John D. Rockefeller
New York, NY, June 28, 1888
Rockefeller & Flagler Signed Scarce Brown Standard Oil Stock Certificate
PPDS

A scarce brown Standard Oil Trust stock certificate signed, "J. D. Rockefeller," as president, 1p, 15.75" x 7.75", New York City, June 28, 1888. Certificate No. A1216, issuing 100 shares to E. C. Benedict & Co. Countersigned "H M Flagler" by Henry M. Flagler as secretary and "J F Freeman" by Joel F. Freeman as treasurer. Press-canceling at signature panels, a few of which pass through the paper. Engraved vignette of the U.S. Capitol building at center. Purple cancellation stamp at left. Intact stub attached with a form for transfer at verso. Flattened folds and light creases. A few scattered pinholes. Minor toning and soiling with negligible adhesive residue. In fine condition.

Elias Cornelius Benedict (1834-1920), nicknamed "Commodore," was a prominent New York banker, stockbroker, financier, and yachtsman. He was known to be a close friend to President Grover Cleveland (1837-1908). Benedict entered banking as a teenager, opened his own brokerage office in 1857, and became a well-known Wall Street figure during the Gilded Age.

John D. Rockefeller (1839-1937) was a business magnate and philanthropist whose Standard Oil empire made him the wealthiest man in the world. Henry M. Flagler (1830-1913) was a real estate and railroad entrepreneur who also co-founded Standard Oil. Joel Francis Freeman (1836-1910) was a close neighbor to Rockefeller in Cleveland, Ohio, served as a director and trustee for several banks and rail lines, as well being heavily involved in the financial operations of Standard Oil in its foundational years.

Standard Oil Company, established in Cleveland, Ohio in 1870, was created to monopolize the American petroleum industry through efficiency, aggressive acquisitions, and, eventually, control of over 90% of U.S. refining capacity. Its monopolistic practices led the various states in which it did business to enact laws limiting the scale of companies practicing within their borders. As a result, Rockefeller, Flagler, and partners reorganized the company into the Standard Oil Trust in 1882, the year this certificate was issued, allowing them to skirt many of the state regulations until the passage of the Sherman Anti-Trust Act in 1890. This legislation ensured free and competitive trade by abolishing monopolies. It would be another 21 years, however, until the Standard Oil Company was broken up into more than thirty pieces in 1911.

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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  • Dimensions: 15.75 x 7.75"
  • Medium: PPDS

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July 28, 2026 10:00 AM EDT
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