Auction Name: 2026 February 26 Historical Manuscripts & Texana Signature® Auction

Lot Number: 47027

Shortcut to Lot: HA.com/6328*47027

[Republic of Texas]. Sam Houston First Texian Loan Scrip Signed as President of the Republic of Texas. One partially printed page, 7 x 12 inches (sight), Houston; June 20, 1838. Handsomely matted and framed alongside an engraving of Houston to an overall size of 22 1/2 x 20 inches.

This very scarce scrip, a "Certificate of Title to Six Hundred and Forty Acres of Land," is No. 197 and is countersigned by Treasury Secretary Henry Smith. In part: "That, in consideration of a Loan to the Government of Texas, negotiated by the Commissioners of said Government in New Orleans, on the eleventh day of January, 1836, Thomas D. Carneal, of Cincinnati, Ohio, is entitled to have and to hold, six hundred and forty acres of land of the Public Domain of Texas, according to the terms and conditions of a Contract of Compromise, made and executed on the first day of April 1836, between the Government ad interim of Texas, and the Stockholders in the aforesaid Loan..." The loan authorizes Carneal, as the holder, to select any land owned by the government of the Republic of Texas "...at any time after the first Thursday in August next [1838]..." to be surveyed at his expense. The commissioners who negotiated the loan were Stephen F. Austin, Branch T. Archer, and William H. Wharton.

Other than one certificate issued to James N. Morrison of Maysville, Kentucky, all First Texian Loan certificates known to exist are issued to Thomas D. Carneal and are not mentioned by Streeter or Criswell. Houston's signature and paraph are very bold and clear, with a single cut cancellation passing through a portion of the paraph. A blind embossed seal of Texas, with star in the center, is placed at the left, above the words "By the President."

The last Houston signed First Texian Loan Scrip offered at Heritage sold for $11,352 in 2013.

Condition: Not examined out of frame. A few light creases, with minor mat burn at edges. A touch of ink blotting, not affecting legibility.

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