JAY COOKE (1821-1905) American banker whose marketing of government bonds was essential for the financial support of the Union. Cooke was later quite active in railroad and mining ventures. Scarce D.S., a stock certificate for two $100 shares of common stock in the Northern Pacific Railroad Company issued to Cooke, Dec. 1, 1876, boldly signed by Cooke as Trustee on verso. Punch cancel affects signatures on recto, Cooke's signature is fine. After the war, Cooke became interested in the development of the northwest, and in 1870 his firm financed the construction of the Northern Pacific Railway. Cooke fell in love with Duluth and decided he must make it successful, the new Chicago. To this end he began purchasing railways with the dream of reaching the Pacific to bring goods through Duluth into the Great Lakes shipping system and on to the markets of Europe. In advancing the money for the work, the firm overestimated its capital, and at the approach of the Panic of 1873 it was forced to suspend. Cooke himself was forced into bankruptcy; Cooke's shares in the Northern Pacific Railway were purchased for pennies on the dollar by George Stephen. $500-700