CENTRAL SECURITIES CORPORATION

                    NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

                                 March 11, 2009

      NOTICE is hereby given that the Annual Meeting of  Stockholders of Central
Securities  Corporation  will be held at The  University  Club,  One  West  54th
Street,  7th Floor, New York, New York on Wednesday,  March 11, 2009 at 11 A.M.,
for the following purposes:

            1. To elect a board of six directors;

            2. To act upon a  proposal  to ratify the  selection  of KPMG LLP as
      independent  registered public accounting firm for the Corporation for the
      ensuing year; and

            3. To act upon such other  matters as may  properly  come before the
      meeting.

      The Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on January 23, 2009
as the record date for the  determination of stockholders  entitled to notice of
and to vote at the  meeting,  and only  stockholders  of record on such date are
entitled to vote on these matters at the meeting or any adjournment thereof.

                                              By order of the Board of Directors

                                                      MARLENE A. KRUMHOLZ
                                                            Secretary

New York, New York
February 5, 2009

      A proxy is enclosed with this Notice and Proxy Statement. Please complete,
SIGN and promptly return your proxy in the enclosed envelope. This will assure a
quorum and save further solicitation costs.



PROXY STATEMENT
---------------

                                                                February 5, 2009

                         CENTRAL SECURITIES CORPORATION
                                630 FIFTH AVENUE
                            NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10111
                             (Tel. No. 212-698-2020)

      This Proxy Statement and the enclosed proxy card are first being mailed to
stockholders on or about February 5, 2009 in connection with the solicitation of
proxies  by the  Board of  Directors  of  Central  Securities  Corporation  (the
"Corporation")  for use at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Corporation
to be held on March  11,  2009,  or any  adjournment  thereof  (the  "Meeting").
Properly  executed proxies received by the Corporation prior to the Meeting will
be voted in accordance  with the specific voting  instructions  indicated on the
proxy.  If no  instructions  are  specified,  the  shares  will be voted for the
nominees for director and in favor of proposal  (2). Any proxy may be revoked at
any time before it is exercised at the Meeting by the delivery of written notice
to the Secretary of the  Corporation,  by executing and delivering a later-dated
proxy or by appearing and voting in person by ballot at the Meeting.

      The record  date for  stockholders  entitled to vote at the Meeting is the
close of  business  on January  23,  2009.  On that date,  the  Corporation  had
outstanding 22,331,813 shares of Common Stock.

      The  holders of the  Corporation's  Common  Stock shall be entitled to one
vote per share. The presence, in person or by proxy, of a majority of the issued
and  outstanding  stock of the  Corporation  shall  constitute  a quorum for the
transaction of business at the Meeting.

                SHARE OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS, OF
                NOMINEES FOR ELECTION TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS,
                            AND OF EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

      The  following  table sets  forth  information  as of  December  31,  2008
regarding the share  ownership of each person who is known to the Corporation to
have been a  beneficial  owner of more than five  percent of the Common Stock of
the  Corporation,  of each nominee for election to the Board of Directors of the
Corporation,  of certain executive officers,  and of all directors and executive
officers as a group:



Name of Nominee to the Board                     Amount and
of Directors, Officer, or Name              Nature of Beneficial     Percent
and Address of Beneficial Owner                 Ownership(1)        of Class
-------------------------------             --------------------    --------
Simms C. Browning*.......................          4,924               (2)

Donald G. Calder*........................         76,595(3)            (2)

Jay R. Inglis*...........................          2,448               (2)

Christian A. Johnson
  Endeavor Foundation(4).................      7,626,867              34.2
1060 Park Avenue
New York, New York 10128

Dudley D. Johnson*.......................         30,472(5)            (2)

Wilmot H. Kidd*..........................      2,617,151(6)(7)        11.7
630 Fifth Avenue
New York, New York 10111

Mrs. Wilmot H. Kidd......................      2,617,151(6)(7)        11.7
1060 Park Avenue
New York, New York 10128

C. Carter Walker, Jr.*...................        565,636(7)(8)         2.5

Charles N. Edgerton......................          3,210               (2)

William E. Sheeline......................            450               (2)

All directors and officers
  as a group.............................      2,831,359(7)           12.7

----------
* Indicates nominee for election to the Board of Directors.

