Cornelius Vanderbilt II Autograph 1880 Railroad Bond Certificate Canada Southern

Description

This is a bond certificate for the 'Canada Southern Railway Company.' It was printed by American Bank Note, has two vignettes and measures about 13.75" x 9". Dated 188_. It was not issued, but signed by Cornelius Vanderbilt II (1843-1899) as Vice President. Lightly cancelled with two punch holes on the signature. It is in clean condition but has a slight cut from the corner at the lower-left, as you can see in the image.
From Wikipedia:
Cornelius Vanderbilt II (November 27, 1843 – September 12, 1899) was an American socialite, heir, businessman, and a member of the prominent United States Vanderbilt family.
He was the favorite grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt, who left him million, and the eldest son of William Henry Vanderbilt, who left him close to million. In his turn he succeeded them as head of the New York Central and related railroad lines in 1885.
He had a reputation as something of a workaholic, though a stroke in 1896 compelled him to reduce his active business involvement. In 1867 he married Alice Claypoole Gwynne (1845–1934) whom he met at St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church where both taught Sunday School. Their eldest child, a daughter named Alice Gwynne Vanderbilt, was born in 1869 but died of a childhood illness in 1874 at the age of five. Their second child and eldest son William Henry Vanderbilt II (1870–1892) died of typhoid fever while a junior at Yale University, and Cornelius endowed a large dormitory there. He disinherited his second son Cornelius Vanderbilt III (1873–1942) for marrying without his approval. Third son Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt (1877–1915) went down with the RMS Lusitania. His remaining son was Reginald Claypoole Vanderbilt (1880–1925), the father of Cathleen Vanderbilt (from his first marriage to society debutante Cathleen Neilson) and socialite & fashion designer Gloria Vanderbilt (from his second marriage to Gloria Morgan Vanderbilt) He is the grandfather of CNN television news anchor Anderson Cooper and his late brother, Carter Vanderbilt Cooper. By all accounts, Reginald was a lazy, alcoholic wastrel who wasted millions of dollars from his family inheritance on women, liquor, fine food, automobiles and other lavish "toys", and especially gambling. Cornelius Vanderbilt's two surviving daughters were Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney (1875–1942) and Countess Gladys Vanderbilt Széchenyi (1886–1965).
The fabulous Fifth Avenue mansions he, his brothers, and his sons lived in have been demolished, but the Newport, Rhode Island vacation home he built, The Breakers, still stands as a memory of the lifestyle of Cornelius Vanderbilt II.
Vanderbilt was active in numerous organizations including the YMCA, Red Cross, Salvation Army, Trinity Church, St. Bartholomew's Church, and the Newport Country Club.
On his death, family leadership passed to his brother, William Kissam Vanderbilt. His philanthropy had been such that he did not increase the wealth that had been left to him.
GUARANTEED ORIGINAL - NO REPRODUCTIONS!
See our
OTHER AUTOGRAPHS
.
See our
OTHER RAILROAD BONDS
.
See my
OTHER STOCKS AND BONDS!
I COMBINE SHIPPING -
SEE MY OTHER ITEMS!
ss