Corporation Stock Certificate
Collecting Antique Stocks by Theme
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), 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:
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 electric traction railways ( trolleys) from a hundred years ago or all the small lines that consolidated to create a larger Railroad system. Other industry examples are aircraft, mining, oil, autos, retailers, banks, or any "industry" you define.
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 identify with or recognize. 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 engrossing to pursue and fun to share with others (as you show them your 1865 Barnstable Bank and expound on commerce during the Civil War).
About the Author
Larry Crain is a collector, author and dealer in Scripophily (the collecting of antique stock certificates). Images, values, more articles and research tools for old stock certificates can be found at RealStockCertificates.com LLC. Old company and industry research information can be found at Real Stock Histories.
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Corporation Stock Certificate
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 TONKA CORPORATION STOCK CERTIFICATE SPECIMEN XF TOYS BN7064  US $250.00
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 Shortwave Television Corporation TV stock certificate US $200.00
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 NAVICOAL CORPORATION CAPITAL STOCK CANCELLED CERTIFICATE BN7073 US $199.00
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 Transitron Electronic Corporation David Bakalar transistor stock certificate US $150.00
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 Peerless Corporation VA 1938 Stock Certificate US $150.00
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 The Cigar Machine Corporation Stock Certificate US $135.00
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 The Miller Train Control Corporation RARE Antique Stock Certificate 40 Shs US $111.00
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 Huffy Corporation Dayton Ohio Huffy Bicycles bike stock certificate share US $99.99
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 Bethlehem Steel Corporation Pennsylvania steel mill stock certificate share US $99.99
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 1929 Stock Certificate The Earl Radio Corporation US $99.99
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 Bethlehem Steel Corporation 1952 Pennsylvania steel mill stock certificate US $99.99
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 KMART CORPORATION stock certificate US $79.95
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 SPECIMEN Stock Certificate Lear Jet Seating Corporation US $75.00
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 1901 Stock Certificate British America Corporation US $75.00
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 THE LIONEL CORPORATION1968 STOCK CERTIFICATE US $71.50
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 Lionel Corporation stock certificate US $69.99
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 Fox Theatres Corporation Stock Certificate US $69.95
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 Music Master Corporation Stock Certificate 1926 US $65.00
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 Falstaff Corporation MO 1921 Stock Certificate US $65.00
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 Victor Radiator Corporation stock certificate US $59.99
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 SPECIMEN Grumman Corporation Stock Certificate US $59.99
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 PAN AMERICAN AIRWAYS CORPORATION1944 STOCK CERTIFICATE US $56.50
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 1923 Middle States Oil Corporation Stock Certificate 5 Shares 0143298 Delaware US $52.50
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 King Cola Corporation 1960 New Jersey bottle company stock certificate share US $49.99
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 Peerless Motor Car Corporation stock certificate US $49.99
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Bankruptcy Question Involving Corporation?
I might have to file chapter 7 however I would like my wife not to file. We together own 51% of an S-Corporation, both of our names are on the stock certificate. If I file, and she does not, what happens to the stock we own?
I am meeting with a bankruptcy attorney but they're booked for over a month so I would like to try and get some information/opinions now.
1) Is this stock that you own jointly, i.e. your wife and you own 51% of the stock and a third party (or parties) own the other 49%? If that is the case, then you have a controlling interest in the corporation.
2) The next question to answer is does the corporation have any assets? If the corporation has assets, then the corporation may have some worth. The bankruptcy trustee may very well decide that he wants to value the corporation stock to determine if there is anything to attach to sell for the interest of creditors.
3) Your bankruptcy attorney will review your debts, and will also discuss with you whether your wife should file. Depending on your state of residence and the type of debts, she may need to file anyway to protect her from the backlash when you file.
Most bankruptcy attorneys don't make their clients wait that long. It seems to me that you should call around and find someone with whom you can meet a little sooner. (The average appointment time in my office is about 3 to 5 days, depending on the client's scheduled)
For a referral to a different attorney, contact your local or state bar association.