Friday, January 16, 2015

IBSS - Mail bid auction January 2015




The International Bond and Share Society, sets its next (members only) auction date to 30 January 2015. This auctions counts 199 lots, representing more than 30 countries and an equal number of themes.

Confederate States Bond of 1863 depicting General Stonewall Jackson
Confederate States of America
$1000 Bond for $1000
Loan Act of 20 February 1863
vignette of Lieutenant General Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson
Printed by Archer and Daly
(see also note below)



  • Date : January 30, 2015
  • Place : not applicable, this is a mail bid auction only
  • Practical info, see here  
  • Auction catalogue can be downloaded here, and images of the lots are listed there 


F.L.

NB:
I've looked up the CSA bond shown above in Criswell's Currency Series Vol II Confederate and Southern State Bonds, 1961 edition. The book catalogued the certificate as Cr. 122 with a rarity number of 4 on a scale between 1 and 11 with the  latter used only for semi-unique pieces.

The accompanying Price List and Supplement, dated 1964, estimated the certificate at 20 USD. 1964, that is 50 years ago. Today, according to some online inflation calculator tools like this one and that one, it would represent something like a 150 USD. The certificate, lot 168 in this IBSS auction, has a modest start price of 45 GBP.

Wednesday, January 7, 2015

Innovative service for first-class collections

Last year, the Centrum voor Scriptofilie (or Scripophily Center in English) announced SCRIPOCOLLECTIONS.com : an online service for its customers. This is not just another online web presence. On the contrary, Mario Boone, director of the company, came up with a new, innovative way of handling third-party collections online. Worthwile to write a few lines about it.

Read on, when
a) you are an advanced collector and it has become difficult to complete your collection
b) or, you need to sell your collection in its entirety
c) or, you are looking for an interesting investment opportunity

How does SCRIPOCOLLECTIONS.com meet these needs ? Well, the service offers an Internet platform to display collections from collectors who :
  1. wish to receive offers for missing pieces
  2. wish to sell their collection in their entirety
  3. a combination of both the above.
The role of the service provider is supportive: 
  • making a digital inventory of the collection
  • optionally scanning shares and bonds
  • display a collection online
  • estimate the collection
  • finding a buyer for the entire collection
  • mediate between the customer and potential sellers of new entries of a collection
  • ensuring customer's privacy by default
  • et cetera
You are correct when you say that these kind of activities are common practises for auctioneers and antique dealers. But, at least to my knowledge, it is the first time I see this implemented by means of a web platform targeting the world wide public.

Possibly there is something in it for you, I mean even when you are not planning to put your collection online. Do you have a bond or share certificate for sale that can supplement one of these collections ? Contact the Scripophily Center, maybe your piece finds a new home. 

More info available on SCRIPOCOLLECTIONS.com.

Below are some images from the collections currently on display.

F.L.

Staeten van Vlaenderen
Loan 2400 Gulden, 1780
issued to Bisschoppelijk Seminarie van Brugge
(Episcopal Seminary of Bruges)
- Bruges collection -


Corpus Christi Ship Channel Company
Shares of $100 each, 1859
- US Canals collection -


Dioramique  Le Pelerinage de Jerusalem à Montmartre
Société de l'Exposition Dioramique 
Le Pelerinage de Jerusalem à Montmartre
Share of 100 Francs, 1887
Panoramas collection -


Companhia Carris de Ferro do Porto share certificate depicting bridge built by Eiffell
Companhia Carris de Ferro do Porto
5 Shares of 10$000, 1908
Portuguese Railroads collection -


bond from Compagnie du Chemin de Fer du Bas-Congo au Katanga
Belgian Congo
Compagnie du Chemin de Fer du Bas-Congo au Katanga
4% Bond of 100 Francs, 1911
Belgian Congo Railroads collection -


share certificate from Charbonnages de Limbourg-Meuse (steenkool Limburg)
Charbonnages de Limbourg-Meuse S.A.
Share of 500 Francs, 1949
Coalmines from Limburg (Belgium) collection -


printer proof Wagons-Lits
Compagnie Internationale des 
Wagons-Lits et des Grands Express Européens
5 Ordinary shares of 500 Francs, printer proof, 1954
Wagons-Lits collection -


Société de l'Union pour les Productions Agricole (Egypt)
Société de l'Union pour les Productions Agricole
Share
Egypt collection -
More about this top collection, see here .





N.B. Other online collections can be seen here.