Original 1858 Illinois Central Rail Road Company shareholder documents, dated June 28, 1858 in New York.

Offered as a matched pair consisting of a notice from the Office of the Illinois Central Rail Road Co. announcing a $20-per-share assessment on company capital stock, together with the accompanying circular addressed “To the Shareholders of the Illinois Central Rail Road Co.”

The shareholder letter discusses the railroad’s financial condition following the recent financial crisis, floating debt, Optional Right Bonds, construction and operating expenditures, land sales, railroad earnings and the company’s expectations for recovery.

Both documents bear the printed name J. N. Perkins, Treasurer. One sheet also has an early handwritten notation reading “Illinois Central R.R. Co. June 28, 1858.”

A fascinating piece of early Illinois Central Railroad and American railroad/financial history dating to the decade before the Civil War.

Condition: Original antique documents with expected age-related wear, original folds/creases, light toning/soiling and minor edge/corner wear. Please examine all photographs carefully as they are part of the condition description. No restoration has been performed.

Included: Both 1858 documents shown in the photographs.

They will be carefully protected for shipment.