Rare Autograph, Photograph and Manuscript Auction
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/13/2017
Robber Baron becomes Robin Hood!
Andrew Carnegie (1835-1919), Manufacturer and Philanthropist. Began an illustrious career as a bobbin boy at age 13, then became a self taught with the Pennsylvania Railroad. In 1853-65, he introduced use of the Pullman sleeping cars, organized the military telegraph department, and was active in transporting troops during the Civil War. After leaving the railroad, he focused on iron and then the steel industry. His policy of “putting all his eggs in one basket, and then watching the basket” was extremely successful. By 1889 steel production in the U.S. was first in the world, and in 1901 he sold his company, Carnegie Company to the U.S. Steel Corporation for $250 million. The Carnegie Foundation of New York donated millions to scientific research, the advancement of teaching, the furthering of international peace, and the reward of heroic acts. The foundation is well known for building public libraries.
This historic bond is dated 1901, the very year that he sold his company. This beautiful $100,000 5% United States Steel Gold Bond is issued to Andrew Carnegie, and is one of only a few signed bonds known to exist! What makes this even more amazing, it is possibly the only one where he signs the bond over to his Carnegie Free Library in PA. This is for their second endowment to provide the Library to the public. The signed bond represents a cornerstone of Carnegie’s legacy, since he decided to give away his fortune to help every person have access to knowledge. The rarity of Carnegie signed and bonds is well known. Similar bonds have sold to collectors at $125,000 per bond in the past! Neatly stamp and hole cancelled. The graphics and dark blue color are truly exceptional. The bond does have the 5 revenue stamps along the right side and includes another related bond in the same denomination, from the transaction but unsigned. The other bond made out to the Andrew Carnegie Free Library in Carnegie Pa. is in the same denomination of $100,000 B series. It is dated the day after the signed transfer bond was being processed on December 13, 1912 and then cancelled the same day.This bond was not signed but looks like it might have been attached to the previous signed one at one time.
Included in the collection is another Gold Bond $5000 denomination, issued to Andrew Carnegie and dated on April 23, 1903 this bond is made out to the trustees of The Carnegie Free Library in Pa. as well.
Andrew Carnegie Extremely Rare Signed Steel Bond Archive
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