Arthur Chester

Chester Arthur Scarce Check, Fully Engrossed & Signed

 

A check inscribed overall by future 21st U.S. President Chester A. Arthur (1829-1886), and signed by him as "C.A. Arthur" at lower right. Arthur made out this check in the amount of $112.99 on June 18, 1877 from his account at the Nassau Bank of the City of New York. Bearing a two cent U.S. revenue stamp, stamped at right, and with a star-shaped cancellation mark at center. Endorsed verso. Flaws include a hole at upper right, and a repaired closed tear extending from the bottom edge. The signature is unaffected, and is dark and bold. 7.25" x 2.75".

 

When Chester Arthur signed this check, he was nearing the end of his tenure as Collector of the Port of New York. President Ulysses S. Grant had appointed Arthur Collector of the Port of New York in 1871. Already a successful New York lawyer, Arthur was an up-and-coming career politician and protegee of Republican Party "Stalwart" boss Roscoe Conkling. This appointment was actually and symbolically the most corrupt one in the city. The Customs Collector benefited twice from New York City's thriving postwar patronage system. First, the politically motivated appointment was often bestowed as a reward to a Party favorite. Second, the position was extremely lucrative because of a spoils system of kickbacks. Everyone from party machine bosses to lowly city bureaucrats benefited from this systemic cronyism, and Arthur was no exception.

 

Arthur's starting salary as Collector of the Port of New York was $6,500 a year, but with "moiety" payments (representing a percentage of all collected customs), Arthur's salary exceeded $50,000 per annum. This exceeded the salary of President Grant, and is over $1,000,000 in 2019 currency! The Customs Collector managed hundreds of customs agents who searched passengers and vessels for contraband goods and collected port fees and tariffs.

 

After 1874 reforms, Arthur's salary dropped down to a more reasonable salary of $12,000, but several years later incoming President Rutherford B. Hayes implemented a complete clean-up effort. An 1877 commission found that the Customs department was grossly mismanaged and overstaffed; Hayes fired Arthur the next year, in July 1878.

 

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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by University Archives
November 5, 2019 10:30 AM EST
88 Danbury Road
Suite 2A
Wilton, CT, US 06897

University Archives

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$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