Vintage Wabash Railroad Company Returning Coupon

This item is an original, early 20th-century 'Returning Coupon' issued by the Wabash Railroad Company. The ticket is printed on light lavender or pale violet cardstock paper, measuring approximately 2 by 4 inches. It features a vertical format with dense black typography enclosed in a double-ruled border. The ticket specifies a route from Detroit to Aylmer (D), Ont., and includes the prominent serial number '3698' and 'Form B.' The document includes handwritten notations in graphite or ink, including the destination name and a date suffix '190' followed by a handwritten digit, likely indicating a date between 1900 and 1909. A facsimile signature of the Gen'l Pass'r & Ticket Agent, C.S. Crane, is present at the bottom. The condition shows significant signs of age and use, including three distinct horizontal fold lines where the ticket was likely stored in a wallet. There is minor fraying and softening along the paper edges, light surface soiling, and a slight fading of the purple tint. Despite the folding, the legibility of the print and the integrity of the paper remains high, representing a well-preserved piece of North American railway ephemera.