Archives International Auctions Sale 66 April 23, 2021 U.S., Chinese & Worldwide Banknotes, Scripophily, Historic Financial Ephemera and Security Printing Ephemera

Archives International Auctions - Sale 66 106 April 23, 2021 Archives International Auctions www.archivesinternational.com Ephemera - Autographs - Technology New York 773 773 Letter from Thomas J. Watson to Willis K. Whitney Regarding George Eastman, 1931 Schenectady, NY...... January 12, 1931 Society of the Genesee, Inc.. Letter to Mr. Whitney (an American chemist and founder of the research laboratory of the General Electric Company) detailing a Society of the Genesee event honoring George Eastman and his contributions to film and celebrating his patents. Hand signed typed letter from Thomas Watson as president of the society. Thomas John Watson Sr. (1874 – 1956) was an American businessman. He served as the chairman and CEO of International Business Machines (IBM). He oversaw the company’s growth into an international force from 1914 to 1956. Watson developed IBM’s management style and corporate culture from John Henry Patterson’s training at NCR. He turned the company into a highly-effective selling organization, based largely on punched card tabulating machines. A leading self-made industrialist, he was one of the richest men of his time and was called the world’s greatest salesman when he died in 1956. The letter refers to an award dinner given to George Eastman, who was frequently approached to receive awards and honors that would have focused public attention on him, but invariably Eastman “escaped” these offers. His typical reply was this response to the Society of the Genesee, whose membership included most of his long-time friends and business associates: “I deeply appreciate the honor, and deeply regret that it is wholly impossible for me to accept such an invitation. … I should be embarrassed beyond measure on such an occasion and do not feel that I could go through the ordeal.” In April 1930, after Tom Watson took over as president of the Genesee Society, the salesman went to work and succeeded in convincing Eastman to attend. He wanted this great industrialist to receive the public recognition of his peers that he so richly deserved. The press documents that Watson made a personal trip to Rochester and “prevailed upon him [Mr. Eastman] to accept the honor” from the “twelve-hundred-member society.” In June, the Society announced George Eastman’s acceptance. The organization celebrated Watson’s “noteworthy achievement” in overcoming Mr. Eastman’s “ever-increasing desire to retire from the public eye,” because everyone wanted to say thank you for the employment he had created locally, nationally and internationally, and acknowledge the estimated $80 to $100 million he had donated to worthy projects in his city, state, country and world. (From the John E. Herzog Collection) ������������������������������������ Est. $250-500 Ephemera - Banking India 774 774 Bank of Bengal Group of 11 General Power (of Attorney) Documents, ca. 1880s-1900s to sell Bank Shares. India, 1880s-1900s. Group of 11 documents from the Bank of Bengal, all are General Power, General Power of Attorney or Power to Receive Interest and Dividends. Black text with some handwriting, All with 5 Rupees adhesive purple stamp at top center. Fine condition. (11) ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� Est. $150-250 Ephemera - California Gold Rush California Territory 775 775 California Gold Rush Era, 1850 I/U 2nd Bill of Exchange Issued in San Francisco and Payable in NYOne Month Before Statehood San Francisco, California Territory. August 9, 1850. Issued 2nd of Exchange for $325, payable at Howland & Aspinwall, New York. Issued by Robinson Bissilo, Jr. in San Francisco. Allegorical woman, eagle and portrait of George Washington, with small sailing ship and train on the left, S/N 55, Mostly Fine to VF with stain on the left border area and small stains, and a small rea of ink or rust burn on the top middle margin. RWH&E. Extremely early pre California Statehood fiscal document and the earliest Gold Rush fiscal document we have offered. California became a state on September 9th. 1850 and was admitted to the Union as the 31st state. Gold was discovered in California on January 24, 1848 in Sutter’s Creek and this exchange was issued a little over 2 1/2 years later. Historic Gold Rush Era and California Territorial Fiscal Document. ��������� Est. $650-1000

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