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Arizona & New Mexico Express

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money Start Price:1.00 USD Estimated At:3,000.00 - 5,000.00 USD
Arizona & New Mexico Express
<B>Arizona & New Mexico Express </B>1875. #51. <B>100 shs. </B>Green. Stagecoach follows express rider, mill and mountains in the distance. Portrait of Henry Wlles, left. Signed by <b>Henry Wells</b> as president. A clean uncancelled signature. <B>VF</B>.* <BR>    <b>Henry Wells </b>(1805-1878) was an important American businessman. He was responsible for hiring William Fargo and organizing the American Express Company. In 1851 the partners founded Wells, Fargo and Company and held a near monopoly on banking and express services in California.
On March 12, 1875 a group of important businessmen gathered at the Horton House in San Diego. At this meeting were Henry Wells, Hon. H.S. Stevens, delegate from Arizona, William Zeckendorf of Tucson, Jarvis C. Truman of Binghampton, NY and several other eastern businessmen. The men recognized a need for an express service to reach deep into Arizona and New Mexico Territories and provide service to miners and ranchers. The company they formed was organized to operate from San Diego to the territorial capital at Tucson with an eventual extension into New Mexico. The move was well timed as it preceded the discovery of silver at Tombstone in 1877 and the discovery of copper at Bisbee in 1877. The company held a near monopoly on service until the arrival of the Southern Pacific Railroad in 1880. This was a small closely held organization with an initial capitalization of $200,000 divided into only 5000 shares. This is the first example we have seen or offered from this <b>Western Rarity </b>and believe it to be the only example available to the collector's market. The importance of this find should not be underestimated, a<b> Rare Opportunity.</b>