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About 15 years ago I was very keen on collecting old bond and share certificates.I was very fond of the artwork on the certificates and the little engravings in the design. These designs and indeed the whole illustration itself is known as a vignette.
The hobby is known as Scripology sounds like apology. I loved collecting at the time and had fun at meetings of collectors although we could have met in a telephone booth (a small group but mighty – some very well connected investment people in our group). It’s a shame that not more people are not involved in the hobby. You can learn quite a bit about economic history collecting the paper of defunct companies. You learn that nothing really changes. I am downsizing and I am organizing and making a list my collection for sale (I have to scan most of them too). I might sell some items through e-bay, some to dealers and put some of the star pieces in auctions in New York and London. Yes I was that much into the hobby. I will be keeping some items, especially the Confederate States $1,000 bond complete with coupons that I had hanging in my old office. The bond was quite a conversation piece it was a lot of money in 1865 – the last year of the American Civil War. The material for the most part looks more valuable than you think it might be but looks great in a frame and if you hang it in your office an old bond or share can be a real conversation piece. Rarely will you find an item that has intrinsic value. If you do there are dealers who will research it (not a nominal fee).
The certificate in the illustration is from Mexico Tramways Company. There is a history of the Company at the Share Gallery site. As you can read Canadian investors were heavily involved in this company (I live in Toronto and acquired quite a few Mexico Tram certificates locally). The registrar was located in Toronto where I live. Looks like the particular certificate had been owned by a British gentleman (Robert Harold Posnett) since it has a three pence revenue embossed stamp. Three pence was a quarter of a shilling and there were 20 shillings in the pound – confusing eh. The Brits converted to decimal currency with some grumbling in 1971! There were about 5 US dollars to the pound in 1913 when the certificate was issued. One shilling was worth about a quarter and three pence was a little over 6 cents. Head hurting eh? Still money was quite a different value then – it was a penny (one cent) to mail a postcard.
If you right click and view the picture above you will be able to see the ladies and gentlemen in their hats riding on a streetcar (tram). The late 19th century and the first half of the 20th century were truly the hey day of electric trams as well as hats. And oh yes people did dress up then to go out – looks like they are going to a wedding or a funeral and not going about their daily business. How nostalgic especially for people like us who are really nostalgic about hats.
