[RAILROADS - MORMON] Ultra Rare 1869 Pacific Railroad Broadside

About Auction

Live

Day 2: Early & Historic Americana

By Fleischer's Auctions

Oct 10, 2025

Set Reminder 2025-10-10 09:00:00 2025-10-10 09:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Day 2: Early & Historic Americana https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/fleischers-auctions/day-2-early-historic-americana-19250
Day one of Fleischer's 2025 Fall Premier auction includes early American artifacts, documents, signatures, ephemera, and weaponry. Rare material relating to African American history is featured, as well as fine examples of antique photography. Fleischer's Auctions info@fleischersauctions.com

View Full Catalog (357)

• Lot Description

  Completion of the Pacific Railroad. Celebration To-Day. Illustrated letterpress broadside. Salt Lake City, Utah: Telegraph Print, 1869. 14 x 8 1/2inch. Signed in type by Committee members S.W. Richards, A.H. Raleigh, R.T. Burton, as well as "Marshal of the Day" John D.T. McAllister. Printed with a decorative border and a fine woodcut of a steam engine emerging through a tunnel. 

   

  "EXCESSIVELY RARE" 1869 MORMON BROADSIDE CELEBRATING THE COMPLETION OF THE PACIFIC RAILROAD

   

  The Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) was a part of the first transcontinental railroad, which began in earnest after the conclusion of the Civil War. President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Brigham Young (1801-1877) was an early supporter of the UPRR, purchasing stock as early as 1863. He hoped that it would better connect the Mormon community and bring new members, as well as business, to their western territory. When the track entered Utah territory, Young and other prominent Church members secured contracts to grade the line of the UPRR through Echo and Weber Canyons. 

   

  This broadside celebrates the completion of the Pacific Railroad, where the track was connected "in the vicinity of the Northern shores of the Great Salt Lake, the Last Rail will be laid on the Great Iron Way that spans from ocean to ocean the American Continent." The programme of the day begins with the laying of the last rail at Promontory Summit, followed by an artillery salute and unfurling of flags. Thereafter, the "people generally, are requested to meet at the New Tabernacle to join in expressions of becoming satisfaction." The evening was concluded with an Illumination that promised to "be attractive and interesting." 

   

  EXCEEDINGLY SCARCE, ONLY ONE OTHER COPY KNOWN.

   

  Only one copy has ever sold at auction, by the American Art Association (New York) in an auction featuring "an Important Collection of Historical Items Relating to California and the West" on 9 January 1923. The same copy is now held by the Huntington (Rare Books 45799). 

   

  The American Art Association catalogue noted that the broadside is "A highly important, excessively rare, most interesting, and probably unique broadside announcement of the completion of this grand triumph of American skill and enterprise." 

   

  (American Art Association, Catalogue of Historical Americana, Books, Tracts and Autographs from Various Collections, Including Those of Mrs. Leopold Markreit of New York City, Mrs John B. Rhodes of Pittsburgh, PA. Together with an Important Collection of Historical Items Relating to California and the West, Collected by Mr. H.C. Holmes of Berkeley, Cal., 9 January 1923, Lot 370).

   

  [Broadsides, Ephemera, Printing, Posters, Handbills, Documents, Newspapers] [Western Americana, Western History, Western Expansion, Wild West] [Western History, Western Expansion, Mormons, Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-day Saints, Mormon Church, Mormon Trail, Brigham Young, Joseph Smith, Mormon Tabernacle, Utah, Salt Lake City, Polygamy, Plural Marriage]

   

  Condition

  Request Condition Report

  Residue to left edge verso, indicating it was previously mounted or bound in a book or scrapbook. 

• Shipping Info

  • SHIPPING PROTOCOL AND INSURANCE

    All packages valued at over $250 are shipped with a signature required upon delivery. All packages handled and shipped in-house by Fleischer’s Auctions are not insured unless insurance is requested. Successful bidders who would like their packages insured are responsible for notifying us that this is the case and are responsible for paying the cost of insurance

• Payment & Auction Policies

  • Available payment options

    • 
    • 
    • 
    • 
    • 
    • 
    • 
• Buyer's Premium
  • 27.00 %