ALS signed “Sam'l F. B. Morse,” one page, 7.75 x 9.75, June 21, 1854. Letter to Samuel Colgate, requesting proxy votes from him, apparently to forestall a hostile takeover. In full: "Will you and your brother give me your proxies in blank as below for the next meeting of the Stockholders of the New York Albany and Buffalo Teleg Co. We wish to be prepared against an intrigue of the pirates. I will explain more fully when I see you." Below, Morse writes out a sample form: "We hereby constitute [blank] to be our proxy to vote our Stock at the next annual meeting of the N. York, Albany & Buffalo Telegraph Company. New York, June [blank] 1854." In fine condition.
In this letter, the "pirates" Morse mentions are probably Hiram Sibley and Judge Samuel L. Selden of the New York and Mississippi Valley Printing Telegraph Company (NYMVPTC), a primary competitor of his existing New York, Albany and Buffalo Telegraph Company, formed in 1851. The NYMVPTC had recapitalized in 1854 to expand construction and acquisitions. In 1856, the NYMVPTC, changed its name to the Western Union Telegraph Company.
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