1863 Bank of Gettysburg Stock Issued Day Lincoln Arrived at Gettysburg Nov 18th

Description

The following item is one of great historical significance and value. It is an original Bank of Gettysburg stock certificate from 1863. This certificate is made out to the Honorable David M. Smyser, a Gettysburg attorney who was a business associate of Thaddeus Stevens. It is signed on the bottom right by Bank of Gettysburg President George Swope. Swope was the wealthiest man in Gettysburg during the 1860's. He was also the brother-in-law to David Smyser. David Smsyer also has another important Gettysburg connection as David Wills married his eldest daughter and together had seven children. Wills was the Gettysburg attorney who was responsible for the creation and layout of Soldier's National Cemetery in Gettysburg. It was at Will's home that Abraham Lincoln was a guest and where Lincoln finished his Gettysburg Address on the evening of November 18, 1863. This is where the historical importance comes into play. This Bank of Gettysburg stock certificate was filled out and executed on the same day Abraham Lincoln arrived in Gettysburg. He arrived on the 18th and left on the 19th, so any Gettysburg documents from that time frame are extremely rare. This is the first and only document we have ever come across from the time period that Lincoln was in Gettysburg. It is filled out entirely by Bank President George Swope in period ink. It is very unlikely that you will ever come across another one of these let alone any Gettysburg document dated from the 18th of November. This bank certificate is 100% unconditionally guaranteed to be authentic.