CR. 61E ,000 State of Alabama Bond – John Gill Shorter Autograph

Description

CR. 61E ,000 State of Alabama Bond – John Gill Shorter Autograph
Offered for your consideration is a ,000 bond issued by the state of Alabama in 1862 and signed by John Gill Shorter in his capacity as the governor. It was catalogued by the late Grover Criswell as CR. 61E. The central vignette features a representation of the state seal, depicting a map of the attached to what appears to be an oak tree. Above this, presented in an arc, is printed “
CONFEDERATE STATES OF AMERICA
”, while below is “
STATE OF ALABAMA
/
,000 Eight per Cent Stock Certificate
”, with the serial number at the end. This is followed by a lengthy financial obligation which states (in part) that “
Know all men by these Presents, That the State of Alabama acknowledges to owe the bearer hereof One Thousand Dollars in current coin; which sum of money the said State promises to pay … on the first day of May, A. D. Eighteen Hundred and Seventy=two, with interest thereon at the rate of eight per centum per annum …
”. It further states that “
… The faith and credit of the State of Alabama are pledged for the payment of the interest on this certificate as it accrues, and for the redemption of the principal sum at maturity …
”, and that it was issued under “
… An act in relation to the War Tax authorized by Congress to be assessed and levied upon certain property in this State,” under the authority of which act this Certificate of Stock is issued.
”. The last paragraph states that “
… the Governor of the said State has signed, and the Comptroller of Public Accounts countersigned, this Certificate, and has caused the Great Seal of the
said State to be hereunto affixed, this first day of May, A. D. Eighteen Hundred and Sixty-two.
”., and is followed by the signatures of “
Jno Gill Shorter
” and “
W J Greene
” in their capacities as “
Governor
” and “
Compt’r Public
Accounts
”. All of the foregoing elements are enclosed in a decorative border, neatly separating them from the eight remaining interest coupons, each signed by “W J Greene”. This border bears three printed statements, the one at the top reading “
ISSUED FOR PAYMENT OF CONFEDERATE WAR TAX
”, while the two sides read “
00 STATE OF ALABAMA EIGHT PER CENT STOCK.
”. The corners each feature an intricate design, as does the bottom of the border. A dark green “
00
” overprint appears just below the principal vignette. The back of the bond is blank. No printer’s name is present. Executed in black ink on period blue paper, watermarked “
A PIRIE & SONS
”. State bonds are generally issued on a much smaller scale than those of the central government, since their prospective audience was much smaller (states only had to generate enough money for their own use, while national governments needed to procure funds for the common good). Bonds of this type are becoming very difficult to locate on the collector’s market, and are highly prized by those lucky enough to own one. This is a great opportunity to add one to your collection.
John Gill Shorter
was born on April 23, 1818 in Monticello, Georgia and graduated from the University of Georgia in 1837, by which time the family had moved to Irwinton (later renamed Eufaula), Alabama. By the mid-1840s, John and his brother Eli had established one of the most successful law practices in the area, undoubtedly leading to his election in 1845 to a term in the Alabama State Senate. He was elected to the Alabama House of Representatives in 1851, though he left when the governor appointed him a circuit judge. Shorter remained in that position until 1861. From February 4
th
through December 2
nd
, 1861, he served as Deputy from Alabama to the Provisional Congress of the Confederate States, after which, from December 2
nd
, 1861 through December 1
st
, 1863, Shorter served as the Governor of Alabama. He was defeated in his bid for re-election by Thomas Hill Watts, whom he assisted whenever called upon for the remainder of the war. At the close of hostilities, he returned to Eufaula and resumed the practice of law. John Gill Shorter died on May 29, 1872 in Eufaula, Alabama and was buried in that city’s Shorter Cemetery.
The presently offered document exhibits signs of period use, followed by reasonably good long-term storage. Toning is present across the entire surface, somewhat darker at the top and bottom. Numerous wrinkles and folds are noted, typical of large documents of this type (these folds generally occurred when the bonds were folded for storage in safes or the cubbyholes of desks, being retrieved once every six months to cut off the interest coupon for that period). These folds have caused minor separations at the junctures and at the edges, the latter being strengthened with archival tape. There are small tears and minor paper loss at points along the edges, as well as both upper corners. The contrast is average, though the signatures are slightly lighter than normally encountered. Many of these condition issues could be covered if this piece was matted and framed. Measuring approximately 11½ x 18⅛ inches (including the selvage at the bottom, this piece would look great hanging in an office or den.
A .95 charge will be added to the winning bid for postage and insurance.
A .00 charge will be added to any item picked up in person at our physical location.
If you have any questions regarding this item, please ask before purchasing.
Buy or Bid with Confidence – American Coins & Collectibles President Richie Self has worked 6 years as a paper money grader/authenticator. He has contributed to numerous reference books within the industry, as well as being a co-author of “The Comprehensive Catalog and History of Confederate Bonds, 2
nd
Edition” with Douglas B. Ball, Ph.D., Henry F. Simmons, M.D., Ph.D. and James R. Desabaye. Mr. Self is a life member of the American Numismatic Association, the Society of Paper Money Collectors, as well as numerous regional numismatic associations. He is an authorized submitter to NGC, PCGS, and PMG, a diamond founding member of Coin Dealers Helping Coin Dealers and a supporter of the Industry Council for Tangible Assets. American Coins and Collectibles can be found at many of the state and local coin shows.
American Coins & Collectibles
Shreveport, La.