Scripophily Articles

Some Famous Collectible Stock Certificates

2009-02-19T13:00:00.001-06:00

Some Famous Collectible Stock Certificates by Larry Crain of RealStockCertificates.com LLC

Although the vast majority of collectible or even antique stock certificates can be purchased for under $100, there are a few stock certificates which are worth mentioning for their collectible value. Each stock certificate is unique, making them difficult to value and even more difficult to rank in terms of desirability. Still, there are a few that stand out as the collector’s holy grail of stock certificates:

The earliest known stock certificates date to the second half of the eighteenth century. Nobody knows for sure when the first stock certificate was issued, although there are several in existence from as early as 1783. These very old stock certificates were generally issued in very low quantities and it is rare for more than a handful to survive over the centuries, making them some of the most sought-after stock certificates to add to a collection.

Another category of sought-after stock certificates is those certificates with famous signatures. Prized by autograph collectors and stock certificate collectors alike, they offer tangible proof that the certificate you own was actually touched by the owner of the company. Although today’s stock certificates have pre-printed signatures of company executives, those until at least the beginning of the twentieth century usually included real signatures. Because these companies were usually owned by the rich and famous, stock certificates have been found with the signatures of Cornelius Vanderbilt, John D. Rockefeller, George P. Pullman, J.P. Morgan, Jean-Paul Getty, Henry Ford, and many others whose names remain recognizable today. These are among the rarest of all stock certificates, and can command a hefty sum when sold at auction. These certificates, if signed by a well-known business mogul, nearly always command $1,000 or more.

Another unique category of valuable stock certificates is those with a particularly interesting denomination. Though the earliest certificates had a hand-printed denomination, later certificates came pre-printed with the number of shares to expedite the process of selling stock shares. Most are marked with an even number, the most common of which is 100 shares. Those for less than 100 shares often included a counter in the margin, which would be punched to indicate the correct number of shares. Oddball denominations were printed occasionally; only a handful of 1,000-, 5000-, or 10,000-share certificates are known to exist. In the 1970’s, the Union Pacific Corporation printed certificates for up to one million shares, which would be a unique addition to any stock certificate collection.

Because stock certificates were usually kept in safe deposit boxes, desk drawers, or other hiding places, new finds are constantly coming on the market, making the discovery of rare antique stock certificates possible even today. For example, one signed by former president George Bush’s great grandfather, Samuel Prescott Bush, has recently been discovered. Although most can be purchased for just a few dollars, there are some that can fetch many times this amount, such as an antique Standard Oil Company certificate signed by John D. Rockefeller, which just set a world record for collectible stock certificates when it sold for the amazing sum of $134,400.

Visit RealStockCertificates.com for better quality antique stock certificates at better prices. Professional Authors at:
www.Article-Writing-Services.com.

Article Source: Collectibles-Articles.com

Modern Collectible Stock Certificates

2009-02-19T12:58:00.002-06:00

Modern Collectible Stock Certificates by Larry Crain of RealStockCertificates.com LLC

Although most collectors of scripophily focus on stock certificates produced during the late nineteenth or early twentieth century, modern stock certificates can also be a joy to collect. A stock certificate does not need to be an antique to have historical significance, although older stocks have traditionally been the ones to garner higher prices. In fact, many modern collectors are shifting their interests from stock certificates created during the Industrial Revolution, focusing their attention on those created just a few years ago. These certificates offer collectors a personal connection to the company whose certificate they own.

Since the beginning of stock certificate collecting, scandals have made for particularly popular stock certificates. Bankrupt companies can actually have particularly valuable stock certificates, as collectors scramble for any memorabilia from the now-defunct companies. In fact, Enron and Merrill Lynch are two of the most popular modern stock certificates; recent bankruptcies and scandals make for popular certificates because people feel personally connected to the companies whose certificates they own. This was true with mining, railroad, oil, and other stocks from older eras, and it remains so with dot com companies and others that have gone out of business in the past few years. Bankrupt companies no longer issue stock, so their existing certificates will continue to increase in rarity. As more companies become defunct during the financial crisis, look for the market in modern stock certificates to grow. One signed by Bernie Madoff was recently offered for $100,000 on eBay, though there were no takers.

Others collect the certificates of their favorite company. Although most stock certificate collectors choose stocks for the design or significance of the paper certificate and not for the value of the share (as most collectible certificates are from bankrupt companies), buying stock in your favorite company can be a great way to invest while adding to your collection.

Though the internet has also made it more convenient to purchase older or antique stock certificates, at the same time it is making it even harder to collect modern ones. Bear in mind that you may need to request a paper certificate if buying stock through the normal channels; unfortunately, the majority of today’s stock transactions are paperless, as companies on the New York Stock Exchange are no longer required to issue a paper certificate.

Popular computer-era stocks include eBay, Apple, Atari, Microsoft, and IBM. Those with pop culture references, like those for Harley-Davidson, Pixar, Walt Disney, Coca-Cola, Pepsi, or Ford Motor, remain perennial favorites. Because these stock certificates are not scarce, they offer an affordable start to a stock certificate collection.

One pitfall of modern-era socks is that they often do not have the ornate detailing found on earlier examples, although there are certainly exceptions to this. Some modern stocks still include elaborate and high quality full-color designs. Many, particularly those from the 1960’s or 1970’s offer graphics that make them some of the more collectible modern era stock certificates. Those from the Ringling Brothers circus of the 1960s can be worth up to $500 because of their colorful designs, while Playboy certificates from the 1970s are collected for their centerfold depictions, and can fetch up to $400.

Visit RealStockCertificates.com for better quality antique stock certificates at better prices. Professional Authors at:
www.Article-Writing-Services.com.

Article Source: Collectibles-Articles.com

Stock Certificates Over Time

2009-02-19T12:55:00.001-06:00

Stock Certificates Over Time by Larry Crain of RealStockCertificates.com LLC

Although most antique stocks date to the 1830s through the 1880s due to the Industrial Revolution and the rise of mining, railroads, and other large companies, in actuality the first stocks were issued much earlier. The first companies to issue stock shares began doing so in the late 1700’s; it is at the very end of this century that the earliest known stock certificates were produced.

The first known stock certificates, produced in the 1770’s or 1780’s, are quite rare because they were produced in very small quantities. In 1800, there were only 295 corporations which had issued stock certificates; only 20 of these traded them publicly. In contrast, there were approximately 120 companies with publicly traded stock in 1835. These mid-nineteenth century stocks were produced in larger quantities due to the rising number of stock investors, and are generally more readily available today. In fact, stocks from this era are commonly purchased for well under a hundred dollars for each certificate.

Each paper certificate, prized by collectors, represented one stake in a given company, purchased by investors speculating about the company’s future. Originally, these certificates included hand-printed denominations to denote the numbers of shares being bought or sold. Later certificates were issued in standard denominations to reduce the workload involved for companies selling stocks. The earliest known pre-printed stocks date to around 1870.

At first, there was no formalized market governing the prices of these shares, although trading began at the corners of Broad Street and Wall Street in New York by the early nineteenth century. Individuals could not realistically purchase their stocks directly from the company, especially as mid-nineteenth century companies grew large enough to issue many thousands of stock certificates. The first American stock exchange, the Philadelphia Stock Exchange, was founded in 1790. The Stock Exchange in New York followed shortly, in 1792. This organization evolved into the New York Stock Exchange, which opened in the 1860’s to facilitate large-scale stock trades. Many names we would recognize today, including Eastman Kodak, Procter and Gamble, Sears, Kellogg, and Nabisco issued stock through the New York Stock Exchange in the late 1800’s. As more and more investors took part in stock trading, the quantity of paper stock certificates rose exponentially. In 1886, over one million stock shares were traded in the NYSE. In 1929, this number topped 10 million, and in 1982, 100 million.

Throughout the end of the 1800’s and most of the 1900’s, all trading of stocks involved paper stock certificates. By the end of the 1960’s, however, NASDAQ ushered in an era of electronic stock trading. Paper stock certificates, though beautiful, were fast becoming obsolete. At the start of the new millennium, most companies only issue paper certificates upon request, if at all. The vast majority of stock transactions have become paperless.

Visit RealStockCertificates.com for better quality antique stock certificates at better prices. Professional Authors at:
www.Article-Writing-Services.com.

Article Source: Collectibles-Articles.com

A History of Scripophily

2009-02-19T12:54:00.001-06:00

A History of Scripophily by Larry Crain of RealStockCertificates.com LLC

Stock certificates have not always been considered collectibles. Although they have existed for over 200 years now, they did not become collectible until the 1960’s and 1970’s when other forms of ephemera, including restaurant menus, maps, and other papers, also rose in popularity.

According to one story, the word “scripophily” was the result of a contest in the London Times in 1978. Most collectors agree that scripophily took hold in the late 1970’s; collecting stock certificates has continued to grow in popularity over the past few decades.

Originally, stock certificates were issued for a very practical use. Like other forms of ephemera, they were not produced to be collected, but as a way to record an ordinary event, the investing in a company. Although often incorporating beautiful engravings and vignettes, this was quite common on many other forms of paperwork, and so stock certificates were not collected for their aesthetic beauty. Plus, when issued, each stock certificate held actual monetary value, making it impractical to collect them for their aesthetics.

Today, it is possible to collect antique stocks because the vast majority of antique stocks no longer hold value as representation of a share in a particular company. These stocks are perforated, hole punched, stamped, or otherwise canceled, or were issued by a company that is simply no longer in existence, rendering their stock shares worthless and therefore available as paper collectibles.

In the present day, estimates vary from 20,000 to over 100,000 active collectors worldwide.

The internet has made finding old stocks easier, leading to larger and better-known collections by many of the hobby’s top collectors. Today, many Scripophily-related websites aid stock certificate collectors in their search; thousands of different certificates can be found online at any given time. On the other hand, it has also caused a demise in the production of new stock certificates, leading to increased rarity of certificates for scripophily.

Because the hobby is still quite new, bargains are still available; most antique stock certificates with beautiful engraved vignettes still cost well less than $100. These older certificates are prized by collectors for their nostalgic properties. Today, a new generation of collectors seeks out not only the popular antique stocks from the mid- and late- 1800’s, but also those of modern, recognizable companies. Stock certificates from well-known pop culture icons, varying from Walt Disney to Coca-Cola to Ford Motors, are rising in popularity thanks to this new generation of collectors.

Visit RealStockCertificates.com for better quality antique stock certificates at better prices. Professional Authors at:
www.Article-Writing-Services.com.

