Terms
1) I prefer to only sell to people who have a US mailing address. If you are outside the USA and buy multiple lots, I cannot send you an invoice and you may have to pay separate s/h for every lot, which is quite expensive. That is beyond my control.
2) Due to eBay's invoicing policies, generally a maximum of 20 items can be put on an invoice.
3) Please wait for me to send an invoice before you pay. I send all items insured or at least with a tracking number. The cost of this is included in the total s/h cost of listed in the ordering information.
4) Wins from the same day will be combined for combined s/h savings, but not for auctions over more than one week. Thanks!
5) I combine postage, so multiple items will be sent together for the higher of the shipping prices quoted. (For example, if you win a banknote with a $4.99 stated s/h rate and a heavier coin set with a $5.49 quoted s/h rate, they will be sent together and your total s/h would be $5.49.
6) I will combine the first 4 wins at the highest quoted price. After 4 wins I will charge an extra 25 cents per item sent at the same time, in addition to the base s/h.
7) Books will likely be sent media rate and may have to be sent separately from non-book items. Ask if you have questions on shipping.
My inventory tracking number is #A1172.
This is a great old check from Texas with Vignette of Cotton broker and workers, from a famous and interesting banker.
Date: January 21, 1884
Account of: John Twohig
Bank: John Twohig, Banker
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Amount: $700.00
Payee: Lawrence Haley (a rancher), item has words written in ink: Cancelled Jany 26- Not used returned to order of Lawrence Haley.
History from various sources:
Twohig, John (1806–1891).John Twohig, San Antonio merchant and banker, was born in Cork County, Ireland, in April 1806. After serving as an apprentice on a British merchant vessel and engaging in coastwise trade between New Orleans and Boston, he established a mercantile business in San Antonio, Texas, in 1830 and took part in the siege of Bexar in 1835. At the time of the Adrián Woll invasion of San Antonio in September 1842, Twohig blew up his store to keep ammunition from the enemy. Captured and taken to Mexico, he and fourteen other San Antonians held in Perote Prison cut a tunnel and effected their escape on July 2, 1843; Twohig was one of nine not recaptured. He returned to San Antonio, became a banker, and was widely known for his breadline for the unfortunate. This breadline, which he financed personally, was continued by his sister for several years after his death. In April 1853 Twohig married Bettie Calvert of Seguin. In the years prior to the Civil War he amassed a large personal fortune. His banking business declined because of the effects of the war, but soon recovered. In 1870 Twohig was among the 100 wealthiest men in Texas, with real property estimated at $90,000 and personal property worth an additional $50,000. He died at his home in San Antonio in October 1891.
San Antonio merchant and banker
JOHN TWOHIG. San Antonio Loses One of Her Pioneer Millionaire Citizens -A Sketch of His Eventful Life. Special to the Gazette, San Antonio Texas, Oct 13 John Twohig a pioneer citizen of this city and a banker whoso wealth is about $3,000,000 died today aged eighty five years. Mr. Twohig had been a resident of this city since 1836. He was born in Ireland and when fourteen years of age ran away from home and went to sea. He followed the life of a sailor until he reached manhood visiting nearly every prominent port in the world. When he came to this city he was without a dollar but by steady application to business, keen judgment and strict honesty he soon began to accumulate a fortune in the merchandise business. His life was one of vicissitudes and hardships up to the time Texas secured her independence. He was an active participant in the memorable events which took place in San Antonio prior to tho Mexican war and during the period of the latter. In 1842 when Gen Vasquez made a raid in this city Mr Twohig blew up his store with powder to prevent it falling into the hands of the enemy. Although a citizen of Ireland he refused to seek protection on the ground of being a British subject. It was in November of that same year that Gen Waal crossed the Rio Grande with an army and captured this city taking Mr. Twohig prisoner together with thirty others. He was marched to the Mexican prison at Perote near the City of Mexico. After two years' confinement in this prison he was condemned to death but made his escape by digging his way through a nine foot wall before the sentence could be carried out. He then joined a party of bandits and with the assistance of the robbers made his way back to Texas. He was a celebrated philanthropist and there are no less than 100 families of Mexicans in this city who have depended on his charity for a living for many years. During the drought of 1885 and l886 he paid out every day $100 to the helpless people of San Antonio and surrounding section. His vast estates will go to his sister Miss Kate Twohig and the Catholic church. Fort Worth Daily Gazette, Fort Worth, Texas, Oct 14, 1891.
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SAN ANTONIO, Tex., Oct. 14. - The funeral of the late banker John Twohig occurred this morning and was one of the largest seen here for a long time. A prominent feature of the cortege was the Catholic orphans on foot. The religions orders of the Catholic church, as well as the laity, largely attended, and during the passage of the funeral all of the places of business were closed. The services were conducted by the Rev. Father Smith, parish of St. Mary's church, but Bishop J. C. Neraz attended the funeral. The body was interred beside that of the wife of the deceased in the Campo Santo, in the west suburbs. Nearly all of the city county officials and most of the prominent commercial citizens attended the funeral. The district court of the Thirty-seventh judicial district closed as a mark of respect to the deceased, and its judge was one of the pall bearers. The Galveston Daily News, Galveston, Texas, 15, 1891.
Almost all old checks are cancelled with various type of cuts or spindle holes and often ink stamps. Take this into account when bidding.
I have a number of other beautiful postal items, financial documents, banknotes and stock and bond certificates, as well as other historic items currently listed on eBay, so please see my other auctions.