      (1) Except as otherwise  indicated,  to the  Corporation's  knowledge  the
beneficial owner had sole investment power and sole voting power with respect to
the shares shown opposite the name of such beneficial owner.

      (2) As  calculated  on the basis of  22,331,813  shares  of  Common  Stock
outstanding on December 31, 2008, Messrs.  Browning,  Calder,  Inglis,  Johnson,
Edgerton and Sheeline each owned less than 1% of the outstanding Common Stock.

      (3) Includes  10,676 shares of Common Stock owned by Mr. Calder's wife and
9,318  shares of Common  Stock owned by the Donald  Grant and Ann Martin  Calder
Foundation (the "Calder Foundation").  Mr. Calder is the President and Treasurer
of the Calder Foundation. He disclaims beneficial ownership of all such shares.

      (4) Mrs. W. H. Kidd, whose husband is the President of the Corporation, is
President and Trustee of the Christian A. Johnson Endeavor Foundation.

      (5) Includes 1,503 shares of Common Stock held by the Disosway Foundation.
Mr. Johnson is the Trustee of the Disosway  Foundation.  He disclaims beneficial
ownership of all such shares.

                                         (Footnotes continued on following page)


                                       2


(Footnotes continued from previous page)

      (6) An aggregate of 2,617,151  shares of Common Stock were included in the
shares beneficially owned by each of Mr. and Mrs. Kidd. The shares set forth for
each of Mr. Kidd and Mrs. Kidd include  400,617  shares of Common Stock owned by
Mr. Kidd as to which Mr. and Mrs.  Kidd had shared  investment  power and shared
voting power and as to which Mrs. Kidd disclaims beneficial  ownership;  987,510
shares of Common  Stock owned by Mrs.  Kidd or held in trusts for her benefit as
to which Mr. and Mrs. Kidd had shared  investment  power and shared voting power
and as to which Mr. Kidd disclaims beneficial ownership; and 1,203,099 shares of
Common Stock held in trusts for the benefit of Mr. and Mrs.  Kidd's children and
other family members as to which Mr. and Mrs. Kidd had shared  investment  power
and shared voting power and as to which Mr. and Mrs.  Kidd  disclaim  beneficial
ownership.  The  shares  set forth for each of Mr.  and Mrs.  Kidd also  include
25,925  shares of Common  Stock held in trust for the benefit of the children of
Mr. C. Carter Walker,  Jr. as to which Mr. Kidd had shared  investment power and
shared  voting  power  and as to which Mr.  and Mrs.  Kidd  disclaim  beneficial
ownership.

      (7) An  aggregate of 470,327  shares of Common Stock were  included in the
shares beneficially owned by each of Mr. Kidd, Mrs. Kidd, and Mr. Walker.

      (8) Includes  36,509 shares of Common Stock owned by Mr.  Walker's wife as
to which Mr.  Walker had shared  investment  power and shared  voting  power and
470,327  shares of Common Stock held in trust for the benefit of Mrs.  Wilmot H.
Kidd or her  children  as to which Mr.  Walker had shared  investment  power and
shared  voting  power.  Mr. Walker  disclaims  beneficial  ownership of all such
shares.  Mr. Walker's shares also include 8,200 shares pledged as collateral for
a personal loan.

