Lot 89 - Africa, British Central Africa (Malawi). Victoria & Edward VII set of 4x Vulcanite 1d., 2d., 4d. & 8d. Kubula Store tokens. 1890-1907.

Africa, British Central Africa (Malawi). Victoria & Edward VII set of 4x Vulcanite 1d., 2d., 4d. & 8d. Kubula Store tokens. 1890-1907. * AT KUBULA STORES BLANTYRE * AGAINST GOODS ONLY, denomination centre / E.CH.A. SHARRER, SHIRE HIGHLANDS BRITISH CENTRAL AFRICA, S in centre of cross on shield. This set of 4x graded examples are wrongly attributed to Rhodesia. 1- Penny, 2.50g, 25.00mm, 6h. - NGC Graded MS 61 (2805463-056).2- Twopenny, 3.50g, 27.50mm, 6h.- NGC Graded AU 58. (2805463-057).3- Fourpenny, 30.00mm, 6h. - NGC Graded MS 61. (2805463-058).4- Eightpence, 34.50mm, 6h. -NGC Graded AU 58. (2805463-059). An exceptionally rare opportunity to acquire these seldom encountered tokens of the Kubula Store in Blantyre (Modern day Malawi) issued by Charles Sharrer. There are two versions, one set in red vulcanite and this set in black vulcanite, once believed to be unique, however, a very few examples have come to market via HA and DNW over the years, but they remain almost impossible to source on the open market, particularly graded examples. There are also a 1/-, 2/6d. & 2/8d. available but we have never seen them although they were mentioned in a talk given in 1928 by a J P Messenger to the RNS. Little is known of the early life of Eugene CH. Sharrer, except he arrived from German East Africa to Blantyre in the 1880's and realised the potential for growth in the local economy, he set up the Kubula Stores in conjunction with John Buchanan and produced these tokens for local use, however, the stores couldn't compete with the other local companies and he later sold out to his rivals. Sharrer died in London as a POW in WWI, after amassing large land holdings, transportation companies and other interests in Africa and his heirs were never traced.