EARLY STOCKS AND BONDS BALTIMORE WATER COMPANY * 4 NORTH AMERICAN 1809, Maryland. Partially printed LAND COMPANY STOCK early stock certificate with the ap- NOTED SPECULATOR CERTIFICATE ISSUED HORSES FOR pearance of a check for one share. WILLIAM DUER TO JAMES GREENLEAF WASHINGTON’S ARMY Blind embossed company seal. AND SIGNED BY Some toning at edges. Overall Fine. * 6 * 2 WILLIAM DUER (1747-1799) ROBERT MORRIS 1780, PA Anderson PA1. York Founded in 1804, the Baltimore Revolutionary War soldier, finan- County, Pennsylvania bond issued Water Company operated for fifty cier, land speculator and aristo- * 1 in which Lawrence Minfore”…has years before it was purchased by the 1795, Pennsylvania. North Ameri- crat. Autograph Document Signed, furnished this State, for the use of city of Baltimore for over one mil- can Land Company stock certificate “Wm. Duer.” One page, 7 3/8” x the United States, with one dark lion dollars, resulting in the found- number 2101 for eight hundred and 6 3/4”. No place. August 11, 1785. brown Horse 5 years old, 15 hands ing of the Baltimore Water Depart- thirty-three shares issued to JAMES Duer writes to Captain Seymour: high for a waggon which has been ment. $ 300 - up GREENLEAF, who organized the “ Sir, the Bearer Captain Henry is appraised by two freeholders. Very authorized by me [to] take charge North American Land Company Fine. $500 - up along with Robert Morris and John of the Vessell [sic] bought of Nicholson in February 1795, the you on my account by Mr. Ste- month this certificate was issued. phen Sayre, the terms of which The company was formed by the I will comply with- Wm. Duer.” men in order to sell six million acres of land in Pennsylvania, Virginia, Duer’s financial downfall during George, Kentucky and the Caro- the 1790s precipitated the first ma- linas. The certificate is also signed jor US Panic, during which the mar- as president by ROBERT MORRIS ket dropped dramatically and many (1734-1806) Philadelphia merchant investors were ruined. Having made and businessman who served as a a fortune in land and speculating on delegate to the Continental Con- the Revolutionary debt, William gress and Signed the Declaration of Duer partnered with Alexander Ma- Independence. In addition, Morris comb, one of New York’s richest also founded the Bank of North COMMONWEALTH OF REVOLUTIONARY WAR and most prominent citizens, and continued in the speculative markets America, the first private commer- MASSACHUSETTS BOND GENERAL during the American nation’s early cial bank in the nation. Unfortu- * 3 nately for Morris and his partners, Anderson MA-34. Massachusetts. * 5 years. While Duer’s speculations 1790, Connecticut. Anderson CT the stock of the North American October 1783. Partly-printed bond relied on a continued rise in value, 27. Treasury office transfer certifi- Land Company sold slowly and in which the state has “Borrowed the prominent Livingston family si- cate certifying the transfer of old land values did not increase as they and received of Johnathan Gould multaneously sought to bring about notes for new issues. Issued under hoped. This, coupled with financial twelve pounds six shillings & six a drop in prices. Withdrawing gold an act of the General Assembly difficulties in England, led to the pence…to pay to said Jonathan and silver from their bank deposits, passed in May 1789. Signed by JE- collapse of the company and Mor- Gould on fourth part thereof on the Livingstons caused a contrac- DIDIAH HUNTINGTON (1743 - ris’ imprisonment in Prune Street the lst day of October…in EARLY tion in the local money supply, thus 1818); Brigadier-General during the Debtor’s Prison. Pen cancellation GOLD and SILVER…” These instituting a credit squeeze as banks Revolutionary War; and by PETER affects Morris’ signature as presi- were issued to for general borrow- hurried to call in outstanding loans. COLT. Huntington’s signature has dent. Scalloped left edge and un- ing purposes and the redemption Duer, unable to pay his mounting been pen cancelled. A Fine exam- even right edge. Slight paper loss of outstanding debt securities not debts, soon found himself in debt- ple of the numerous paper games at lower edge, not affecting text. promising to pay in gold or silver, ors prison, where, despite Alexan- played during the newly forming Overall a Very Good early Ameri- or other commodities. Pen and der Hamilton’s efforts to secure government’s refinancing of the can certificate with fine associa- punch cancelled. Extremely Fine. his release, he died in 1799. Some revolutionary war debt. Excellent. tions. $900 - up $400 - up toning at folds. Overall Very Fine. $100 - up $750 - up 1 AN EIGHTEENTH CENTURY PISCATAQUA BRIDGE COMPANY STOCK * 8 Partly printed Manuscript Document Signed. December 7, 1793. 