Referenskatalog Svenska Aktiebrev

On the occasion of their 40th Anniversary the Swedish scripophily society, SFHV, published its third edition of the Referenskatalog Svenska Aktiebrev. This reference work in the Swedish language lists over 8000 Swedish stocks and bonds.

Members of the Svenska Föreningen för Historiska Värdepapper (SFHV) produced a third up-to-date catalog. In 1998 SFHV published a first reference catalogue on Swedish shares (5651 entries). A second, updated catalogue from 2010 added 2000 “new” shares. In this new book editors Marita Strandberg, Bo Niklasson and John Örtengren included 8500 certificates.

Several small chapters enclose the main catalog section: 

• Förord/Preface
• Att samla på gamla aktiebrev är också att göra utflykter i ekonomisk historia (Collecting old share certificates is also making excursions into economic history) 
• När började aktiebrev anvaändas i Sverige ? (When were share certificates used in Sweden?) 
• Starten på SFHV (The start of SFHV) 
• Det internationella aktiebrevsamlandet började för hundra år sedan (International stockbroking [in Sweden] - began a hundred years ago) 
• Internationale föreningar (International [scripophily] associations) 
• Värdering av gamla aktiebrev är en sammanvägning av olika faktorer (Valuation of old share certificates is the result of various factors) 
• Hur man hittar i katalogen (How to use the catalog) 
• Förkortningar i textkatalogen (Abbreviations in the text catalog) 
• Main catalog section 
• Stadgar Svenska Föreningen för Historiska Värdepapper (Statutes SFHV) 
• Litteraturförteckning ([interesting] Bibliography [on Swedish scripophily]) 

This AB Rosenbad share illustrates the Rosenbad building that was designed by Art Nouveau architect Gustaf Ferdinand Boberg. The share is adorned all around with roses. Completed in 1902 on the site where there used to be a rose spa, the building features several rose ornaments on its facades. When you walk all the way through Stockholm’s Drottninggatan shopping street towards Gamla stan, the old town district, you’ll find the Rosenbad building on the right corner before you cross the bridge that leads to the Parliament House. It now houses the Swedish government chancellery. Catalog entry 5578, 5 shares of 1000 Kronor, 1900 

The catalog section counts over 8000 entries of Swedish stocks and bonds which are classified by company name. Each entry is characterized by

• name of the company or organization
• type of activity
• county
• municipality
• denomination
• year
• remarks

NOTE : Apart from the basic twenty-six letters, A–Z, the Swedish alphabet includes Å, Ä, and Ö. These are distinct letters, and are sorted after Z. So you'll find the entry for a share in the Östra Centralbanans Jernvägs AB, see image here, at the end of the catalog.

Lars Magnus Ericsson started in 1876 his telegraph repair shop which became Telefonaktiebolaget L. M. Ericsson in 1925. After WWII the company specialized in computerized telephone exchanges. In the late 1960s Ericsson developed a military computer and got involved in personal computers in the 1980s. Bluetooth technology was invented at the company's Lund office in 1989. Catalog entry 7149 : 1 "A" share of 35 Kronor, 1951 

More information about the book

• Title: Referenskatalog Svenska Aktiebrev
• Editors : Marita Strandberg, Bo Niklasson, John Örtengren
• ID : 978-91-89330-69-6, published 2019 by Svenska Föreningen För Historiska Värdepapper
• Languages : Swedish
• Number of pages : 215
• Images : more than 750 small color images (ca 3cm x 3.5cm)
• Index : no index, certificates are classified by company name in the main catalog section

Are you into Swedish scripophily ? Then, no doubt, this would be a nice Christmas present. You can order the catalog from the Swedish Association for Historical Securities, or you can check your favorite scripophily dealer.

F.L.

Related link

• Svenska Föreningen för Historiska Värdepapper (SFHV, Swedish scripophily society)  

Previous posts

• Solution of scripophily puzzle no. 3 ( about a spectacular art theft) 
• Before computers ruled the earth 

Archives International Auctions sells American, Hispanic and World Wide securities in River Edge, New Jersey

Over the last 12 years Archives International Auctions has been offering banknotes, coins, scripophily, autographs and security printing ephemera in more than 50 auctions. Their next sale takes place on Thursday, June 20th 2019 at their offices in River Edge, New Jersey. 

The scripophily part in this auction sale includes about 450 lots of antique stocks and bonds from the USA, Mexico, China and much more. Here are some of these stunning items.

