Charles H. T. Collis Autograph – Medal of Honor Recipient

Description

Charles H. T. Collis Autograph – Medal of Honor Recipient
Offered for your consideration is a late nineteenth century railroad stock certificate issued to and signed by a Civil War Medal of Honor recipient. The certificate was issued by the “
Oregon and Transcontinental Company
”, with their name appearing in a wavy format above the central vignette. This scene depicts two Native American braves atop a rocky outcrop, overlooking the unstoppable movement of progress. This movement is represented by a river with several vessels plying the waters, farmers clearing the fields around a house and barn, as well as a steam locomotive and associated rolling stock. On the opposite side of the figures can be seen miners at work in a creek, with a sprawling town in the background. It is interesting to note the posture of the two Natives, the one facing the progress has his hand raised as if to try to stop the ingress, while his partner has his hand down, almost in submission. Below this evocative scene, printed in lovely, italic script is a financial obligation which states (in part) that “
This is to Certify, that Charles H. T. Collis is the owner of ONE HUNDRED Shares of One Hundred Dollars each, fully paid and free from assessments in the Capital Stock of the Oregon and Transcontinental Company … As Witness our hands and the Corporate Seal of said Company, this 15 day of MAY 1889.
”. This obligation is followed by the signatures of two of the company’s officers, while a third individual signs at the left for the “
FARMERS LOAN & TRUST CO. OF N.Y.
”. A decorative border, presented in green, encloses all of the foregoing elements, with the denomination of the certificate and the overall capital of the company included. The back is dominated by a partly-printed transfer, presented in green ink, verifying the sale of this certificate, and signed at the conclusion by “
Charles H. T. Collis
” (it is also signed by a witness). The stock was printed by the “
AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY, NEW YORK
”, as evidenced by their imprint at the lower right on the front. A well-designed and executed certificate, made all the more desirable by the signature of Collis, a Medal of Honor recipient from the Civil War (see below). A great addition to any Civil War or Medal of Honor autograph collection.
Charles Henry Tucker Collis
was born on February 4, 1838 in County Cork, Ireland, and immigrated to the United States in 1853, settling in Pennsylvania. After studying law, Collis was admitted to the bar in 1859. At the outbreak of the Civil War, he enlisted in the 18
th
Pennsylvania Infantry, a three-month unit, and was soon promoted to sergeant major. Discharged with his unit, he was subsequently commissioned a captain and instructed to raise a company from among the local European immigrants. This unit, called Collis’ Independent Company “Zouaves d’Afrique” (African Zouaves), was patterned after, and attired similar to, North African soldiers who served in the French Army. With the success of this unit, Collis was promoted to colonel and ordered to recruit an entire regiment of Zouaves. This unit, which became the 114
th
Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, wore a modified uniform consisting of a short blue collarless jacket, sky blue sash, red pantaloons, and white gaiters. The entire ensemble was topped by a red Moroccan fez with a yellow-gold tassel (for dress parade, a white turban was wound around the fez). Colonel Collis led his men bravely during the Battle of Fredericksburg, an action for which he would be awarded the Medal of Honor. Suffering the effects of malaria, Collis was carried from the battlefield at Chancellorsville on a stretcher. After the battle, enemies within the ranks falsely accused him of cowardice, leading to a court-martial (he was fully exonerated, showing that he commanded his regiment until he collapsed from exhaustion). Upon his return to duty in August, 1863, Collis was given command of a brigade under Major General David B. Birney (this included his old regiment). Given command of an independent brigade, he apparently served faithfully from the Rappahannock through Petersburg. On December 12, 1864, Collis was nominated for appointment to the rank of brevet brigadier general of volunteers to rank from October 28, 1864, with the Senate confirming the grade on February 14, 1865. During the fighting around Petersburg on April 2, 1865, his brigade went to the relief of the IX Corps and successfully regained ground that had been previously lost. Charles H. T. Collis was mustered out of the service on May 29, 1865. The following January, President Andrew Johnson nominated him for appointment to the brevet rank of major general to rank from March 13, 1865, and the Senate confirmed him on March 12, 1866. Following the war, Collis returned to his law practice in Philadelphia, and in 1866, he became Assistant City Solicitor. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for his service at the battle of Fredericksburg on March 10, 1893. Charles Henry Tucker Collis died at Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania on May 11, 1902, and was buried in the Gettysburg National Cemetery (he had built a home there on Seminary Ridge).
Medal of Honor Citation:
Gallantly led his regiment in battle at a critical moment.
The presently offered document exhibits signs of period use, as well as subsequent long-term storage. Toning is present across the entire surface, imparting to the paper an off-white to light beige hue, slightly darker at the edges. The left edge bears glue residue, though it is not as bad as others seen by the seller. This residue has caused the ink and signatures at the left to become somewhat faded. Two ink cancellations are present, as are six circular and one diamond-shaped punch cancellations (these cancellations affect all of the signatures, including one small part of Collis’ on the back). Numerous storage folds are present, an expected situation given the type of document presented (one of these affects the first few letters of Collis’ signature). The left edge is cut tight, a not so unusual occurrence since this is where the piece would be cut from the stub. The contrast is average for the issue, with Collis’s signature being sharp and fully legible. Measuring approximately 7⅛ x 10¾ inches (Collis’ signature measures almost 3¾ inches), this document would look great if framed with a portrait of Collis and the Medal of Honor. Rarely encountered.
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Buy or Bid with Confidence – American Coins & Collectibles President Richie Self has worked 6 years as a paper money grader/authenticator. He has contributed to numerous reference books within the industry, as well as being a co-author of “The Comprehensive Catalog and History of Confederate Bonds, 2
nd
Edition” with Douglas B. Ball, Ph.D., Henry F. Simmons, M.D., Ph.D. and James R. Desabaye. Mr. Self is a life member of the American Numismatic Association, the Society of Paper Money Collectors, as well as numerous regional numismatic associations. He is an authorized submitter to NGC, PCGS, and PMG, a diamond founding member of Coin Dealers Helping Coin Dealers and a supporter of the Industry Council for Tangible Assets. American Coins and Collectibles can be found at many of the state and local coin shows.
American Coins and Collectibles
Shreveport, LA