                VALUE OF BENEFICIAL SHARE OWNERSHIP BY DIRECTORS

      The  dollar  range of the value of equity  securities  of the  Corporation
beneficially owned by each director as of December 31, 2008 is as follows:

                                    Dollar Range of
      Independent Directors         Share Ownership
      ---------------------         ---------------
        Simms C. Browning           $50,001 - $100,000
        Donald G. Calder            Over $100,000
        Jay R. Inglis               $10,001 - $50,000
        Dudley D. Johnson           Over $100,000
        C. Carter Walker, Jr.       Over $100,000

      Interested Director
      -------------------
        Wilmot H. Kidd              Over $100,000


                                       3


             SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE

      Section  16(a)  of the  Securities  Exchange  Act  of  1934  requires  the
Corporation's  directors,  executive  officers and persons who own more than ten
percent of a registered  class of the  Corporation's  equity  securities to file
with the  Securities  and Exchange  Commission  (the "SEC")  initial  reports of
ownership   and  reports  of  changes  in  ownership  of  Common  Stock  of  the
Corporation.  Officers, directors and greater than ten percent beneficial owners
are required by SEC  regulation  to furnish the  Corporation  with copies of all
Section 16(a) forms they file.

      To the Corporation's  knowledge,  based solely on review of copies of such
reports furnished to the Corporation and written  representations  that no other
such reports were required, all Section 16(a) filing requirements  applicable to
its  officers,  directors  and greater than ten percent  beneficial  owners were
complied with.

                                VOTING PROCEDURES

      The election of directors  requires the affirmative vote of a plurality of
the  shares of Common  Stock  present in person or  represented  by proxy at the
Meeting and entitled to so vote.  Shares of Common Stock  represented by proxies
which are marked "withhold authority" with respect to the election of any one or
more  nominees  for  election as director  will not be voted with respect to the
nominee or nominees so  indicated.  The  ratification  of the  selection  of the
independent  registered public  accounting firm of the Corporation  requires the
affirmative  vote of a majority of the shares of Common Stock  present in person
or represented by proxy at the Meeting and entitled to so vote. Shares of Common
Stock  represented  by proxies which are marked  "abstain"  with respect to this
matter  will be  counted  for the  purpose of  determining  the number of shares
present and entitled to vote, and shall therefore have the same effect as if the
shares  represented  thereby were voted  against such matter.  Broker  non-votes
(where a nominee  holding shares for a beneficial  owner has not received voting
instructions  from the  beneficial  owner and such  nominee  does not possess or
choose to exercise his  discretionary  authority  with respect  thereto) will be
treated as present  but not  entitled  to vote at the Meeting for the purpose of
determining  the number of votes  needed  with  respect to each item to be voted
upon, and shall therefore have no effect on such vote.

                        PROPOSAL 1. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

      The Board of Directors  recommends  the election of six  directors to hold
office until the next Annual Meeting of Stockholders  and until their successors
are elected and qualified.  If any nominee for director is unable or declines to
serve, for any reason not now foreseen, the discretionary  authority provided in
the proxy will be exercised  to vote for a  substitute.  All the  nominees  have
consented to become directors and all were elected at the last Annual Meeting of
Stockholders.

      Duly authorized proxies for Common Stock will be voted for the election of
Mr. Simms C. Browning,  Mr. Donald G. Calder,  Mr. Jay R. Inglis,  Mr. Dudley D.
Johnson, Mr. Wilmot H. Kidd and Mr. C. Carter Walker, Jr.


                                       4


      The following table indicates the age,  principal  occupations  during the
last five years and positions (if any) with the  Corporation,  and the year each
nominee was first elected to the Board of Directors:



                                                  Principal Occupations                       Director of
                                                    (last five years)                         Corporation
                                                  and Position (if any)                      Continuously
      Nominee                Age                  with the Corporation                           Since
      -------                ---                  ---------------------                      ------------
                                                                                        
Independent Directors:

Simms C. Browning.......     68      Retired since 2003; Vice President, Neuberger               2005
                                        Berman, LLC (asset management) prior thereto

Donald G. Calder........     71      President, G. L. Ohrstrom & Co., Inc. (private              1982
                                        investment firm); Director of Brown-Forman
                                        Corporation and Carlisle Companies
                                        Incorporated (manufacturing companies)

Jay R. Inglis...........     74      Vice President and General Counsel, International
                                        Claims Management, Inc. since 2006;                      1973
                                        Executive Vice President, National Marine
                                        Underwriters prior thereto (both are insurance
                                        management companies)

Dudley D. Johnson.......     69      Chairman, Young & Franklin Inc. (private                    1984
                                        manufacturing company)

C. Carter Walker, Jr....     74      Private Investor                                            1974

Interested Director:

Wilmot H. Kidd..........     67      Investment and research - President, Central
                                        Securities Corporation                                   1972


      The address of each  nominee is c/o Central  Securities  Corporation,  630
Fifth Avenue, New York, New York, 10111.

