Sell or Auction Your JJ John Jacob Astor Signed Letter for up to $1,000 or More at Nate D. Sanders Auctions
FREE APPRAISAL. To buy, auction, sell or consign your JJ John Jacob Astor signed letter that is for sale, please email your description and photos to [email protected] of Nate D. Sanders Auctions (http://www.NateDSanders.com).
Free Appraisal, Auction or Sell Your JJ John Jacob Astor Signed Letter
John Jacob Astor IV (July 13, 1864 – April 15, 1912) was an American business magnate, real estate developer, investor, writer, lieutenant colonel in the Spanish–American War, and a prominent member of the Astor family.
Below is a recent realized price for a JJ John Jacob Astor signed letter. We at Nate D. Sanders Auctions can obtain up to these amounts or more for you:
JJ John Jacob Astor Signed Letter. Sold for $1,000.
Here are some recent items that our auction house, Nate D. Sanders (http://www.NateDSanders.com) has sold:
Important corporate ledger, describing in detail the formation, operation and sale of the mining company constituting the wealth of one of the most successful and philanthropic American families: The Guggenheims, led by patriarch Meyer Guggenheim and his sons Daniel, Morris, Benjamin, William, Simon, Isaac and Solomon, whose combined signatures total over 70 in this ledger spanning over 90 pages. Meyer’s signature, in particular, is elusive apart from this ledger.
Entire ledger is handwritten apart from the last meeting documenting the sale, and two additional typed pages noting stockholder meetings. Ledger therefore comprises 91 handwritten pages and four typed pages. Handwritten pages measure 13.75” x 8.5”, bound in quarter leather boards with gilt embellishments and marbled endpapers. Ledger is complete with the exception of pages 21-30. Some loss to spine, tape repair on endpapers and some loose pages. Pages themselves are near fine, very legible with beautiful penmanship, and very well-preserved with only nominal age wear. Sold for $30,000.
Very scarce and important Guggenheim company document from 1888 at the beginning of their mining empire, signed by three members of the Guggenheim family: patriarch Meyer Guggenheim, whose signature remains elusive apart from this document; Daniel Guggenheim, who took over the family’s business after his father’s death in 1905; and Benjamin Guggenheim (signed three times), who died on the Titanic, but not before helping women and children board life boats, and then changing into formal evening clothes ”to go down like gentlemen”. Benjamin Guggenheim’s signature is considered scarce, but can be found, unlike that of Meyer Guggenheim.
Seven page document is from the business ledger of the Denver Smelting and Refining Company from May-June 1888, consisting of pages 21-28 of the ledger. Based in Colorado, the Guggenheim family made its fortune through this company, established in January 1888 according to its Articles of Incorporation. In pages 21-23 of this ledger, business of the company is recorded, including revenues and expenditures, but the more important section is pages 24-27, where the Articles of Incorporation for the company are amended to change its name to the ”Philadelphia Smelting and Refining Co.”, and the very purpose of the company is amended to ”provide for the construction of works and factories for the treatment of ores and mineral substances”. Its revised mission continues, ”To conduct and carry on the business of extracting gold, silver, copper, lead and other metallic and valuable substances from ores by smelting and by other process…To purchase, sell and generally deal in ores and other minerals and metallic substances…To purchase or otherwise acquire and hold such lands and easements in lands…” The document enumerates the shares of the company, with the vast majority belonging to Meyer Guggenheim, and is signed at the conclusion by the shareholders: ”Meyer Guggenheim”, ”Daniel Guggenheim”, ”Benj. Guggenheim” (signs twice) and ”E.R. Holden” (signs twice). The full 7 pages has been transcribed, giving detailed insight into the beginnings of one of the greatest companies in the history of America.
Additionally, pages 21-23 are important in their own right, and read in part, ”Record of Proceedings of the Board of Directors of the Denver Smelting and Refining Company held at the office in Denver, May 31 – 1888, being the regular quarterly meeting. The meeting was called to order by the President and the following Directors were found present. [Vice President] Richard Cline, [President] E.R. Holden and Benj Guggenheim. / Minutes of the last meeting having been read by the Secretary, and no objection offered, they stood approved. / The President then respectfully submitted his report which was as follows.
Deposits to May 31 – 13,000.00
Expenditures [to] date – 9,113.78
Balance on hand – 3,886.22
On motion of Richard Cline recorded by Benj. Guggenheim a vote being taken the…report stood approved…The Manager takes pleasure in stating that all the contracts of any magnitude have been awarded to the various contractors…” The ledger then lists details of contracts, including capacity of smelting furnaces, and also details of nearby railroad construction. The ledger continues, ”…I also desire to say that I regret very much that we are not smelting ore at the present time for the reason that ore is more plentiful and the prices are much better than they have been in the past few years…I will use every effort and energy within my power to complete the works in the earliest possible time…A motion was then offered by Benj. Guggenheim…that the action of the Manager in the purchase of stock to the extent of $3500 in the Pueblo [?] association be approved…[signed] E.R. Holden. Pres. [and] Benj. Guggenheim Secty”. Seven pages penned in elegant penmanship, likely handwritten by Richard Cline, measure 8.25” x 13.5” on four sheets of lined ledger paper. Light toning, otherwise in near fine condition. Sold for $18,750.
