Auction 250 - 256 Day 1

1840c. Perkins Bacon & Petch, Die Proof for a miniaturised version of the Charter of the Bank of England, an extraordinary masterpiece of the Perkins Bacon engraving process with engine-turned oval surround; headed "Charter of the Bank of England, Now know ye, that we being desirous to promote the publick good and benefit of our people which in these presents are chifly designed and intended as well as the profit and advantage of all such as have subscribed & contributed according to the said Act of Parliament and our said commission thereupon issued...", continuing for a further twenty odd lines. A wonderful example of printing, in such quality that even modern photocopiers and scanners cannot enlarge same, and most probably from a proposal for either Postage Stamps or Banknote production.