Book : Terra Australis

• Title : Terra Australis - An Adventurous Financial History of Australian Shares and Loans / Abenteuer australischer Finanzgeschichte in Aktien und Anleihen
• Authors : Michael P.A. Liebig
• ID: ISBN 3-89090-706-7, published by Markt & Technik Verlag AG, 1988
• Languages : English, German
• Number of pages : 175
• Images : black & white, multiple images on almost every page
• Indexes : no indexes

In this book the author takes the reader on a journey through the historical development of Australia. Many images from share certificates, maps, engravings and other ephemera are included. Certificates seen from the following themes : banking, agriculture, schools, state bonds, textile, tobacco, mining (coal, copper, tin, etc.) , gold, food, oil, railways, transport, forestry, shipping, automobiles, aviation, metal works, film, breweries, sports.

Chapters :

• A Passage through History
• The Share conquers Australia
• 50 Years after James Cook
• Pressing for Gold
• Australia under Steam
• From Hell to Hope
• Australia becomes mobile
• Flying Doctors, Cackling of Hens and a School in the Air
• And to conclude

A must have for the serious collector of Australian scripophily !

F.L.

  

NB:

Did anyone compile an index of the shares illustrated in this book ?

I would be happy to add the index to this post.

Reference catalogue : Swedish Share Certificates Before 1850

• Title : Svenska Aktiebrev Före 1850 - Swedish Share Certificates Before 1850 - Schwedische Aktien Vor 1850
• Authors : Birger Strandberg, Björn Franzén
• ID: ISBN 91-630-0421-6, published by AB Aktiesamlaren BJB, 1991
• Languages : Swedish, English, German
• Number of pages : 220
• Images : mostly in black and white, a few in color, almost on every 2 pages
• Indexes : index by date of issue on page 14

This catalogue gives an overview of Swedish share certificates issued before 1850 :

• 16 shares dated between 1728 and 1799
• 80 shares dated between 1800 and 1850

Many companies listed were active in the field of mining, canals, bridges, banking, shipping, shipyards, early trading companies, health resorts, sports and recreation and many more. Less usual themes included : a billiard club, swimming and horse riding schools, and even a 'share in a stallion' is present.  Many rarities.

F.L.

Fencing in Soerabaya

Fencing is a very uncommon topic in scripophily. This share was issued in 1897 for the establishment of a gymnastics and fencing school in Soerabaya, now the capital of the province of East Java. Under Dutch colonial government, Soerabaya became a major trading center, competing with Singapore, and hosted the largest naval base in the Dutch East Indies.

Maatschappij tot exploitatie van een gebouw ingericht voor gijmnastiek en schermschool

English: Company for the exploitation of a building fitted for a gymnastics and fencing school

Modern fencing evolved from the methods taught at the Ecole Française d'Escrime, founded in 1567. This explains also the origins of the french fencing terminology still in use. Fencing has been featured at every one of the modern Olympic Games since 1896. The organization of world cup competitions and Olympic fencing is the responsability of the french Fédération Internationale d'Escrime, founded in 1913.