^Lot 1341 Massachusetts and California Company Numismatic

The Massachusetts and California Company stocks are among the most desirable of the private gold coin related ephemera. At present there are three of these certificates known to the author. All three have been in private collections for at least thirty years. None of the three have been filled out. The piece clearly dates from 1849. They were to have been issued at the North Hampton office for the company. These certificates are important because this company left Boston for California in January of 1849, arriving in San Francisco in August with 49 passengers. The company's President, Josiah Hayden, was a gold pen manufacturer. His son, William, was the company's assayer, and a veteran of the U.S. Mint system. Private gold coins are known from this firm. Brown stains along right edge and foxing along lower half.