CORP. Of THE CITY Of YORK Bond 1869. $3, 000. Historic Certificate Boss Tweed
Item History & Price
| Reference Number: Avaluer:9994092 |
Corporationof the City of New York, Revenue Bond of the Year 1869. CertificateNo. 16 issued to Margaret S. Wisner for $3, 000 on February 12, 1869($3, 000 in 1869 would be over $56, 000 in today’s dollars). 7%interest per annum. Original ink signatures of City ComptrollerRichard B. Connolly (see bio below) and City Mayor A. Oakley Hall(see bio below). Large red embossed seal of the State of New Yorklower left. Revenue stamp affixed on verso. Certificate is about 8”x 11”. Vignette... above title is the Tweed Courthouse, the buildingthat was originally planned for $250, 000 but ended up costing $11million.
TheOld New York County Courthouse at 52 Chambers Street in Manhattan, more commonly known as the Tweed Courthouse, was built using fundsprovided by the corrupt William M. “Boss” Tweed, whose TammanyHall political machine controlled the city and state governments atthe time. Tweed became one of the wealthiest New Yorkers of the dayby using the construction of the building as a pretext to embezzlemillions of dollars from the city government and the public. "Boss"Tweed stole an estimated 75 million dollars (at least) from New YorkCity public funds. Tweed is considered one of the most corruptpoliticians in United States history. Tweed assembled a ring ofpolitical allies who helped maintain his corrupt business all thewhile furthering his political agenda as well. A series ofdisruptions culminated in the trial of "Boss" Tweed in anunfinished courtroom of this building in 1873.
Condition: Very Fine, light folds, minor creasing around seal, no tears, minor left edge/corner wear, otherwise very minor signs of wear/handling/toning, Uncancelled.Printer: W. C. Rogers & Company, 26 John Street, New York City.
History:Probablyone of the most notorious scandals in the 1860s and 70s was WilliamMarcy "Boss" Tweed and his Tammany Hall henchmen and apolitical machine that essentially controlled the finances and theCity of New York until 1870. With the use of embezzlement, bribery, and kickbacks, massive chunks of New York's budget were siphoned intotheir own pockets (including this $3, 000 revenue bond). Historianshave never been able to tabulate the full extent to which the city'sresources were drained. It is believed that the amount was no lessthan $40 million and may have been as much as $200 million, or $2billion to $10 billion in today’s dollars. The inner circle of theTweed Ring were Mayor "A-OK" Oakley Hall (see bio below), City Comptroller Richard B. "Slippery Dick" Connolly (seebio below), City Chamberlain Peter Barr "Bismarck" Sweeny, and William M. Tweed himself, president of the Board of Supervisors.The ring was eventually exposed by the publishers of the New YorkTimes and the noted political cartoonist, Thomas Nast. Tweed'sright-hand man "Slippery Dick" Connolly offered the Time’seditor $5 million and Nast $500, 000 if they would quietly leave town.
AbrahamOakey Hall (1826 – 1898) was a politician, lawyer, and writer. Heserved as Mayor of New York from 1869 to 1872 (see attached photo of Mayor Oakey Hall ca. 1870). Hall, known as"Elegant Oakey", was a model of serenity andrespectability. Recent historians have disputed the older depictionof Hall as corrupt or as a front man for a corrupt political order.As mayor, Hall was unpopular for a myriad of reasons, partly due tothe ongoing political clashes between Anglo “Natavists” and theIrish population. While Democrat "Boss" Tweed, Tammany Hallleaders and Hall were Anglo, their power base rested largely uponIrish immigrants. This conflict boiled over in 1871 when Hallattempted to stop the Irish Orange Order from holding a parade, perhaps provocatively celebrating the historic Orangemen (AngloProtestant Irish) victory over ethnic Irish Catholics. Fearing thateither banning the march or allowing it to continue would both leadto violence and mayhem, Governor John Hoffman overruled Mayor Halland allowed it to continue with increased policing. Nevertheless, riots did occur, cementing Hall's negative image on both sides andseverely compromising Hoffman's political career. Additionally, Hallbacked away from supporting Republican candidates because ofwidespread dislike of the Nativists within the Party. He was seen asattempting to have it both ways rather than finding a middle ground.In particular, Thomas Nast, who had old-line Republican leanings, took aim at "Elegant Oakey" whom he considered to be theworst of the Tweed politicians because of his high standing, education and open presidential ambitions. Nast also felt that Hallgot off lightly in the affair because of his continued personalconnections with reformer and prosecutor Samuel Tilden. though laterhistorians have shown that Hall and Tilden were never very close inthe 1860s and 1870s and that Hall did not receive any specialassistance. In fact, Tilden was the chief opponent of Tweed, Hall, etal. Hall was tried three times and finally acquitted of all chargeson the third trial.
