United States Steel Corp. Issued to and Signed by James A. Farrell, Sr. - 1903 dated $500 US Steel Gold Bond

20,000, 5% Gold Bond printed by American Bank Note Company, New York. Issued to James A. Farrell, Sr. (signed at back). So Rare and Very Attractive!!!

James Augustine Farrell Sr. (February 15, 1863 – March 28, 1943) served as the president of US Steel from 1911 to 1932. A prominent business leader of his time, Farrell significantly increased the size of US Steel, expanding it fivefold during his tenure and establishing it as the first billion-dollar corporation in the United States. He was also an advocate and early innovator in export markets, greatly enhancing US steel exports globally through the shipping subsidiary he founded, the Isthmian Steamship Company. Farrell exemplified the archetype of a self-made individual, beginning his career as a salesman with US Steel and Wire (the export division of US Steel) and rising to the position of manager by 1899. Under his guidance, US Steel and Wire saw its exports grow from 200,000 tons annually to 1.5 million tons by 1903.

His background as the son of a ship captain fostered a lasting interest in maritime matters, leading him to establish the Isthmian Steamship Company in 1910 as a subsidiary of US Steel. Farrell posited that by utilizing its own vessels for exports rather than renting cargo space from other shipping firms, US Steel could realize significant cost savings. This strategy proved successful, and Isthmian became a highly profitable arm of the parent company.

Recognizing his evident capabilities, the board of US Steel appointed Farrell as president in 1911, a role he maintained for 22 years until his retirement at the age of 70 in 1932. During his leadership, US Steel emerged as the foremost player in the American steel industry and achieved the milestone of being the first billion-dollar company by the mid-1920s. Since his departure, US Steel has not made significant gains in its share of the US steel market.

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