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Auction: 25009 - World Banknotes Featuring the Cassia and Cedar Collections
Lot: 288

(x) Institut d'Émission des États du Cambodge, du Laos et du Viet-Nam, French Indochina, a remarkable presentation album of 18 specimen notes,

an extraordinary set with specimens of every banknote produced for Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam in the 1953-1954 issues. Printed on the front cover is "S. E. [Son Excellence] Nghiem Van Tri," Vietnam's Minister of Defence from June 1952 until January 1953, whose signature as administrator can be found on the Vietnamese 1, 5, 10, 100 and 200 Piastre notes.

At a time of persistent political change and unrelenting military action, Nghiem Van Tri's role as Defence Minister in the latter stages of the Indochina War (1946-1954) between France and the Viet Minh was hugely significant during the protracted stalemate from 1953-54, before France's eventual defeat. Tri oversaw the development of Vietnam's National Army, working alongside the French forces and US ambassadors to repress the communist-led Viet Minh formed by Ho Chi Minh. During his tenure, he instigated several large-scale projects, including the establishment of guerilla forces to counter the Viet Minh's own aggressive guerilla tactics.

Presented only a year before the dissolution of French Indochina under the Geneva Accords of 21st July 1954, this is the personal album of one of the three nations' most important military figures during a seminal period in the region's history.

The notes included, in order of their position in the album, are:

[3] 1 Piastre, 1953, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam (Pick 93s, 99s, 104s),
1 Piastre, 1953, combined issue (Pick 92s),
[3] 1 Piastre, 1953, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam (Pick 94s, 100s, 105s),
[3] 5 Piastres, 1953, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam (Pick 95s, 101s, 106s),
[3] 10 Piastres, 1953, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam (Pick 96bs, 102s, 107s),
[3] 100 Piastres, 1954, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam (Pick 97s, 103s, 108s),
[2] 200 Piastres, 1953, Cambodia, Vietnam (Pick 98s, 109s),

also including a page with three empty display slots, with a note "Ces billets de 20 piastres, en cours d'impression, ne seront mis en circulation qu'en 1955," ("these 20 Piastres notes, currently in print, will not be put into circulation until 1955"). These provisional notes were never issued as French Indochina was dissolved in July 1954, but, as with the other notes, descriptions of each can be found on the facing page to the empty slots.

as originally displayed in presentation album, a unique and fascinating example of currency history

Subject to 5% tax on Hammer Price in addition to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium.

Estimate
£10,000 to £15,000

Starting price
£7000