Peter Cooper Autographs
Peter Cooper (February 12, 1791 – April 4, 1883) was an American industrialist, inventor, philanthropist, and politician. He designed and built the first American steam locomotive, the Tom Thumb, founded the Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art, served as its first president, and stood for election as the Greenback Party's candidate in the 1876 presidential election.
Cooper began tinkering at a young age while working in various positions in New York City. He purchased a glue factory in 1821 and used that factory's profits to found the Canton Iron Works, where he earned even larger profits by fabricating machinery such as the Tom Thumb. Cooper's success as a businessman and inventor continued over the ensuing decades, and he became the first mill operator to successfully use anthracite coal to puddle iron. He also developed numerous patents for products such as gelatin and participated in the laying of the first transatlantic telegraph cable.
During the Gilded Age, Cooper became an ardent critic of the gold standard and the debt-based monetary system of bank currency, advocating instead for government-issued banknotes. Cooper was nominated for president at the 1876 Greenback National Convention, and the Greenback ticket of Cooper and Samuel Fenton Cary won just under one percent of the popular vote in the 1876 presidential election. His son Edward and his son-in-law Abram Hewitt both served as Mayor of New York City.
Read more about Peter Cooper on Wikipedia
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Traded items with a signature of Peter Cooper
The most expensive item with a signature of Peter Cooper (PETER COOPER - DOCUMENT SIGNED 12/1843) was sold in August 2025 for $764.85 while the cheapest item (SIGNED CUT PETER COOPER INVENTED TOM THUMB RAILROAD COA) found a new owner for $9.99 in August 2011. The month with the most items sold (3) was September 2022 with an average selling price of $22.50 for an autographed item of Peter Cooper. Sold items reached their highest average selling price in August 2025 with $764.85 and the month that saw the lowest prices with $9.99 was August 2011. In average, an autographed item from Peter Cooper is worth $75.00.
Most recently, these items with a signature of Peter Cooper were sold on eBay - click here for more items.
| Picture | Item Title | Price | Store |
 | c1870 Peter Cooper - Telegraph Giant - Railroad Baron - ALS Note Signed | $399.95 |  |
| c1870 Peter Cooper - Telegraph Giant - Railroad Baron - ALS Note Signed | $399.95 | |
| Original Cooper Union Agreement signed by PETER COOPER - 1882 | $75.00 | |
| Original Cooper Union Agreement signed by PETER COOPER - 1882 | $75.00 | |
| PETER COOPER - DOCUMENT SIGNED 05/01/1881 CO-SIGNED BY: GEORGE W. PLYMPTON | $636.10 | |
| PETER COOPER - DOCUMENT SIGNED 05/01/1881 CO-SIGNED BY: GEORGE W. PLYMPTON | $636.10 | |
| PETER COOPER - DOCUMENT SIGNED 12/1843 | $764.85 | |
| PETER COOPER - DOCUMENT SIGNED 12/1843 | $764.85 | |
| Peter Cooper 1857 Signed Letter to President of L & A Telephone Company | $134.99 | |
| Peter Cooper 1857 Signed Letter to President of L & A Telephone Company | $134.99 | |
| Peter Cooper Hewitt, Inventor, New York City, 1898 Autograph Letter Signed | $22.50 | |
| Peter Cooper Hewitt, Inventor, New York City, 1898 Autograph Letter Signed | $22.50 | |
| Peter Cooper, Inventor and U.S. Presidential Candidate, 1876 Letter Signed | $28.00 | |
| Peter Cooper, Inventor and U.S. Presidential Candidate, 1876 Letter Signed | $28.00 | |
| Peter Cooper, Inventor, New York City, Document Signed, Cooper Union Lease 1863 | $19.00 | |