      The Board of Directors held ten regular  meetings and one special  meeting
in 2008.  All  directors  attended at least 75% of the  meetings of the Board of
Directors and meetings of the  committees on which they served during the period
they served as directors.  The Board of Directors  maintains an Audit  Committee
and a  Nominating  Committee.  Both  the  Audit  Committee  and  the  Nominating
Committee consist of Messrs. Browning,  Calder, Inglis, Johnson and Walker, each
of whom are  independent  as defined in Section  121(A) of the NYSE Alternext US
Exchange's  listing  standards  and none of whom  are  "interested  persons"  as
defined under the  Investment  Company Act of 1940.  The Board of Directors does
not have a Compensation Committee.

      The  Nominating   Committee  met  once  during  2008.  This  committee  is
responsible  for the review and  recommendation  of candidates  for the Board of
Directors.  The committee  operates  subject to a charter which may be viewed on
the Corporation's website at www.centralsecurities.com. The Nominating Committee
will consider  director  nominee  recommendations  by stockholders  provided the
names of such nominees,  accompanied by relevant biographical  information,  are
submitted   in  writing  to  the   Secretary  of  the   Corporation.   Any  such
recommendation must be accompanied by a written statement from the individual of
his or her consent to be named as a candidate and, if nominated and elected,  to
serve as a director.

      In  making  its  recommendations,   the  Nominating  Committee  identifies
candidates  who meet the current needs of the Board.  The  Nominating  Committee
does not have any specific minimum qualifications that


                                       5


must be met by a  nominee.  The  Nominating  Committee  considers,  among  other
things, an individual's  judgment,  background and experience including business
experience,  industry  experience,  and  financial  background.  The  Nominating
Committee  also  considers   whether  the  individual   meets  the  independence
requirements  of the NYSE  Alternext  US and  whether  the  individual  would be
considered an "interested person" under the Investment Company Act of 1940. With
respect to nomination of continuing directors,  the individual's past service to
the Board is also considered. In addition, the Nominating Committee is guided by
the following  criteria:  each Director should have integrity and the ability to
work  constructively  with others;  each Director  should have  sufficient  time
available to devote to the affairs of the  Corporation in order to carry out the
responsibilities of a Director; and each director should be free of any conflict
which would interfere with the proper performance of the  responsibilities  of a
Director.  There  are no  differences  in the  manner  in which  the  Nominating
Committee  evaluates  nominees for directors if the nominee is  recommended by a
stockholder.

      The Audit  Committee  assists the Board of  Directors  by  overseeing  the
accounting and financial  reporting process of the Corporation and the audits of
its  financial  statements.  It  operates  subject  to a charter  which has been
reviewed  by the  Audit  Committee  and  approved  and  adopted  by the Board of
Directors.  The Audit  Committee  charter  may be  viewed  on the  Corporation's
website at www.centralsecurities.com.  The Audit Committee met four times during
2008.

      Stockholders may send written communications to any member of the Board of
Directors c/o Corporate  Secretary,  Central Securities  Corporation,  630 Fifth
Avenue,  New York, New York, 10111. All  communications  will be compiled by the
Corporate Secretary and submitted to the director.

      Each of the  Corporation's  directors is  encouraged  to attend the annual
meeting of stockholders in person.  All of the Corporation's  directors attended
the Corporation's 2008 Annual Meeting.

                          REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE

      The Audit Committee has reviewed the audited  financial  statements of the
Corporation  for the year ended December 31, 2008,  and has met with  management
and KPMG LLP, the Corporation's  independent  registered public accounting firm,
to discuss the audited financial statements.

