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[American Express]
The American Express Company (46k jpg) 1857. This category II, American Express Company is signed by John Butterfield and William G. Fargo.

John Butterifeld (1801-1869), was a Utica businessman and politician. He originated the street railway of Utica, established a telegraph and an express company, and was an executive of several other businesses. In 1865, Butterfield was elected mayor of Utica.

William G. Fargo (1818-1881), started out as a messenger at Wells & Company and later became a partner. He was one of the driving forces behind the American Express Company. He was elected the mayor of Buffalo for a term in 1866.

Price: High.
[Courtesy: R.M. Smythe & Co.]
 
 
 

[Moulton Mining Company](William A. Clark) 1881. Signed as President of Moulton Mining Company by William A Clark (1839-1925). Montana Senator; mining capitalist in Butte with stamp mills and smelters. Clark is best known for his long-time feud with Marcus Daly. Engraved vignette of miners at work at top; miner with tools at bottom.

Price: Low.
 
 

[Mississippi and Missouri RR] (John A. Dix) Mississippi and Missouri Railroad 1857. Iowa. Stock certificate. Printed entirely in black. Fine multi-vignetted certificate depicting Indians overlooking a passing steam locomotive at top center, steamboat and Indian scenes at left. Signed as president by JOHN A. DIX (1798 1879). Union general during the Civil War; U.S. Secretary of the Treasury; Railroad executive. Dix was a trusted public servant and financier in the period leading up to the Civil War. He served as U.S. Secretary of the Treasury during the last three months of the Buchanan administration (Jan. - March 1861), at the insistence of the eastern money interests who knew that Dix's presence would lend stability to that faltering administration. In May 1861, Lincoln appointed Dix major general of volunteers and, as such, Dix outranked all other volunteer officers until the end of the War. After the War, Dix had a distinguished career in both diplomacy and politics serving as Minister to France, 1866-1869, and as governor of New York, 1872-1874. Fort Dix, New Jersey was named after General Dix.

Price: Low.
[Courtesy: Winslow and Associates]
 
 

[Standard Oil Company] (Henry Flagler) 1883. Signed by HENRY FLAGLER (1830-1913) as Secretary. Co-Founder of Standard Oil with J. D. Rockefeller. Flagler's role in the development of Florida was fueled by his enormous railroad activities which opened up large parts of the east coast of Florida to tourism, trade, and development.

Price: Very High.
[Courtesy: Winslow and Associates]
 
 

[Homestake Mining](James Ben Ali Haggin) 1880. James Ben Ali Haggin and Lloyd Tevis were two ex-lawyers who became land speculators and mining promoters. They knew little about mining, but recognized the talent of George Hearst and formed a partnership with him. Hearst was one of the countries leading geologists making finds in Colorado, Montana, and South Dakota. The Anaconda in Montana is the most recognized of his finds. Haggin and Tevis profited enormously from their relationship with Hearst.

Price: Low
[Courtesy: R.M. Smythe & Co.]
 
 

[North American Land](Robert Morris) North American Land 1795. Pennsylvania. Stock certificate for 5 shares in the North American Land Company for Isiah Watson of Alexandria [VA]. Signed as president of the company by ROBERT MORRIS (1734 - 1806). Revolutionary War financier, often celled "The Financier of the American Revolution.; Signer of the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation and the U.S. Constitution; Land speculator. Morris first gained attention when he headed two of the Continental Congress' most important committees (1776-1778), one to obtain war materials, and the other to instruct overseas diplomats. He was one of the best known merchants in the colonies, and thus his business experience led to his appointment as superintendent of finance in 1781. Morris' shrewdness and personal reputation were enough to secure the funds required for the colonies to successfully prosecute the war against Britain. He left the Continental government in 1783, and served as U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania 1789-1795. Even before leaving the Senate, however, Morris, in partnership with others such as John Nicholson, became heavily involved in fund speculation, believing that there was a fortune to be made by selling fund in the growing U.S. The demand for land, however, was not what Morris had hoped for, and eventually he was unable to Pay his massive debts and went bankrupts, spending 179-8-1801 in debtor's prison. This is a classic piece to add to a Scripophily collection at a moderate price.

Price: Moderate to High.
[Courtesy: Winslow and Associates]
 
 

[Sunflower Mining Co.](John Pedersen) 1897. One of the most unusual and attractive mining stocks. These certificates are ornate and unusually colorful, therefore being very expensive to print. Each certificate has the number of shares punched into the certificate to prevent counterfeiting, also unusual for the time. Active gold mine between 1896-1902 on Iron Mountain in the Cripple Creek Mining District of Teller County, Colorado. Signed by Colorado mining investors John Pedersen and W. H. Bacon.

Price: Moderate.
 
 

[Rickenbacker](Eddie Rickenbacker) Edward V. Rickenbacker (1890-1973). Aviator; Leading U.S. air ace during World War I. Pamphlet signed on the front cover, 3.5 inches by 6 inches. This was the promotional pamphlet for his Autobiography, "RICKENBACKER" which was published in 1967. The cover or the pamphlet is a photograph of a painting of Rickenbacker and is signed by him.

Price: Low.
 
 

[Standard Oil Company] (John D. Rockefeller) 1883. Signed by JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER (1839-1937) as president. Noted historian Allan Nevins said of the trust; "The birth of this unprecedented entity was an epochal event in business organization." The successful organization of the Standard Oil Trust was the culmination of oil interest acquisitions from 1870 to 1882 and brought the vast oil empire (today known as Exxon) under one central management. Prior to 1889, general statutes prohibited inter-corporation stockholding, thus creating the need to circumvent these laws in order to acquire other oil related properties. The Standard Oil Company, as an organization chartered in Ohio, was restricted from holding stock or any interest in another company. To circumvent this problem, the concept of issuing shares to individuals as trustees was developed and utilized. The effect of the method was to allow Standard Oil to acquire properties and conceal their corporate ownership under the guise of individual possession by the principals. Although effective, as the organization grew, it became apparent that this complex system of ownership carried with it many logistical difficulties. Thus, the Standard Oil Trust was born, and so was the first great monopoly in American business history. For those wishing further detailed information on the Trust, please ask for our booklet on this historic accomplishment.

Price: Very High.
[Courtesy: Winslow and Associates]
 
 

[The Pullman Company] (Howard C. Vanderbilt) 1907. Issued to and signed by Howard C. Vanderbilt on the back (verso).

Price: Inexpensive.
 
 


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