Date: 1835

1835 Mallow Bank, One Pound Sterling, dated 1st October, for Robert De La Cour & signed by him.

Description:

1835 Mallow Bank, One Pound note signed by Robert de la Cour – possibly one of the last he signed before his bank went under.

• 1st October, 1835
• Signed by Robert de la Cour
• Pinholes and a few spots, otherwise Very Fine (VF)
• Very rare

Introduction:

The Mallow Bank (Co Cork) was registered on 23rd January 1801 by Robert Delacour and Hill Gallwey. Both men use variations of their name in documents from that time, e.g. Delacour also appears as Delacore and De La Cour, whereas Gallwey appears as Galwey and Galway.

Tenison (The Private Bankers of Cork & the South of Ireland) notes that the junior partner’s name was William Gallwey, so perhaps Hill is a misinterpretation of Will (short name for William).

Delacour’s Bank was the last surviving Irish provincial bank when it failed in 1835. Only a few Dublin banks survived after 1835 and, immediately after the Mallow Bank closed, the Provincial Bank of Ireland took over its premises – part of its rapid expansion at that time.

Banknotes:

Based upon data extrapolated from Stamp Duty returns, it is estimated that the Mallow Bank put into circulation:

• 51,600 notes with a face value of less than 3 guineas
• 2,000 notes with a face value less than £50

William Gallwey died (or retired) in 1812 and was replaced in the partnership by Richard Tonson Cuthbert (who remained a partner until 1823). After Cuthbert’s retirement, the Delacour Bank became the sole property of Robert Delacour until its failure in 1835. This change in personnel is reflected in the three types of signatories on its notes:

• Type 1: 1801-1812 (Signatories: Robert Delacour & William Gallwey)
  • One Shilling & 1d
  • One Shilling & 7½d
  • Seven Shillings & 7d
  • Nine Shillings
  • Twenty-five Shillings
  • 1 Guinea (Proof)
• Type 2: 1812-1823 (Signatories: Robert Delacour & Richard Tonson Cuthbert)
  • One Pound
  • Thirty Shillings
  • Three Pounds
• Type 3: 1823-1835 (Signatories: Robert Delacour only)
  • One Pound  (illustrated above)
  • Thirty Shillings
  • Three Pounds

Bibliography:

Tenison, C.M., The Private Bankers of Cork & the South of Ireland, Journal of the Cork Historical & Archaeological Society, Vol. 2 (1893) p. 28-29

Young, Derek, Irish Numismatics, No. 44, pp. 49-51 (1975): The Private Banks & Their Notes – The Mallow Bank of Delacour (1801-1835)