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1863 Civil War $300 Substitute Bounty Certificate Signed WILLIAM MAGEAR TWEED

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:1,800.00 USD Estimated At:2,400.00 - 2,800.00 USD
1863 Civil War $300 Substitute Bounty Certificate Signed WILLIAM MAGEAR TWEED
Civil War Union Documents
1863 Civil War $300 “Substitute Bounty” Form Signed By WILLIAM MAGEAR “BOSS” TWEED
WILLIAM MAGEAR “BOSS” TWEED (1823-1878). (Erroneously referred to as William Marcy Tweed). American politician most notable for being the "Boss" of Tammany Hall, the Democratic Party political machine, that played a major role in the politics of 19th century New York City and State.
September 29th, 1863-Dated Civil War, Historic Partially-Printed Document Signed, “W M Tweed” as Supervisor, measuring 8.5” x 7”, 2 pages (front and back), New York, Choice Very Fine. Being an official, fully executed “Substitute Bounty” Certificate Form for John Clare, a Clerk, who was drafted and liable to perform military duty, who obtained a “Volunteer” to take his place since he had one child and two adults who depended on him financially. John Coyle took his place and received the $300 bounty as the “Volunteer.” Official Certificate #467 with a period 5¢ US Revenue Stamp affixed. Printed upon period fine wove paper in black, having rich brown manuscript portions and signatures. Signed by William “Boss Tweed with Brennan and other signatures as Supervisors or Comptroller. Rare and historic, very controversial, $300 Civil War Bounty Certificate. Tweed headed the infamous Tammany political organization known as the Tweed Ring. A great rarity that is most impressive in appearance.
William Magear Tweed (April 3, 1823 – April 12, 1878), often erroneously referred to as William Marcy Tweed, and widely known as "Boss" Tweed. American politician most notable for being the "boss" of Tammany Hall, the Democratic Party political machine that played a major role in the politics of 19th century New York City and State.

At the height of his influence, Tweed was the third-largest landowner in New York City, a director of the Erie Railroad, the Tenth National Bank, and the New-York Printing Company, as well as proprietor of the Metropolitan Hotel.

Tweed was elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1852 and the New York County Board of Supervisors in 1858, the year he became the head of the Tammany Hall political machine. He was also elected to the New York State Senate in 1867, but Tweed's greatest influence came from being an appointed member of a number of boards and commissions, his control over political patronage in New York City through Tammany, and his ability to ensure the loyalty of voters through jobs he could create and dispense on city-related projects.

According to Tweed biographer Kenneth D. Ackerman:

It's hard not to admire the skill behind Tweed's system ... The Tweed ring at its height was an engineering marvel, strong and solid, strategically deployed to control key power points: the courts, the legislature, the treasury and the ballot box. Its frauds had a grandeur of scale and an elegance of structure: money-laundering, profit sharing and organization.

Tweed was convicted for stealing an amount estimated by an aldermen's committee in 1877 at between $25 million and $45 million from New York City taxpayers through political corruption, although later estimates ranged as high as $200 million. Unable to make bail, he escaped from jail once, but was returned to custody. He died in the Ludlow Street Jail.