1889年香港上海汇丰银行1元，编号3620，左下手签，右下机印”Noble”署名，这枚小型1元发钞日期为1889年11月1日，换言之发钞期只得2个月。本钞同期应发行共20000枚，据Cribb所言近25至30年间只见4枚同版别之记录，本钞为其中之一，其馀3枚编号分别为0373，1967(2014年售出)，及17767(最近成交记录出自1991年斯宾克泰星拍卖会)，1890年最细之钞票编号为28724，故可推算1889年发行之编号介乎20000或30000之间。本钞评PMG 35EPQ，两枚纪录中，本品远比另一枚高分，亦为编者首次遇见的一枚，纸身扎实，颜色鲜明出众，本版别甚少流通记录，香港旧钞藏家必收之选。斯宾克中国曾于2014 年 1 月拍卖会以港币 28,800成交一枚AVF品相，中央有孔之1889年1元，是近年来唯一之成交记录。。 The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation, $1, 1.11.1889, serial number 3620, black, blue and brown, 1 at each corner, handsigned at lower left, printed signature of Noble at lower right, reverse red, Bank arms at centre, 1 at each corner,These first reduced-size $1s were dated 1st November 1889, allowing for only two months of issue. It would appear that 20,000 notes were printed with this date.The Cribb research indicates that during the last 25 or 30 years JoeCribb has found records of four pieces, of which this is one.A total of some 400,000 notes appears to have been issued for the ten years 1889 to 1899 of the reduced-size issues.The Cribb research indicates the four notes have serial numbers 0373, 1967 (sold in 2014), 3620 (the present note), and 17767 (this last sold at Spink Taisei in 1991).The lowest serial for 1890 is 38724, thus a serial number range for 1889 of 20,000 or 30,000 may be predicted.In the 1890 series, for example, the serial numbers issued reaches well over 200,000, suggesting an additional printing for that year of 200,000 notes.(Pick 136a), PMG 35EPQ Choice Very Fine. One of two notes of this important first year in the PMG population report and this by far the higher grade and with the highly coveted EPQ status. A review of the PMG population report only shows one other small sized $1 dated 1895 or 1899 with an EPQ status making this note one of two notes known with this designation. A phenomenal rarity, this note is the first example handled by the cataloguer. Original, crisp and firm body with eye popping colours this note has seen little actual circulation. An important and desirable piece for any collection of Hong Kong banknotes. The only other time this date was offered by Spink China in recent years was an AVF note with central holes which sold for HKD$28,800 in January 2014!
