Ownership in shares of businesses is believed to go back to at least 2000 BC. In Rome in the second century BC there was active trading in the shares of business companies which were legal entities, some of them huge enterprises owning thousands of slaves. These companies faded away during Rome's Imperial period and their like did not reappear until after the Dark Ages.
The modern history of shares dates from the late 10th century AD, in the Italian port of Amalfi, where maritime ventures were divided into shares which were bought and sold, usually by their captains and merchants.
This became the normal way to fund voyages throughout Europe. The Pilgrim Fathers' Mayflower and Sir Francis Drake's global voyages were funded in this way. These ventures were not companies with a legal status independent of their owners, however, but a form of unincorporated partnership.
Pictured: Italian
Mining Stock. Coupons at bottom. Only 1 available! Great! Country: Italy
Year: 1849
For more information visit our web site,
http://www.glabarre.com, or call George LaBarre at 1-800-717-9529.
George H. LaBarre Galleries - Collectible Stocks and Bonds
http://www.glabarre.com
The Scripophily Guide by Howard Shakespeare. Reprinted with permission from International Bond & Share Society
Ownership in shares of businesses is believed to go back to at least 2000 BC. In Rome in the second century BC there was active trading in the shares of business companies which were legal entities, some of them huge enterprises owning thousands of slaves. These companies faded away during Rome's Imperial period and their like did not reappear until after the Dark Ages.
John A. Dix (1798-1879) held a stellar career as Major General during the Civil War, and serving as Secretary of the Treasury in 1861, U.S. Senator, and the Governor of New York.
Rare, $1,000 bond and an Agreement and coupons relating to the payment of the interest in London on the Mississippi State Bond. 6%, 1833, Draper, Toppan, Longacre & Co, Philadelphia & New York.
Governor. An extraordinary engraved bond with 4 great vignettes by Draper, Toppan, Longacre-Philadelphia & New York.