CHARLES LESKI AUCTIONS PTY. LTD.
13 Cato Street, Hawthorn East 3123, Victoria, Australia
Telephone: 61-3-9864-9999
Facsimile:
61-3-9822-2788
Email: contact@leski.com.au
A.B.N.13 081 928 921
Media Release
2nd
September, 2009
FIVE POUND NOTE WORTH A ‘KING’S RANSOM’
In 1932, a five pound note was out of reach to all but a very small number of Australians. It was worth
more than five times the average weekly wage, and for a country mired in the Great Depression it would
have been as rare as rocking horse s**t.
A scarce example will be offered for sale by Leski Auctions and begs the question, who could have owned a
note of such value and in virtually pristine condition which arguably had never been exchanged for goods or
services?
It is one of 47 Australian banknotes to be sold by Australia’s leading auctioneer
of philately and sporting
memorabilia.
Lot 1038 will be offered for sale by Leski Auctions in Melbourne on Wednesday, September 9th at 5.30pm.
It has a presale estimate of $3,500
–
$4,500. (NB: Image available at
xt=jpg&width=550&height=550)
“The
Great Depression brought Australia to its knees, with a crippling unemployment rate,” says Charles
Leski. “Most people fortunate enough to acquire a five pound note at this time could have fed their family
for months. So to find an example in this condition which was obviously squirreled away indicates to us that
it was either a person of significant means or an astute investor who saw its long-term potential.”
About Leski Auctions
Leski Auctions was established in 1973 and is one of Australia’s leading auctioneers of Sporting Memorabilia,
Australiana, Collectibles and World Philately.
Leski Auctions is a recognised leader in the area of early photography, art, wine, cameras, books, autographs,
entertainment memorabilia, medals, coins, stamps, aerophilately, cigarette and trade cards, maps, railway
memorabilia, advertising artwork and posters, and the Olympics, football and cricket..
It was the first auction house in Australia to introduce an on-line, real-time bidding system ‘Live Bid Online’™,
which allows participation from anywhere in the world. It currently runs 22 auctions per year.
Leski Auctions has previously sold many significant collections, including those of Shirley Strickland, Ron Clarke,
Sir Reginald Ansett and former RSL President, Bruce Ruxton. It has sold more ‘baggy green’ caps than any other
auction house in the world, and is one of the largest auctioneers of cricket memorabilia by value and volume.
Leski Auctions recently sold the newly-discovered Phar Lap horse tonic recipe book. It recently achieved a world
record price for a Bradman bat.
Managing Director Charles Leski is a registered valuer for the Cultural Gifts Program through the Department of
Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts. He is also the valuer of the displayed items at the National Sports
Museum at the MCG, Melbourne.
The company is located at 13 Cato Street, Hawthorn
East 3123 Australia. Telephone +61-3-864 9999 and
Issued by:
Charles Leski, Leski Auctions
Michael Krape, Michael Krape Consulting
Tel: 61-3-9864 9999
Tel: 0403 135 880
CHARLES LESKI AUCTIONS PTY. LTD.
13 Cato Street, Hawthorn East 3123, Victoria, Australia
Telephone: 61-3-9864-9999
Facsimile:
61-3-9822-2788
Email: contact@leski.com.au
A.B.N.13 081 928 921
charles@leski.com.au
michaelkrape@krape.com.au
NEWS 