      The Audit Committee received from KPMG LLP written  disclosures  regarding
their  independence  and the letter  required by  Independence  Standards  Board
Standard  No.  1,  and has  discussed  with  KPMG  LLP  their  independence.  In
connection with its review, the Audit Committee has also discussed with KPMG LLP
the matters required to be discussed by Statement of Auditing Standards No. 61.

      Based on its review and  discussions  with  management  and KPMG LLP,  the
Audit Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the audited financial
statements be included in the  Corporation's  Annual Report to Stockholders  for
the year ended December 31, 2008.

Members of the Audit Committee are:
Simms C. Browning
Donald G. Calder
Jay R. Inglis
Dudley D. Johnson
C. Carter Walker, Jr.


                                       6


                      EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE CORPORATION

      The  executive  officers  of the  Corporation  are  Mr.  Wilmot  H.  Kidd,
President,  Mr. William E. Sheeline,  Vice  President,  Mr. Charles N. Edgerton,
Vice  President  and  Treasurer,   and  Ms.  Marlene  A.  Krumholz,   Secretary.
Information  concerning  Mr. Kidd is given above under  "Election of Directors."
Mr.  Sheeline,  53, joined the Corporation in November 2006 and was elected vice
president in March 2007.  Mr.  Sheeline was president of Houqua Capital LLC from
2004 - 2006,  Research  Analyst at Train Babcock  Advisors LLC from 2003 - 2004.
Mr.  Edgerton,  64, was elected Vice  President  in 1989 and has been  Treasurer
since 1985. Ms. Krumholz,  45, was elected Secretary in 2001. Executive officers
serve as such until the election of their successors.

                                  COMPENSATION

      The table  below  sets forth for all  directors  and for each of the three
highest-paid  executive  officers the aggregate  compensation  received from the
Corporation for 2008 for services in all capacities:

                                                                  Pension or
                                                                  Retirement
                                                                Benefits Accrued
Name of Person,                                  Aggregate        as Part of
   Position                                     Compensation      Expenses(1)
---------------                                 ------------    ----------------
Simms C. Browning
  Director ............................          $ 29,500
Donald G. Calder
  Director.............................            29,250
Jay R. Inglis
  Director.............................            27,250
Dudley D. Johnson
  Director, Chairman...................            33,250
C. Carter Walker, Jr.
  Director.............................            29,500
Wilmot H. Kidd
  President and Director(2)............           900,000           $34,500
William E. Sheeline
  Vice President.......................           500,000            34,500
Charles N. Edgerton
  Vice President and Treasurer.........           325,000(3)         34,500

----------
(1)   Represents contributions to the Corporation's Profit Sharing Plan.

(2)   All remuneration  received by Mr. Kidd was in his capacity as President of
      the Corporation.

(3)   Includes  compensation  of $30,000  accrued in 2008 deferred until January
      2009.

      Each director who is not an officer is paid an annual retainer of $14,000,
a fee of $1,000 for each Board of Directors meeting attended in person, and $750
for participating in a Board of Directors  meeting by telephone.  Each member of
the  Audit  Committee  and the  Nominating  Committee  is paid  $1,000  for each
Committee  meeting  attended.  The  Chairman of the Board is paid an  additional
annual  retainer of $5,000.  Directors are  reimbursed  for their  out-of-pocket
expenses incurred in attending meetings.


                                       7


Profit Sharing Plan

      The  Profit  Sharing  Plan  (the  "Plan")  allows   contributions  by  the
Corporation from its profits of up to 25% of an employee's compensation; for the
year ended 2008, the Corporation contributed 15% of employee compensation to the
Plan,  subject to Internal  Revenue Code  limitations.  Generally,  all salaried
employees of the Corporation are eligible to participate in the Plan. The vested
contributions credited to an employee's account are payable at normal, early, or
disability retirement,  death or other termination of employment and may be paid
in various forms,  including a lump sum cash payment or a monthly annuity.  Each
participant's benefits vest after three years of employment.  With the exception
of Mr.  Sheeline,  the officers  referred to above are fully  vested.  Corporate
contributions on behalf of Mr. Sheeline will vest on January 1, 2010.

