Archives International Auctions Sale 65 Wednesday, March 10th, 2021 U.S., Chinese & Worldwide Banknotes, Scripophily, World Coins,

Archives International Auctions - Sale 65 127 March 26,2021 Archives International Auctions www.archivesinternational.com SCRIPOPHILY - FOREIGN - SCANDALS & SCAMS Mosquito Territory (Honduras), 807 807 Poyaisian 3% Consolidated Stock, 1827 I/U £250 Bond, Signed by Sir Gregor MacGregor Mosquito Territory (Honduras), 1827, £250 Pounds Issued and uncancelled 3% Consolidated Stock with Coupons, signed by Gregor MacGregor, S/N 331. Black text with elaborate coat of arms depicted in pink at top, featuring English and Scottish flags, with pink borders throughout. VF condition with slight toning and small holes along fold lines, some repaired. Still in great condition for its age. General Gregor MacGregor (24 December 1786 to 4 December 1845) was a Scottish soldier, adventurer, and confidence trickster who attempted from 1821 to 1837 to draw British and French investors and settlers to “Poyais”, a fictional Central American territory that he claimed to rule as “Cazique”. Hundreds invested their savings in supposed Poyaisian government bonds and land certificates, while about 250 emigrated to MacGregor’s invented country in 1822–23 to find only an untouched jungle; more than half of them died. MacGregor’s Poyais scheme has been called one of the most brazen confidence tricks in history. He devised a tricameral parliament and other convoluted constitutional arrangements for Poyais, drew up commercial and banking mechanisms, and designed distinctive uniforms for each regiment of the Poyaisian Army. His imaginary country had an honours system, landed titles, as well as a coat of arms. A French court tried MacGregor and three others for fraud in 1826 after he attempted a variation on the scheme there, but convicted only one of his associates. Acquitted, MacGregor attempted lesser Poyais schemes in London over the next decade. In 1838, he moved to Venezuela, where he was welcomed back as a hero. He died in Caracas in 1845, aged 58, and was buried with full military honors in Caracas Cathedral. This piece is directly related to MacGregor’s scam, and is a fascinating document from a famous con man. Very Rare. ( John E. Herzog Collection) ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� Est. $250-500 808 808 Poyaisian Land Grant, 1827 Class A Land Grant fr 1000 Acres, I/U Signed by Sir Gregor MacGregor Mosquito Territory (Honduras), 1827 I/U Poyaisian Land Certificate, Class A, Land Grant for 1000 Acres, S/N 88 signed by Gregor MacGregor. Black text in English and French, with elaborate coat of arms depicted at top center, featuring English and Scottish flags. Fine condition with some slight toning, holes, and staining, especially along fold lines. General Gregor MacGregor (24 December 1786 to 4 December 1845) was a Scottish soldier, adventurer, and confidence trickster who attempted from 1821 to 1837 to draw British and French investors and settlers to “Poyais”, a fictional Central American territory that he claimed to rule as “Cazique”. Hundreds invested their savings in supposed Poyaisian government bonds and land certificates, while about 250 emigrated to MacGregor’s invented country in 1822–23 to find only an untouched jungle; more than half of them died. MacGregor’s Poyais scheme has been called one of the most brazen confidence tricks in history. He devised a tricameral parliament and other convoluted constitutional arrangements for Poyais, drew up commercial and banking mechanisms, and designed distinctive uniforms for each regiment of the Poyaisian Army. His imaginary country had an honours system, landed titles, as well as a coat of arms. A French court tried MacGregor and three others for fraud in 1826 after he attempted a variation on the scheme there, but convicted only one of his associates. Acquitted, MacGregor attempted lesser Poyais schemes in London over the next decade. In 1838, he moved to Venezuela, where he was welcomed back as a hero. He died in Caracas in 1845, aged 58, and was buried with full military honors in Caracas Cathedral. Rare piece of history from an infamous scandal. ( John E. Herzog Collection) ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� Est. $250-500 809 809 Poyaisian Land Grant, 1830 Class B Land Grant fr 400 Acres, I/U Signed by Sir Gregor MacGregor Mosquito Territory (Honduras), 1830 I/U Poyaisian Land Certificate, Class B Land Grant for 400 Acres, S/N 159 signed by Gregor MacGregor. Black text in English and French, with elaborate coat of arms depicted at top center, featuring English and Scottish flags, faint watermarks at top. Fine condition with some toning, splitting, and holes along fold lines. General Gregor MacGregor (24 December 1786 to 4 December 1845) was a Scottish soldier, adventurer, and confidence trickster who attempted from 1821 to 1837 to draw British and French investors and settlers to “Poyais”, a fictional Central American territory that he claimed to rule as “Cazique”. Hundreds invested their savings in supposed Poyaisian government bonds and land certificates, while about 250 emigrated to MacGregor’s invented country in 1822–23 to find only an untouched jungle; more than half of them died. MacGregor’s Poyais scheme has been called one of the most brazen confidence tricks in history. He devised a tricameral parliament and other convoluted constitutional arrangements for Poyais, drew up commercial and banking mechanisms, and designed distinctive uniforms for each regiment of the Poyaisian Army. His imaginary country had an honours system, landed titles, as well as a coat of arms. A French court tried MacGregor and three others for fraud in 1826 after he attempted a variation on the scheme there, but convicted only one of his associates. Acquitted, MacGregor attempted lesser Poyais schemes in London over the next decade. In 1838, he moved to Venezuela, where he was welcomed back as a hero. He died in Caracas in 1845, aged 58, and was buried with full military honors in Caracas Cathedral. Fascinating piece of history from a famous con man. ( John E. Herzog Collection) �������������������������������������������������������������������������� Est. $200-400 810 810 Poyaisian Land Grant, 1830 Series D, Land Certificate for 100 Acres, I/U Signed by Sir Gregor MacGregor Mosquito Territory (Honduras), 1830 I/U Poyaisian Land Certificate, Series D Land Grant for 100 Acres, S/N 355 signed by Sir Gregor MacGregor. Black text in English and French, with elaborate coat of arms depicted at top center, featuring English and Scottish flags, also in faint watermarks at top. Fine-VF condition with very slight toning along fold lines. General Gregor MacGregor (24 December 1786 to 4 December 1845) was a Scottish soldier, adventurer, and confidence trickster who attempted from 1821 to 1837 to draw British and French investors and settlers to “Poyais”, a fictional Central American territory that he claimed to rule as “Cazique”. Hundreds invested their savings in supposed Poyaisian government bonds and land certificates, while about 250 emigrated to MacGregor’s invented country in 1822–23 to find only an untouched jungle; more than half of them died. MacGregor’s Poyais scheme has been called one of the most brazen confidence tricks in history. He devised a tricameral parliament and other convoluted constitutional arrangements for Poyais, drew up commercial and banking mechanisms, and designed distinctive uniforms for each regiment of the Poyaisian Army. His imaginary country had an honours system, landed titles, as well as a coat of arms. A French court tried MacGregor and three others for fraud in 1826 after he attempted a variation on the scheme there, but convicted only one of his associates. Acquitted, MacGregor attempted lesser Poyais schemes in London over the next decade. In 1838, he moved to Venezuela, where he was welcomed back as a hero. He died in Caracas in 1845, aged 58, and was buried with full military honors in Caracas Cathedral. Rare piece of history from an infamous scheme and con man. ( John E. Herzog Collection) ������������������������������� Est. $200-400

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