Article Source: Collectibles-Articles.com

Antique Stock Certificates Great For Research

2009-02-19T12:52:00.002-06:00

Antique Stock Certificates Great For Research by Larry Crain of RealStockCertificates.com LLC

Stock certificates are collected not only for their aesthetic value or to complement a related collection of, for example, railroad, mining, or baking memorabilia; they also have historical value. Many historians collect stock certificates and other forms of ephemera because of the valuable historical content they hold. These direct sources are nearly always accurate because of their unbiased nature, so they offer a treasure trove of information to historians and others interested in the history of a company or industry.

As primary sources, stock certificates offer an invaluable firsthand look into the history of the company. Personal collections offer a valuable source for stock certificates to use as resources for conducting research. Some industry-related museums or corporate archives also hold examples of antique certificates, though the vast majority are held by individuals interested in the company, industry, or stock certificates in general.

The vignettes, or ornate engravings, on each stock certificate are not only beautiful, but also useful in understanding the history of an industry. Most vignettes feature the company’s most technologically advanced or well-known product. For example, several examples of old plumbing company certificates feature intricate engravings of antique-style toilets, useful for understanding the evolution of these fixtures. The origin of technology is clearly shown through the stock certificates issued in various time periods. Nearly every major industry in the last century and a half has had least one public company, so information is available on aviation, communications, mining, oil, automotive, banking, and other industries. For instance, the evolution of aviation stock certificates shows a timeline of different airplane designs.

Because each stock certificate is usually printed with a year of issue, the precise date of events can be pinpointed. Companies’ name changes or new products can be tracked through the information shown on the stock certificate. Nearly all companies undergo at least one name change during their lifetime; the most current name will certainly be on the stock certificate. Not only that, but the majority of stock certificates, especially antique ones, are signed by the founder or another company leader, giving historians insight into the company leadership during various years.

Besides being detailed works of art, stock certificates are very useful to the historian seeking to interpret company or industry history. Stock certificates were issued by many famous companies, from Ford to Nabisco to AT&T. However, some of their greatest value as historical artifacts comes from the fact that many stock certificates were issued by little-known companies that quickly folded, and very little actual business activity may have occurred. This is particularly true for mining and other industries which typically had many very small companies that were only in business for a few years at most. In these cases, stock certificates offer nearly the only glimpse into the company’s activities during their brief time of operation.

Visit RealStockCertificates.com for better quality antique stock certificates at better prices. Professional Authors at:
www.Article-Writing-Services.com.

Article Source: Collectibles-Articles.com

A Titanic Legacy for J.P. Morgan

2009-02-19T12:50:00.003-06:00

A Titanic Legacy for J.P. Morgan by Larry Crain of RealStockCertificates.com LLC

Everyone is familiar with the story of the Titanic and how it sank to the bottom of the North Atlantic Ocean on April 14th 1912. This means that any stock certificate involving the historic Titanic is going to be one that a collector is really going to want to get their hands on. And yes, there are old stock certificates for the International Mercantile Marine Company, which was the owner of the White Star Line that manufactured the Titanic. However, the International Mercantile Marine Company was a trust that was set up by J.P. Morgan of America. To this day there are still original stock certificates from International Mercantile Marine Company that are in the hands of collectors and various other individuals around the world.

The International Mercantile Marine Company certificates dated 1915 are of particular interest for the fact that they contain one of the most famous signatures of the time. One of those signatures is that of Phillip A.S. Franklin who was the vice-president for the American side of the International Mercantile Marine Company at the time the Titanic met its demise during its maiden voyage. Franklin was also the one who convinced Bruce Ismay to stay within the United States with the other survivors of the Titanic who were boarded upon the vessel that rescued them, the Carpathia. It was after that, that Ismay cooperated with the U.S. Senate when the sinking was investigated.

Had it not been for Franklin, Ismay would have left the United States to return to England instead of staying within the United States to allow for a thorough investigation that established the reasons why the Titanic did not make it to New York on that Fateful night. Later on, Phillip A.S. Franklin was promoted to president of International Mercantile Marine Company. The company was completely dissolved in 1932 after years of struggling.

As for certain identifiers, the stock certificate of 1915 is referred to as a “red” stock certificate because it is printed in red and white. There is also a “green” certificate that was issued in the 1920s or slightly prior to that time period. Virtually all of these certificates can be found with small punch holes in them that indicate they have been canceled. Some of them also have an ink stamp upon them that says “canceled.” The green certificates dated 1919 and beyond have pictures of the Titanic printed on them. Prior to that, the only defining characteristics was the green colored paper with the darker green border.

Collecting International Mercantile Marine Company certificates is perhaps the one way that you can literally own a piece of J.P. Morgan’s only failed business venture. Considering the success of J.P. Morgan entities now, it is hard to believe that the International Mercantile Marine Company was a failure for him, but it all stemmed from everything that went wrong with the Titanic. And because these stock certificates are made easily available, collectors can get in on a piece of this, 97 years after the fact.

Visit RealStockCertificates.com for better quality antique stock certificates at better prices. Professional Authors at:
www.Article-Writing-Services.com.

Article Source: Collectibles-Articles.com

The First "Real" Transcontinental Railroad

2009-02-19T12:48:00.001-06:00

The First "Real" Transcontinental Railroad by Larry Crain of RealStockCertificates.com LLC

The Panama Railroad was completed in 1855. It had the title of the “first transcontinental railroad” because the famous U.S. Transcontinental railway did not exist until 1869, when the rails finally connected to each other at Promontory Summit, Utah.

The Panama Railroad was a considerable improvement in travel, especially when it came to carrying mail through the Panama jungle. Many people, such as a gentleman by the name of Theodore Judah died of tropical disease because of crossing the Panama. The only other way to get supplies from one coast to the other was to sail around Cape Horn by boat and this was a dangerous task. Many individuals having to cross by land or boat would find themselves becoming ill with the ailments of the tropic.

Eventually, the Panama Railroad became a publicly traded company. In the 19th century, shares in a railroad company mostly consisted of stocks. Eventually, the Panama Railroad reached a share price of $295 per share. That made the railroad the highest priced stock at one time. And now, Panama Railroad stock certificates are highly sought after collector’s items. These are great collectible investments that anyone into Scripophily, the collecting of stocks and bonds, can appreciate.

The sheer beauty of these old documents fascinates any collector, but it is the history behind them that makes them even more interesting. In this case, the Panama Railroad is full of it. For instance, there is an estimated 5,000 to 10,000 people who died in the construction of the railroad. The company never had an official count, so it may be higher or lower. Such diseases as Cholera, yellow fever, and malaria struck down the workers who had died during the construction of this massive railroad that connected the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean. There were workers from the U.S., Colombia, China, Europe, the Caribbean, and there were also some African slaves included in the construction.

The railway continued to thrive and in the process many stock certificates were signed and issued to shareholders. But it was in 1979 that the railway declined because the U.S. government handed over control to Panama’s government. But after a large rehabilitation project in 2000 and 2001, the single track railroad with some double tracks integrated made it possible for shipping to occur again.

And now there are individuals seeking out the many Panama Railway stock certificates that were issued in the heyday of the railway.

These stock certificates can be found with varying numbers of shares. A Panama Railway stock certificate from 1865 would have the number of shares handwritten in a box at the top of the certificate. By 1881, these certificates would have the number of shares the certificate was worth printed at the printing press. In a way, the 1881 certificate resembles currency. Some of the 1865 certificates had the face of Abraham Lincoln printed upon them since he was the president until April 15, 1865 when he was assassinated.

What is even more interesting is that some of these stock certificates have the postage stamp placed directly upon them. They were not sent inside of envelopes. The postage stamp was placed directly on them and mailed just as they were through the postal service.

These stock certificates are not just interesting because of the Panama Railroad history, but because of the history and the interesting facts around the certificates themselves.

Visit RealStockCertificates.com for better quality antique stock certificates at better prices. Professional Authors at:
www.Article-Writing-Services.com.

Article Source: Collectibles-Articles.com

Lehigh Coal Navigated History

2009-02-19T12:46:00.001-06:00

Lehigh Coal Navigated History by Larry Crain of RealStockCertificates.com LLC

The Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company is a company that is still in operation today. However, there are many old canceled stock certificates that are available for the stock certificate collector to take advantage of. If there is a company that has an incredible history, this is a company that does.

The Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company was created for the carrying of anthracite coal to Easton from Lehigh Valley. This creation occurred after Phillip Ginder discovered large anthracite deposits in the Summit Hill, Pennsylvania area in 1791. The Lehigh and Delaware Rivers were quite turbulent, but transportation of coal was made possible through the navigation system that had been developed. This system was completed by 1820 and this resulted in the merger of Lehigh Coal Company and Lehigh Navigation. By 1825, there was approximately 30,000 tons of coal making its way to Philadelphia.

But there was an increase in competition and something needed to be done, so Lehigh Coal and Navigation Co. continued to expand with better navigation tools, such as lift locks used in the canal. This new expanded navigation system was completed by 1829 and within five years of that completion, the Lehigh navigation system was also connected to New York. But in 1862, parts of the system were destroyed by a great flood. However, the rebuild resulted in even more expansion for the company.

It was in 1822 that the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company became incorporated and became a publicly traded company. Due to its great success, the stock started selling left and right. Although there is some form of Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company in business, the company was sold in the 1960s for recreational use to public and private organizations. So what you will find when looking at a Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company stock certificate is a canceled certificate that cannot be traded on the stock market. In other words, they make fantastic certificates to collect.

There is such an incredible history behind the company that these are widely sought after stock certificates. The company saw great success during the 1800s, but saw reductions in the amount of tonnage that they were transporting. As a matter of fact, they saw a decline in the tonnage being transferred in 1900, but still managed to stay in business until the 1960s. This is a company that had 190 years of operational history behind it.

There are different variations of the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company stock certificate. It simply depends on the year it was issued. An 1866 certificate is simply a gray sheet of paper. They have sometimes have a revenue stamp on them from where they were taxed by the government. They are also signed by officers within the company, states the incorporation date of the company, and that the shares were going for fifty dollars each. A 1936 stock certificate is somewhat different with its cream and orange coloring, but the required information is the same.

Visit RealStockCertificates.com for better quality antique stock certificates at better prices. Professional Authors at: www.Article-Writing-Services.com.

