You’ve probably got a collection of baseball cards and comic books from when you were a kid. Maybe you even have action figures, Pokemon cards, or other sports memorabilia. Collecting is hardwired into your DNA, and you’re looking for something new.
You should be collecting vintage stock certificates and bond certificates. Here’s why.
It’s History In Your Hands
You’re holding a piece of paper that once had the power to build railroads, launch oil empires, or bankroll Hollywood’s golden age. Vintage stock and bond certificates are time machines, preserving the dreams (and financial downfalls) of the past.
These beautifully designed relics are snapshots of economic history, with intricate artwork, famous signatures, and the stories of fortunes made and lost. Whether it's a defunct gold mining company or an early tech stock, each certificate tells a story of ambition, innovation, and a little bit of financial drama.
The Cuba Railroad Company (Seized by Fidel Castro) Stock Certificate from 1958
The Hobby Has Its Own Name
Say it with us now- scripophily.
Slowly- scri-poph-i-ily.
That’s the official name for the hobby of collecting stock certificates and bond certificates. Part historian, part financier, part antique collector, you’re collecting a series of moments in time- history in your hands.
Pabst Brewing Company Stock Certificate from 1961
Every Stock Has A Story
Take a look at this 1919 stock certificate for the International Mercantile Marine Company. Casuals will appreciate the vintage design, the filigree border, and the old vintage steamship image.
International Mercantile Marine (Titanic) Company Stock Certificate from 1919
As a scripophilist, you know that IMM was the parent company for White Star Lines, the luxury transatlantic cruise line that launched the Titanic in 1912- seven years before the printing of this certificate. IMM was feeling the financial effects of the disaster and was deeply in debt, and would only survive for another few years before going bankrupt.
“Every stock has a story” isn’t just the motto at Ticker History; it describes what each certificate represents, be it a moment in time for a company or a bygone era.
They’re Aesthetically Beautiful and Unique
Take a look at the two certificates below- there’s the Butte & London Copper Development Company stock certificate from 1907, and an Eastman Kodak bond certificate from 1980.
Both have the company name, the official seal, a serial number (which would evolve into CUSIP on modern certificates), the name of the owner, the official date of the transactions, the shareholders’ rights, and the signatures of the executive.
But they couldn’t be more different. The design choices that went into each company’s stock and bond certificates was a reflection of the company culture, the industry, the era, the economic climate, and vision of the chief executive.
Every stock has a story, and each certificate is a chapter.
Eastman Kodak Company Bond Certificate
An Appreciating Asset
Disney has a cult-like following of fans of all ages, and their impact was felt in their stock certificates too. For decades, fans would buy a single share of Disney to frame the certificate with the characters they love and hang on their walls.
In 2013, Disney switched to fully electronic stock certificates, and demand for hardcopies went off the charts. Certificates that sold for $20 in the early 2000’s sold for hundreds to collectors, and originals bearing the signature of Walt Disney sold for thousands.
In all fairness, not every company has a loyal fan base like Disney. But when it comes to vintage stock certificates, they’re not making any more of them, and their value continues to grow year over year as older ones get lost to time.
You may even get lucky and find an “unpunched” certificate- one with shares that were never sold and can be redeemed for the current share price (unlikely, but certainly possible)!
Walt Disney World War 2 Bond Certificate
Walt Disney Stock Certificate Specimen from 2003
A Thoughtful Gift
What do you get for the man or woman who has everything?
We’d bet they don’t have a liquor license from the 1870’s, or North Korean currency, or a 1947 certificate of dental health achievement- and they’ll get a laugh seeing them hanging on the wall.
IRS Retail Liquor License Dealer Certificate from 1870/80s
5,000 Won Korean Banknote Featuring Kim Ill Sung issued 2006 (Uncirculated)
Dental Health Achievement Certificate of Achievement (from Bristol Myers, 1947)
Ready to get started?
Browse the Ticker History Shop and see what piques your interest. Whether it’s a certain industry (railroads, energy, pop culture) or location (New York, France), there’s something for everyone.
And if you’re just looking for a copy of the 2002 “Women of Enron” issue of Playboy? We’ve got that too.
