Bengal Presidency CU Recruiting Ticket

440, Lot: 693. Estimate $100. Sold for $140. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

TOKENS, Middlesex. London. CU Recruiting Ticket (20mm, 2.88 g, 6h). Bengal Presidency issue. Undated (used from 1835-1857). HORSE ARTILLERY, Artilleryman on horseback rearing left, holding sword aloft / WANTED FOR THE EAST INDIES around, APPLY/ AT N^O. 35/ SOHO SQUARE/ LONDON in four lines across field. Edge: Grained. Pridmore 398. EF, red-brown surfaces.

From the Quentin Brisley Collection of British Tokens.

Pridmore states that “From 1835 to 1857 the East India Company’s Recruiting Depot was at No. 28 Soho Square.” This recruiting ticket is essentially the same size as an unofficial Farthing.