1854, Illinois. Stock certificate for 4 shares of the Chicago & Rock Island Rail Road Co. Black on light blue paper. Signed as president by JOHN BLOOMFIELD JERVIS (1795-1885). Engineer, Chief engineer of the eastern division of the Erie Canal enlargement, one of America’s truly important early railroad engineers. Lightly pen and punch cancelled.

1887, New Jersey. Stock certificate for 5 shares of the Chicago, Burlington and Northern RR Co.. Green/Black. Attractive engraved steam locomotive vignette. Signed as President by JOHN MURRAY FORBES (1813 -1898); Railroad executive; Businessman; Public servant. Having accumulated a substantial fortune by 1846, Forbes turned his considerable talents to railroad construction and financings. He was the prime mover in purchasing and completing the unfinished Michigan Central RR, and constructing the roads which formed the nucleus of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy RR, of which he became president in the late 1870s. Always public-spirited citizen, Forbes made certain that the railroads in which he had an interest displayed a character and stability which significantly distinguished them from most of the other railroads of the day. His civic involvement began at the start of the Civil War, when he helped put the state of Massachusetts prepare for war, and he was instrumental in organizing the state's black regiments. In 1863, he was sent to England to block construction of, or to purchase, the so-called Laird rams that we being built there for the Confederacy. Throughout the war, his advice was constantly sought by all branches of government. A longtime member of the national executive committee of the Republican party, he broke with the party upon its nomination of James Blaine for the presidency in 1884. Stamp and punch cancelled.

1964, Florida. Partly-printed check payable to Montgomery Roberts in the amount of $100.05, drawn on Palmer First National Bank & Trust. Black on yellowpaper. At top left, a great photovignette of Kelly dressed as the sad-faced Weary Willie, the character that Kelly made famous (and vice-versa). Signed as maker in red pen by EMMETT KELLY (1898 - 1979); American circus clown. Kelly, whose name for many years was virtually synonymous with the term 'clown', became famous as Weary Willie, a sad-faced hobo in ragged clothing. Kelly, who first created Willie as a cartoon character in 1920, later assumed the role of Willie with the Ringling Brothers circus, on television, in films and in Broadway shows. Light stamp cancellation barely affecting the first few letters in Kelly's signature. Bank stamp cancellation.