Description:

Andrew Carnegie to Charles M. Schwab, 2 Weeks Before J.P. Morgan Buyout! Super Rare & Desirable

A 1p typed letter signed by Scottish-American industrialist Andrew Carnegie (1835-1919) as "Andrew Carnegie" at lower right. The signature is large, measuring 4" x 1.125" alone. Written in New York City on February 18, 1901, on a leaf with "Andrew Carnegie / 5 West 51st St" letterhead. On the reverse is found a pencil inscription in an unknown hand, possibly representing a related secretarial dictation, reading in part: "My Dear Mr Story / I have much / pleasure in going / enclosed reply [?] / A Carnegie." Expected light paper folds, minor corner folds, and unevenly trimmed at bottom. Scattered pencil inscriptions from a former collector, and isolated stains, else very good to near fine. 7.875" x 7."

Andrew Carnegie, founder of the eponymous steel conglomerate, addressed this letter to Charles M. Schwab (1862-1939) and Alexander Rolland Peacock (1861-1928), respectively President and Vice President of Carnegie Steel Company.

Carnegie wrote in part: "Let me introduce to you Mr Douglas Story, whom I should like to have escorted over our works, and also such courtesies extended to him as are in your power…"

Carnegie's attention to such as mundane matters as requesting a factory tour for a visiting journalist belies the fact that he was on the cusp of participating in one of the largest business transactions in American history. Carnegie was approaching retirement age in 1901; this life event perfectly dovetailed with the desire of Wall Street behemoth J.P. Morgan to buy out Carnegie's lucrative Pittsburgh-based steel manufacturing concern. Charles M. Schwab secretly negotiated the terms of the buyout. On February 26, 1901, about one week after this letter, Carnegie consented to the terms of the sale; on March 2, 1901, the details were finalized. Carnegie was thus two weeks out from selling Carnegie Steel Company for $480 million, making him one of the wealthiest men in the world.

Charles M. Schwab and A.R. Peacock had similar professional trajectories within the Carnegie Steel Company, starting out in entry positions and working their way up the corporate ladder. Schwab was Carnegie's protegee and friend as well as employee. Peacock hailed from Dunfermline, Scotland, Carnegie's birthplace. Both Schwab and Peacock became millionaires following Carnegie's sellout to J.P. Morgan.

Douglas Story was indeed a "well-known writer," as Carnegie described him in this letter. A Scottish journalist, newspaper editor, and war correspondent, Story was affiliated, over the course of his career, with publications like the "Daily Mail," "New York Herald," and "South China Morning Post." He covered both the Boer War and the Russo-Japanese War, and was the author of the book, "To-morrow in the East" (1907).

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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