Specialist dealer in pre-1900 Scripophily (the collecting of antique stock certificates). Image, values, descriptions and research tools. - Read more

Scripophily Collecting Themes - Part I

Though most certificates (even from a century ago) can be purchased for under $100, the sheer number of different certificates available (thousands), not to mention the expense of the rarer ones, precludes 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:

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Scripophily Collecting Themes - Part 2

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). Collecting themes also provides a logical way to organize or display your favorite stock certificates.

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Scripophily Collecting Themes - Part 3

Many collectors of antique stock certificates collect by acquiring certificates with shared characteristics, 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.

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Values of Old Stock Certificates

The following are some of the characteristics of the supply side of certificates that help create more value. 1. Aesthetic appeal - Is it pretty, powerful, soothing, impressive, memorable, joyful, comforting, funny? Do I like it? Is it “me?” You’ll notice these are all emotions of the viewer. That’s what art does if it’s good - it evokes emotions. Here are some of the decorative aspects of stock certificates that most people appreciate:

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The Titanic Legacy of J.P. Morgan

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.

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The First "Real" Transcontinental Railroad

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.

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Lehigh Coal Navigated History

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.

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The Sweet Story of Hershey Stock Certificates

The Hershey company 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.

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Using Old Stock Certificates for Company Research

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.

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Historical Scripophily

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.

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Stock Certificates Through Time

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.

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Collecting Current Stock Certificates

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.

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Famous Collectible Stock Certificates

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

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Taking Care of Collectible Stock Certificates

This article explains how to care for collectible antique stock certificates to retain their maximum appeal and value. The information applies to any paper collectible.

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