2pp. 6½” x 8 ½”. Signed by James Sheafe, and Nathaniel Adams, as President, Treasurer and Proprietors Clerk, respectively. In a clean, bright presentation on watermarked ragpaper: the Subscription of the Town of Portsmouth as Proprietor of a Share in the Piscataqua Bridge; nice impressed “Seal of the Proprietors” that displaying an THE FIRST EARL OF image of what the bridge would look like. At the time it was built, HALIFAX AUTHORIZES THE TRANSFER OR in 1794, the Piscataqua Bridge, built between Dover and Newington SALE OF HIS LATE FATHER’S STOCK IN THE across the “Great Bay of the Piscataqua River” was an enormous SOUTH SEAS COMPANY engineering feat. Its builder, Timothy Palmer, had designed what was to be the longest span bridge in the world. As our newly established * 7 nation was beginning to develop and build, NH took a leading role in GEORGE MONTAGU, 1st EARL OF HALIFAX. (1684- the incorporation of bridge companies. In December of 1792, a pe- 1739) British politician. Partly printed document Signed tition was submitted for this important bridge to be built and in 1793 “Halifax.” One page, 9 ¼” x 14 ½”. November 10, 1721. The the NH legislatures granted petitioners the exclusive right of build- document reads, in part: “Know all Men by these presents ing this toll bridge over the Piscataqua River. The subscription of that I R. Honble George Earl of Halifax Exec. Of Charles late 500 shares was filled at Portsmouth, numerous shares being taken by Earl Halifax Decd do hereby Authorize and Impower William Bostonian men. The town of Portsmouth subscribed 1000 pounds. “The total bridge was 2,360 feet long and 38-feet wide. Palmer de- Beever of the Excheq. Gent. To Sell Assigne and Transfer to signed and built a main span over the navigable channel of 244 feet. any Person or Persons ….One thousand pounds or any part The water at the bridge site was about 52-feet deep, thus requiring thereof in the name of said Charles late Earl of Halifax Stock major falsework. Prior to this he had the deck resting on the bottom of and in the Capital or Principal Stock of the Governor and chord of the truss with overhead bracing. At Piscataqua he intro- Company of Merchants of Great Britain Trading to the South duced another tier of timber located near the top of the truss on Seas and other Parts of America…” Signed by Halifax at the which the deck was placed and put bracing under the deck. His top conclusion. Beautiful vignette at top center depicting a globe, chord, in addition to its contribution to the truss, was also the bridge sailing ship, scroll work, standing woman and man. Three em- railing. He ordered timbers up to 16 x 18-inches in sections, over bossed revenue stamps at top left. Two slight tear at top edge. 50-feet long with a natural curvature to match the curvature of his three chord members.” – [Timothy Palmer, The Nestor of American Overall Very Fine. $2,500 - up Bridge Builders, Griggs.)] In Very Fine condition. An important part of engineering and New England history. $1,500 - up 2 PROVIDENCE GREAT-BRIDGE LOTTERY * 9 Fourth Class Providence Great- Bridge Lottery Ticket.4 1/2” x 2 3/8”. The six dollar ticket reads, in part: “ … This ticket intitles the EXCEPTIONAL EARLY GERMAN HORSE possessor to such Prize as may be drawn against its Number, agreeably FARM CERTIFICATE EARLY FRENCH COAL to an Act of the Legislature of the MINING STOCK FOSSES * 11 State of Rhode-Island, passed Oc- A CHARBON DE MR. LE 1832, Nuremberg, Germany. Stock certificate. Black. Stunning large tober 30th, 1790 ... “ Verso bears vignette of a small village with farmhouses and barns with five hors- MARQUIS DE TRAISNEL the name of three individuals who es grazing in the foreground field. This company raised horses. Vi- each own a third of the ticket. Scal- * 13 gnettes of this quality during this period are indeed, scarce and this is loped left edge, official signature 1781. France. Stock certificate. A of fine topical matter. Uncancelled and extremely fine. $750 - up faded. Overall Fine. $300 - up larger certificate measuring 10” x 15”. Black. Fine vignette of the Traisnel arms, with three Bourbon fleurs-de-lis. The Marquis’ mines were located at Aniche, near Douai. The concession dates from 1774. The mines were very difficult to work, with very thin and irregular seams of coal. The company later became the Companie de Mines d’Aniche, which became one of the most important coal mining companies in France. The share is singed by Marquis Traisnel. Some scattered foxing at edges. Uncan- celled and Very Fine. $900 - up KEYSERLYCKE INDISCHE COMPAGNIE IMPERIAL INDIA CO. * 10 1723, Antwerp. Stock certificate for 1 share. Black. Vignette of the Hapsburg crest at top center. The COMPAGNIE DU PONT DE CLAIRAC Imperial India Company was autho- rized by Charles VI of Austria to * 12 trade with the East and West Indies 1833, France.