Illuminated Testimonial for Sir Charles Herries K.C.B.

A finely bound illuminated and leather-bound testimonial for Sir Charles Herries K.C.B., retiring Chairman of the Board of the Inland Revenue.

• November 1881.
• Folio.
• 7 illuminated leaves with floral borders in blue, pink, green, white and gold, and window mounted at the beginning of the volume.
• 114 vellum leaves comprising several thousand signatures of tax officers and related civil servants in England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland, all in double columns with red rules and titled office headings, versos blank throughout.
• All edges gilt, moire silk endpapers, original gilt relief-paneled executed by De La Rue & Co. in red full morocco with gilt monogram and family crest centrepiece laid over green calf.

Sir John Charles Herries (1815-1883), a famous financier, was the eldest son of the politician John Charles Herries (1778-1855). He is also possibly related to banker and politician Robert Herries (18th century), the inventor of the circular note (the forerunner of the traveler’s check), whose bank was acquired by Lloyds Bank in 1893. In 1842 Sir Robert Peel made him a commissioner of excise. In 1856 he was chosen by Sir George Cornewall Lewis to occupy the deputy chair of the board of inland revenue, and in 1877 Lord Beaconsfield raised him to the chairmanship. In 1871 he was made C.B., and in 1880 K.C.B. He left the public service in November 1881, ‘and his eminent financial and administrative abilities were acknowledged in a treasury minute, 2 Dec. 1881, and subsequently presented to parliament.’ He died in March 1883.