[V.O.C. Banknotes] Extremely rare letterpress/ manuscript V.O.C. "Kas noot" for Ceylon (Sri Lanka)

Printed "Kas-noot", recto with the denomination "Goed voor 4 Ryxsds:" in Dutch, Sinhala and Tamil typeset, within border and V.O.C. marks and the arms of Colombo in corners, and with the signature in pen of the last governor of the island Johan Gerard van Angelbeek (1794-96), Abraham Samlant (Negotie Boekhouder) and 1 unidentified signature, verso dated in print "Kolombo den 1. January 1796", and w. manuscript "N. Eight. Bearing interest 3 p.cent p. annum" above black rectangular stamped seal of Colonel James Stuart in the middle of signature George Gregory in pen (see explanation below), 8.8 x 10.4 cm.

Middle fold, some pinholes and tiny tears. Not in Landwehr, V.O.C. Extremely rare "Kas noot", which remained valid for 116 years, and this copy has not been cancelled (see the two examples of "Kredit brieven" in this auction). Noted in pen on the tiny leaf are only 5 dates at which the interest was actually paid, from 15 February 1864 to 15 February 1868. Possibly, the note still retains its value for the British state; we could not verify this. The history of this "Kas noot": "After the British Invasion of Ceylon in 1795 the Dutch surrendered to the British, Trincomalee on 1795 August 26th, Jaffna on 1795 September 27th. Doubts arose among the populace about the ability of the Dutch Government to redeem the Kredit Brieven owing to the threatened investment of Colombo by the British. By Plakaat of 1795 December 18th Notice was given to issue Paper Money of smaller denominations 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10 Rix-Dollars. Called Kas Nooten the notes were issued dated 1796 January 1st. The British under Article 6 of the Capitulation of Colombo, on 1796 February 15th accepted the liability for up to £50,000 (i.e. 468,750 Ryxd) of Kredit Brieven and Kas Nooten still in Circulation and pay interest at 3% per Annum, payable half yearly. Notes [including ours] were Endorsed in English in pen with 3 percent p. annum on this Kredit Brief payable by the British Government of Ceylon under the condition of the Sixth article of the Capitulation of Columbo and on back of Kas Nooten Bearing Interest 3 percent for Annum. Below a Black rectangular Seal of COL.STUART with Persian text in middle of Signature Geo. Gregory over Reg. Colonel James Stuart led the British troops to take Ceylon from the Dutch. George Gregory was collector for Colombo for the British. (...) The Dutch promissory notes taken over by the British Government in 1796, were never called in. (...) After obtaining the approval of the Secretary of State and protracted negotiations with the holders the Government bought in the 130 [remaining] notes in 1912, for a sum of Rs. 13,890 and cancelled them, thus wiping off finally a permanent charge on public funds." (Dutch Ceylon Paper Money 1785-96, online article). "The proclamation [of December 18th, 1795] rehearses that owing to the threatened investment of Colombo by the British doubts had arisen among the populace about the ability of the Government to redeem the Kredit Brieven and reassures them on this issue. As the Kredit Brieven was for large payments, the Kas Nooten (currency notes) were issued for the convenience of the public, redeemable in the same way, but not endorsed." (Dutch Ceylon 1796 Kolumbo Kas Nooten, illustrated online article). We thank Burgersdijk and Niermans for their help with this description and that of the two similar other V.O.C. items in this auction.