A double-sided ledger from the Hudson River Railroad Company account books, signed three separate times by Cornelius Vanderbilt (1794-1877), the railroad company's majority shareholder. Vanderbilt signed his name as "C Vanderbilt" three times: on line 9, on line 19, and on line 21. One side of the ledger is entitled "10th Dividend" and is dated April 15, 1867 while the reverse is entitled "11th Dividend" and is dated October 15, 1867; Vanderbilt's three signatures appear on this latter page. Lightly toned, and with isolated edge darkening, else near fine. On elephant folio-sized ledger pages measuring 11.25" x 17.25." Accompanied by a brief biography of Vanderbilt.

The Hudson River Railroad Company paid out its shareholders 4% dividends on Capital Stock twice a year, in April and in October. The red- and blue-ruled ledger pages are partially printed and partially handwritten, and divided into six columns. Stockholder signatures appear in the "Signatures" column at extreme right. The two pages of this ledger show the names of 27 stockholders collecting dividends. Cornelius Vanderbilt signed receipts on behalf of three men, either close business associates or family members. These included:

- Line 9, "A B Baylis," referring to Abraham B. Baylis (1811-1882), one of Vanderbilt's closest confidantes. Baylis had joined the New York Stock exchange in 1841. He had served as one of the governors of the Exchange and assumed the role of Exchange president between 1862-1863.

- Line 19, "Smith Barker," referring to Smith Barker (1835-1869), Vanderbilt's son-in-law. Barker had married Vanderbilt's ninth daughter Catherine Vanderbilt (1836-1881) about 1854.

- Line 21, "Jas H Banker," referring to James H. Banker, who served as a director of the New York Central Railroad Company after 1866. (Vanderbilt had controlling interests in this this railroad company after 1867.) Banker also served as either the president or vice president of the Bank of New York (accounts vary as to his exact position.)

Cornelius Vanderbilt had been known as "The Commodore" since his days as a teenaged ferry boatman plying the waters between Staten Island and Manhattan. Vanderbilt had a keen business sense, and gained his fortune investing in ferry and steamboat service in and around New York City, New Jersey, Long Island Sound, and the Hudson River. In the late 1840s, he diversified his portfolio and began investing in railroad companies. He bought control of the Hudson River Railroad in 1864, and the New York Central Railroad in 1867, merging the two companies as the New York Central and Hudson River Railroad Company in 1869.

The Hudson River Railroad was chartered in 1846 in order to extend existing railroad service between Troy and Rensselaer, New York, with new routes south into New York City. It fully opened in 1851; its trajectory on the east side of the Hudson River closely follows that of today's Metro-North Railroad Hudson Line.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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