Holyland. DISCOVERY PIECE: Palestine Tel Aviv Council 1 Bishlik token, 'Gimel' series, ND (1915), specimen/proof printed on cardboard, without serial number & signed by Abraham Etkind; in EF (lt. paperclip imprint & sm. surface scratch). Regular issues were printed on coarser currency paper, bore 2 signatures + the oval Council cachet & a stamped serial number. Included with this note is a notarized statement (1977; with photo) by Etkind testifying that he signed these tokens in 1915 (he was 21); he says the notes were printed by Zeev Assur's (illegal) press in Tel Aviv. Hebrew legend: "Committee of Tel Aviv. The committee's treasury requests to hand over food stuffs and other provisions to the amount of 1 Beshlik to the bearer of this paper token. The treasury will pay its countervalue with checks of APAK [Anglo-Palestine Bank]. The committee of Tel Aviv." Originally issued 16/08/1914, to be redeemed with "Registered Cheques" issued 11 days later; however the Turks didn't grant a license to issue the tokens: the Procurer in Jaffa permitted them, but the Jaffa military commander didn't and the tokens were withdrawn by published order, 13/01/1915. In the 1970s Mr. Etkind found ununumbered, unissued & unstamped 1 Bishlik tokens signed by him in a drawer, a new issue that was in preparation when the withdrawal was ordered - of which this note is an example; ref: Franz Frankl, "First Necessity Currency...", The Shekel, Jan-Feb 1978, p.20-21.
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This lot is being offered in a buy or bid sale format, whose initial buyout price is: $749. This price will rise by about 5-10% for every new bid received once the bid level passes the midway mark between the starting bid price and the initial buyout price. In such cases please check the latest buyout price on our homesite or contact us.
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Product Tags: Holylandish Paper Money, notaphily & paper means of payment and Banknotes from Holyland and from World War I, 1904-1914 2nd Aliya, 20th Century, 1910s, which are Unique/Discovery Piece

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