Article Source: Collectibles-Articles.com

The Sweet Story of Hershey Stock Certificates

2009-02-19T12:44:00.001-06:00

The Sweet Story of Hershey Stock Certificates by Larry Crain of RealStockCertificates.com LLC

All of us are aware of the Hershey Foods Company. Many of us consume something made by the Hershey Food Company at least once per week, especially if that something is a candy bar. However, the company was formerly known as the Hershey Foods Corporation, up until 2004. And if you’re into collecting stock certificates, know someone who is, or you are thinking about it, these are very interesting and historical stock certificates to get your hands on.

The Hershey’s was founded in 1894, but the process began in 1876 when Milton Hershey began a candy shop in Philadelphia. However, it failed just six years after being opened. After a failed endeavor in New York City, he returned to Philadelphia and started the Lancaster Caramel Company and this is an endeavor that proved to be successful. However, he sold it in 1900 to concentrate on making chocolate, so he began constructing a chocolate plant in 1903. After the plant began manufacturing chocolate, it was very successful. However, it was prior to this, in 1896, that Hershey had built a milk chocolate plant, which resulted in the Hershey Process in 1899. This is the very process that is used today.

Hershey’s became incorporated in 1908. With this incorporation, they were made a publicly traded company. And there are some very interesting facts regarding Hershey’s stocks. For instance, we all know that a stock split is a good thing. A person can have one stock split into two, which means more shares for them. Well, this has happened on several different occasions with Hershey’s. They saw a 3-for-1 stock split in 1947, a 5-for-1 stock dividend in 1962, and a series of 3-for-1 and 2-for-1 stock splits from 1983 to 2004. Anyone interested in collecting Hershey Foods stock certificates may wish to have stock certificates from these very special periods in Hershey stock history.

Another interesting aspect of Hershey stock history that is very special is the stock that was given to the Industrial School of Orphans in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Hershey had established the school in 1909 with his wife, but his wife passed away in 1915 and, since he was childless, he made sure that the school was set up very well financially for many years to come. The stocks that he awarded them were valued at $60 million at the time. To this day, the school still owns 31% of the company’s stock. As of 2007, the company’s worth stood at $4.97 billion and the revenue continues to grow every single year.

Even though the company is still in operation and will be for a very long time, there are a number of canceled stock certificates out there available for collectors to purchase. Perhaps one could even find themselves in possession of a canceled stock certificate awarded to the Industrial School of Orphans. If so, that is a certificate that would be very special to have, just like any Hershey’s certificate would be due to the incredible history of this very strong company.

Visit RealStockCertificates.com for better quality antique stock certificates at better prices. Article writing by
www.Article-Writing-Services.com.

Article Source: Collectibles-Articles.com

Caring For Old Stock Certificates

2008-03-06T16:13:00.008-06:00

Caring For Old Stock Certificates

By Larry Crain, CEO RealStockCertificates.com

Scripophily (the collecting of antique bonds and stock certificates) enthusiasts vary widely in how they take care of their documents. Some actually just stack them together in a folder or drawer (cringe). Others treat them like the irreplaceable historical artifacts and works of art they really are.

If you spend time and money acquiring collectible certificates, you should know how to care for them to retain their appeal and value. Here’s how:

o Sleeves

Clear semi-rigid holders are the best. The documents can be handled and stored without them being bent, rolled up or “dinged,” yet they are easy to inspect and admire. Since most certificates were folded at one time, semi-rigid sleeves have the added benefit of tending to flatten and smooth out any fold remnants. Sleeves should also be non-reactive chemically.

o Gloves

If you want to handle certificates outside of a sleeve (as when inspecting with a magnifier), put on a pair of non-powdered, non-latex exam gloves. Powdered versions leave a powder residue and latex causes an allergic reaction in some people. Exam gloves are very inexpensive and will keep skin oil, finger prints and other chemicals off of the paper and printing.

o Intermingling

Certificates vary in the chemical makeup of the paper and inks used, as well as the elements that have been deposited on them over time. To prevent these various materials from interacting with each other, certificates should always be kept one certificate to one sleeve. Besides, you normally want to be able to see both sides. Many certificates have writing, signatures, transfer records or stamps on the reverse.

o Elements

Always keep paper documents away from excessive heat, light and moisture.

o Display

Collectors that have certificates special to them in some way and people who give, or have been given, a certificate often like to display them for others to see. A common way to do this is to mount and frame them for wall display. As with any artwork, you should avoid using tape or glue to mount them and use non-reactive mounting. Also don’t place them over a furnace vent, by a window that allows direct sunlight or near a humidifier.

o Repair

Pros: Some people feel taping together fold splits or erasing pencil marks helps to preserve and restore something that otherwise might end up in the trash.

Cons: Others believe antique items should remain precisely as history created them and “repairing” opens up a Pandora’s Box with the potential for misrepresentation.

What you do with your possessions is certainly your prerogative. Regardless of which camp you fall into, if the certificate is conveyed to another person, you should always make clear its condition and what you have done to it.

Collectible bonds and stock certificates are not so delicate that you can’t touch or show them. After all, many of them have survived a century or more already. Just take common sense care of them and maybe they’ll last another hundred years.

This is one of a series of articles about Scripophily (collecting old stock certificates) written by Larry Crain. Others are available at Scripophily Articles or RealStockCertificates.com. Copying and distribution are welcome as long as proper attribution is made.

Scripophily Growth - 10 Reasons

2008-03-05T22:57:00.019-06:00

Scripophily Growth - 10 Reasons

By Larry Crain, CEO RealStockCertificates.com LLC

Scripophily is the collecting of financial documents such as bonds and stock certificates. Such documents, even from a century or more ago, have been preserved and collected by thousands of people who love them. Though less well known than numismatics (coin collecting) or philately (stamp collecting), Scripophily is a growing pursuit for a number of reasons. Here are some of them:

1. Developed Marketplace

Scripophily is a well-developed area of the collectible world, with prominent collectors, dealers and industry associations to help people learn about the different certificates available and the companies behind them.

2. Variety

There are so many variables to each certificate that it is engrossing and downright fun to analyze, categorize and pursue them. You can always find a personal connection to some of them.

3. Historical Significance

Many certificates are legitimate antiques that were made, used and passed down by our ancestors. They were personalized and prized possessions of hard working ranchers, brave miners, steel tycoons, manufacturing innovators, brilliant inventors, oil drilling dreamers, and millions of others.

4. Aesthetics

Certificates generally have vignettes (intricate artwork, usually from etchings), ornate borders, elaborate calligraphy, company seals and a size (about the size of a sheet of paper) that makes them ideal for framing for display or as a gift.

5. Rarity

Though there are lots of bonds and stock certificates available to collectors, there are far fewer of them than there are of other financial collectibles such as coins, paper money or stamps. As a group, certificates are becoming rarer as fewer companies issue paper in this electronic age.

6. Affordability

Because this section of the “money” collectibles is not well known to the masses, most certificates, including very nice ones can be had for less than $100.

7. Collector Value

Though no one can predict the future, it is possible, as with any collectible, that some stock certificates may increase in value over time.

8. Ease of handling

Since certificates are essentially thick pieces of specialized printed paper, they are easy to store, ship, look at, and handle while keeping them protected in clear, flat sleeves.

9. Uniqueness

Every certificate is a unique document, sometimes similar to, but never exactly the same as any other. Just like people!

10.Giftability

Certificates can be the perfect unexpected, yet personalized, gift for that hard-to-buy-for person. Someone whose first car was a Packard, for example, might get a kick out of receiving a stock certificate from the Packard Motor Car Company (and it is near impossible someone would give a duplicate of that gift).

The specific reasons for appreciating collectible antique stock certificates are as broad as the thousands of collectors. For you, browse and learn – you may secretly turn out to be one of them.

Scripophily Collecting Themes - Part III

2008-03-05T18:20:00.009-06:00

Scripophily Collecting Themes

Old Stock Certificates – Part III

By Larry Crain, CEO RealStockCertificates.com LLC

A lot of collectors of antique stock certificates collect by grouping types, or themes. In prior articles we discussed themes of Industry, Geography, Vignette (picture), Family Relationship, Time Period, Event, Firsts, Famous Names, Unissued and Extreme Numbers (the other two articles can be found at http://www.scripophilyarticles.blogspot.com/).

Here are nine more popular collecting themes:

1. Celebration

Examples: World Fairs and participating companies, Panama Canal challenge, Disney (characters on war bonds, Magic Kingdom, Euro Disney…), circuses (Ringling Brothers – The Greatest Show On Earth), Transcontinental Railroad contributors

2. Personal Years

Examples: Birth year, when you met, marriage, child’s birth, military service, first car, graduation

3. Befores

Examples: Territories before they were states, before modern papers and printing, instruments from before we went off the Gold Standard, pre-modern transportation (paddlewheels, steamships, stagecoaches…)

4. Signatures, hand signed

This category includes any hand written names (owner, company officials, bankers, witnesses…). It can be further segmented into well-known name signatures (John D Rockefeller), lesser-known (Frederick Stanley) and unknown (little historical information).

5. Cancelation Type

Examples: stamped “canceled” or “cancelled”, hand written cancel, check mark or lines, hole-punched, issued but not canceled

6. Punch Type

Examples: large circles (1/4 inch), small circles (spelling out “canceled”), squares, odd shapes (horseshoes, cross, star…)

7. Color

Certificates from the same company were often printed in different colors if they were used for a different amount of shares (example: printed as for “100 Shares” or “Less Than 100 Shares”). Certificates from some companies came in two or three, or more, colors.

8. Misspellings, or variant spellings

Examples: An Odd Fellows Hall Association certificate from the 1860’s spells “Fellows” both with and without an apostrophe on the same certificate (this and other certificates can be seen at RealStockCertificates.com). Railroad was often spelled differently (one or two words, capitals or not).

9. Stubbed

Some stock certificates still have a registration stub attached (part or all) to the left edge (similar to check register stubs for recording the payment details in a checkbook). It may be filled in or may not. Stubs on certificates can either be flat and showing as part of the complete document (as a framed wall display, for example) or it can be folded under to just show the actual certificate.

It sometimes can be challenging to find certain certificates to fill in a theme, especially if it is a very narrow or rare theme. But the bigger challenge can be in choosing only one theme, because there are so many from which to choose.

This is one of a series of articles about Scripophily (collecting old stock certificates) written by Larry Crain. Others are available at Scripophily Articlesor RealStockCertificates.com. Copying and distribution are welcome as long as proper attribution is made.

