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American Merchants Union Express Co. Stock Signed by William Fargo [165279]

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money / Stock & Bond - Transportation Start Price:100.00 USD Estimated At:200.00 - 400.00 USD
American Merchants Union Express Co. Stock Signed by William Fargo [165279]
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Certificate number 901 for 100 shares issued to David Wilkins of Chicago on December 31st, 1868. Signed by William Fargo as president, J Knapp as secretary, and Ross as treasurer. Hole cancel in vignette. Five cent revenue stamp on front, 25 cent stamp on reverse. Folds, stains. 9.5 x 12" William Fargo was one of the founders of American Express Company and Wells, Fargo & Company. Near the close of the Civil War, Merchants Union Express was created specifically to compete with American Express and the Wells-Fargo-Butterfield-Livingston business family. The Merchants Union Express raised Cain with American Express. In a swift corporate move, American Express increased their capital stock to 18,000 shares on May 1, 1866, still with Wells, Fargo and Holland at the helm. This increase in capital would allow the Company the freedom to buy other express, steamship or rail lines to strengthen their hold on a monopoly of the express business east of the Missouri River. The prospect of purchasing the Merchants Union Express was a long one. Finally, Capital Stock was issued and the companies merged November 25, 1868, allowing for a new company to emerge, The American Merchants Union Express Company.

Date: 1868
Country (if not USA):
State: New York
City: New York
Provenance: Ken Prag Collection