Collecting Autographs

It is hard to imagine in this age of facsimile, photocopies and even rubber-stamped signatures that many years ago company officials actually signed the certificates issued by their company. Even the great financial barons like John D. Rockefeller, Jay Gould, Cornelius Vanderbilt and many others actually penned their signatures to make them legal.

Today, those signatures provide the basis for what is unquestionably the most vital determinant of scarcity, desirability, market value, and overall collectibility—namely autograph appeal. In most cases, famous signatures like those mentioned above are obvious and readily recognizable to the most untrained eye.

A little research into an unknown signature often will reap impressive rewards, as the individual may have been a local or state politician, financier, railroad baron, or military statesman with a rich historical past. Tracing a person’s history is a challenge, and an integral and fascinating attraction of the world of scripophily.


Featured John Butterfield (1801-1869) Expressman, financier. Active in New York stage lines, steamboat operation and railroad promotion, organizer of the American Express Co. 1850. 1860’s American Express stock stub signed by J. Butterfield. Light stain but Nice. Only 2 Available. Rare!

For more information visit our web site, http://www.glabarre.com, or call George LaBarre at 1-800-717-9529.

George H. LaBarre Galleries - Collectible Old Stocks and Bonds and Old Stocks and Bonds
http://www.glabarre.com A foreign antique stock and bond company.

Collectible Autographs

It is hard to imagine in this age of facsimile, photocopies and even rubber-stamped signatures that many years ago company officials actually signed the certificates issued by their company. Even the great financial barons like John D. Rockefeller, Jay Gould, Cornelius Vanderbilt and many others actually penned their signatures to make them legal.

Today, those signatures provide the basis for what is unquestionably the most vital determinant of scarcity, desirability, market value, and overall collectibility—namely autograph appeal. In most cases, famous signatures like those mentioned above are obvious and readily recognizable to the most untrained eye.

A little research into an unknown signature often will reap impressive rewards, as the individual may have been a local or state politician, financier, railroad baron, or military statesman with a rich historical past. Tracing a person’s history is a challenge, and an integral and fascinating attraction of the world of scripophily.

J. Paul Getty Signed Check

J. Paul Getty (1892-1976), businessman and noted art collector, became one of the richest people in the world. Check, 1941-49 issued to various Getty relatives.

Drawn on the Security-First National Bank of Los Angeles. Bold Signature!

J. Paul Getty - Check on Chase Manhattan Bank London

J. Paul Getty (1892-1976), businessman and noted art collector, became one of the richest people in the world.

This great check dated 1960s is drawn on the London branch of Chase and written in Pounds. The signature is very lightly ink cancelled and is very, very bold. Excellent Condition.