10 Pounds Sterling 1988, Kingdom of Great Britain
| in Banknotes Book | Number: BE164b |
| Years of issue: | 03.1988 |
| Edition: | |
| Signatures: | Chief Cashier: Mr. George Malcolm Gill (1988-1991) |
| Serie: | England |
| Specimen of: | 20.02.1975 |
| Material: | Cotton fiber |
| Size (mm): | 153 х 84 |
| Printer: | Bank of England print works, Loughton (Debden), Essex, UK |
* All pictures marked 
are increased partially by magnifying glass, the remaining open in full size by clicking on the image.
** The word "Specimen" is present only on some of electronic pictures, in accordance with banknote images publication rules of appropriate banks.
Description
Watermark:
Florence Nightingale.
Avers:
HM The Queen Elizabeth II.
Like the previous portraits of The Queen, which had been drawn for the banknotes issued by the Bank of England, this likeness of Her Majesty is not based on an existing portrait. The master drawing of The Queen was executed by Harry Eccleston in 1956, the designer of the Bank's 'D' series. Three versions of the portrait were created. As well as the two version of the portrait described below, an earlier portrait of Her Majesty was prepared by Eccleston for use on the 50-pence and 10-shilling notes, which were never issued. The unused portrait was similar to Portrait 14b, except that in the unused portrait The Queen wore a cap, which is part of the full regalia of the Order of the Garter, rather than the Diadem.
This version of the portrait was used on the 10-, 20- and 50-pound notes of the ‘D’ series. The Queen is depicted in state robes, wearing the George IV State Diadem, Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee necklace and Queen Alexandra’s Cluster Earrings.
The Queen is wearing the George IV State Diadem. Made by Rundell, Bridge & Rundell (and likely designed by their designer, Philip Liebart) in 1820, the diadem features a set of 4 crosses pattée alternating with 4 bouquets of roses, thistles, and shamrocks. The motifs are set on a band of diamond scrollwork between two bands of pearls. Queen Alexandra had the diadem made smaller in 1902, reducing the top band of pearls from 86 to 81, and the bottom band from 94 to 88. The front cross is set with a 4 carat yellow diamond, and the piece features 1,333 diamonds in all. (Sartorial Splendor)
To mark Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee in 1887, a committee of ladies was formed to raise money for a commemorative statue of Victoria’s late husband Prince Albert. The committee’s fundraising was quite successful, and they ended up raising far more than was required for the statue. An agreement was formed with the Queen that the excess should go to the St. Katherine’s Fund for Nurses. At the same time, some members of the committee decided that a portion of the funds should be used to purchase a necklace for the Queen - and this was also approved by Her Majesty.
The trouble was, the committee did not agree on the necklace. Some felt it would be wrong to spend the funds which had been previously devoted to charity on something else. Much discussion and debate ensued, as is described in depth in Hugh Roberts’ book The Queen’s Diamonds. (My favorite tidbit: Queen Victoria, angry that she wouldn’t get her promised necklace, shot down the prospect of a diamond badge commemorating the nursing fund by declaring she would “at once exchange it for another jewel”.
In the end, a compromise was reached and this necklace, made for £5000 (far less than the necklace originally proposed) from gold, diamonds, and pearls by Carrington & Co. was presented to Queen Victoria in 1888. It features a central quatrefoil diamond motif with a large pearl in the middle, topped by a crown and underlined with a drop pearl. The next four links in either direction are graduated trefoil motifs; the central piece and the six largest trefoils can also be worn as brooches.
She is also wearing Queen Alexandra’s Cluster Earrings. The wedding gift from the future King Edward VII to his bride, Alexandra of Denmark. Also known as Queen Alexandra's Cluster Earrings, these two button earrings have large pearls surrounded by diamonds - 10 larger stones each plus smaller filler stones to create a full diamond ring. Like the brooch, these passed to the Queen via Queen Mary. They're now worn primarily at evening functions.
Stylized Hidden Valley Hibiscus or "Florence Nightingale" Hibiscus is in the middle.
"Florence Nightingale" has an unusual white flower with a large, deep red eye surrounded by lavender and pink rings. The large 7-9" blooms surprise and fascinate any hibiscus grower. The bush is upright and grows to 5' in height.
Royal monogram lower right.
The Inscriptions: Bank of England. I Promise to Pay the Bearer on Demand the Sum of Ten Pounds. London, for the Governor and Company of the Bank of England.
Denominations in numerals are in top corners. In words centered.
Revers:
The engraving on banknote, presumably, made from this photo by William Edward Kilburn, published by Ashford Brothers & Co albumen carte-de-visite, around 1856.
Florence Nightingale, OM, RRC (12 May 1820 - 13 August 1910) was a celebrated British social reformer and statistician, and the founder of modern nursing. She came to prominence while serving as a nurse during the Crimean War, where she tended to wounded soldiers. She was known as "The Lady with the Lamp" after her habit of making rounds at night. Early 21st century commentators have asserted Nightingale's achievements in the Crimean War had been exaggerated by the media at the time, to satisfy the public's need for a hero, but her later achievements remain widely accepted. In 1860, Nightingale laid the foundation of professional nursing with the establishment of her nursing school at St Thomas' Hospital in London. It was the first secular nursing school in the world, now part of King's College London. The Nightingale Pledge taken by new nurses was named in her honour, and the annual International Nurses Day is celebrated around the world on her birthday. Her social reforms include improving healthcare for all sections of British society, improving healthcare and advocating for better hunger relief in India, helping to abolish laws regulating prostitution that were overly harsh to women, and expanding the acceptable forms of female participation in the workforce.
Nightingale was a prodigious and versatile writer. In her lifetime much of her published work was concerned with spreading medical knowledge. Some of her tracts were written in simple English so they could easily be understood by those with poor literary skills. She also helped popularise the graphical presentation of statistical data. Much of her writing, including her extensive work on religion and mysticism, has only been published posthumously.
Centered is the coloured lithograph by and after Joseph Austin Benwell, published by Peter Jackson, The Caxton Press, London and Liverpool, 1856 (c).
In this night scene, Florence Nightingale is shown on her inspection rounds of the cramped wards of the hospital at Scutari, during the Crimean War (1854-1856). In what was to become an iconic image of her, Miss Nightingale is seen holding a lamp in her hand. Now it is in National Army museum, in London.
It is, also, an episode of the British historical film from 1951 "The Lady with the Lamp". The film is about Florence Nightingale, in particular, the episode about her work in the barracks Selimiye (Selimiye Kislasi), also known as Scutari barracks. It was the Turkish army barracks located in the district of Uskudar, Istanbul's Asian side. Were built in 1800 by Sultan Selim III for the soldiers of the newly established army Nizam-i Cedid (literally "New Order") within the Ottoman military reform.
Denominations in numerals are in top corners.
Comments:
Designer: Harry Eccleston.
The banknote withdrawn from circulation on May 20, 1994.
On banknote have signed Mister George Malcolm Gill.
George Malcolm Gill (born 23 May 1934) was Chief Cashier of the Bank of England for 1988 to 1991. The signature of the Chief Cashier appears on British banknotes. Gill was replaced as Chief Cashier by Graham Kentfield.
Gill joined the Bank of England in 1957 after completing his National Service. From 1966 to 1968 he was part of the UK delegation to the International Monetary Fund in Washington and in 1972 he was secretary to the bank's governor, Lord O'Brien. In 1977, he was seconded to the Treasury and in 1982 he was made head of the Foreign Exchange Division. He joined the Bank for International Settlements in 1991 and retired in 1999.
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