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Sale 88
The Manuscripts, Collectibles and Space Auction
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Lot 168 |
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Russell, William H. (Pony Express) (1812-1872) Russell was a well respected businessman and co-founding partner, along with Alexander Majors and William B. Waddell, in the freighting firm Russell, Majors, and Waddell, the stagecoach company the Central Overland California and Pikes Peak Express Company which was the parent company of the Pony Express. Rare Autograph document signed twice ("Russell"), on blue lined paper, 5¼ x 7¾ in., Washington City, August 20, 1860. To Hon. J. B. Floyd, Secretary of War. Being a request for future payment of $10,000. per a contract with the War Department: "…Five months after date pay to our own order at the Bank of Republic New York. Ten thousand dollars for value received and charge to account of our transportation contract of the 12th day of April 1860." The approval for the request has been written vertically and overlaps the face of the document: "No 64 / accepted / Secretary of War / War Department / August 22nd 1860 / Copy". Russell has also written the company name "Russell Majors & Waddell" on the back of the document. Small embossed congressional seal upper left corner. Two vertical folds. Very fine.
In attempting to secure funding to continue running the Pony Express, Russell became mixed up in a scandal involving Secretary of War John Buchanan Floyd and Godard Bailey, a clerk for the Department of Interior. In 1857 Secretary Floyd had personally guaranteed payment for a government contract that Congress had not paid. Russell, Majors, and Waddell used this guarantee to secure a line of credit but the failure of the Pony Express now threatened to bankrupt the firm. Bailey, perhaps fearing that Floyd, as a guarantor of some of Russell, Majors, and Waddell's debt, would be forced to resign if the firm went bankrupt, agreed to help Russell raise money. Through a series of illegal transactions, money was obtained from the Indian Trust Fund. However, on December 1, 1860, Bailey confessed to Floyd and was arrested and brought to trial along with Russell. The outbreak of the American Civil War saved the men from prosecution and they were freed on a technicality. But the bond scandal had ruined the reputation of Russell, Majors, and Waddell and their freighting firm soon collapsed into bankruptcy.
Estimated Value $2,500 - 3,000.
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| Unsold |
Lot 170 |
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Important Stamp Seals from the 18th-20th Centuries. Collection of 7 diverse stamp seals. The first two are rare Revolutionary War Period, late 18th century, a 3¼" tall stamp seal in brass with wood handle depicting Liberty on a general officer's seal and a small 1" tall wood nib handled seal with lead matrix also depicting Liberty. The most elaborate is a 3½" tall, 19th-20th century agate-handled stamp, octagonal handle topped with ornate cornelian and metal pommel with four standing knights in the round, all in 16th half-armor. Metal bezel, with openwork leaves and vines, holding a large oval cornelian recently engraved with merchant's device: "Charles Hamilton: Autographs, Inc." with logo of inkpot and arm holding a quill. Metal fittings gold-washed silver, with engraving. Next a 2½" tall, late 18th Century, glass crystal stamp with knob handle with faceted to and tapered hexagonal sides with top of base likewise faceted. On oval bezel, a fleur de lis and three stars with inscription: "Vive le Roi". Slight nicksand wear, otherwise intact. The fifth is a 3¾" tall by 1½" wide, 18th-19th Century carved bone handle of a broad tapered shape with bifurcated top, stepped concave base and oval bezel. Handle has inset vignette of seated bearded man with hands raised. On bezel in fine cursive script are the letters "KRW". Minor age cracks but otherwise excellent. The final 2 pieces are humbler examples of stamp seals 19th-20th Century found French seals each 2" tall both with engraved fleur de lis, one much cruder than the other. All from the June 1994 Auction of "6,000 Years of Seals", Malter Galleries, Encino, California with total estimates exceeding $2200.
Estimated Value $1,000-UP.
Estate of Alexander White III Estate of Alexander White III.
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| Realized
$1,620 |
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