Donation Certificate: STATUE OF LIBERTY Presented By The Republic of France to the People of the United States of America, hereby certify that James Shearer contributed the sum Ten dollars for the erection of a suitable Pedestal for this Magnificent Monument

Approximately 21 x 16.5" in an ornate silver painted wooden frame 24.5 x 19.5". The certificate is soiled, creased, torn, and missing upper corners, frame's backing paper is torn, note on the backing paper "Written on back James Shearer No. 9". Not examined out of frame. The Statue of Liberty was a gift from France to the United States with fund raising efforts from each country, France for the statue and the United States for the pedestal, in 1875 and 1876 respectively. France achieved its goal and the statue would be completed in 1883. After an earlier unsuccessful attempt the American Committee was founded in 1877 to raise money, which also proved difficult. This committee created elabortate "donation certificates" as part of the fund raising effort, the person who donated would have his/her name written in along with the amount given and then most likely framed and hung on their wall. More financial problems ensued etc. but the pedestal was finally completed in April 1886. Extremely SCARCE! We cannot ship this item, so please pick-ups only!!! No exceptions. …