      Employees  may withdraw the amounts of any  voluntary  contributions  made
prior to 1991 and may,  under  certain  conditions,  withdraw or borrow  against
vested Corporation contributions.  Under the Plan, each employee is permitted to
invest the assets in his account in the capital  stock of one or more  regulated
investment  companies  from a selection  provided  from time to time by the Plan
Administrator.  Such regulated investment companies include,  among others, U.S.
Treasury funds; short-term, government and international bond funds; and general
and specialized stock funds.

                                   AUDIT FEES

      During the last two fiscal years, the Corporation engaged KPMG LLP for its
services as follows:

                                                   2008                 2007
                                                 --------             --------
Audit fees ...........................           $68,550(1)           $56,055(1)
Audit-related fees ...................                 0                    0
Tax fees .............................            17,000(2)            16,100(2)
All other fees .......................                 0                    0
                                                 -------              -------
Total ................................           $85,550              $72,155
                                                 =======              =======

----------
(1)   Includes fees for review of the  semi-annual  report to  stockholders  and
      audit of the annual report to stockholders.

(2)   Includes fees for services  performed  with respect to tax  compliance and
      tax planning.

      Pursuant  to  its  charter,   the  Audit   Committee  is  responsible  for
recommending   the  selection,   approving   compensation   and  overseeing  the
independence, qualifications and performance of the independent accountants. The
Audit Committee's  policy is to pre-approve all audit and permissible  non-audit
services  provided by the  independent  accountants.  In assessing  requests for
services by the independent  accountants,  the Audit Committee considers whether
such  services  are  consistent  with the  auditor's  independence;  whether the
independent  accountants  are likely to provide the most effective and efficient
service  based upon their  familiarity  with the  Corporation;  and  whether the
service  could  enhance the  Corporation's  ability to manage or control risk or
improve audit quality. The Audit Committee may delegate  pre-approval  authority
to one or  more  of its  members.  Any  pre-approvals  by a  member  under  this
delegation  are to be  reported  to the Audit  Committee  at its next  scheduled
meeting.

      All of the audit and tax services provided by KPMG LLP in fiscal year 2008
(described  in the  footnotes to the table above) and related fees were approved
in advance by the Audit Committee.


                                       8


                     PROPOSAL 2. RATIFICATION OF INDEPENDENT
                        REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

      Stockholders   are  invited  to  ratify  the  selection  of  KPMG  LLP  as
independent  registered  public  accounting firm of the Corporation for the year
2009.  KPMG LLP has no direct or  material  indirect  financial  interest in the
Corporation other than its employment in such capacity.

      At a meeting held  February 2, 2009, a majority of the  directors who were
not "interested  persons" (as defined under the Investment  Company Act of 1940)
selected KPMG LLP to act as independent  registered  public  accountants for the
Corporation  during  2009.  A  representative  of KPMG LLP is not expected to be
present at the Corporation's Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

      The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR this proposal.

                                  OTHER MATTERS

      The Board of Directors  knows of no other  matters  which may properly be,
and are likely to be, brought before the Meeting. However, if any proper matters
are brought before the Meeting,  the persons named in the enclosed form of proxy
will have  discretionary  authority  to vote  thereon  according  to their  best
judgment.

                           2010 STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS

      Any  stockholder  proposals  for  inclusion  in  the  Corporation's  proxy
statement for the 2010 Annual Meeting of Stockholders  pursuant to Rule 14a-8 of
the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 ("14a-8  proposals") must be received by
the Corporation at its office at 630 Fifth Avenue New York, New York 10111 prior
to October 9, 2009.

      Pursuant to Rule 14a-4 of the  Securities  and Exchange  Act of 1934,  the
Corporation  will  have  discretionary  voting  authority  with  respect  to any
non-Rule 14a-8  proposals for the 2010 Annual Meeting of  Stockholders  that are
not received by the Corporation prior to December 23, 2009.