The Jiangxi Soviet, also known as the Chinese Soviet Republic, was established by Mao Zedong and others in November 1931. The short-lived state was made up from discontiguous territories that now belong to China and Mongolia. Issued in 1936, this 1 yuan construction bond bears the name and seal of Mao Zedong. Lot 186 in the sale.

This 1000 Pesos specimen bond, printed in the 1880s, emerged from the American Bank Note Company Archives. The Banco Agrícola was founded in 1868. Its initial headquarters were located at Santiago de Chili in the house of Melchor de Concha y Toro who became a Minister of Finance and a wine-maker. Lot 687 in the auction

The Akron Street Railway and Illuminating Company was incorporated in 1896 with an initial capital of $1.5 million. This $1000 First Consolidated Mortgage Five Per Cent Gold Bond specimen, 1896, is equally rare as it is grandiose in design. Lot 974 

There is much more to tell about this auction, but the most interesting way is to see for yourself. So here are the auction details :

• New Location : River Edge, New Jersey
• Date : 20 June 2019
• Further info : see here, live and absentee bidding here and a downloadable PDF catalogue there 

F.L.

Historic figures and Rumanians star in Boone's next auction of antique securities

Boone's 61th Auction of shares and bonds features more than 1600 lots covering about all fields of scripophily interest. The sale catalogue is available online and as an offline PDF document. Nearly all of its 200 pages include color images and background stories of the certificates to be sold. For easy retrieval purposes, search indexes help the collector on his quest for engravers, artists, security printers, Belgian provinces, more than 80 countries and an equal number of special interest themes. 

I noted several certificates signed by or issued to historic figures in the Autographs index. Here are some dazzling names. The Great Britain section begins with a royal series of financial documents : King Charles I, 1632, L(ot) 521, Queen Anne, 1713, L523, King George I, 1723, L524, King George II, 1745, L525 and King George III, 1790, L526. All, unique, representing the Early Modern Britain period, welcome bids from €2000.

Compagnie Universelle du Canal Maritime de Suez 

Dividend share, 1884, Paris, signed as Director by (Ferdinand) V(icomte ) de Lesseps 
Hercule Catenacci designed the share with pharaonic motifs and Egyptian street views. 

click image to enlarge 

Few personalities have made such an impact on global trade as Ferdinand de Lesseps. Right at the outset of the Second Industrial Revolution, de Lesseps' Suez Canal opened in 1869. Combined with the American transcontinental railroad, it allowed the world to be circled in record time. L182, a dividend share in the Compagnie Universelle du Canal Maritime de Suez, 1884, is the only known scripophily with an original autograph de Lesseps. Start price €2000. 

From 1839, a share in the Moulins à Vapeur de Sclessin, a steam-powered grain mill, L218, is issued to industrialist John Cockerill from Lancashire. Cockerill is considered the founder of the Belgian manufacturing industry. Surprisingly, bidding on this extremely rare and one of the most important Belgian scripophily objects can start as low as €800. 

Of course, the Americans are also part of the show. Bidding can start at €500 for an Oroya Leonesa Ltd gold mine share, L1133, signed by Herbert C. Hoover, 31st President of the US. You can find John Paul Getty and George F. Getty II on a duo lot, L1275, comprising a Mission Development stock and a pay roll check. A Northern Pacific Railroad Company share, L1195, signed on the back transfer note by John Pierpont Morgan may be acquired from €100.

Another stunning signature certificate from the Neamul Romanesc Societate Cooperativa, a company formed for the commerce and industry of printing, packaging and publishing. The company printed its own shares. This one, dated 1908, is signed by historian, playwright and Prime Minister of Rumania (1931-32) Nicolae Iorga. A commando of the fascist Iron Guard party assassinated "the greatest-ever mind in Rumania" in 1940. Lot 1591 in the auction. 

The Nicolae Iorga share, L1591, is one of an exciting group of about 360 rare, historic and superbly designed bonds and shares from Rumania. In pole position here is a bond of 100 Austrian Ducats issued by the Principality of Wallachia in 1834. Twenty-five years later, Wallachia would form together with Moldavia the State of Romania in 1859. The certificate, L1281, can find a new owner from €1400.

