What is the number of scripophily collectors in the world ?

The little reflection on the last poll outcome, see here, brought me to the following question :

How many scripophily collectors are there in the world ?

I know some of you are collecting quite isolated without knowing anybody else collecting stocks and bonds. I myself spent my first years of collecting in that manner. Some of you know one or more friends sharing the same passion. Or maybe you are a member of a scripophily, numismatic or ephemera club. The fact is we are not alone, we are numerous.

The Telecommunications History Group in the spotlight

While googling some newly arrived stocks, I incidentally tumbled into this website of the Telecommunications History Group (THG).  I was surprised by the historical content it displayed on  American telephone companies with illustrations of old stock certificates. What was this organization all about? My curiosity was aroused.  I decided to do an interview article on this, and .. well eventually I found my interviewee : Jody L. Georgeson, Executive Director of THG.

After her retirement from the telecom company U S West, Jody attended the University of Denver to receive a Masters of Library Science degree, with an emphasis on archival studies and public librarianship. A perfect lead-up for her next position at THG. One of the things I learned from her, is that THG is supported by an enthusiastic staff of volunteers.

The Zenith city Telephone Company
1899, shares of $100

You are invited to read the full interview. At the end you will find some interesting links !
Please continue.

Poll results - classification of stocks and bonds

Here are the results of the poll about ordering your old stocks and bond certificates.

This was the question :

What is your preferred way of
- searching a sales catalogue ?
- browsing a dealer's album on a bourse ?
- classifying your antique stocks and bonds ?

And here are the results :

The chart shows that 50% of the participants prefer a classification by country, and then by type of activiy.

This poll was set up with the intention to have a little fun and without the ambition of holding an official poll. But it is interesting to make some thoughts about it.  Some sources say that conducting a poll with 1000 persons on a population of 1 million people may result in a representative poll.

I earlier showed this blog had about 600 visitors in the past half year (see here) . There were 14 votes (including mine), which seems an acceptable number.

Anyway, the results did matter to me. I spent an afternoon with rearranging my shares and bond certificates. It was not an obvious thing to do because depending on the date of issue, two shares of the same company may belong to another country.

Thank you for votes !


F.L.

Reference catalogue : La France d'Outre-Mer

• Title : La France d'Outre-Mer
• Authors : Guy Cifré
• ID: ISBN 2-9501106-2-2, published by Numistoria, 1993
• Languages : French
• Number of pages : 151
• Images : black and white, almost on every page and often more than 1 per page; 5 color images on the book covers
• Indexes : region index, certificates in the catalogue ordered by region and then by name

This work catalogues French colonial shares and bonds. Regions included are :

Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Ivory Coast, Dahomey, French Guinea, Senegal, Sudan, Niger, French Congo, Gabon, Ubangi-Shari, Cameroon, Somalia, Ethiopia, Madagascar, Syria, Lebanon, Indochina, New Caledonia, New Hebrides, French Guiana and many other smaller states.

F.L.

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

Back to the future with long-term bonds

The last section of this Elmira and Williamsport Railroad Company bond certificate reads :

In testimony … this bond … to be dated as of the first day of May, one thousand eight hundred and sixty three.

Although this date, 1863, does not match with the certificate’s 1960’s printing style, it makes sense because it is a 1963 replacement certificate for a bond issued in 1863.

Elmira and Williamsport Rail Road

1963 replacement certificate

Printed by the American Bank Note Company