When the going gets tough, the tough declare themselves Emperor. Or so it seems for JoshuaAbraham Norton, who on September 17, 1859, published the following declaration in the San FranciscoEvening Bulletin:

"At the peremptory request and desire of a large majority of citizens of these United States, I,Joshua Norton, formerly of Algoa Bay, Cape of Good Hope, and now for the last nine years and tenmonths past of San Francisco, California, declare and proclaim myself the Emperor of these UnitedStates."

Norton was born in London in 1818, but lived from babyhood through his late twenties in CapeTown, South Africa. By 1849, when he learned of the discovery of gold in California, he was alreadyin business for himself and had received a comfortable inheritance from his parents. By November ofthat year (in time to be a true Forty-Niner) he had arrived in San Francisco and quickly madesomewhat of a success of himself as a commission merchant. He bought real estate, operated thefirst cigar factory, and opened the first rice mill in the city. An unsuccessful attempt to cornerthe market on rice, as well as downturns in the local economy led him to bankruptcy (and verypossibly dementia) in 1858, less than a decade after his arrival in the city.

However, it was only a year later that Norton reappeared on the scene in his new role asimperial leader, becoming a prime tourist attraction and generally endearing himself to residentsof and visitors to San Francisco. He issued regular pronouncements and decrees calling for, amongother things, abolishing the Congress of the United States, by force of the U.S. Army if necessary.As Emperor, he issued paper money "bonds" in denominations from 50¢ to $100, which he used ascurrency (generally accepted) in the local economy.

After 20 years, on January 8, 1880, Emperor Norton's reign came to an end when he collapsed on adowntown San Francisco corner. His obituary was printed on the front pages of local newspapers andit is said that over 30,000 people attended his funeral.

While most of the "bonds" issued by Emperor Norton are long gone, it is believed that 25 to 35remain in collectors' hands. It is a rare occasion when we offer one for sale, however we do notethat we offered the three examples shown here in a single sale. That was the John J. Ford, Jr.Collection, Part XX, which we sold in October 2007.

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