JAMES C. FARGO. 1896, New York. A certificate for 500 shares of the Merchants Despatch Transportation Company signed "Jas. C. Fargo" once on the front as president and once on the back. The shares were issued to "Jas. C. Fargo Executor". Black on white paper with a fancy engraved border. Pen cancelled in pink ink, including one through the autograph on the front. Fargo's signature on verso is uncancelled. Receipt glued to the left side and in fine condition.

1966, Delaware. Non-voting common stock for 1000 shares of Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith, Inc. Signed as Executive Vice President by DONALD REGAN (B. 1918): Chief of staff and U. S. Treasury Secretary under Ronald Reagan; Board Chairman of Merrill Lynch & Co. Joining Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner and Smith as a trainee in 1946, Regan progressed through the ranks until 1968, when he was elected president. He was elected chairman and chief executive officer in 1971, and assumed these positions in the holding company, Merrill Lynch & Co., when it was formed in 1973. He served as U. S. Treasury Secretary under Ronald Reagan, 1981 - 1985, after which point he became Reagan's chief of staff, serving in that position until 1987. In this latter capacity, Regan directed the day to day operations of the White House and the President's staff, served as the President's senior advisor, and had supervisory responsibility for the Executive Offices. Considered by many to be an abrasive and arrogant individual, he resigned under fire after an all-too-public spat with First Lady Nancy Reagan over his private criticisms of President Reagan. This certificate was issued prior to the law allowing brokerage firms to be publicly held, and as such were restricted to employees of the company. Light punch cancellations not affecting Regan's signature. Excellent.

NORVIN GREEN. (1818-1893).Physician; Legislator; Telegraph pioneer, becoming president of Western Union. Green had been involved in the early formative years of this company and in 1853, the New Orleans & Ohio Telegraph and the Louisville and New Orleans telegraph companies merged after a period of ruinous competition. Shortly after, Green and a group of other businessmen leased these lines for operation. A series of consolidations in the industry ultimately led to the formation of Western Union Telegraph which served the entire United States-an idea that Green was amongst the first to support. A truly important individual in the development of the telegraph industry.

1858, Louisville. Certificate for 100 shares of the New Orleans and Ohio Telegraph Lessees signed by "N. Green" as president. Black on white paper. Two vignettes of allegorical woman and one of an early steam locomotive passing a boat in a canal. Pen and cut cancelled. Light soiling, wrinkling and pinholes and in very good condition.

L.L. BEAN. 1937, Delaware. Certificate for 40 shares of the Pan American Airways Corporation issued to and signed by "Leon L. Bean" on the verso. The stock has orange borders and background with a facsimile signature of Juan Trippe. The piece is lightly punch cancelled, including two small holes that barely touch Bean's signature. It is in very fine condition overall.

1766, Spain. One share. Engraved vignette of the royal arms of Guipuzcoa with an extremely ornate border design depicting an indian, female figure, fruits, weapons and plants as well as a number of boxes of the company’s freight. Printed on vellum. Attached embossed white seal which also depicts the Guipuzcoa royal arms. The Caracas company was formed by a group of merchants in the Guipuzcoa province near San Sebastian, in the Basque region of Spain. Its primary purpose was trading with the Caracas province of Venezuela as well as the development of agriculture and the oversight of Orinoco river to the Hacha river in order to prevent illegal trading by the Dutch from Curacao. This company was the first of the great spanish overseas trading companies and the first Spanish trading company known to have issued public stock. At 21 Elizabeth Farnese (1692-1766), the Queen consort of Spain, was married to Philip V of Spain. Exerting great influence of the weak Philip, she strongly supported the policy of Alberoni, one aim of which was to recover the ancient Italian possessions of Spain (eventually both Sardinia and Sicily were seized by the Spanish). Elizabeth was such a staunch supporter of this policy that she even placed herself at the head of one division of the Spanish army as French forces advanced to the Pyrenees! Ultimately, Elizabeth's ambition was grievously disappointed. The Triple Alliance thwarted her plans, and in 1720 the allies made the banishment of Alberoni a condition of peace, and the Spanish were forced to abandon Sicily. In the end, all Elizabeth’s entreaties failed to prevent the abdication of Philip, who gave up the throne to his heir in 1724, and retired to the palace of La Granja. Seven months later, the death of the young king recalled Philip to the throne. During his declining years, Elizabeth directed the whole policy of Spain toward securing thrones in Italy for her sons. In 1736 she had the satisfaction of seeing her dreams realized with the accession of her son Don Carlos, later Charles II of Spain, to the throne of the Two Sicilies and his recognition by the powers in the treaty of Vienna. An important, early Spanish trading company stock and historically signicant issued to the most powerful woman in Spain at the time. Uncancelled and Extremely Fine.

18—. Santiago Chile. Bond for 1000 pesos bearing 5%. Green\Black. A fine engraving of a seated liberty and lion flanked by a railroad and ship scene. Smaller vignette of the bank building below and a fine engraved vignette of the Chilean coast at left. Unique. A few folds. Fine.

18—. Santiago, Chile. 5% Stock. Green. Engraved vignette of coat-of-arms flanked by spread-eagle vignettes. Accompanied by two pages of hand drawn documents detailing the initial design of the certificate. Unique. Folds. Fine.

1877, Bridgeport, Connecticut. Stock certificate for 794 shares. Black. Signed by Levis S. Stockwell as president. Elias Howe patented the lock stitch sewing machine in 1846, although it wasn’t until 1865 that he and the Stockwell brothers formed the Howe Machine Company and erected a factory at Bridgeport, Connecticut. In the first 6 months of 1871 it was reported that the factory could produce 1000 machines a day. The Stockwell brothers were both sons in law of Elias Howe marrying his only two daughters. (www.ismacs.net/howe) Some pinholes at left and small paper loss at extreme top margin. A rare certicate from this important and well-known company. Overall Fine.

1865, Virginia. Stock certificate for 50 shares. Black. Nice multi-vignetted certificate depicting seated Liberty at top center, agriculture scenes at either side. Litho. Signed as president of the company by Confederate general JOSEPH E. JOHNSTON (1807 – 1891). Confederate General. One of the South’s highest ranking officers during the war, Johnston was the highest ranking army officer to resign from the Federal army and join the Confederate cause. This example is one of three we know of to date. A fine scripophily rarity signed by one of the South’s leading military figures. Trimmed close at left and right margins. Uncancelled and Extremely Fine.