The Banca "Oborul" is named after the Obor district in Bucharest. Its 50 Lei  share, Art Nouveau style, starts at €200. L1403  

Art Nouveau became also in Rumania a popular style around the 1900s. Decorative elements, inspired by natural forms and the curved lines of plants, found its way on many gorgious security designs like those of the Creditul International, L1410, Banca Grivita, L1406 and Bukowinaer Landesbank, L1390.

This share in the Allgemeine Versicherungsbank Transsylvania A.G. was issued on Jun 21, 1918, only a few months before Transylvania, also known as Siebenbürgen, became a part of Rumania Dec 1, 1918. Illustrated are the arms of the seven provinces of Transylvania. L1420, €100 

The Rumanian sales section consists of the following subsections, between parentheses the number of lots is mentioned to illustrate the extraordinary range of scripophily : State & City Bonds (36), Railroads (27), Oil (23), Banking (138), Various Industries (135).

Soviet related scripophily can often be fascinating. At the end of WW II, the country was occupied by Soviet troops. In Feb 1946, the Uzinelle Metallurgice "Vulcan" issued new shares. In the same year the Communists organized and "won" the elections in Rumania. The company recovered from the war and already at the end of the decade production increased quickly. L1639 contains a duo of these 1946 issued "Soviet" shares and starts at €60.

The Romania Carbonifera certificate for 10 shares of 500 Lei was issued in 1920. Click the image to enlarge and admire the drawing of coalminers at work. L1556, €100 

On top of what has been discussed so far, another 1200 scripophily lots, 1639 in total, will be part of the sale. A few of the many worth looking at :

• L118 Kathiawar Industries, India
• L132 Manufactures Indochinoises de Cigarettes, Indochina
• L150 Nanyo Yashi KK, Southern Coco-Nut Estate & Trading Co, Japan
• L240 Expedition Antarctique Belge, Belgium
• L472 Baden-Baden Co Ltd, Germany
• L580 Agricultural and Commercial Bank of Ireland
• L793 First Society of Silkworm Breeders in Kutaisi Government, Russia
• L861 Stora Kopparbergs Läns Och Bergslags Enskilde Bank-Bolag, Sweden
• L902 Ottoman National Economic Joint Stock Company of Konya, Turkey
• L1075 Cardenas Sabanilla Petroleum, Cuba

One of the French top pieces in the sale, this 100 Francs share in the Société de Constructions de Levallois-Perret, a successor to the Compagnie des Etablissements Eiffel, was issued in 1939 but printed in the 1890s. Only a handful known, this historic piece may be acquired from €1200. L456 in the auction. 

There is lots more to discover from other countries and all kinds of collecting themes in this auction. The day after the sale, Mario Boone organizes his regular scripophily bourse internationally attended by dealers and visitors.

Auction details

• Location : Antwerpen, Belgium
• Date : auction 27 October 2018, bourse 28 October 2018
• Further info : online catalogue  here, and PDF version there 

F.L.

PS : You can find out more about the Americal railroads in the auction in this preview from Coxrail

La Belle France under the hammer

Lot 400 Compagnie Générale des Services Publics de Paris et la France

This 1906 founder's share shows the map of France in the underprint 

surrounded by not less than 10 coats of arms of French cities : Paris, Marseille, 

Toulouse, Bordeaux, Rouen, Nice, Nantes, Lyon, Lille and St. Étienne.

double-click image to enlarge

Next Friday and Saturday, Mario Boone's 55th international auction of antique stocks & bonds will take place in the heart of Brussels (Hotel NH Carrefour de l'Europe). I've announced this event in my previous post. This time, I want to bring to your attention a special collection to be auctioned during the happening.

Lot 368 : Société de Constructions de Levallois-Perret
Certificat nominatif d'actions de 100 Francs, issued 1939
Formed Paris, 1893, as successors to Compagnie des Etablissements Eiffel
Rarity indication R10 (3-5 pieces known)

Société de Constructions de Levallois-Perret
detail from the certificate above
1866 Gustave Eiffel set up his own engineering office
 at 48 Rue Fouquet in Levallois-Perret. The street
was later renamed into Rue Gustave Eiffel.

France, a Walhalla in scripohily
There is no other nation that has left us so many decorative bond and share certificates like France. For many years, I've been studying auction guides, and I don't think that other countries count more artists, engravers or lithographers. I started to believe I had a good idea of what French scripophily could offer. Boy, am I wrong ! Splendour .. amazement .. rarity .. significance .. these are words that instantly crossed my mind when flipping through this collection's catalogue.

