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1 Dollar 1942, British Guiana

in Krause book Number: P12c
Years of issue: 01.01.1942
Edition: 3 279 095
Signatures: Currency Commissioners: Mr. George Douglas Owen, Mr. Edwin Frank McDavid, Mr. William Albert D' Andrade (from 1938 till 1942)
Serie: No Serie
Specimen of: 01.06.1937
Material: Cotton fiber
Size (mm): 152 х 82
Printer: Waterlow and Sons Limited, London

* All pictures marked magnify 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.

1 Dollar 1942

Description

Watermark:

Avers:

1 Dollar 1942

Ramphastos vitellinus arielChannel-billed toucan (Ramphastos vitellinus ariel) sitting on a tree branch on the left.

The channel-billed toucan (Ramphastos vitellinus) is a near-passerine bird which breeds in Trinidad and in tropical South America as far south as southern Brazil and central Bolivia.

Like other toucans, the channel-billed is brightly marked and has a huge bill. It is typically 48 cm. (19 in.) long with a 9-14 cm. (3½-5½ in.) bill. It weighs 300-430 grams (10.6-15.2 oz.). Found in forest and woodland. Prefers humid regions, but locally extends into drier regions (esp. along rivers). Mainly in lowlands, but locally to an altitude of 1700 m. (5600 ft.).

Toucans are members of the family Ramphastidae of near passerine birds from the Neotropics. The Ramphastidae family is most closely related to the American barbets. They are brightly marked and have large, often colorful bills. The family includes five genera and about forty different species. The name of this bird group is derived from the Tupi word tukana, via Portuguese.The family includes toucans, aracaris and toucanets; more distant relatives include various families of barbets and woodpeckers in the suborder Pici.

Kaieteur Falls

Kaieteur Falls in the middle.

Kaieteur Falls is a waterfall on the Potaro River in central Essequibo Territory, Guyana. It is located in Kaieteur National Park. It is 226 metres (741 ft) high when measured from its plunge over a sandstone and conglomerate cliff to the first break. It then flows over a series of steep cascades that, when included in the measurements, bring the total height to 251 metres (822 ft). While many falls have greater height, few have the combination of height and water volume, and the falls are among the most powerful waterfalls in the world with an average flow rate of 663 cubic metres per second (23,400 cubic feet per second).

Kaieteur Falls is about four times higher than Niagara Falls, located on the border between Canada and the United States and about two times the height of the Victoria Falls located on the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe in Africa. It is a single drop waterfall which is the 123rd tallest (single and multi-drop waterfall) in the world, according to the World Waterfall Database. The same web site lists it as 19th largest waterfall in terms of volume, and in their estimation, Kaieteur is the 26th most scenic waterfall in the world.

coat of arms british guiana

Colonial seal is on right side. Initially the royal British achievement was used in British Guyana. This was sculptured for example in the tympanon of the Parliament’s House in Georgetown, built between 1829 and 1834. It was soon completed by arms inspired by the seal of the WIC. These showed a sailing vessel, sailing to the sinister. Below is the motto DAMUS PETIMUS QUE VICISSIM (We Give and Demand Reciprocal). In 1851 it was printed on 1 cent stamps. For a short time the arms and the motto were separated but about 1853 a strap bearing the motto, was added around the arms. In this form the achievement of British Guyana remained in use until 1954. The seal, circular, showed the same device. This was also, as a badge, on the blue ensign from about 1875. In 1906 the badge was made identical to the arms.

Denominations in numerals are in all corners. Lower in center in words.

Revers:

1 Dollar 1942

HM The King George VI

HM The King George VI.

George VI (Albert Frederick Arthur George, 14 December 1895 - 6 February 1952) was King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth from 11 December 1936 until his death. He was the last Emperor of India and the first Head of the Commonwealth.

This portrait of His Majesty is made by photographer Bertram Park (1883-1972) in March 1938, and it is one of the more widely used images of The King.

I found this image here "Stamp Community Family". The portrait on banknote is, probably, taken from this photo session.

Denominations in numerals are on right and left side of King's Portrait.

Comments:

Interesting facts:

Guyana - the only South American country where English is adopted as the state language.

Guyana name comes from an Indian language and means "land of waters.

Indians, the indigenous inhabitants of the country, are not integrated in the Guyanese society: they settled in the inner regions and are semi-nomadic, engaged in hunting and gathering.

Guyanese society characterized by tolerance: here peacefully coexist Christianity, Hinduism and Islam.