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An outstanding piece of early Colorado history: an original handwritten and signed bank check dated October 26, 1885, associated with Colorado pioneer Jonas E. Wannemaker, an early settler of the Golden area and namesake of the historic Wannemaker Ditch.
Issued through The City National Bank of Denver, Colorado, the check was made payable to Mrs. J. E. Wannemaker in the amount of $100 and bears the handwritten signature of J. E. Wannemaker.
The reverse features Mrs. Wannemaker’s handwritten endorsement, along with a stamped instruction for deposit through First National Bank to the credit of Daniels & Fisher, the historic Denver mercantile establishment.
Historical Significance
Jonas E. Wannemaker was associated with the early settlement and agricultural development of the Golden, Colorado, area. He is remembered in local history for the Wannemaker Ditch, an early irrigation waterway connected with Clear Creek and the development of Colorado’s agricultural water infrastructure.
This surviving 1885 check offers a fascinating connection to an early Colorado pioneer and his family, documenting an actual financial transaction during Colorado’s nineteenth-century development.
Document Details:
* Original dated bank check
* Date: October 26, 1885
* Bank: The City National Bank of Denver, Colorado
* Payee: Mrs. J. E. Wannemaker
* Amount: $100.00
* Signed: J. E. Wannemaker
* Reverse: Handwritten endorsement and deposit instruction referencing First National Bank and Daniels & Fisher
* Measurements: Approximately 7.75 x 3 inches
* Decorative green printed bank lettering and border
* Original handwritten entries, cancellation markings, and reverse-side stamps
Condition: Original antique condition with period folds, handling wear, light discoloration, ink markings, and cancellation stamps. The check retains its decorative printing and clearly visible handwritten information. Please review all photographs for condition.
A particularly interesting collectible for enthusiasts of Colorado pioneer history, Golden and Denver history, nineteenth-century banking, historic irrigation and water rights, Western Americana, and early Colorado autographs.