Lot 360 : Société de l'Ascenseur de la Terrasse de Saint-Germain-en-Laye
Share of 100 francs, 1899, Paris

Société de l'Ascenseur de la Terrasse de Saint-Germain-en-Laye
detail from the certificate above
design by Ch. Lapierre and engraving by A. Napier
printed by Imprimerie G. Richard

La Belle France
In this special auction 500 French stocks and bonds will be sold separately. The collection was brought together over a period of 25 years by an European collector, wishing to stay anonymous. Auctioneer Mario Boone says : “In my view, the greatest joy that comes with being an auctioneer is the privilege that one gets to see, catalogue and research truly superb collections such as this one. Despite being a leading auctioneer of French scripophily since many years, I have never before come across so many rarities and novelties as in this collection. That we can auction this collection, which has been built and treasured for decades, is deeply honouring.”

Lot 291 : Revillon Frères
500 francs share, Paris 1908
The company had fur shops in Paris, London, New York,
Moscow, Montreal and elsewhere
Only two pieces known according to the auctioneer

Revillon Frères
detail from the certificate above
grandiose design by A. Antigue
printed by Imp. Lahure

À chacun son goût

The collection covers three centuries, all major industries and themes and is also geographically most interesting. It includes not only, as mostly seen, Paris-issued shares, but also many pieces from other French cities and departments. Besides French colonial shares, the auction contains sections with French companies operating in Australasia, Asia, Africa, Europe, Latin and North America including California Gold Rush certificates. 

Lot 171 : Société Anonyme pour l'Amélioration, l'Education et
la Vente des Chevaux de Luxe de Race Française
Action de 1000 Frances à un quatre centième, 1837

Société Anonyme pour l'Amélioration, l'Education et la Vente 
des Chevaux de Luxe de Race Française
detail from the certificate above
Design and lithography by Ferdinand Séré
Printed by C. Adrien from Paris

Practical info 

• Auction date: 30 October & 1 November 2015 
• Place: Brussels, Belgium
• Further info, see here  

Lot 82 : Entreprise de Déchargement des Ports de Paris
100 Francs share, 1924, Paris
printed by Imp. Spéciale pour Titres

100 Words to improve your French scripophily skills

If you start collecting stocks and bonds from France, you need to learn a bit of French. Many words can easily be understood because they are written similarly to the corresponding word in English. Some examples : automobiles, fruits coloniaux (colonial fruit), banque (bank), compagnie (company), edit (edict), funiculaire (funicular) and navigation.

However, other expressions are less obvious to derive. Here is a list of 100 French terms that you will observe sooner or later on those nice papers. You will also find out that the French language often provides words that are pleasant to pronounce, e.g. tuilerie and messagerie fluviale. 

F.L.

Lot 361 : Société Pyrénéenne d'Entreprises
500 Francs share, 1919, Paris
The company was founded in 1919 to make dams,
hydroelectric facilities and bridges in the Pyrenees.
printed by Union des Arts Graphiques

Syria

view of the city of Damascus and the Umayyad Mosque

Millions of Syrian families have left their destroyed country in search for better human conditions. So far, a few hundred thousand parents and children made a dangerous journey to Europe in order to find a better life. There are many more to come. Few of Europe's national leaders recognize the current scale of this tragedy and realize how the refugee problematics will evolve. These capable politicians are prepared to take fully fledged measures. Bravo Germany, "a strong country will manage", indeed.

Other European politicians do not dare to take the right decisions. They forgot that, long ago, our great-grandparents were also, in times of war, on the run with children and elderly. And our great-grandparents sought and found protection in European countries too.

Yes, this is not the usual scripophily post, but I feel upset about how slow some of our national leaders are addressing the situation. They should be aware that the decision whether or not to provide shelter, relief and care, is not a political but a humane one.

F.L.