RichardBarrett Connolly came to New York City in 1826, and worked first forauctioneers John Haggerty & Sons, and later for merchant SimeonDraper, Haggerty's son-in-law in 1837. In 1845, Collector of thePort, Cornelius Van Wyck Lawrence appointed Connolly as a clerk in thecustoms house. In 1849, he became a discount clerk of the Bank ofNorth America. Asa Tammany Hall Democrat, he was Clerk of New York County from 1853 to1858; and a member of the New York State Senate from 1860 to 1863, sitting in the 83rd, 84th, 85th, and 86th New York StateLegislatures. Afterwards he became a discount clerk of the CentralNational Bank. He was elected New York City Comptroller in 1867, andbecame a member of the infamous "Tweed Ring". Some newspaperwriters referred to him at that time as "Slippery Dick". Hewas re-appointed by Mayor A. Oakley Hall as City Comptroller underthe "Tweed Charter" and remained in office until hisresignation on November 18, 1871. A week later, Connolly was arrestedand later indicted on 15 counts of misdemeanors. On New Year's Day, 1872, he was released on bail by Judge George G. Barnard, and wentabroad, never to return to the United States. He died from Bright’sdisease in Marseille, France, while being a fugitive from justice.
PAYMENTAND SHIPPING Please read certificate description details shown above before bidding. Please contact me with any questions before bidding. Payment by PayPal only. Shipping within the U.S. is by USPS First Class Mail ($4.00 for packages weighing 13 ounces or less) – shipping for packages weighing over 13 ounces will be shown on your invoice. If another shipping method is requested, a revised invoice will be sent. International buyers need to wait for my invoice before paying. Combined shipping cost will be offered for multiple items won – please wait for invoice before paying, or if specific shipping method or insurance is requested. Multiple items will be shipped together in one package. All packages will be shipped with certificates placed in plastic sleeves with cardboard backing and marked “Do Not Bend”. I do not profit on shipping costs charged. Items typically shipped within two days of payment.RETURNSAND GUARANTEE: Buyer satisfaction and authenticity of certificate is guaranteed – returns are accepted with 14 days of purchase (buyer pays return shipping cost unless item received is not as described in this listing). All certificates are originals – no reproductions.
TheOld New York County Courthouse at 52 Chambers Street in Manhattan, more commonly known as the Tweed Courthouse, was built using fundsprovided by the corrupt William M. “Boss” Tweed, whose TammanyHall political machine controlled the city and state governments atthe time. Tweed became one of the wealthiest New Yorkers of the dayby using the construction of the building as a pretext to embezzlemillions of dollars from the city government and the public. "Boss"Tweed stole an estimated 75 million dollars (at least) from New YorkCity public funds. Tweed is considered one of the most corruptpoliticians in United States history. Tweed assembled a ring ofpolitical allies who helped maintain his corrupt business all thewhile furthering his political agenda as well. A series ofdisruptions culminated in the trial of "Boss" Tweed in anunfinished courtroom of this building in 1873.
Condition: Very Fine, light folds, minor creasing around seal, no tears, minor left edge/corner wear, otherwise very minor signs of wear/handling/toning, Uncancelled.Printer: W. C. Rogers & Company, 26 John Street, New York City.
History:Probablyone of the most notorious scandals in the 1860s and 70s was WilliamMarcy "Boss" Tweed and his Tammany Hall henchmen and apolitical machine that essentially controlled the finances and theCity of New York until 1870. With the use of embezzlement, bribery, and kickbacks, massive chunks of New York's budget were siphoned intotheir own pockets (including this $3, 000 revenue bond). Historianshave never been able to tabulate the full extent to which the city'sresources were drained. It is believed that the amount was no lessthan $40 million and may have been as much as $200 million, or $2billion to $10 billion in today’s dollars. The inner circle of theTweed Ring were Mayor "A-OK" Oakley Hall (see bio below), City Comptroller Richard B. "Slippery Dick" Connolly (seebio below), City Chamberlain Peter Barr "Bismarck" Sweeny, and William M. Tweed himself, president of the Board of Supervisors.The ring was eventually exposed by the publishers of the New YorkTimes and the noted political cartoonist, Thomas Nast. Tweed'sright-hand man "Slippery Dick" Connolly offered the Time’seditor $5 million and Nast $500, 000 if they would quietly leave town.
