Thursday, September 23, 2010

Reference catalogue : Zoological garden companies - Development and Finance History

I will occasionally briefly describe a reference book or catalogue in my postings.

front cover of the Schmitz Metzger catalogue on securities of Zoo companies


  • Title : Zoologische Gärten als Kapitalgesellschaften - Geschichtliche Entwicklung und Finanziering
  • Authors : Armin Schmitz und Arne Metzger
  • ID: ISBN 3-9806401-2-4, published by Verlag der Antik Effekten GMBH, 2000
  • Languages : German, English
  • Number of pages : 192
  • Images : mostly in color, about 100 illustrations
  • Indexes : by location
This great work contains images of certificates and descriptions, both in German and English, of zoos in :
Germany, USA, the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, France, Poland, Spain, Denmark, Finland, Portugal, UK, Luxembourg, Italy, Austria

Friday, September 17, 2010

Frans Van Leemputten's Ikelemba river

detail from share designed by Frans van Leemputten
Villagers under the palm-trees watching a steamer on the Ikelemba river.
Frans Van Leemputten

As a child, Frans van Leemputten (1850-1914), initially living on the countryside, had to move to a suburb in Bruxelles. In Brussels, he studied at the Académie Royale de Beaux-Arts, and became a well-known landscape and animal painter.

Saturday, September 11, 2010

Discover the world's oldest share

The antique share certificate, dated 9 September 1606, was issued by the Dutch East India Company (VOC). The recent finding was done in the Westfries Archive in Hoorn by Ruben Schalk, a Dutch history student. Its value is estimated by the Boone auction house at 600,000 Euro.

In 1602, the Dutch East India Company (in Dutch : Vereenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie or VOC) was established for the purpose of trade, exploration and colonization. It became one of the first worldwide operating corporations, determining the path of our history.

The shipyard of the Dutch East India Company in Amsterdam, circa 1750.
Image: Amsterdam Municipal Department for the
Preservation and Restoration of Historic Buildings and Sites

From 10 September and until 21 November, this historical share will be the master show piece at the VOC exhibition in the West Frisian Museum. But for those who can't make it, you can discover it on the website, developed for the event. Some pretty interactive features allow you to
  • view a short instruction video
  • browse through and zoom into the 4 page document
  • go through individual passages to discover the meaning of the transcriptions

Thursday, September 9, 2010

Goble Aviation from Texas

The state of Texas, the 2nd-largest in the country, counts the most airports of all states in the USA and therefore hosts many airlines and aviation related companies.

Goble Aviation, Inc. 1963
This scarce stock certificate for 100 "A" shares of the Goble Aviation company depicts the Lone Star of Texas.  It is issued to and signed by James S. Vecchio as secretary and signed by M.T. Goble as president.

In particular, the share bears an emboss inaccurately made on a pre-printed gold seal.