Scripophily Collecting Themes - Part II

2008-02-28T00:29:00.014-06:00

Scripophily Collecting Themes

Old Stock Certificates - Part II

By Larry Crain, CEO RealStockCertificates.com LLC

Most people collect antique stock certificates by type, or theme, to give a common thread to their collection and to add passion to the search for specific certificates (though most of us also “cheat” and collect others just because we like them).

The Part I article before this one discussed themes of Industry, Geography, Vignette (artwork), Family Relationship (name) and Time Period. Here are some other popular themes:

1. Events, or some portion of one

Examples: Civil War, Confederate Institutions, Volunteer Bounty Bonds, Veterans Organizations

2. Firsts, or among the firsts

Examples: Experimental Aircraft (Custer Channel Wing), Steam Locomotives (Tom Thumb), seminal autos (Willys-Overland Jeep), first electrically wired cities (Cincinnati Edison), companies over a century old (Wells Fargo)

3. Famous Names, issued to or signed by

Examples: Rockefeller, Disney, Remington, Pabst, Houdini, Rothschild, Chaplin, Buick…

4. Extreme Numbers on the certificate

Examples: Bonds for $1,000,000 or more, stock certificates for more than 10,000 shares or less than 10 shares, company capital of less than $1 million, low registration number (three digits or less)

5. Unissued

These are certificates that were never authorized, filled out and given to a share owner. They have usually come from storage and archives of the companies, banks and printers that were involved with the issuance process.

Some people prefer unissued documents because they often are in better condition than “used” certificates. Other collectors prefer issued ones because the names, writing and wear show they were held in people’s hands and used in commerce a century or more ago.

There are literally millions of permutations possible by crossing themes. For example, if your family can be traced to Philadelphia, you might collect issued, canceled (they usually spelled it with one L in the old days) green certificates that have one or two digit registration numbers with portrait vignettes from the 1800’s.

Or, maybe not. If your name is Miller, you could just buy Grandpa a “Millerstown Iron Company” stock certificate, have it framed and give it to him for Christmas. Guaranteed, he won’t get duplicate gifts.

So you can decide on a theme(s), or just browse and absorb and maybe a theme will develop as you learn more about what’s available and what strikes that special cord in you. If nothing else, you will find fascinating insights into the people and things that made this country.

Scripophily Collecting Themes - Part I

2008-02-24T19:33:00.010-06:00

Scripophily Collecting Themes

Old Stock Certificates - Part I

By Larry Crain, CEO RealStockCertificates.com

There is a thriving market in old stock certificates due to their beauty, uniqueness, historical significance, rarity and, surprisingly, their affordability. Though most certificates (even from a century ago) can be purchased for under $100 , the sheer number of different certificates available (thousands), and the expense of the rarer ones, preclude anyone from trying to collect them all.

For that reason, and due to personal preferences, people tend to give as gifts or to collect stock certificates by theme. These are a few of the more popular themes:

2. Geography - It is fun to see the name of your city or state on a certificate. These collectors usually enjoy doing a little research and reading up on companies and locations they recognize or identify with (Real Stock Histories and RealStockCertificates.com contain extensive company and industry histories). There are many hundreds of old certificates with town, county or state names in the company name, e.g., Maricopa Mica Mining Company (1890’s) or Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Company (1927).

3. Vignette - “Vignette” is the collectors’ term for the picture(s) on most certificates. They are usually quite detailed artwork created from etchings. A collector might choose, for example, animal vignettes (including American Eagles, foxes, dogs, horses, cattle, doves, cats and many others).

4. Family Relationship -If your last name is Morrison, you could have a beautiful, framed, authentic certificate from 1865 for “The Morrison Family Oil Company” hanging in your den. How about The Long Dock Company (1860’s) or the Custer Channel Wing Corporation?

5. Time Period -Lovers of the Old West might like The Colt’s Patent Fire Arms Manufacturing Company, The John B. Stetson Company or the Abercrombie and Fitch Company (they were actually important purveyors in the old days too).

There are many other possible themes (autographs, famous people, famous events, years…). And many certificates can fit in more than one theme, so there is no end to the satisfaction of creating a fine collection , but also the excitement of picking up on a new direction.

In any case, the collecting of these increasingly rare historical documents is a growing, rewarding pastime that is fun to share with others (as you show them your 1865 Barnstable Bank and tell them what you have learned about commerce during the Civil War).

This article was written by Larry Crain, CEO - RealStockCertificates.com LLC. Copying and distribution are welcome as long as proper attribution is made. Other Scripophily articles are available at Scripophily Articles.

2008-02-24T19:14:00.003-06:00

Scripophily Signatures – Real or Not?

By Larry Crain, President RealStockCertificates.com LLC

How can you determine if the signatures on a collectible stock certificate are authentic autographs? First, good news – Scripophily (the collecting of stock certificates and bonds) does not generally have the rampant forgery and mechanized signature issues of many other collectible fields. The question to be answered is whether the signature was hand signed or it was printed or stamped.

These are some of the ways to determine originality:

1. The older the document is, the more likely it was hand signed.

2. Certificates normally have multiple signatures (President, Secretary, Transfer Agent, owner, witness, etc,). The signatures and any notations should be in different handwriting for each person and, often, different colorations and applications of ink or pencil.

3. Research the document using books and dealers’ or hobbyist’s websites (such as coxrail.com for railroads). You may find authentication comments or images you can compare with your document.

4. If you have more than one certificate or image for comparison, look for small variations – that’s good. If the signatures would match exactly if overlaid, they’re probably reproduced.

5. Since older certificates are often on thinner paper, an original signature may appear darker than the printed portions of the certificate when it is viewed from the back.

6. Sometimes a pen signature will have left a very slight depression in the paper which can be seen from the front or back when held at an angle to a light.

7. If the placement of the signature is contrary to the layout of the print, e.g., it covers part of the design, that may indicate originality (though not always).

8. Early signature ink sometimes “bled” slightly out into the paper from the written lines.

A couple of points to remember:

Firstly, it is possible to prove an autograph is not authentic, but it is impossible it prove it is authentic. Every statement of authenticity (be it Marilyn Monroe, Michael Jordan or George Washington) is a statement of informed (we hope) opinion.

The only way to be 100% sure is if you personally watched the person sign your item and then kept it in your possession. That seldom is an option and never is for antique items.

Secondly, because of the first point, you should always purchase collectible items from reputable dealers who offer a reasonable return policy. You should be happy with what you acquire.

Whether you even care about the signature is completely up to you, of course, but it can be one of the research items that lead to a sense of discovery as you explore the historical background and personal stories behind your latest stock certificate acquisition.

This is one of a series of articles about Scripophily (old stock certificate collecting) by Larry Crain. Others are available at Scripophily Articles or RealStockCertificates.com.

RMS Ships - Service Dates And Fates

2008-02-20T21:40:00.004-06:00

Royal Mail Ship (sometimes Steam-ship, Steamer), usually seen in its abbreviated form RMS, is the ship prefix used for seagoing vessels that carry mail under contract by Royal Mail. They have the right to fly the pennant of the Royal Mail when sailing.
The designation has been used since 1840. It was used by a large number of companies, but is often associated in particular with the Cunard line, which held a number of high-profile mail contract business, and which traditionally prefixed the titles of all its ships with the initials "RMS". The best-known ship carrying the prefix is almost certainly the RMS Titanic of the White Star Line.
Technically, a ship would use the prefix only while contracted to carry mail, and would revert at other times to a standard type designation such as "SS".
Previously, the Admiralty operated these ships. In 1850 contracts were awarded to private companies. The most valuable route, with the highest volume, was between Kingstown (now Dún Laoghaire), in Ireland, and Holyhead in Wales. The City of Dublin Steam Packet Company (CDSPCo) won the contract and purchased RMS Saint Columa and RMS Llwywllyn from the Admiralty.
Having the title "RMS" was seen as a mark of quality and a competitive advantage, because the mail had to be on time. In the 1860 CDSPCo contract there was a penalty clause of £1 1s 4d for every minute's delay.
In recent years the shift to air transport for mail has left only two ships with the right to the prefix; RMS St. Helena, which serves the island of St. Helena in the South Atlantic, and RMS Queen Mary 2. QM2 was conferred "RMS" by Royal Mail when she entered service in 2004 on the Southampton to New York route as a gesture to Cunard's history.
The less common designations RMMV, for Royal Mail Motor Vessel, and RMMS, for Royal Mail Motor Ship, were used for a period when RMS was restricted to steam-ships.

RMS Ship List

Name - Line - Maiden Voyage - Left Service - Fate
Queen Elizabeth 2 Cunard 1969 in service until 2008
Queen Mary 2 Cunard 2004 in service
Adriatic White Star 1907 1934 broken-up
Aquitania Cunard 1914 1950 broken-up
Arabia Peninsular and Oriental 1898 1916 sunk (enemy action)
Arlanza Royal Mail Lines 1912 1938 broken-up
Atlantic White Star 1871 1873 sunk
Baltic White Star 1904 1933 broken-up
Britannia Cunard 1840 1880 sunk
Britannic White Star 1929 1960 broken-up
Lucania Cunard 1893 1909 broken-up
Carpathia Cunard 1903 1918 sunk (enemy action)
Caronia Cunard 1949 1974 broken-up
Celtic White Star 1901 1933 broken-up
Cedric White Star 1903 1932 broken-up
Dunottar Castle Union Castle 1890 1915 sunk
Empress of Australia Canadian Pacific 1922 1952 broken-up
Etruria Cunard 1885 1909 broken-up
Homeric White Star 1922 1935 broken-up
Laconia Cunard 1922 1942 sunk (enemy action)
Laconia Cunard 1912 1917 sunk (enemy action)
Lusitania Cunard 1907 1915 sunk (enemy action)
Mauretania Cunard 1939 1965 broken-up
Maloja Peninsular and Oriental 1923 1954 broken-up
Majestic White Star 1922 1940 broken-up
Mooltan Peninsular and Oriental 1923 1953 broken-up
Niagara Union Steamship 1912 1940 sunk (enemy action)
Oceanic White Star 1871 1896 broken-up
Queen Elizabeth Cunard 1940 1968 broken-up
Royal Adelaide City of Dublin Steam Packet 1838 1849 sunk
Georgic White Star 1933 1954 broken-up
Olympic White Star 1911 1935 broken-up
Mauretania Cunard 1907 1935 broken-up
Queen Mary Cunard 1936 1967 retired
Umbria Cunard 1884 1910 broken-up
Scythia Cunard 1921 1958 broken-up
Titanic White Star 1912 1912 sunk
Windsor Castle Union-Castle 1960 1998 broken-up
Viceroy of India Peninsular and Oriental 1927 1942 sunk (enemy action)
Oceanic White Star 1899 1914 broken-up
St. Helena HM Government 1990 in service
Snaefell Isle of Man Steam Packet 1910 1918 sunk (enemy action)
Mona's Queen Isle of Man Steam Packet 1934 ? ?
King Orry Isle of Man Steam Packet 1911 ? ?
Lady of Mann Isle of Man Steam Packet 1930 ? ?
Ben My Chree Isle of Man Steam Packet 1927 ? ?
Peel Castle Isle of Man Steam Packet 1894 ? ?
Fenella Isle of Man Steam Packet 1937 ? ?
Tynwald Isle of Man Steam Packet 1937 ? ?
Segwun ? 1887 restored and returned to service
Trent Royal Mail Steam Packet 1841 1865 broken-up
Leinster City of Dublin Steam Packet 1918 sunk (enemy action)
Servia Cunard 1881 1901 broken-up

2008-02-17T00:36:00.005-06:00

Old Stock Certificates: Lost Treasure Or Wallpaper?

by Investopedia Staff

Have you ever found or inherited a stock certificate for a company? What if you've never heard of the company before? Well, here we go over how you can find out whether you were left a fortune waiting to be claimed, or just a piece of paper ready for the recycling bin.

