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William Fargo and Thomas Fargo Autograph on American Merchants Union Express Stock Certificate [132

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Autographs Start Price:200.00 USD Estimated At:400.00 - 700.00 USD
William Fargo and Thomas Fargo Autograph on American Merchants Union Express Stock Certificate  [132
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Certificate number 513 for 47 shares issued to John T Meldrum of Detroit Michigan on December 15, 1868. Signed by William Fargo as president, J Knapp as secretary, and Ross as treasurer. Single hole cancel in vignette. Clean certificate endorsed on reverse by Meldrum and Thomas Fargo. Pencil notation pay Fargo February 1873 in pencil on reverse. Rare Fargo family pairing. Five cent revenue stamp on obverse. Near the close of the Civil War, Merchants Union Express was created specifically to compete with American Express and the Wells-Fargo-Butterfield-Livingston business family. The Merchants Union Express raised Cain with American Express. In a swift corporate move, American Express increased their capital stock to 18,000 shares on May 1, 1866, still with Wells, Fargo and Holland at the helm. This increase in capital would allow the Company the freedom to buy other express, steamship or rail lines to strengthen their hold on a monopoly of the express business east of the Missouri River. The prospect of purchasing the Merchants Union Express was a long one. Finally, Capital Stock was issued and the companies merged November 25, 1868, allowing for a new company to emerge, The American Merchants Union Express Co.


Date: 1868
Country (if not USA):
State: New York
City: New York
Provenance: Ken Prag Collection