Description:

Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna
[New York, NY], June 28, 1866
Santa Anna Large & Attractive Signed Bond
PPDS

A financial document signed by Antonio López de Santa Anna (1794-1876), the Mexican military commander and former president, as "A.L. de S.ta Anna" at lower right. June 28, 1866. [New York, New York.] Co-signed by two witnesses at lower left; by an unknown official near the left edge; and by the notary along the right edge. Partly printed and partly hand-stamped on paper. With two embossed seals: an orange one featuring Santa Anna's monogram at lower right; and a green notary public's seal nearer to right edge. Docketed verso. Signed and numbered, but not issued to a specific bearer. Lovely engraved vignettes along the edges, including views of Santa Anna's Caribbean properties, which were promised as collateral. Very light wrinkling and uneven edge darkening, else near fine. Provenance: Ex-James Smalldon, 1965.

This First Mortgage Bond, no. 734, represented a $500 loan granted to Santa Anna and entrusted by Virgil Whitcomb and Henry G. Norton. The loan was guaranteed to be repaid in 24 months at 7% interest. His collateral was "about three hundred and seventy eight square miles of land in the State of Vera Cruz, Mexico, together with two palaces and grounds one situated in the Island of St. Thomas and the other in Turbaco in the Republic of New Granada."

After Santa Anna's final political ouster from Mexico in 1854, he was a virtual exile between 1855-1874. He sought refuge in the United States, Cuba, St. Thomas, and modern day Columbia. This mortgage bond represented one of the ways that Santa Anna attempted to raise funds to return to Mexico. His attempt at business investment has been characterized in a variety of ways. Some maintained that Santa Anna's ventures failed because he was duped by con artists; while others, like M.H. Loewenstern, asserted that Santa Anna was in fact the crook.

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: 16.625" x 13"
  • Medium: PPDS

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August 27, 2025 10:00 AM EDT
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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
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$100 $299 $20
$300 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $2,999 $200
$3,000 $4,999 $250
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$50,000 + $5,000