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.

John D Rockefeller Signed Puget Sound Certificate

Operating from 1889-1904 as a subsidiary of the Northern Pacific Railroad, the Puget Sound and Alaska Steamship Company ran a steamship line from Tacoma servicing Puget Sound and Alaska. A number of prominent investors owned shares in the company.

We have two in stock, one highly collectible issued to and signed by J. D. Rockefeller and unissued certificates in brown or green.

Contact George, 1-800-717-9529, for special wholesale prices on unissued certificates.

George H. LaBarre Galleries - Collectible Stocks and Bonds.

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.

Puget Sound and Alaska Steamship Company

Operating from 1889-1904 as a subsidiary of the Northern Pacific Railroad, the Puget Sound and Alaska Steamship Company ran a steamship line from Tacoma servicing Puget Sound and Alaska. Originally set out to ship passengers and fishing products, the Alaska Steamship Company began shipping mining equipment, dog sleds, and cattle at the outbreak of the Klondike Gold Rush of 1897.

In 1909, the Alaska Steamship Company was purchased by the Alaska Syndicate and merged with the Northwestern Steamship Company. A number of prominent investors owned shares in the company, including John D. Rockefeller.

J. D. Rockefeller...And Those Dimes (Part Two)

In an effort to quell his image as a ruthless man, John D. Rockefeller engaged in the practice of carrying around a bag of dimes, handing one to everyone he met. Some speculate that Rockefeller's habit of giving dimes to people he met was based on the advice of Ivy Ledbetter Lee in 1914 who was hired to help manage the Rockefeller empire’s image. Lee is considered the leading pioneer of today’s public relations industry, working first for J.P. Morgan, then for Rockefeller.

Many people feel that this was John D Rockefeller’s way of getting closer to the public. It is said that he used to do it with relish, and so when someone approached him he would hand him a shiny dime in order to start a conversation. Late in life Rockefeller became known as "The Man Who Gave Away Shiny New Dimes." He reportedly gave away about $10,000 worth of dimes before his death — 100,000 Mercury dimes!

A quote from Golf Digest (2002): “By 1920 Rockefeller already had become famous for handing out dimes to street urchins whom he thought deserving of spiritual encouragement or moral reward, and in Florida one winter he bestowed a dime on Harvey Firestone, president of the tire and rubber company, for having made a long and treacherous downhill putt.”

An additional quote from the biography, John D. Rockefeller by Barnie F. Winkelman states “The shiny dimes that the aging Rockefeller handed out were a symbol and a sermon. The symbol was frequently misunderstood and the moral of the sermon quite generally distorted. The little gift was a token and a good-luck piece. In a broad sense it emphasized thrift, but not as a sure road to wealth, rather as a way and a habit of life.” Winkelman further offers a quote by Rockefeller “It is the duty of a man to get all the money he honestly can and to give all he can. This is the basis of progress. In this way morality and religion move forward and civilization is advanced.”

John D Rockefeller (Part One)

The Standard Oil generated wealth of John D. Rockefeller was estimated at $900 million in 1913, equivalent to $189.6 Billion today. This is more than the riches of Bill Gates, Warren Buffett, and the Walton family combined! In contrast, Rockefeller’s first job, in the 1850’s, earned him a wage of just $3.57 per week.

Rockefeller developed a reputation of ruthlessness. Tales of men who had been ruined by him were accompanied by stories of bribed lawmakers, railroad corruption, and unfair discriminations. Some of the old headlines read: “Rockefeller Indicted Again,” “Standard Oil Before the Bar,” “Standard Oil Magnates Dodge Subpoenas,” “Rockefeller Faces Justice.” Later headlines changed dramatically in tone — “Rockefeller Gives Another Million to Unemployment Fund,” “Rockefeller Foundation Fights Pellagra in Georgia,” and “John D. Gives Dimes to Children” — as a more philanthropic side emerged.

Standard Oil Trust J D Rockefeller & C A Griscom Autographs

John D. Rockefeller (1839-1937), Industrialist, Philanthropist. Rockefeller formed the first oil trust at the age of 30. Ten years later he monopolized 85% of the industry and became the world’s first billionaire. He hated waste and inefficiency. As a result he would target poorly run segments of the industry. He would often drive poorly run competition out of business or buy them out. He became the most detested man in the country and had a bodyguard continuously around him.

Rockefeller gave three-quarters of a billion dollars to science and education. In one of the first public relations campaigns in history, Rockefeller would give a shiny new dime to whomever he would meet. Rockefeller signs along with Henry M. Flagler, Capitalist and Promoter. Rockefeller once stated in court that Flagler was “the brains behind the Standard Oil Trust.” He transformed Florida’s once neglected beaches and swamp lands into one of the most luxurious playgrounds in the world.

This rare 100 share stock of 1880’s is issued to C. A. Griscom and is boldly signed on the front stub and at back on a document or on the stock by Griscom. Griscom was President of International Navigation Co., also owned practically all of the stock of Red Star Line, a Belgian Corp, International Navigation Co. of Liverpool England, and Empire Transportation Company, Seattle. In 1902, the name of the International Navigation Co was changed to International Mercantile Marine Co. and capital increased to acquire fleets and businesses of the White Star Line and several others. White Star Line owned the Titanic. Ironically, Griscom died in November of 1912 just a few months after the sinking of the Titanic.

All signatures are very lightly cut cancelled and are superb. The condition and eye appeal is outstanding. The signature of Rockefeller is especially large and bold. Nice portraits of Rockefeller and Flagler are included. A truly exceptional example for many reasons, and so very rare with all these qualities.