Lot 409

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Description:

William H. Vanderbilt ALS on NY Central & Hudson River RR Co. / Grand Central Depot Letterhead, 3 Years Before Becoming Company President

A 1p autograph letter signed by railroad executive William Henry Vanderbilt (1821-1885) as "WH Vanderbilt" at center. Written in New York City on September 24, 1874. On a single page of stationery paper partly printed with "New York Central & Hudson River Railroad Co. / Grand Central Depot / Wm H. Vanderbilt / V. Prest." letterhead. Initialed in blue colored pencil verso. Expected paper folds. Isolated uneven toning and a chipped edge along the top edge. Scattered pencil inscriptions including one former collector's note dated "April 1920" at top. Else very good to near fine. 5.25" x 8.25."

William Henry Vanderbilt was the eldest son and heir of American railroad and shipping magnate Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt (1794-1877). Five years earlier, in 1869, William H. Vanderbilt was appointed Vice President of the New York Central & Hudson River Railroad Company; he assumed the company presidency three years later, after the death of his father in January 1877.

As Vice President of the railroad concern, then, William H. Vanderbilt wrote "Douglas Taylor Esq." in part: "Dear Sir, Many thanks for your note of 20th. The enclosed was received this morning [now missing; not included in this lot.] I hope to be able to reciprocate your kindness. Very truly yours, WH Vanderbilt." Vanderbilt's correspondent may have been writer and theater critic Douglas Taylor (1830-1913).

This letter is exciting because it was written only a few years after the foundation of New York Central & Hudson River Railroad. In 1869, Cornelius Vanderbilt had merged his Hudson River Railroad with Erastus Corning's New York Central Railroad. The merger resulted in a new company and name change: the New York Central & Hudson River Railroad. Also in 1869, construction began on the Grand Central Depot, the antecedent of midtown Manhattan's iconic Grand Central Station. The new train hub would provide unprecedented access to travelers journeying north through upstate New York towards Canada; to central New York along the Hudson River Valley and Albany; and east towards New Haven, Connecticut.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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January 6, 2021 10:30 AM EST
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Bid Increments
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$100 $299 $20
$300 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $2,999 $200
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 + $5,000