1836 Texas Scrip

Thomas Toby Texas Scrip Signed. Two partially printed pages of a bifolium, 10.5" x 17", New Orleans, October 10, 1836, "No. 706" issued to "Dobson Williams of the City of Mobile" for 640 acres. Page two contains transfer information to an unspecified receiver. Page three is a printed page outlining the articles governing the Texas Republic's commission of Thomas Toby as scrip agent. This page contains two printed signatures of David G. Burnet, who was elected ad interim president by delegates in March at the Convention of 1836. He served in this capacity until Sam Houston was elected president later in October 1836. Texas Revolution participant William Christy has signed the bottom of page three as a notary public. This rare Texas scrip bears cancellation cuts.

Throughout its time as a republic, Texas had a large amount of debt. It also had a large amount of public domain lands which it tried to sell to reduce its debt. One way to sell the land was through land scrip, which was issued by the Texas government for sale in the U.S. In June 1836, the Republic commissioned Toby and Brother Company of New Orleans, comprised of brothers Thomas and Samuel Toby, to begin selling Texas land scrip. "Toby scrip," as it was often called, was sold in the east by subagents employed by the company. In December 1837 after eighteen months as Texas' scrip agents, the Texas Congress withdrew the Toby and Brother Company's commission, though not before they sold over 100,000 acres.