GAJS.COM Web Catalogue Jay Gould

GOULD, JAY (1836-1892). Railroad magnate; Financier; Stock market manipulator. Gould began his career by gaining control of a small Vermont railroad at the age of 24. His most famous railroad battle came in the late 1860s when, along with Jim Fisk and Daniel Drew, he wrestled for control of the Erie Railroad against “Commodore” Vanderbilt. Gould went on to become “the most hated man in America” when his attempt to corner the gold market caused a panic termed “Black Friday” in September 1869. Turning towards western railroads in the 1870s, he came to own the Union Pacific and Kansas Pacific. It is estimated that he controlled about 10% of the railroad track in the U.S. by 1880. He went on to gain control of the Western Union Telegraph Company, and the New York elevated railroad. At his death, his fortune was estimated to be $72 million.

Colorful Partly-printed stock certificate, issued to Gould and signed by him, “Jay Gould” on the verso, for 100 sharesof stock in the Saint Joseph and Western Railroad Company. One page, oblong folio. Elwood, Kansas. October 25, 1879. Attractive vignette of a steam locomotive at a train station at top center. Gould utilized his ownership of this railroad as part of a masterful plan to force the Union Pacific railroad into a consolidation with his weaker Kansas-Pacific system. Gould had proposed that the St. Joseph and Western would be part of a plan to complete a southern ring of roads around the Union Pacific extending his Missouri Pacific system from Denver to the Missouri River. By doing so, this would threaten the Union Pacific’s trans-continental model creating unwanted competition and price wars. Following a series of negotiations with the Union Pacific’s board, a consolidation was agreed upon in which the Gould’s stock and bonds were exchanged for more valuable Union Pacific securities. It has been estimated that, when the dust settled, Gould made as much as $5,000,000 on the deal. A choice certificate related to one of Gould’s brilliant strategic maneuvers. Stamp and punch cancelled. PASS-CO graded: Extremely Fine. PASS-CO rank: 780.


GOULD, JAY (1836-1892). Railroad magnate; Financier; Stock market manipulator. Gould began his career by gaining control of a small Vermont railroad at the age of 24. His most famous railroad battle came in the late 1860s when, along with Jim Fisk and Daniel Drew, he wrestled for control of the Erie Railroad against “Commodore” Vanderbilt. Gould went on to become “the most hated man in America” when his attempt to corner the gold market caused a panic termed “Black Friday” in September 1869. Turning towards western railroads in the 1870s, he came to own the Union Pacific and Kansas Pacific. It is estimated that he controlled about 10% of the railroad track in the U.S. by 1880. He went on to gain control of the Western Union Telegraph Company, and the New York elevated railroad. At his death, his fortune was estimated to be $72 million. Colorful Partly-printed stock certificate, issued to Gould and signed by him, “Jay Gould” on the verso, for 100 sharesof stock in the Saint Joseph and Western Railroad Company. One page, oblong folio. Elwood, Kansas. October 25, 1879. Attractive vignette of a steam locomotive at a train station at top center. Gould utilized his ownership of this railroad as part of a masterful plan to force the Union Pacific railroad into a consolidation with his weaker Kansas-Pacific system. Gould had proposed that the St. Joseph and Western would be part of a plan to complete a southern ring of roads around the Union Pacific extending his Missouri Pacific system from Denver to the Missouri River. By doing so, this would threaten the Union Pacific’s trans-continental model creating unwanted competition and price wars. Following a series of negotiations with the Union Pacific’s board, a consolidation was agreed upon in which the Gould’s stock and bonds were exchanged for more valuable Union Pacific securities. It has been estimated that, when the dust settled, Gould made as much as $5,000,000 on the deal. A choice certificate related to one of Gould’s brilliant strategic maneuvers. Stamp and punch cancelled. PASS-CO graded: Extremely Fine. PASS-CO rank: 780. For more details or to buy this item, please contact us. $1,500
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