J. Pierpont Morgan

1881, New York. 12” x 8” certificate for one hundred shares. Brown. Vignette of a locomotive at center. Issued to Drexel, Harjes & Co and signed “Drexel, Harjes & Co” on verso by J. P. Morgan. Probably the most prolific and powerful banker in American Financial history, J. Pierpont Morgan epitomized the financial genius, courage and flair that made possible many of the most important financings of the late 1800's and early 1900's. His career in banking spanned the period from Abraham Lincoln's administration to Theodore Roosevelt's. Throughout his career he displayed a financial skill and daring matched by few in the entire history of Wall Street. Following the financial panic of 1893, Morgan helped reorganize numerous railroads including giants such as The Northern Pacific, The Erie, The Southern and The Philadelphia and Reading. His formation of The United States Steel Corporation in 1901 created the largest corporation in the world at that time. During the panic of 1907, it was Morgan who averted a nationwide catastrophe by lending money to banks to keep them from closing. "A sociable, convivial man who thoroughly enjoyed life and entertained what would now be known as 'beautiful people' on his famous steam yacht, the Corsair, he nevertheless frightened people by his overwhelming personality and his piercing eye, which was compared to the headlight of an oncoming locomotive. Seldom has a man of such complexity and power crossed the world's stage." (The Incredible Pierpont Morgan by Cass Canfield). Punch and stamp cancelled.