Stocks in Physical Form
The happening upon old stock certificates is actually more common than you might think. In the past, investors received physical certificates (referred to as in bearer form) when they bought stock.

The problem over old stock certificates doesn't arise very often anymore because most stocks are kept in electronic form in your broker's computer system (which is known as in street name). So, if you find an old certificates it's important that you know where to start looking to see if your discovery is merely wallpaper from a bankrupt company or a lost treasure.

Rather than throwing away the piece of paper that might be your lottery ticket, take the time and do the research.

The Key Pieces of Information

First things first: you need to take a look at a few things on the certificate. Look for the company name and location of incorporation, a CUSIP number (explained in detail below) and the name of the person with whom the security is registered. All of these items are important and can likely be found on the face of the certificate.

Company Name
If the company still exists, your search ends here. You can go to the library or use the internet to find out exactly what has happened to the company. Yahoo Finance has a good symbol lookup tool where you can search the name of the company for its ticker. The problem is that the name probably isn't the same. Unless your company is a household name, like General Electric, chances are that at some point the company either was bought out or changed its name due to a merger.

CUSIP Number
This piece of information provides a vital piece of information for searching out a security; it's like stock DNA. Each security has a unique and individual number (the CUSIP), and changes and splits are recorded accordingly. That is, every time a stock decides to change its name, split or do anything that will affect its stock certificate, a new number is assigned to it. By doing a search starting from the original number, we can find out the final/current equivalent of the security. Outside North America, other numbering systems are used, such as SEDOL or ISIN.

Most large discount brokerages are able to help clients track down securities that are defunct for over 10 years. With the CUSIP number the brokerage will be able to uncover all splits, reorganizations and name changes that have occurred throughout the life of the company. It will also be able to tell you whether the company is still trading or out of business.

Location of Incorporation
Should the previous two methods of searching for a company not pan out, the location of incorporation provides you with a last resort. Each stock is incorporated in a state, and the records are kept at a central location. Generally, incorporation will have to go through the Secretary of the State, and the name of the business will be documented in their databases.

You should be able to contact the Secretary of the State and find out more information about your certificate. Keep in mind that a fee is usually charged for this service.If you have been successful in finding all this information, you will need to locate the name of the transfer agent. The easiest method for this is to contact the company and ask it directly. You can usually find the number of the company or the name of the transfer agent on the company's website.

Generally, publicly listed corporations have an investor-relations link on their sites. The main reason that you need to go to a transfer agent is that companies rarely handle their own securities personally. They will rather have another company take care of the bookkeeping and issuing of securities. The transfer agent will have a record of the name of the person on the stock certificate; ownership can then be transferred to your name.

This can be done many different ways; however, it's always best to contact the transfer agent and request instructions. Many of them are extremely picky. If the company is no longer public, your search ends. In this case, there may be some legal repercussions, and you will need to speak to a lawyer. If the company has in fact changed names, merged, split, reversed split, reorganized, restructured or undergone any combination of these, you might have something to work with.

The Importance of Documentation
In the instance that you are inheriting some securities, ensure that the individual whose name is on the certificate has bequeathed it to you. A probated will with the necessary signatures of the executors may be required by the transfer agent before it will transfer ownership. Once the certificates have been delivered back to you in your name, you are finished. Now you can deposit them with a broker and sell them accordingly.

Conclusion: Have Someone Else Do the Work for You
For those of you who have gone through all of these tips without any success, there are other means by which you can have your old stock certificates researched, but these ways will cost you some money. For a fee, stock-search companies will do all of the investigation work for you and, if the certificate ends up having no trading value, they may offer to purchase it for a collector's value. Here are a couple of such companies: Scripophily.com and R.M Smythe.Some of the companies listed above may also publish or help you find stock guides that may help you on your investigation of an old stock.

RealStockCertificates.com LLC
Real Stock Histories
Scripophily Articles

Holders Hit Jackpot - New Delhi, India

2008-02-17T00:03:00.002-06:00

Holders hit jackpot as cancelled old shares find online platform

New Delhi:
It is not necessary to own shares by actively trading in market to reap rich premiums—even the cancelled share certificates of companies that closed shop long ago are in demand for their historical value.

New lease of life:
Hundreds of such share certificates are currently on sale over the Internet, including that of Imperial Bank of India, the oldest and largest commercial bank of the Indian subcontinent that later became the State Bank of India (SBI) in 1955.

Issued in 1953, the certificate for 10 shares of the Imperial Bank of India, is available for Rs400 on EBay India, the local website of the world’s largest online auction giant.
Share certificates for Bank of Bengal, which was set up in 1809 and is now a part of SBI, is also available online at prices ranging between Rs750 and Rs2,500 per certificate.

A certificate which is more than 100 years old and was issued in 1878, is being sold for Rs750 on EBay India, while another 85-year-old certificate is available for $39.95 (Rs1,574) on Scripophily.net, another website dedicated to the sale and purchase of historical shares and bonds.

Scripophily is the collection of old bond and share certificates as a pursuit or hobby, and the person who collects them is known as a scripophilist. The English word scrip means ownership right and the Greek word philos means to love. This hobby has now found a platform with e-commerce websites such as EBay and Scripophily.

On EBay India, another certificate for Bank of Bengal shares worth Rs4,000 is available for Rs2,500. Another interesting share certificate currently on sale for Rs250, including shipping cost of Rs50, is that of Indian Copper Corp., an England-incorporated private sector company that was nationalized and made part of Hindustan Copper in 1972.

On Scripophily.net, a 115- year-old certificate from the New Oriental Bank Corporation Ltd, which was issued in 1890, is being sold for $195 (Rs7,683). Founded in 1842 as a joint stock bank, Bank of Western India was reconstituted in 1845 and became Oriental Bank.

The move apparently followed dissatisfaction among shareholders over the expense and conduct of its UK directors. Later in 1949, it acquired the Bank of Ceylon, but had to close its doors in 1892 after failing to record profits.

According to EBay India, some of the popular collectible share certificates are of Assam tea companies and textile mills of Ahmedabad and Mumbai.

The certificates currently available on the website include that of Wadia Woolen Mills issued in 1920, Indian Iron and Steel Co. Ltd issued in 1937, Anderson Wright Ltd issued in 1946, The Bank of Hindustan Ltd issued in 1942, Aryodaya Ginning issued in 1932, The Saraswati Ginning and Manufacturing Co. Ltd issued in 1921 and Shri Ambica Mills Ltd issued in 1968.

According to scripophilist Pranav Gandhi who has listed 50 cancelled shares and bond certificates on EBay: “It has been very difficult to collect these certificates as people think these companies may restart over a period of time and hence might fetch them a good financial value then.”

But, scripophily has given a new lease of life to the certificates of many unsuccessful firms which went bankrupt, thus making them priceless.

Find More Articles On:
Imperial Bank of India Scripophily

A Brief History of the Fur Trade

2008-02-16T17:29:00.002-06:00

Time Line - A Brief History of the Fur Trade

The fur trade in North America began almost as soon as Europeans began their explorations of the North American mainland. This is a brief description of the most significant events in the 250 years during which the fur trade flourished. This period of time can be roughly divided into three sections, the "French Era" from 1600 to 1760. The "British Era" from 1760 to 1816. And the "American Era" from 1816 to 1850. By 1850, the fur trade had mostly come to an end, but not for the reasons you might assume. You can read through the events in the order they occurred, or you can move to a particular period by clicking on the "Era" that interests you the most. However, you may have trouble following some later events if you haven't looked at earlier ones first.

