Ltd.
($22500-25000)