705

YOUNG, BRIGHAM

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:500.00 USD Estimated At:1,000.00 - 1,500.00 USD
YOUNG, BRIGHAM
<b>705. BRIGHAM YOUNG</b> (1801 - 1877) Leader of the Mormon church who succeeded Joseph Smith as head of the church and led the mass migration to Salt Lake Valley. Young was also the first governor of Utah Territory. A rather bizarre D.S. 1p. oblong 8vo., Salt Lake City, July 12, 1874, a manuscript check written to the First National Bank by one John B. Price: "<i>Please pay to Presid't Brigham Young the sum of one hundred pounds, on demand...</i>". Young endorsed the check on verso, signing his full name, which bears an ink stroke cancel. Accompanied by Price's letter to Young presenting the check in thanks for "<i>...The strenuous exertions you have put forward toward the elevation of the people of Utah. Not being a Mormon myself, I donate this...</i>". Interestingly, Price was apparently quite a scoundrel - the verso of the check bears a period notation: "<i>John B. Price alias `Lord Littleton'...forwarded by Des[eret]. National Bank for collection and sent to every bank in Denver - but no good - nothing but [a] bummer's check...</i>". Mounting traces on verso, else very good. Even though Price's check "bounced", this is the first signed or endorsed Young check we have seen!<b>$1,000-1,500</b>