The French Era 1600-1760

During the 1500's Europeans explored the east cost of mainland North America. They traded with the natives they met. They traded knives, hatchets, and beads to the Indians for fur and meat. Indian trappers brought furs from the interior to the St. Lawrence River and traded there for manufactured goods from Europe. These goods included iron tools, wool blankets, colorful cloth, and guns.
1608
Samuel Champlain made the first planned move into the interior of mainland America. He sent Etiene Brule to live with the Huron Indians, to learn their language and trade routes. Champlain was the first to realize the great trade potential of the birch bark canoe.
1618
Etiene Brule arrived at the eastern end of Lake Superior. He may have reached the western shores as well. He was on a quest for a route to the Far East. He was one of the first to search for the North West Passage to the Far East.
1634
Jean Nicolet traveled through the Great Lakes to Green Bay on what is now Lake Michigan. He claimed all the land in this area for France.
By the 1630's furs were regularly leaving New France for Europe. These furs were mainly supplied by Indian traders, especially the Huron and Ottawa tribes. In Wisconsin the Winnebago tribes blocked the fur trade routes. They were attacked and defeated by the Ottawa and Huron. New tribes such as the Sauk, Fox, Potawatomi, and Ojibwe began moving into the area that is now Wisconsin.
1659
Radisson and Grosseiliers made an unlicensed trip into the interior. They built a trading post at Chequamagon Bay on Lake Superior and claimed to have found a portage into the west. Could this have been Grand Portage?
1667
Members of many tribes were settling around Chequamagon Bay on Lake Superior.
1670
The Hudson Bay Co. was chartered. They claimed all the lands that drained into Hudson Bay as their trading area. Their post were located on Hudson Bay and the Indians brought their furs there.
About this time the Dakota Sioux attacked and drove the Huron and Ottawa out of the western Great Lakes. After this time many Frenchmen moved into the region and began trading directly with the Indians.
1673
Marquette and Joliet used the Fox and Wisconsin rivers to reach the Mississippi. After this the Fox and Wisconsin Rivers became a major transportation route to the western trading regions.
1679
Daniel Greysolon, Sieur Du Luth used the Savannah Portage to reach the interior of Minnesota and Mille Lac. He claimed all the lands for France. He returned to Lake Superior and traveled up the northwest shore and built a post on the Kaministikquai River.
The Ojibwe were moving from eastern Lake Superior to the area around Chequamagon. They took the place of the departed Huron and Ottawa. They even allied themselves with the Dakota with whom they traded goods.
1682
La Salle traveled through the Great Lakes and down the Mississippi to its delta. He claimed all the lands drained by the Mississippi and its tributaries for France.
1689
War broke out between France and England. It interrupted trade as far west as Minnesota.
1696
By Royal Edict, New France closed all its western fur posts. Trade was officially abandoned for 20 years. Illegal traders kept up their operations, however.
1712
Wars with the Fox Indians began. The Fox closed the trading route of the Fox and Wisconsin Rivers. Trade throughout the upper Mississippi region was disrupted.
1730
The Fox Wars ended. The Fox had nearly been exterminated by the French and their Indian allies. The trade routes reopened, but changes had occurred. Indian middlemen traders were eliminated. Trade goods were carried west by licensed traders and brought directly to the Indians.
The truce between the Ojibwe and Dakota was broken. The Dakota had previously allowed the Ojibwe to hunt on their lands and in exchange the Dakota had allowed trade goods to travel through to the Ojibwe. Now the Dakota had direct access to the trade goods and no longer needed the Ojibwe. An attempt was made to push the Ojibwe off Dakota lands, but within 50 years the Ojibwe succeeded in driving the Dakota out of their eastern woodlands.
1754
The French and Indian War began. Trade was interrupted. Most of the licensed traders and their voyageurs were called east to fight the British.

The British Era (1760-1816)

1760
New France was conquered by the British. All trading rights and privileges became British. Furs were now sent to London instead of Paris and most trade goods were supplied through London Agents.
1762
France ceded all of its lands west of the Mississippi to Spain.
1763
Britain tried several different arrangements to control the fur trade - imperial control, limiting trade to only five posts, and exclusive licensing. In spite of this, unlicensed traders continued to operate.
1765
Alexander Henry received exclusive rights to trade on Lake Superior. He and his partner, Jean Baptiste Cadotte, built a post at Chequamagon and sent outfits into the Fon du Lac region.
1766
Johnathon Carver traveled west in search of the North West passage.
1767
Trade regulations were returned to the colonies, exclusive licenses were abolished. The start of unregulated trade increased the use of liquor in the fur trade. British traders were allowed to establish wintering posts amongst the Indians. Construction began on permanent structures at Grand Portage.
1774
The Quebec Act became law. The western Great Lakes and all land north of the Ohio River became part of Quebec and subject to its laws and regulations. Green Bay and Prairie du Chein became interior trading centers. Traders started to exploit the region northwest of Grand Portage, but cut-throat competition reduced the profits. Small partnerships were formed to avoid or oppose the competition. The American Revolution caused some traders to avoid areas south and west of the Great Lakes and encouraged them to go north and west. Hudson Bay Company built a post on the Saskatchewan River.
1778-79
First agreements were made between partners that would become the North West Company, the first joint stock company in Canada and possibly North America. Peter Pond traveled to the Athabaska where he gathered so many furs he was forced to leave some behind. Generally throughout the 1770's fur trade was centered around the large posts. The Dakota and Ojibwe were fighting for control of the St. Croix Valley so traders avoided those areas.
1782
The Dakota no longer had any villages north of St. Anthony Falls. A small pox epidemic killed thousands throughout the Northwest.
1784
In January the North West Company was formed. There were 16 shares in the company. Simon McTavish and the Frobisher brothers hold six shares. The first meeting of the Montreal partners and their winterers was held that summer at Grand Portage. Grand Portage was to be the company's rendezvous point for the next 20 years.
The Treaty of Versailles had ended the American Revolution the year before but caused severe problems for the new North West Company. Some of the partners left the company forming the General Company of Lake Superior and the South.
1786
The North West Company increased its shares to 20.
1787
The Beaver Club was formed. It was a very selective social organization of men who had wintered in Indian country. There were 19 original members. The Hudson Bay Company built more posts in the interior because furs were being taken at the Indian camps by the North West Company.
1789
Alexander Mackenzie searched for the North West Passage and instead reached the Arctic Ocean. Simon McTavish tried to lease transportation rights through Hudson Bay but was refused. The North West Trading Company began construction of trading boats on the Great Lakes. Jean Baptiste Perrault entered the Fon du Lac with six other traders in a two-year partnership. They built posts on the St. Louis River, Leech Lake, Pine Lake and Otter Tail Lake. John Sayer joined a one-year partnership and built a post on the St. Louis River.
1791
Alexander Henry sent a group of traders into the northern war zone between the Ojibwe and Dakota. The first year they traded at Leech Lake and the following year at Red River. They went north and then back to Grand Portage.
1793
Alexander Mackenzie successfully crossed the continent to the Pacific Ocean. The route that he had discovered was so bad that it was little used in the future.
1794
Discontent among the winterers of the North West Company due to small shares and poor trade goods caused the company to increase shares to its winterers and made clerks eligible for partnership. Jay's Treaty gave reciprocal trading rights to British and American traders, each were allowed to cross the border to trade on the other's territory. The treaty also opened New York for direct shipment of furs from Detroit and Michilimackinac. John Jacob Astor became involved in the fur trade.
1795
During this time Alexander Mackenzie broke from the North West Company over bad feelings with McTavish. Mackenize did not agree with some of the policies of McTavish. Subsequently the XY Company formed from several existing companies. McTavish ordered all his departments to undersell the XY traders. This in turn increased the use of rum, tobacco, blue or red laced and braided coats which the chiefs desired and the practice of trading with the Indians during drinking bouts.
1799
Alexander Mackenzie joined the XY Company.
1800
The North West Company operated 117 trading posts.
1803
The Americans purchased the Louisiana territory from the French. The Lewis and Clark expedition left in search of a passage to the Pacific Coast.
1804
Simon McTavish died. Consolidation talks between North West Company and XY Company begin.
1808
The American Fur Company was formed by J.J. Astor.
1811
The South West Company was formed by J.J. Astor and the head of the North West Company William McGillivray.
1812
The war between England and the United States disrupted trade all across the continent. The North West Company began operations on the Columbia River of the Pacific Northwest.
1815
The War of 1812 ended. The United States took back lands that had been occupied by the British, but tensions still continued. After this the United States forbid any foreign traders to operate in American territory. The North West Company withdrew.

The American Era (1816-1850)

1816
By Congressional Act, the United States forbid foreigners to trade on US soil. The American Fur Co. hired ex-North West traders to work for them. A border war began between the North West Co. and the American Fur Co.. The old Fon du Lac District was renamed the Northern Outfit.
1818
John Sayer's old clerk, Joseph La Prairie began working for the American Fur Co. He continued working for them until 1821.
1821
The North West Co. and the Hudson Bay Co. merged under the name Hudson Bay Co. A major factor in the decision to merge was the high transportation costs shipping through the Great Lakes. In addition, the Hudson Bay Co. charter had stronger legal backing to right of land by discovery than the partnership claims of the North West Co. After this time, most trade goods were shipped through Hudson Bay for the interior posts. The border war still continued between the Hudson Bay Co. and the American Fur Co. It did not end until 1833 when the American Fur Co. abandoned its posts along the border in exchange for an annual cash payment from Hudson Bay.
1824
Trade in the Snake River area was described as very poor, but trade licenses continued to be issued until the late 1830's.
1834
American Fur Co. was reorganized. Ramsey Crooks now operated the company. American Fur had a monopoly in the Fon du Lac, but due to expenses, cut the number of its posts in the region by half.
1836
Missionaries arrived at Lake Pokegama.
1837
The Ojibwe signed a treaty giving the Folle Avoine to the United States. The Ojibwe were supposed to move to the Crow Wing River. However, some family groups remained in the St. Croix Valley. Lumbering started in the St. Croix Valley. The Northern Outfit was reorganized and Dr. Charles W. W. Borup supervised the area from La Pointe.
1838
The annuity payment time from the Hudson Bay Co. was now more important that the fall hunting and trapping period. The American Fur Co. received $3,500 of the $4,700 given to the Ojibwe.
1840
The post at Lake Pokegama was sold to a government sponsored farmer. The Ojibwe in the area are divided, some retaining traditional life styles, others adopting the agricultural life style recommended by the missionaries.
1842
American Fur Co. fails financially and is replaced by Pierre Chouteau and Co. of St. Louis. Ramsey Crooks kept control of the Northern Outfit, but now traded with both Indians and whites. The white population was rapidly increasing in the St. Croix Valley. Trade companies invested in lumbering, banking, general merchandising, steamboats and land speculation.
1843
The Northern Outfit was falling apart. Many independent traders entered the area and Henry Sibley sent traders in from the south.
1847
Henry Rice moved into Ojibwe territory. He as supplied by Henry Sibley. His "Chippewa Outfit" took many employees from Borup and the Northern Outfit.
1849
The Northern Outfit was sold to Borup who renamed it the Northern Fur Co.. Borup later merged with the Chippewa Outfit. Arguments between Rice and Sibley ended with Rice leaving and Borup left in charge of the "Minnesota Outfit".
1850
The beaver hat was now out of fashion in Europe, signaling the end of the fur trade.
1854
Lake Superior Ojibwe sign a treaty creating reservations in Minnesota and Wisconsin.
1858
Minnesota statehood.
1867
Canadian confederation.
The fur trade slowly collapsed. The trade had only worked when the Indians had control of the land. The fur trade did not die entirely from a lack of furs. Furs had become hard to find at a number of times during the fur trade era. The lack of Indians available to assist with trapping and maintaining the trading system was perhaps as important. The change in fashion to the silk hat in Europe was the final blow.
With the end of the fur trade era, many traders entered the new businesses of real estate, lumbering, mining or railroading. Some continued to operate small stores in Indian communities.

