1874 Railroad Certificate Signed by CS General William Mahone

Description: 1874 Railroad Certificate Signed by CS General William Mahone Offered for your consideration is a post-Civil War railroad certificate signed at the conclusion by ex-Confederate general William Mahone. Unlike many documents of this type, the presently offered document features no vignettes or fancy design elements. The upper third is dominated by the company name, “Atlantic, Mississippi AND Ohio Rail Road Co.”, followed by the location, “PETERSBURG, VA.”, and the date, “January 1st 1874”, with highlights and flourishes around. Below this, presented in a lovely italic script, is the financial obligation. This states (in part) that “On or before the first day of January 1879 the Atlantic, Mississippi & Ohio Rail Road Company promise to pay to J T Allyn the sum of Three Hundred and Sixty ~~~ Dollars, with interest payable … at the rate of Eight per centum per annum in current funds … The same being for coupons maturing January 1st 1874, which have been deposited with its Treasurer … to be held by him in escrow …”. The signature of “Wm Mahone” appears at the conclusion, signed in his capacity as “President”, while the signature of “James E. Cuthbert” as “Treasurer” can be seen at left. All of the foregoing material is enclosed in a decorative, rectangular frame. This certificate was “Lith. by A. Hoen & Co. Baltimore”, as evidenced by their imprint at the lower left. The back, as with many documents of this type, was originally blank, though it now bears numerous manuscript and stamped notations regarding interest payments and the transfer of the document. A very interesting certificate featuring the signatures of two ex-Confederate officers. James E. Cuthbert was born on January 5, 1825 at Petersburg, Virginia. He served as a railroad executive and banker prior to the Civil War, apparently remaining in that position until 1863. On October 17, 1864, he became a major and aide de camp to Confederate General Braxton Bragg. After the war, Cuthbert served as a railroad treasurer in Petersburg, Virginia. James E. Cuthbert died on July 22, 1883, in Brooklyn, New York, and was buried in Blandford Cemetery in Petersburg. William Mahone was born on December 1, 1826 in Southampton County, Virginia, and was graduated from the Virginia Military Institute in 1847. While serving as a teacher at the Rappahannock Military Academy, he studied engineering, and was employed successively by several different Virginia railroads. By 1861, he was president and superintendent of the Norfolk & Petersburg Railroad. At the outbreak of the Civil War, Mahone was appointed colonel of the 6th Virginia Infantry, taking part in the capture of the Norfolk Navy Yard. He remained in the Norfolk District until its evacuation in May, 1862, having been promoted brigadier general to rank from November 16, 1861. Leading a brigade during the Seven Days Campaign for Richmond, Mahone was seriously wounded in the chest at Second Manassas (Second Bull Run). Returning to command after two months, he was present at the battles of Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville, and performed poorly at the battle of Gettysburg. He was present at the battles of the Wilderness and Spotsylvania Court House, and is regarded by many as the savior of the Army of Northern Virginia at the battle of the Crater outside of Petersburg. During that action, after a mine was detonated beneath Confederate lines, Mahone rallied the survivors and repulsed an advantageous Union assault. He was present at the battle of Sayler’s Creek, and at the surrender of the army at Appomattox Court House. Following the war, Mahone returned to railroading, as a method to rebuild the Southern economy. He served as a United States Senator from Virginia from March 4, 1881 through March 4, 1887. William Mahone died on October 8, 1895, in Washington, D.C. and was buried in Blandford Cemetery in his beloved Petersburg, Virginia. The presently offered document exhibits signs of significant period use and subsequent long-term storage. Toning can be seen across the entire surface, imparting to the paper a light beige to tan hue. Several darker areas are noted, especially at the edges and along the folds. Some soiling is noted on the back, undoubtedly a result of the document’s long-term storage. There are numerous folds present, several of which affect Mahone’s signature. These primary folds have slightly weakened the paper, though at this time, it is intact. The contrast is average, though Cuthbert’s signature has faded somewhat due to the ink employed. Ink corrosion is present in several areas, though no paper has been lost to this issue. A large ink stain can be seen on the back of the certificate. Numerous pinholes are scattered throughout the design, with a large concentration noted at the mid to upper center. This certificate seems to have been part of a larger book, with the stub being retained by the company. This method of distribution has caused the left edge to be cut extremely tight, with part of a decorative frame being lightly affected. Several small tears are noted at the edges, easily hidden if this piece were framed. This certificate has been redeemed and cancelled with ten punch holes (four in the company seal and six through Mahone’s signature). Measuring approximately 7½ x 9¼ inches, this piece would look great framed with a portrait of Mahone or a period locomotive. A wonderful opportunity to add this hard fighting Confederate general to your collection. A charge of $6.95 will be added to the winning bid for postage and insurance. A $5.00 charge will be added to any item picked up in person at our physical location. If you have any questions concerning this item, please ask before purchasing. Buy or Bid with Confidence – American Coins& Collectibles President Richie Self has worked 6 years as a paper money grader/authenticator. He has contributed to numerous reference books within the industry, as well as being a co-author of “The Comprehensive Catalog and History of Confederate Bonds, 2nd Edition” with Douglas B. Ball, Ph.D., Henry F. Simmons, M.D., Ph.D. and James R. Desabaye. Mr. Self is a life member of the American Numismatic Association, the Society of Paper Money Collectors, as well as numerous regional numismatic associations. He is an authorized submitter to NGC, PCGS, and PMG, a diamond founding member of Coin Dealers Helping Coin Dealers and a supporter of the Industry Council for Tangible Assets. American Coins and Collectibles can be found at many of the state and local coin shows. American Coins and CollectiblesShreveport, LA

Price: 129 USD

Location: Shreveport, Louisiana

End Time: 2024-11-04T19:39:54.000Z

Shipping Cost: 6.95 USD