Lot of five Bank of California certificates, with rare imprinted revenue stamps. Two are signed by William Alvord. Includes: 1) Bank of California Duplicate of Exchange certificate, No. 65783, datelined San Francisco February 9, 1882, signed by bank president William Alvord. Printed below is "To the agency of the bank of California 14 Wall Street, New York". Vignette of woman with navigation instruments and ships in background. Red on white. Rare imprinted blue revenue stamp "=50=" above date. Scarce signature of the then President of the bank. Some slight water staining on lower bottom, otherwise Fine condition. 2) Bank of California Duplicate of Exchange certificate, No. 52937, datelined San Francisco January 2, 1878, signed by bank president William Alvord. Printed below is "To the agency of the bank of California 12 Pine Street Street, New York". Vignette of woman with navigation instruments and ships in background. Red on white. Beautiful, orange, 2-cent, US IR revenue stamp (center). "102" punched through near top, center. Scarce signature of the then President of the bank. 3) The Bank of California check No. 2796, issued February 8, 1870. On left, vignette of sailing ship at sea with 'North Pacific Transportation Company' written above and below vignette. Orange IR stamp in center, with 'Good only for checks and drafts payable at sight'. Black print on creme. 4) The Bank of California check No. 7838, issued October 16, 1871. On left, vignette of sailing ship at sea with 'North Pacific Transportation Company' written above and below vignette. Orange 2-cent IR stamp in center, with 'Only for bank'. At lower left, above the check amount ($1108.40), written by perforation stamp, is "X110 3X40". Black print on creme. 5) Bank of California check, No. 529, unissued. Red on white. Highly detailed vignette (left), showing steam sailing ship at sea, with "Pacific Mail Steam Ship Company" written. Ornate 2-cent, orange, IR stamp with Benjamin Franklin(?) facing left. William Alvord (January 3, 1833 - December 21, 1904) was a San Francisco merchant, banker and political leader. "In 1853, at the early age of twenty, having already by strict attention mastered a competent knowledge of mercantile and commercial problems as well as of the details of trade, he felt strong enough to branch out for himself and fortunately chose California as the scene of his enterprise. He settled, in those pioneer days of our State, at Marysville and established there the hardware house of Alvord and Haviland." Later in San Francisco he established a wholesale hardware importing business, later forming a partnership with Richard Patric. Alvord built up an extensive trade, but close application to business wore down his health. He finally sold his share to Patrick and went to Europe to recover his health. Upon his return in 1871 he was nominated for Mayor of San Francisco on the Republican ticket. Alvord was elected by a handsome margin, serving from December 4, 1871 to November 30, 1873. He was the 14th Mayor of San Francisco from 1871 to 1873 and served as president of the Bank of California from 1878 until his death. Franklin Collection California Franklin Collection