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NY - New York City,Kings County - May 1 1863 - American Express Co. Stock Certificate

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Western Americana Start Price:500.00 USD Estimated At:1,000.00 - 2,000.00 USD
NY - New York City,Kings County - May 1 1863 - American Express Co. Stock Certificate
Session D is a Mail-Bid Only Auction. Absentee bids will be accepted only. No live bidding will be allowed. All winners will be contacted after the auction. BIDDING ENDS MONDAY JUNE 27 AT 5PM PACIFIC TIME!!!
Measures 11 7/8" x 8". Incorporated March 19 1863. No. 214 issued to William H. Terry of Utica for 12 shares on 1 May 1863 by W. G. Fargo as the secretary and Alex Holland as treasurer and Henry Wells as president. Red, adhesive, 5c Certificate revenue stamp, R24, R3, perf. Stamped in two places, "Authorized Capital 10,000 Shares February 11th 1865". William George Fargo was a pioneer American express man. In 1844 he began working with Henry Wells and Daniel Dunning, organizing the first Wells Fargo express company that would travel west. By the year of 1850 the American Express Company was organized. Henry Wells became the president, and William G. Fargo became secretary. Wells Fargo and Company was a business that moved between New York and San Francisco. In the 1860’s Fargo became mayor of Buffalo, director of New York Central and Northern Pacific railways, as well as president of the American Express. After his death, J.C. Fargo (William Fargo’s brother) later became the president of the company. According to the Wells Fargo Bank website, Henry Wells started out as a shoemaker and tanner's apprentice at the young age of 16. When he was 36 years old, he worked for Harnden’s Express business in Albany, New York. On November 7, 1845, Wells helped build and invested in the first working commercial telegraph line from Lockport to Buffalo. Wells was also president of the First National Bank of Aurora and the Cayuga Lake Railroad. While working with the American Express Company, he started a college for women in Aurora, New York still in existence and service today. Overall condition of the lot is very good, slightly yellowed.