The Stock Exchange in Caricature

It has been a few years since I've searched the web for stock exchange history from the 1898-1902 period.  A few days ago, prompted by the new pile of Eames & Moore memos, I discovered, through Google, a volume called The Stock Exchange in Caricature, published in 1904.  Like King's Views of The New York Stock Exchange, the volume features brokers, bankers, and players of the New York financial scene.  But unlike King's, there are no photos.  Instead, we have drawings in caricature, accompanied by what the publisher refers to as "quatrains", but which in many instances are examples of doggerel.  Whatever the case, the volume is a rather quaint monument to the egos of those caricatured.  I invite you to follow the link and check out the "private collection of caricatures, cartoons, and character sketches of members of the New York Stock Exchange."

Apparently on 177 copies were printed.  The linked online version is copy #3.

Rudolph Keppler was President of the NYSE in 1903 when the book was under production.  Appropriately, he appears as the first to be caricatured in the book, accompanied by the following quatrain:

Rudolph Keppler in caricature

Rudolph Keppler & Co. Cancel

Featured initially on this site in January, 2012,  Rudolph Keppler was head of his own firm and the President of NYSE from 1898 to 1903.  Ransom Thomas was President in 1904 but did not appear as a caricature in the volume, perhaps he wasn't as caught up with himself to appear in the book, like Chauncey McKeever.  Romantic Records of N.Y. Aristocracy?   Locust Valley lockjaw time...

I'm searching for a Chauncey McKeever cancel.  His first initial was I, for Isaac, and he is the author of Romantic Records, among other books, above.  Meanwhile, the real I. C. M. from King's:

Isaac Chauncey McKeever

 Member NYSE, and son of General Chauncey McKeever.  

General McKeever was a hero of the Civil War in the service of the Union Army

An Eames and Moore "Hoard"

A few days ago, a package arrived at the front door from David Thompson in Texas with a cache of broker memos.  To most this would not be very exciting.  But I'm pumped!  Dave has retained what must be the pick of pile, but what's left provides a great cross-section of the NYSE in 1900.  

Virtually all of the memos are from sales to the brokerage house of Eames and Moore, mostly with $1 and $2 values attached and the occasional $5.  Thanks David!  Please continue to come to this site to see more in the coming weeks and months.  

The United Order of Foresters

 United Order of Foresters,

 FEB

28

1901

Milwaukee

David Thompson scan

The Foresters were and are a mutual aid society that originally began in England in the 14th century.  Much of their modern manifestation is through the insurance business.  The United Order of Foresters seems to have been particularly strong in Wisconsin and the upper midwest at the turn of the century. It is likely that this stamp was used on a check.

The Battleship Desk Reference 2

Readers that know this website well know the tendencies of my 1898 collecting interests.  Those interests have not, so far, included proprietary handstamp cancels.  The proprietary printed cancels are another matter, and there are many examples of those on this site, and in the future, likely to be many more.  

Bob Mustacich's Battleship Revenue Stamps site

After being away from the hobby and the site for several years it is exciting to see some of the new work that is going on in the 1898 world, particularly regarding the handstamped proprietaries.  Bob Mustacich's Battleship Desk Reference (BDR) has been a go to guide for identifying cancels on the proprietary stamps over the years.  But a new project called BDR2 is now underway, led by Bob and a host of contributors including Malcolm Goldstein, Timothy Kohler, Paul Reese, Frank Sente, and Duane Skeen.  The new BDR, currently under development and available online, includes images and historical information, providing for a richer experience when viewing and using the database.  The historical emphasis of the 1898 Revenues blog, and the work of Malcolm Goldstein that started online here, can now be found in a more rigorous database.  Thanks to all of you working on this.

Navigation to the site is not immediately evident for now when going to Bob's site.  The best way to find it is to click on the U.S. Revenue Stamps tab at the top of the page.  You will get a drop down that includes the above directory if you click on Proprietary, then Battleships, then BDR2.  A shortcut is here.

A synopsis of the project is available and a link to the database called "Directory".  Once you click on Directory you can find material like that below.

I'm just getting familiar with this new site and project.  More later as I begin to link it to some of the work I expect to do here at 1898 Revenues.

New York Stock Brokers: Day & Heaton

 

DAY & HEATON

MAY 9 1891

N. Y.

David Thompson scan

David Thompson adds another firm to the New York Stock brokers list.  Originally sent in 2012, I'm not quite sure why I didn't post the firm then.  Any guess as to what firm was sold for $115/share?

If you haven't checked out the list of all the brokers published on this website, you can do so conveniently by clicking on the "stock brokers" summary tab at the top of the web page.  

R173 with Margin Inscription

 

R173r

David Thompson scan

A most reliable contributor, even after many years, David Thompson, sent in this scan of an R173 with a special margin inscription that includes a denomination notation (with $ sign!) and what are likely to be siderographer's initials.  

Cancel notes:  The year date is obviously wrong and should be 1899.  And we could be looking at a Northwestern Mutual Life cancel, though the N is oddly shaped.  I've been away from these cancels too long.  Any other possibilities/certainties?  Could it be HMLI?

1898 Revenues: The 2021 Edition

Greetings all.  This author is back in the US after 12 years abroad.  I've begun collecting my philatelic material in one place after so many years (I have my collection scattered across 3 states and the District of Columbia), and I'm beginning to think about the best way to reactivate this website.  

I'm looking forward to reconnecting with loyal readers and contributors.