Société Foncière de Syrie
Share of 500 Francs, Paris, 1923
design by Lucien Leclerc
Source: Wertpapierwelt
double-click image to enlarge

Société Ottomane du Chemin de Fèr de Damas-Hamah et Prolongements
Share of 500 Francs, Constantinople, 1901
Printed by Chaix, Paris
Source: Wertpapierwelt

Société Anonyme de la Fabrication Ciments et de Produits Constructives
Nominative share, 1950, Aleppo
Source : Boone Auction Sep 2006

Syrian Ottoman Railway Company Limited
One preference share, 1893, London
Source: Wertpapierwelt

Tramways et Électricité de Damas Société Anonyme
share of 500 Francs, Brussels, 1928
printed by J. Verschueren
Source: Wertpapierwelt

Fabrication de la Bière, Société Anonyme Syrienne
Share of 200 Syrian Pounds, 1959, Aleppo
Source : Boone Auction Sep 2006

Uncharted - artist M. Petiet

Crédit Foncier de France

freely translated : Mortgage Bank of France
6.25% Bond of 250 Francs, Paris, 1967 
Printed by Berger-Levrault

M. Petiet designed at least two certificates for the Crédit Foncier de France in the 1960s. Many other certificates of this bank are known from previous years. But, in contrast with their classic designs incorporating allegorical figures, scrollwork et cetera, the artist designed these modern pieces with skyrocketing buildings and tower cranes in strong perspectives.

Crédit Foncier de France, Paris, 1961
Registered subscription certificate for shares of 70 Nouveaux Francs.
Appartement blocks in the borders and tower cranes in the underprint.
double-click image to enlarge
source: BELGIAN ASSOCIATION FOR SCRIPOPHILY

Who can provide more information about the French artist M. Petiet ? Any kind of information is fine (date of birth, other designs, ...).

F.L.

Digest of scripophily readings IX

New online scripophily articles and references, January 2013

Pre-World War I American railroads

The following image depicts a stock certificate printed by the American Bank Note Company.

Western New York and Pennsylvania Railroad Company
certificate for 5 shares of $100, 1888
identified in the Cox catalog as  WES-748-S-39 iu
double-click image to enlarge

This rare and fine specimen of an engraved stock certificate can be seen, along with many others, on Pete Angelos' website showing American railroad stocks and bonds. Besides issued scripophily papers, separate sections contain proofs and specimens. A special section is dedicated to Confederate issues. All these beauties, can be seen here . Peter, thank you for sharing!

French shipping companies and their house flags

Dominique Cureau has listed more than 2300 French shipping companies and 900 house flags on his website. Interesting to see that several of the flags illustrated are details from shares and bonds.

Try to identify this flag on
 https://pavillon.houseflag.free.fr/ 

If you have a share certificate depicting a French shipping flag, you can research the company or the flag in the following ways :

• alphabetical index on company name
• search by flag characteristics
• or use a term with the search engine.

Merci for sharing your expertise !
Who can help Dominique in completing his inventory of house flags of French shipping companies ?

History of the Norwegian stock exchange

The offices of the Christiania Børs, English: Christiana Exchange, opened in 1819. A new building was opened in 1829. It was the first monumental building since Norways independence declaration from Denmark in 1814 and it took another 52 years, in 1881 to be precisely, before the first securities were listed. Before that, it was a place for trading currencies, bills of exchanges, commodities, ships and parts. 

In the original trading room you can still still see the weather clock, connected with a weather vane on the roof. Depending on the wind direction, prices of commodities and securities went up and down depending on the direction. Why, and much more, can be read on the following pages of the Oslo Stock Exchange  :

• History of the Oslo Stock Exchange 
• Milestones in the history of the Norwegian stock exchange 
• History about the stock exchange building 

der aktiensammler
In addition to the articles above, the latest December 2012 No.6/12 issue of der aktiensammler magazine, and at the same time the last issue, contains the following stories (in German) :

• Der Goldstandard - kein Allheilmittel, aber immer noch vertrauensbildend, about the gold standard and our monetary system in the past (part 12 in a series on the evolution of money)
• Echte und unechte Eiffelturm-Aktien : Auf die Nuancen kommt es an, in English: True and unreal Eiffel Tower shares: It's all there in the Nuances
• HEAG: 100 Jahre Eisenbahn und Strom in Südhessen, about the history of the Hessen railway company and its growth into a larger concern with interests in electric power utilities, telecommunication et cetera
• Spekulation: Schlummernde Schätze oder doch nur Nonvaleurs ?, a collector tells us about his (disappointing) adventures when trying to sell so-called speculative certificates
• Warum die Schmidheinys keine Banker waren (Teil 2), about the Schmidheiny industrial entrepreneurs family and the Holderbank cement business (part 2)
• other periodical topics : Auction Reviews, Collector's Portrait, Events Calendar, Classifieds

I am sorry to learn from the editors that the magazine will no longer be published.

F.L.