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Henry Wells & James Fargo Signed Stock Certificate

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:25.00 USD Estimated At:1,000.00 - 3,000.00 USD
Henry Wells & James Fargo Signed Stock Certificate
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For your consideration is this original UNCANCELLED American Express Company stock certificate which has been signed by both founders, Henry Wells and William Fargo. The stock certificate was issued in 1864 to W.O. Ruggles. William Ruggles served as Professor at Columbian College (Renamed George Washington University in 1904) for 55 years. The year after this stock certificate was issued, Ruggles was named Professor Emeritus and continued to lecture on political economy and civil polity from 1865 to 1874. William Ruggles was issued Certificate #1170 for 2 shares at $500 each (the 2018 equivalent of over $15,000) in the American Express Company, dated 9 June 1864 and signed by William G. Fargo as secretary, Henry Wells as president, and Alexander Holland as treasurer. The certificate's vignette features a dog, the mascot of American Express preceding the centurion. American Express was formed by Henry Wells, William G. Fargo, and John Butterfield in 1850. Fargo eventually served as company president from 1868 until his death. After the California Gold Rush, both Well and Fargo saw an opportunity to start a similar company in the West. So the two men founded Wells Fargo & Co. The certificate, as well as bust portraits of Wells & Fargo, are preserved in a gorgeous frame. The frame measures 21 3/8" wide, and 24 5/8" tall.