Thomas Edison & Henry Ford Rare Signed Photo
Thomas Edison and Henry Ford signed photo, dated 28 March 1915 via copyright marking. Photo depicts Edison posing with Henry Ford, both of whom had winter homes nearby each other in Florida. Signed along mat, “Thos A Edsion” and beside his signature, “Henry Ford” with “To Hutch” written above signatures in an unknown hand. Black and white photo measures 9.75″ x 7.5″ and is mounted to a mat to an overall size of 13″ x 11″. Near fine condition. Sold for $3,490.
Thomas Edison Signed Stock Certificate for ”Edison Phonograph Works”
Thomas Edison signs a stock certificate ”Thos A Edison” as President of Edison Phonograph Works of New Jersey. Dated 18 May 1888, the year of the company’s founding, it’s issued to R.L. Cutting in the amount of 200 shares. Best known as inventor of the incandescent light bulb, Edison was also the genius behind the phonograph, kinetoscope (an early machine to view motion pictures), ore-mill machinery, the dictating machine and more. With the phonograph, Edison pioneered sound recording. Stock certificate measures approximately 8” x 4”. Some discoloration along left side and various unobtrusive cancellation marks. In very good condition with a bold signature by Edison. Sold for $2,520.
Oil mogul John D. Rockefeller signed stock certificate for Standard Oil Trust. Stock is signed ”J.D. Rockefeller” as company President. Certificate for 100 shares in the United States’ first giant business trust is dated 26 December 1884, made out to Eliza J. Sweetser with serial number A468. Countersigned by Henry Flagler as Secretary, and the Treasurer. Stock measures 16” x 7.75”. Glue remnants where stub has been attached to stock, overall in very good to near fine condition. Sold for $2,330.
John D. Rockefeller Standard Oil Trust Stock Certificate Signed as President of the Company — 1889
Oil mogul John D. Rockefeller Standard Oil Trust stock certificate signed ”J.D. Rockefeller” as company President. Certificate for 10 shares in the United States’ first giant business trust is dated 22 May 1899 and made out to H.M. Flager, the company secretary and one of the six original Standard Oil co-founders. Countersigned by Flagler and also by the treasurer. With serial number 5777 and a cancellation stamp dated 20 June 1890. Measures 15.5” x 7.75”. Near fine. Sold for $1,875.
Andrew Carnegie PA RR 1861 Autograph Letter Signed
Rare Andrew Carnegie autograph letter signed dated 8 April 1861. Letter concerning new rail schedules reads in part “Under new schedules there will only be about an hour between the Express East.I thought it much better to stop the East Line.” 1pp. ink document measures 7.5″ x 9.75″, written on Pennsylvania Railroad stationery. Very good condition. Sold for $1,568.
American Railroad Pioneer Cornelius Vanderbilt Document Signed
American railroad pioneer and magnate Cornelius Vanderbilt, aka “The Commodore” document signed, dated 20 March 1828. Document acknowledges receipt “…from Mr. Dean one hundred & twenty Dollars…” and is docketed on verso. Document measures 7.25″ x 4.25″ with one small hole beneath Vanderbilt’s bold “C Vanderbilt” signature. Uneven edges, else very good condition. Sold for $1,013.
Menu from Ill-Fated R.M.S. Lusitania — Also With 3 Tix
Menu from R.M.S. Lusitania, dated 9 October 1913, two years before German U-boats sank the British ship off the coast of Ireland. The sinking of the Cunard liner helped turn public opinion against Germany and influenced America’s entry into World War I. Menu for the second cabin meal measures 5″ x 7.75″ and is accompanied by a D Deck seating ticket and two deck chair tickets. Items are matted to an overall size of 9″ x 18.25″. Minor creasing and damp-staining to menu, else very good. Sold for $934.
Andrew Carnegie Signed Copy of ”Round The World” — Dedicated to Henry P. Ford in 1899
Beautiful Andrew Carnegie signed copy of his travel log ”Round The World”, published by Charles Scribner & Sons: New York: 1895. Carnegie inscribes the book to Pittsburgh mayor Henry P. Ford upon the dedication page: ”To my friend Mayor Henry P. Ford / with sincere regard / Andrew Carnegie / Jany 17th 1899”. Red hardcover features an engraved illustration of an elephant encircled in gilt. 360pp. book measures 5.5” x 7.5”. Slight toning. Near fine. Sold for $688.
FREE VALUATION. To buy, auction, sell or consign your JJ John Jacob Astor signed letter that is for sale, please email your description and photos to [email protected] of Nate D. Sanders Auctions (http://www.NateDSanders.com).
JJ John Jacob Astor signed letter