© 1996 White Oak Society, Inc. http://www.whiteoak.org/learning/timeline.htm

Timeline of Jersey City Rairoads

2008-02-16T17:00:00.003-06:00

Timeline of Jersey City area railroads
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

For the purposes of this article, the Jersey City area goes north to Edgewater (the northern end of the line along the Hudson River, south to Bayonne, and includes Kearny Junction and Harrison but not Newark. Thus all events relating to travel east from Newark is covered but not in any other direction.

These abbreviations are used, mainly to identify which system a line ended up with:
B&O=Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
CNJ=Central Railroad of New Jersey
DL&W=Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad
Erie=Erie Railroad
LV=Lehigh Valley Railroad
NYC=New York Central Railroad
NYO&W=New York, Ontario and Western Railroad
NYS&W=New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway
PATH=Port Authority Trans-Hudson
PRR=Pennsylvania Railroad
RDG=Reading Railroad

1833
November 28: The Paterson and Hudson River Railroad (Erie) opens to Marion Junction, where it ends at the New Jersey Railroad (PRR).

1834
September 15: The New Jersey Railroad (PRR) begins regular trips from Newark to Jersey City, on the west side of the Palisades.

1836
The Morris Canal is extended from Newark through Jersey City.

1837
The New Jersey Railroad (PRR) cut through the Palisades opens; the Paterson and Hudson River Railroad (Erie) also uses it.

1838
December 2: The New Jersey Railroad (PRR) switches from horse to steam power.

1858
The Pennsylvania Railroad builds a 5-track passenger station and ferry at Hudson Street.

1861
January 28: The Long Dock Company (Erie) finishes its tunnel through the Palisades, bypassing the PRR cut.
March 14: The New York and Bull's Ferry Railroad (NYC) is chartered and buys the Hoboken and Hudson River Turnpike. Its name is changed to the New York and Fort Lee Railroad on March 8, 1862.

1862
May: The Pavonia Ferry (Erie) opens.

July 29: The CNJ's Jersey City extension opens.

1868
The PRR Harsimus Branch opens, for a new freight terminal at Harsimus Cove.

1869
July 23:The full length of the Newark and New York Railroad (CNJ) opens, using the CNJ's Hudson River terminal.

1870
February 22: The New Jersey Railroad (PRR) builds a new bridge over the Passaic River, cutting the distance through Newark and Harrison. Some passenger trains continue to use the old alignment, the Centre Street Branch.
December 2: A frog war begins between the Erie and DL&W at the west end of the Erie's tunnel.
December 14: The DL&W begins running passenger trains on its Boonton Branch.
The New York and Fort Lee Railroad (NYC) opens.
The PRR leases the United New Jersey Railroad and Canal Company.

1871
January 9: The frog war between the Erie and DL&W ends, with the frog being placed to allow DL&W Boonton Branch trains to run through the Erie's tunnel.

1872
August 23: Trains are first run along the Erie's Newark and Hudson Railroad from Newark through their tunnel to Jersey City.

1873
The Pennsylvania Railroad constructs a new passenger ferry terminal with 12 tracks and 6 platforms. The wooden terminal is built on piers over the water.

1877
May 12: The DL&W opens its new tunnel through the Palisades, ending its trackage rights through the Erie's tunnel. Included with the tunnel are western approaches to the DL&W main line and Boonton Branch; the former includes a new bridge over the Hackensack River, south of the old one (which is then used only for the Erie's Newark and Greenwood Lake Branches). The new alignment at first crosses the New Jersey Midland Railroad (NYS&W) at grade.

1884
The West Shore Railroad's (NYC) tunnel through the Palisades opens.
August 4: The Pennsylvania Railroad passenger and ferry terminal at Exchange Place burns as a result of an explosion in a gas reservoir underneath the station.

1885
December 5: NYC leases the West Shore Railroad for 475 years from January 1, 1886, with the privilege of an additional 500-year term.

1886
June 30: The New Jersey Junction Railroad (NYC) leases .24 mi of the New York and Fort Lee Railroad. The rest later disappears in the West Shore Railroad's (NYC) Weehawken yard.[13]
July 1: NYC leases the New Jersey Junction Railroad for 100 years, with the option of another 100 year term.

1887
May The New Jersey Junction Railroad (NYC) opens for freight.
June The New Jersey Junction Railroad (NYC) opens for passengers.

1891
The Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR) rebuilds the passenger ferry terminal to replace the old terminal which was partially destroyed by fire. The new terminal is raised 15 to 20 feet above the old level to accommodate new elevated rails that eliminate grade crossings in the city.

1894
May 15 The New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway tunnel through the Palisades is opened for traffic. The two mile long tunnel took 18 months to construct and provides the NYS&W access to its own terminal in Edgewater. The NYS&W had previously used the DL&W terminal in Hoboken.

1897
The Hoboken Manufacturers Railroad opens.

1908
February 26: The Hudson and Manhattan Railroad (PATH) opens from 19th Street Manhattan to Hoboken Terminal.

1909
July 19: The Hudson and Manhattan Railroad (PATH) opens from Hudson Terminal (World Trade Center) to Exchange Place.
August 2: The Hudson and Manhattan Railroad (PATH) opens its connection from Exchange Place north towards Hoboken Terminal.

1910
November 27: The Pennsylvania Tunnel and Terminal Railroad (PRR) opens from Kearny Junction into New York Penn Station. Manhattan Transfer opens.
The Penhorn Creek Railroad's (Erie) four-track cut through the Palisades (Bergen Arches) opens, just south of the Erie's two-track tunnel, including a western approach through Secaucus.

1911
March 14: The New Jersey Shore Line Railroad (NYC) opens from the West Shore Railroad's (NYC) Weehawken yard to the NYS&W at Shadyside, about .85 mi.
May 16: Cars first move on the New Jersey Shore Line Railroad (NYC).
October 1: The Hudson and Manhattan Railroad (PATH) is extended through Jersey City to Manhattan Transfer.
November 26: The Hudson and Manhattan Railroad (PATH) is extended from Manhattan Transfer to Newark Park Place.

1937
June 20: Manhattan Transfer closes and the Hudson and Manhattan Railroad (PATH) is realigned to Newark Penn Station.

1939
August 1: The NYS&W begins bus service from Susquehanna Transfer to Times Square via the Lincoln Tunnel.

Scripophily - Philippine Daily Inquirer

2008-02-15T18:31:00.005-06:00

Corporate Securities Info
Scripophily
By Raul J. Palabrica
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 01:11:00 01/25/2008

MANILA, Philippines -- You’re probably wondering what the title of this article means. Scripophily is the study and collection of stocks and bonds. The term combines the English word “scrip,” which refers to ownership right, and “philos,” the Greek word for love. The enthusiasts of this hobby are called scripophilists or scripophiliacs. In the United States, they collect old and rare stock certificates and bonds for aesthetic and historical reasons.

Until the advent of computer technology, the certificates and bonds of US and European firms were printed on real parchment paper and contained elaborate artwork. They had geometric patterns, mosaic-like forms, pentagrams, gargoyle images and photos of the founder of the corporation.

Some were adorned with the coat-of-arms of their pioneers, or decorated with gold-plated ribbons or strands. Hence the use of the phrase “gilt-edged securities” to describe the stocks of blue-chip corporations.

Since these certificates and bonds are virtual works of art, their value increases. Sometimes, the documents, despite the intervening years, remain valid and subsisting. When that happens, their holders can sell the stocks or collect unpaid dividends; for unredeemed bonds, the principal and uncollected interests could bring in unexpected income.

In the Philippines, some companies are quite particular about the format and look of their stock certificates. They consider this proof of ownership as an extension of the personality and image of the company. The certificates are “dressed-up” to be pleasing to the eye without appearing extravagant.

These certificates go hand in hand with glossy and well-prepared annual reports.
The certificates of many of the listed firms have intricate border designs. They contain curlicues and leaf etchings that are common to antique oil painting frames.
The entries in the certificate are handwritten, using the style and font seen in school diplomas.The colors and shades used match those that appear in company trademarks or logos.

Basic info

Corporations that trace their roots to the Spanish or American colonial period embellish their certificates with designs that reflect the art mood during those times.

Those with Castilian links are partial to the “coat-of-arms” style. The Art Deco fashion that was popular during the ’40s seems to be the favorite of corporations that were organized during the Commonwealth years.

Some certificates have reproductions of statues of mythical Greek or Roman gods and goddesses similar to those that grace the halls of important government buildings in the US and Europe. This kind of certificates projects an “aristocratic” aura that seems to convey the message that they belong to a class of its own.
With the effort and creative work that went to their preparation, they are fit to be framed and publicly displayed.

Noticeably, “stock certificate art,” if I may give it that name, appears to be on its way out. The trend nowadays for new corporations is to make the design of stock certificates as simple as possible. Some of the certificates can be described as “plain Janes” or of the “vanilla type,” as financial advisers describe simple banking transactions.

Savings

With the company logo as the only decorative item, the contents of the certificate are limited to the corporation’s name, number of shares, certificate number, issue date, seal and the names of the corporate secretary and transfer agent.
At first glance, they appear to be computer-generated and printed by the office machine. The only concession to tradition is the use of thick paper, not ordinary bond paper.

Cost-cutting is often the reason for scrimping in the preparation of certificates. For some companies, the form of the certificate is a reflection of the management style of their owners.

Don’t get me wrong. I have nothing against plain-looking certificates. Investors buy stocks for their future earnings value, not for the beauty of their certificates.
In fact, certificates are not necessary to prove a stockholder’s ownership. As long as a stockholder has paid in full his subscription, he is entitled to all the rights and benefits that go with that acquisition.

Give or take two years, stock certificates may become a thing of the past for listed corporations in our country.

Following the trend in stock exchanges abroad, the local bourse is keen on implementing a “scripless” system of stock registration.

Under this arrangement, the certificates will be recorded and lodged in a depository company. No hard copy of the certificate will be given to the stockholder. Instead, he will only get written advice about his stock ownership.

All transactions over the stocks will be done electronically.

* * *
RealStockCertificates.com LLC
Real Stock Histories
Scripophily Articles

The American Banknote Company

2008-02-15T17:52:00.005-06:00

The American Banknote Company

The American Banknote Company has been producing some of the finest examples of stocks and shares certificates for over 200 years and many scripophily collectors have managed to build a fine collection based around these fascinating documents. Prices for stock certificates from the 19th century can go up to $100 or more and those from the early 20th century generally range from $30 - $50.

