American Express Co. signed by James C. Fargo - 1871-1893 dated Autograph Stock Certificate

Stock signed by James C. Fargo as President. Engraved by American Bank Note with the great 'Safety and Dispatch' vignette of the company's dog mascot. Also signed by Knapp as secretary and Clark as treasurer.

James Congdel Fargo (1829-1915) The son of James Fargo, James Congdel Fargo entered the employ of Wells & Co. (in which his brother, William George Fargo was a partner) at Buffalo in 1844. In 1866 after becoming agent and manager of the firm’s successor, the American Express Co., Fargo went to New York as General Superintendent and Manager. In 1881 he became President of the company as well as President of Westcott Express Co. and National Express Co. As president of the American Express Company James C. Fargo was well off and well known. It is not surprising that he felt insulted when he could not get checks cashed during a trip to Europe in 1890. The European bankers were steadfast as Fargo was not known to them, they would not cash his checks. Would Americans always have a cash problem when traveling in Europe?

Marcellus F. Berryn, an employee of the American Express Company set out to find a solution. He wrote later: "There’s one thing every person does in a distinctive way. That is writing his signature. Therefore the foolproof device for taking money to strange places must carry the signature of the bearer. It must declare that it will be cashed only when a second, and matching, signature is added before witnesses." On July 7, 1891, Berry was granted four copyrights for what he called "the travelers cheque," and William C. Fargo got the first one. He had no difficulty when he wanted fifty dollars a few weeks later in Leipzig, Germany. In 1891, American Express sold $9,120.00 worth of travelers checks, and the amount has risen every year. During 2000, sales of American Express Travelers Cheques increased to $24.6 billion.

The American Express Company (AMEX) was founded in 1850 in Buffalo, New York, by Henry Wells, William G. Fargo, and John Butterfield, the American Express Company began as a joint-stock courier service specializing in transporting currency, valuable goods, and express mail. It grew rapidly alongside the railroads, capitalizing on the need for reliable transport during the Civil War era and establishing a strong reputation for safety.

Transitioning away from physical transport, the company revolutionized travel with the introduction of its signature traveler's checks in 1891. After moving its headquarters to New York City and expanding globally, Amex entered the financial services sector, launching its first charge card in 1958 and developing, over the following decades, into a global leader in credit cards and banking services.

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