1860 American Express Company Stock Certificate Signed by Founders Wells & Fargo

1860 American Express Company Stock Certificate Signed by Founders Henry Wells and William G. Fargo – GRAD Authenticated

An extraordinary piece of American financial history, this original 1860 American Express Company stock certificate bears the signatures of Henry Wells and William G. Fargo, two of the most influential businessmen and pioneering financiers of 19th-century America. Together, these legendary entrepreneurs helped establish not one, but two of the most recognizable financial institutions in American history: American Express and Wells Fargo, both of which remain major corporations more than 170 years after their founding.

Dated October 20, 1860, just one year before the outbreak of the Civil War, this historic certificate represents five shares of American Express capital stock, with a stated value of $500 per share, totaling $2,500—an enormous sum in mid-19th-century America. Issued during the company’s first decade, the certificate offers a remarkable glimpse into the early financial foundations of an enterprise that would grow into a global financial powerhouse.

Founded in 1850, American Express helped revolutionize the transportation of money, valuables, and goods across a rapidly expanding nation. Wells and Fargo were instrumental in its early success and, in 1852, established Wells, Fargo & Company to serve the booming American West. Their businesses became essential to America’s commercial expansion, connecting distant communities, facilitating trade, and helping establish the financial infrastructure of a growing nation.

The certificate itself is an impressive example of 19th-century American financial engraving, featuring elaborate ornamental borders, patriotic American eagles, and detailed illustrations of a stagecoach and steamship—powerful symbols of the transportation and commerce that defined the company’s earliest operations. It is boldly signed by Henry Wells as President and William G. Fargo as Secretary, with an additional countersignature from the company treasurer.

The certificate was originally issued to Crommelin, Goodwin & Curtis, a name associated with New York’s early Wall Street financial community. Contemporary records identify Crommelin & Goodwin as bankers operating from 10 Wall Street in 1859–1860, while surviving historical accounts establish Robert Oscar Crommelin as an active stockbroker and financier. This connection places the certificate within the financial circles of pre-Civil War New York, when American Express was still in its infancy and the foundations of modern American finance were being established.

Few partnerships in American business history have left such an enduring legacy. More than 170 years later, the names American Express and Wells Fargo remain fixtures of American finance. This remarkable document represents a direct connection to the formative years of both institutions, signed by the very men who helped create them.

The original signatures of Henry Wells and William G. Fargo have been authenticated by GRAD Authentication. An exceptional historical collectible combining two legendary American entrepreneurs, an iconic early corporation, and a beautifully engraved financial document from the eve of the Civil War.

Shipping FedEx with Insurance & Signature Confirmation