Joseph Pulitzer Signed Contract for Rebuild of St. Louis-Post Dispatch Building

A partially printed document signed by Joseph Pulitzer (1847-1911) as “Joseph Pulitzer”, 3pp, 8.5" x 14", n.p., April 7, 1887. A red-lined "Builder's Contract", countersigned by “carpenter and contracting builder” Frank S. Greene for changes to the building “known as the Provident Bank Building no. 513 Olive Street", which would house the St. Louis-Post Dispatch from 1888 to 1902. Docketed at verso. Accompanied by a 1p typed memorandum related to the contract, dated St. Louis, July 11, 1887, and signed by Greene, "Frank S. Greene". Folds, toning, foxing, and soiling, else in very good plus to near fine condition.

Austro-Hungarian immigrant, Republican politician, and journalist Joseph Pulitzer bought the German-American St. Louis Westliche Post in 1878, merged it with the St. Louis Dispatch and, by using it to expose corruption and injustice, made it one of the largest newspapers in the Midwest. Buoyed by its success, he bought the New York World in 1883 and implemented the same techniques he used in St. Louis to change the fortunes of the ailing newspaper. Despite his move to New York City, he retained ownership of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

In 1888, the Post-Dispatch offices moved from Market Street to 513 Olive Street, the address in our document, occupying the premises until 1902, at which point the company moved to North Broadway and then to a state-of-the-art building at the corner of 12th and Olive streets in 1918. Although the St. Louis Post-Dispatch continues to be the region’s largest newspaper, the building referred to in our document, like many earlier structures in St. Louis, has long since been demolished.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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