                                  MISCELLANEOUS

      The  Corporation  will  pay  all  costs  of  soliciting   proxies  in  the
accompanying  form.  Solicitation will be made by mail, and officers and regular
employees of the  Corporation  may also solicit proxies by telephone or personal
interview.  The Corporation  will request  brokers,  banks and nominees who hold
stock in their names to furnish  this proxy  material to the  beneficial  owners
thereof and to solicit proxies from them, and will reimburse such brokers, banks
and  nominees  for their  out-of-pocket  and  reasonable  clerical  expenses  in
connection therewith.

      A copy of the Annual Report  including  financial  statements for the year
ended December 31, 2008 is enclosed.

      Please  date,  sign  and  return  the  enclosed  proxy  at  your  earliest
convenience. No postage is required for mailing in the United States.

       IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS FOR
              THE SHAREHOLDER MEETING TO BE HELD ON MARCH 11, 2009

      This Proxy Statement and the Annual Report are available free of charge on
the Corporation's website at www.centralsecurities.com/financialreports.cfm


                                       9


Central Securities Corporation

Using a black ink pen, mark your votes with an X as shown in
this example. Please do not write outside the designated areas.           | X |

================================================================================
Annual Meeting Proxy Card
================================================================================

    PLEASE FOLD ALONG THE PERFORATION, DETACH AND RETURN THE BOTTOM PORTION
                           IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.

A     Proposals -- The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR all the nominees
      listed and FOR Proposal 2.

1. Election of Directors:

                                For   Withhold
01 - Simms C. Browning
                                [ ]      [ ]

                                For   Withhold
02 - Donald G. Calder
                                [ ]      [ ]

                                For   Withhold
03 - Jay R. Inglis
                                [ ]      [ ]


                                For   Withhold
04 - Dudley D. Johnson
                                [ ]      [ ]

                                For   Withhold
05 - Wilmot H. Kidd
                                [ ]      [ ]

                                For   Withhold
06 - C. Carter Walker, Jr.
                                [ ]      [ ]

2.    Approval of KPMG LLP as independent registered public accounting firm for
      2009.

                          For   Against   Abstain
                          [ ]     [ ]       [ ]

3.    In their discretion, upon such other matters as may properly come before
      the meeting or any adjournments thereof.

B     Non-Voting Items

Change of Address -- Please print your new address below.

______________________________________________________________


______________________________________________________________

Comments -- Please print your comments below.

______________________________________________________________


______________________________________________________________

Meeting  Attendance

Mark the box to the right                   [ ]
if you plan to attend the
Annual Meeting.

C     Authorized Signatures -- This section must be completed for your vote to
      be counted. -- Date and Sign Below

Please sign exactly as name(s)  appears  hereon.  Joint owners should each sign.
When signing as attorney, executor,  administrator,  corporate officer, trustee,
guardian, or custodian, please give full title.

Date (mm/dd/yyyy) - Please print date below.

______________________________________________________________

Signature 1 - Please keep signature within the box.

______________________________________________________________

Signature 2 - Please keep signature within the box.

______________________________________________________________




     PLEASE FOLD ALONG THE PERFORATION, DETACH AND RETURN THE BOTTOM PORTION
                           IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.

================================================================================
Proxy -- Central Securities Corporation
================================================================================

Proxy Solicited on Behalf of the Board of Directors of
the Company for Annual Meeting March 11, 2009

The undersigned hereby appoints WILMOT H. KIDD and MARLENE A. KRUMHOLZ, and each
of them, as attorneys with power of  substitution,  to represent the undersigned
at the annual meeting of  stockholders of Central  Securities  Corporation to be
held at The University Club, One West 54th Street, 7th Floor, New York, New York
on March 11, 2009 at 11:00 o'clock A.M., and at any adjournment  thereof, on all
matters which may properly come before the meeting.

This proxy when properly executed will be voted in the manner directed herein by
the undersigned  stockholder.  If no direction is made, this proxy will be voted
FOR election of directors and FOR Proposal 2.

PLEASE VOTE,  DATE AND SIGN THIS PROXY ON THE OTHER SIDE AND RETURN  PROMPTLY IN
THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.

(Items to be voted appear on reverse side.)