However unlike many companies valued by collectors, the American Banknote Company is still in operation and producing stock certificates for today’s investors. The firm produces documentation for many of America’s 17,000 publicly traded companies as well as travellers checks, foreign currency, passports and gift certificates such as coupons and bank checks. With the company’s reputation for producing the highest quality documents, these items too may become collectible in the future.

The American Banknote Company was formally created in 1858 and its longevity stands as testimony to fantastic corporate success. Its most important contribution to ensuring the stability of the American economy was in bank note production. The company’s first achievement was to recognise the need to use art and technology as a bank note safety measure - the second was to develop a sophisticated engraving method based on steel plate printing. This system was adapted to print small images of Greek gods on share certificates which made them into an attractive visual document and virtually impossible to copy.

Yet another development was the introduction of ‘planchette paper’ for more accurate printing. The paper made use of coloured paper discs rather than silk fibres and is still the most popular material used to produce currency today. The company’s emphasis on increasing security made it immediately popular. In the mid 19th century the US desperately needed more security and efficiency regarding the economy and financial documents. This reputation for quality was not lost during the troubled years of the Civil War - even though it was a lengthy process to produce a good note or certificate, the American Banknote Company still managed to turn them out in their thousands.

The company always prided itself on its high standards and amassed considerable profit from printing stock certificates for public companies across the country. Its reputation secured commissions from some of the most important overseas governments, such as Brazil, Greece, Italy, Peru, Columbia, Ecuador and various British colonies.

RealStockCertificates.com LLC
Real Stock Histories
Scripophily Articles

Determining The Value Of Old Stocks And Bonds

2008-02-15T17:48:00.002-06:00

Determining The Value Of Old Stocks And Bonds

There are many factors that help determine the value of your old stocks and bonds. Condition of course is always an important consideration - with share certificates catalogued as 'uncirculated' or 'extremely fine' being valued at as much as ten times the price of the same stock in fair or poor condition.

The age of your item is also important - the general rule of thumb is that the older your certificates the more valuable they are likely to be. Another factor to bear in mind is the original face value of your bond - the greater the amount the more you are likely to realise this time around. The feel and look of your stocks and bonds is also significant. Good quality paper with appropriate watermarking is the most desirable.

Many stocks carry vignette illustrations and incorporate calligraphic lettering and ornate coloured borders - generally speaking, the more decorative your bonds the more valuable they are likely to be. The engraving process employed is also significant - lithographed specimens usually demand a greater price than wood cuts. Other factors include the nature of the company issuing the stock, the printer responsible for producing the bond and the identity of the individual or company purchasing the stock.

Given the vast numbers of stock and bonds in circulation many scripophily enthusiasts choose to specialise in certain collecting areas. The most lucrative categories include railroads, automobiles, mining and foreign issues such as Tsarist Russia and Imperial China. Autograph collectors also keep a watchful eye on the scripophily market as signed certificates by famous people also appear from time to time. Thus, early American Express company stock signed by William Fargo (of Wells Fargo fame) can sell for about $750. Items signed by Fargo can make less of course, American Express is one of the companies more keenly sought by collectors.

Other stock certificates carry the signatures of such luminaries as J.P. Morgan, John Paul Getty and the great Harry Houdini. For more modern tastes, a Planet Hollywood stock certificate endorsed by Demi Moore, Bruce Willis and Arnold Schwarzenegger could be yours for about $100.

RealStockCertificates.com LLC
Real Stock Histories
Scripophily Articles

Scripophily Collecting Themes

2008-02-14T19:52:00.005-06:00

499 words

Scripophily Collecting Themes
(Old Stock Certificates) - Part One
By Larry Crain, President RealStockCertificates.com

There is a thriving market in old stock certificates due their beauty, uniqueness, historical significance, rarity and, surprisingly, their affordability. Though most certificates (even from a century ago) can be purchased for under $100 , the sheer number of different certificates available (thousands), and the expense of the rarer ones, preclude anyone from trying to collect them all.

For that reason, and due to personal preferences, people tend to give as gifts or to collect stock certificates by theme. These are a few of the more popular themes:

1. Industry - Railroads are popular industry themes. There were a great number of them and they literally created the infrastructure that allowed the United States to develop into a unified economic, cultural, political and societal entity Even within the Railroad category, however, most people focus on sub-segments such as the first electronic traction railways ( trolleys) from a hundred years ago. Other examples are aircraft, mining, oil, autos, retailers, banks, etc.

2. Geography - It is fun to see the name of your city or state on a certificate. These collectors usually enjoy doing a little research and reading up on companies and locations they recognize or identify with (Real Stock Histories and RealStockCertificates.com contain fascinating company histories). There are many hundreds of old certificates with town, county or state names in the company name, e.g., Maricopa Mica Mining Company (1890’s) or Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Company (1927).

3. Vignette - “Vignette” is the collectors’ term for the picture(s) on most certificates. They are usually quite detailed artwork created from etchings. A collector might choose, for example, animal vignettes (including American Eagles, foxes, dogs, horses, cattle, doves, cats and many others).

4. Family Relationship -If your last name is Morrison, you could have a beautiful, framed, authentic certificate from 1865 for “The Morrison Family Oil Company” hanging in your den. How about The Long Dock Company (1860’s) or the Custer Channel Wing Corporation?

5. Time Period -Lovers of the Old West might like The Colt’s Patent Fire Arms Manufacturing Company, The John B. Stetson Company or the Abercrombie and Fitch Company (they were actually important purveyors in the old days too).

There are many other possible themes (autographs, famous people, famous events, years…). And many certificates can fit in more than one theme, so there is no end to the satisfaction of creating a fine collection , but also the excitement of picking up on a new direction.

This article was written by Larry Crain, President - RealStockCertificates.com LLC. Copying and distribution are welcome as long as proper attribution is made. Other Scripophily articles are available at Scripophily Articles.

Ye Olde Stock Certificates Part II

2008-02-14T15:09:00.002-06:00

Ye Olde Stock Certificates is about researching certificates
From The Motley Fool at www.fool.com

FOOLISH FOUR PORTFOLIO
Ye Olde Stock Certificates
...something old, something lost, Part II
By Barbara Eisner Bayer (TMF Venus)
June 6, 2000

It's the ultimate investor fantasy. Scrounging through some old family documents, your eyes widen as you brush off the dust on an old stock certificate. Could it be valuable, a magical ticket to elusive fortune? Will your tears turn to joy, or simply be remembered for the allergy attack the dust precipitated?

First things first. In order to discover if the certificate is worthy or worthless, you need to find out if the company still exists in some form. Has it changed its name, merged with IBM, been acquired by Microsoft, or did it go down the tubes in the Great Depression?

Step one is to do an online search to find a current and accurate company name and its stock symbol. If you get a hit, you can look up the current price. Keep in mind that your certificate may actually represent many more shares than the face value indicates if the stock has split. Also remember that you'll need an exact name match to be sure you have the correct company.

If you don't get a hit on the company name, then the company may be worthless (oh no!), but it's also possible it has changed its name or merged with another company. Hope reigns supreme. Tracing the original company will now require more legwork. The easiest way to minimize your effort is by depositing your certificates in a brokerage account, as most brokers can easily look them up in order to establish a value for your account. Let them do the legwork!

An alternative would be to contact the "transfer agent" listed on the front of the stock certificate. If the transfer agent is still actively representing the company or its successor, you are home free; if not, it's back to the drawing board.

The next step would be to contact the State Corporation Commission of the state that issued the certificate. Since stock certificates show the state of a company's incorporation, you can contact the relevant State Corporation Commission by calling the state government's information line. The SCC can verify if the company is still in business and, if they are, give you the current transfer agent's name. However, the SCC can't tell you what the stock is worth or even give you a stock symbol. (So it's back to Step One.)

Or you can try looking the company up the old-fashioned way. Most libraries have several reference volumes to locate old stocks. Ask your friendly reference librarian what is available in your local library. (If you go when it isn't busy and you're really nice, the reference librarian may even help you with your first search.) You can assist your cause by sounding really smart. To brush up on your smarts, try visiting the consumer assistance area at the Securities and Exchange Commission website, which offers a listing of publications to look for at the library (under "Stock certificates, old.") Everyone likes to help those who help themselves.

If all else fails, you can hire a company to do the work for you. R.M. Smythe specializes in researching, auctioning, buying, and selling historic "paper," as it's known in the trade, and will find out if your stock has any value for $75 per issue. You could also try SCRS, which charges a flat fee of $35 per company search and has a money-back guarantee if no information is found.

If your research turns up nothing, don't despair. Your certificate may actually have value for collectors. Take a peek to see if your old certificates are worth anything at Scripophily.com ("Scripophily" is the collecting of old stocks and bonds). A Planet Hollywood Certificate with printed signatures of celebrity partners Demi Moore, Bruce Willis, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Sly Stallone goes for $99.95. Don't spend it all in one place!

A Playboy Enterprises 1973 Certificate with a vignette of a nude playmate goes for $275. (A much better deal for you than all 12 Playboy issues from 1973, which only goes for $19.99 on eBay. I guess lots of folks hung on to those mags.)

Finally, if you need Foolish help and support, let TMF Braden, our motley answer to Sherlock Holmes, assist you in tracking down your stock on our new Bloodhound Gang discussion board.

Have you completely lost it? If you lose a stock certificate through fire, theft, or plain old carelessness, shares registered in the stock holder's name (as opposed to "street name") can be replaced fairly quickly and easily. Just contact the company's stock transfer agent. (You must know how to do that by now!)

Tell the transfer agent the approximate date the certificate was issued. You may be asked to submit an affidavit stating all facts surrounding the loss. Then, the transfer agent will recommend a surety company and ask you to post a surety bond, which is typically 1% or 2% of the value of the certificate. Once the bond is posted, the transfer agent should be able to reissue the missing certificate without further ado.

You've probably figured this out by now, but it's an excellent idea to keep a photocopy of any certificates you own in a place separate from where you keep the originals. Therefore, if you accidentally use your certificate to clean your windshield, you'll be prepared with all the information necessary to replace it.

It's unlikely that your old stock certificate will pave the road to riches. But it might help you buy a new Dustbuster.

RealStockCertificates.com LLC
Real Stock Histories
Scripophily Articles