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Auction: 326 - The Numismatic Collector's Series Sale
Lot: 1223

Brown, John (1800-1859). Extremely-rare partly-printed Check Signed. Oblong narrow octavo. Cabotville, [Massachusetts]. December 24, 1843. Drawn on the "Cashier of The Cabot Bank", and made payable to "John McFarlin's [Cer]tificate of Deposit" in the amount of $70.67. Punch-hole cancellation, otherwise Fine condition. This is the first check signed by Brown that we can remember being offered for sale! A truly rare financial item. Called "Old Brown of Osawatomie," Brown was obsessed with the idea of abolishing slavery by force. In revenge for a proslavery massacre at Lawrence, Kansas, Brown massacred five slavery adherents at Pottawatomie and made an heroic stand at Osawatomie against a raid by proslavery adherents from Missouri. He conceived a plan of establishing a new state as a refuge for negroes and base of operations for freeing slaves. Brown seized Harpers Ferry Arsenal, intending this action as a signal for a general insurrection of slaves. He was overpowered, convicted of treason, and hanged. Regarded by northern sympathizers as a martyr, he is celebrated in the marching song "John Brown's Body". Included are two images of John Brown. From the Collection of John Herzog.

Sold for
$650