Very unusual offering of a lot of nine items including steel engravings used as proofs for the Gillette Safety Razor Company catalog in the early 1920’s, as well as an original stock certificate specimen from the company and the actual catalog the engraving department used for this quality production: 9½ x8” steel engraving immaculate and on heavy board of the “Richwood” razor. In red pen atop “Eng’d by H. Osborn, Feb 1922.” Tissue paper protects front and has a purple Engravers Department stamp. 10x6” artist photo image of razor with pencil notation from the artist; also: “This is Ok…handle should be lifted to the right and up.” Dated Feb 21, 1922, “Engraved by H. Osburn.” 8½ x 10” steel engraving of two razors, each separate with similar notations and a comment that “Background has not been added.” Tissue paper protection and Engraving Department stamp. 6¼ x 4” photographic textured image of razor, “Eng by H. Osborn, 1922.” 7x 8½” heavy cardboard close up illustration of the razor’s overhanging Cap, Channel Guard, Fulcrum Shoulder and Adjustable Short Flexure. 9x10” larger printed image of the razor design close up with the Engraving Department stamp on reverse. All of these items are used in the accompanying full color 10 pp. fold out 1922 catalog of the “New Improved Gillette Safety Razor Company, Patented Jan. 13, 1920.” This catalog as well has the Engraving Department stamp. Also included in this unique offering is a part typewritten and hand-notated document referring to the design, tint, face, signing officer signature lines and share values of the stock certificate plates and changes, dated 1921 through 1924. To complete the lot: An original Specimen stock certificate from the company. Blue/Black. Top center vignette of an early razor. Couple of small punch cancellations. Extremely Fine. A collection guaranteed to please the advanced razor collector. A great production lot from the company which became a household name and revolutionized the male morning ritual.

1874, New York and Venezuela. Stock certificate for 800 shares. Black Engraved vignette of a side-wheel steamship with masts in a rough sea. The company was “organized under special act of the legislature of the state of New York and concessions from the government of Venezuela.” The Orinoco River offered a valuable seagoing connection into South America. Signed as president of the company by A. B. Cornell. Uncancelled and Extremely Fine.

1852, New York. Stock certificate for one share. Black with orange overprint. Vignette of horses and wagon passing steam vessel at top center and female, male and child allegorical figures at right, center and left bottom.

The Osage Carbon Company was the successor to The Osage Carbon, Coal and Mining Company, the first mining company to open a shaft in coal rich Osage City, Kansas. Employing six hundred men, The Osage Carbon Company mined an average of 750 tons of coal a day. 1888, Kansas. Stock certificate for one share. Black / White. Vignette of miners working at top center. Blind embossed company seal. Stamp and punch cancelled.

1894, Kansas. Stock certificate for one share issued to and signed on stub and verso by BENJAMIN PIERCE CHENEY (1815-1895). Expressman. Also signed as president by WILLIAM BARSTOW STRONG (1837-1914) President of the AT&SF from 1881 to 1889. Black / White. Vignette of miners working at top center. Blind embossed company seal. Punch cancellations affect Strong’s signature as president. Top left quarter of stub missing, else Fine. A self-made millionaire, B.P. Cheney was the largest individual owner in the American Express Company and one of the largest holders of Atchison securities. In addition he also wielded great power in the affairs of the Northern Pacific. After graduating from a Chicago business college, William B. Strong took his first position at a railroad when he became a station agent for the Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad. After a succession of other railroad jobs, Strong succeeded T. Jefferson Coolidge as president of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway. During his tenure, the railway extended to about 7,000 miles, making it the largest railroad in North America at the time. The Osage Carbon Company was the successor to The Osage Carbon, Coal and Mining Company, the first mining company to open a shaft in coal rich Osage City, Kansas. Employing six hundred men, The Osage Carbon Company mined an average of 750 tons of coal a day.

1912, Austria. Stock certificate. Purple/Black. Vignette of panoramic view of city at top of certificate. Stamp cancelled and very fine.

1921, Austria. Brown/Red/Light Blue. Vignettes of buildings at left and right. Uncancelled and very fine.

1925, Austria. Green/Brown. Issued to finance a lottery in which a house was given away. Uncancelled and extremely fine.

1811, New York. Stock certificate for "One share of the stock...of the Original value of twenty dollars..." Chartered in 1807, the road was completed in 1810 linking Owego and Ithaca, New York. Integral printed rules of transfer at left. Embossed company seal. Signed as president by Lewis Beers. Uncancelled and Excellent.