Description:

Benjamin Altman
New York, NY, ca. 1903-1917
Benjamin Altman & Michael Friedsam Seven Signed Checks, Over $1 Million in Today's Money!
Archive
A collection of seven checks with 2 signed by businessmen and art collector Benjamin Altman and 5 signed by Michael Friedsam on behalf of Altman's Estate. All of the checks have cancellation punches or cuts. Minor ink smudging to some. Light wear to the check edges. Boldly signed by all. Very good overall.

The collection is comprised of five checks dated 1916 to 1917 and signed "M. Friedsam", on behalf of the Estate of Benjamin Altman. The checks numbered 117-121 were written between December 30, 1916, and January 15, 1917, and paid out a collective $43,235.08, or the equivalent of $1,059,083.82 in 2024 currency. Additionally, there are two checks dated 1903 and 1905 and signed by Altman himself as "Benjamin Altman", spending a further $1,005.60. The recipients of Altman and Friedsam's checks include a realtor, an insurance company, a bank, property management, and architectural firms, thus representing Altman's commercial interests.

Includes:
1. Check Signed "M Friedsam." New York, dated December 30, 1916. Check No. 117, drawn on The Astor Trust Co., with a payment of $2,125 made out to The Mutual Life Insurance Company of New York. Estate of Benjamin Altman.
2. Check Signed "M Friedsam." New York, dated December 30, 1916. Check No. 118, drawn on The Astor Trust Co., with a payment of $22,500 made out to the Estate of Marshall Field. Estate of Benjamin Altman.
3. Check Signed "M Friedsam." New York, dated January 2, 1917. Check No. 119, drawn on The Astor Trust Co., with a payment of $10,733.33 made out to The Chemical National Bank. Estate of Benjamin Altman.
4. Check Signed "M Friedsam." New York, dated January 2, 1917. Check No. 120, drawn on The Astor Trust Co., with a payment of $3,187.50 made out to Roxton Realty Company. Estate of Benjamin Altman.
5. Check Signed "M Friedsam." New York, dated January 15, 1917. Check No. 121, drawn on The Astor Trust Co., with a payment of $4,689.25 made out to Roxton Realty Company. Estate of Benjamin Altman.
6. Check Signed "Benjamin Altman." New York, dated December 4, 1903. Check No. 846, drawn on The Chemical National Bank, with a payment of $5.60 made out to Fraser & Co.
7. Check Signed "Benjamin Altman." New York, dated July 12, 1905. Check No. 566, drawn on The Farmers' Loan and Trust Company, with a payment of $1,000 made out to Trowbridge & Livingston.

Benjamin Altman (1840-1913), the founder of the extremely successful chain of New York City department stores, B. Altman & Co. He had little formal schooling, but at the age of 25 he opened his first dry-goods store in Manhattan and in 1906 moved it to the uptown section, pioneering the movement of business there. With additions in 1913–14, the store occupied the entire block bounded by Madison and Fifth avenues and 34th and 35th streets. Altman was also a director and a stockholder in the Astor Trust Company. After Altman acquired property owned by W.W. Astor in 1910 on a long lease, he owned outright more than half of the block bordered by Fifth and Madison Avenues, between 34th and 35th Streets.

Michael Friedsam (1860–1931) was an American philanthropist of New York City and served as president of B. Altman and Company. He was also one of the premier art collectors in America at that time. Friedsam never married and left his estate valued at $20 million ($470 million in 2023) to charities and public bequests. A large part of his collection was bequeathed to the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Brooklyn Museum of Art.

Marshall Field was also an American entrepreneur and the founder of Marshall Field and Company, the Chicago-based department stores. His business was renowned for its then-exceptional level of quality and customer service, however Field had died in 1906, 10 years before this check was written. It is unclear what the Altman funds were used for, but Field was also known for some of his philanthropic donations.

We've done our best, but there could be secretarial or facsimile signatures found within this larger collection.

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: 8.5" x 3"
  • Medium: Archive

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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