AbrahamOakey Hall (1826 – 1898) was a politician, lawyer, and writer. Heserved as Mayor of New York from 1869 to 1872 (see attached photo of Mayor Oakey Hall ca. 1870). Hall, known as"Elegant Oakey", was a model of serenity andrespectability. Recent historians have disputed the older depictionof Hall as corrupt or as a front man for a corrupt political order.As mayor, Hall was unpopular for a myriad of reasons, partly due tothe ongoing political clashes between Anglo “Natavists” and theIrish population. While Democrat "Boss" Tweed, Tammany Hallleaders and Hall were Anglo, their power base rested largely uponIrish immigrants. This conflict boiled over in 1871 when Hallattempted to stop the Irish Orange Order from holding a parade, perhaps provocatively celebrating the historic Orangemen (AngloProtestant Irish) victory over ethnic Irish Catholics. Fearing thateither banning the march or allowing it to continue would both leadto violence and mayhem, Governor John Hoffman overruled Mayor Halland allowed it to continue with increased policing. Nevertheless, riots did occur, cementing Hall's negative image on both sides andseverely compromising Hoffman's political career. Additionally, Hallbacked away from supporting Republican candidates because ofwidespread dislike of the Nativists within the Party. He was seen asattempting to have it both ways rather than finding a middle ground.In particular, Thomas Nast, who had old-line Republican leanings, took aim at "Elegant Oakey" whom he considered to be theworst of the Tweed politicians because of his high standing, education and open presidential ambitions. Nast also felt that Hallgot off lightly in the affair because of his continued personalconnections with reformer and prosecutor Samuel Tilden. though laterhistorians have shown that Hall and Tilden were never very close inthe 1860s and 1870s and that Hall did not receive any specialassistance. In fact, Tilden was the chief opponent of Tweed, Hall, etal. Hall was tried three times and finally acquitted of all chargeson the third trial.
RichardBarrett Connolly came to New York City in 1826, and worked first forauctioneers John Haggerty & Sons, and later for merchant SimeonDraper, Haggerty's son-in-law in 1837. In 1845, Collector of thePort, Cornelius Van Wyck Lawrence appointed Connolly as a clerk in thecustoms house. In 1849, he became a discount clerk of the Bank ofNorth America. Asa Tammany Hall Democrat, he was Clerk of New York County from 1853 to1858; and a member of the New York State Senate from 1860 to 1863, sitting in the 83rd, 84th, 85th, and 86th New York StateLegislatures. Afterwards he became a discount clerk of the CentralNational Bank. He was elected New York City Comptroller in 1867, andbecame a member of the infamous "Tweed Ring". Some newspaperwriters referred to him at that time as "Slippery Dick". Hewas re-appointed by Mayor A. Oakley Hall as City Comptroller underthe "Tweed Charter" and remained in office until hisresignation on November 18, 1871. A week later, Connolly was arrestedand later indicted on 15 counts of misdemeanors. On New Year's Day, 1872, he was released on bail by Judge George G. Barnard, and wentabroad, never to return to the United States. He died from Bright’sdisease in Marseille, France, while being a fugitive from justice.
PAYMENTAND SHIPPING Please read certificate description details shown above before bidding. Please contact me with any questions before bidding. Payment by PayPal only. Shipping within the U.S. is by USPS First Class Mail ($4.00 for packages weighing 13 ounces or less) – shipping for packages weighing over 13 ounces will be shown on your invoice. If another shipping method is requested, a revised invoice will be sent. International buyers need to wait for my invoice before paying. Combined shipping cost will be offered for multiple items won – please wait for invoice before paying, or if specific shipping method or insurance is requested. Multiple items will be shipped together in one package. All packages will be shipped with certificates placed in plastic sleeves with cardboard backing and marked “Do Not Bend”. I do not profit on shipping costs charged. Items typically shipped within two days of payment.RETURNSAND GUARANTEE: Buyer satisfaction and authenticity of certificate is guaranteed – returns are accepted with 14 days of purchase (buyer pays return shipping cost unless item received is not as described in this listing). All certificates are originals – no reproductions.
