2572

American Express Company Stock Collection incl. Key Signatures (Wells, Fargo, Butterfield) [199965]

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money / Stock & Bond - Transportation Start Price:750.00 USD Estimated At:1,500.00 - 2,000.00 USD
American Express Company Stock Collection incl. Key Signatures (Wells, Fargo, Butterfield) [199965]
SOLD
600.00USDto d*******f+ buyer's premium (150.00)
This item SOLD at 2025 Aug 09 @ 17:48UTC-07:00 : PDT/MST
FINAL AUCTION RECORD The Auctioneer’s podium notes serve as the final, legally binding record of the auction results, superseding any electronic bidding records. See Terms and Conditions
Lot of 4 different. These stocks tell the story of this company and its evolution. For a full story, and discussion of the different stock types, please see Fred Holabird's essay: https://www.holabirdamericana.com/s/American-Express-and-Wells-Fargo-ajhp.pdf. 1) American Express Company March 1859 certificate issued to Phipps. Signed by Henry Wells as president, William Fargo as secretary and Alex Holland as treasurer. Not cancelled! Wells and Fargo would later go on to form Wells, Fargo & Company. This was before the company was dissolved later that year and reformed under the same name. 2) American Express Company November 1859 stock issued to William R. Moore. Signed by John Butterfield as vice president, William S. Fargo as secretary, and Alex Holland as treasurer. Not cancelled. John Butterfield was a transportation pioneer in the mid-19th century in the American Northwest and Southwest. He founded many companies, including American Express. The Butterfield Overland Mail Company was the longest stagecoach line in the world. 3) Merchants Union Express Co. stock issued in 1867. Signed by Knapp and Ross. This company was in direct competition with American Express, and the two later merged (see next certificate). 4) American Merchants Union Express Company Dec. 1868 certificate signed by William S. Fargo as president, Knapp as secretary, and Ross as treasurer. Signatures not cancelled. Nice vignette of shipping depot. This was the merger of Amex and Merchants Union Express.
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Date: 1859-68
Country (if not USA):
State: New York
City: New York
Provenance: Ken Prag Collection