Scripophily is the collecting of financial documents such
as bonds and stock certificates. Such documents, even from
a century or more ago, have been preserved and collected by
thousands of people who love them. Though less well known
than numismatics (coin collecting) or philately (stamp
collecting), Scripophily is a growing pursuit for a number
of reasons. Here are some of them:
1.Developed Marketplace
Scripophily is a well-developed area of the collectible
world, with prominent collectors, dealers and industry
associations to help people learn about the different
certificates available and the companies behind them.
2.Variety
There are so many variables to each certificate that it is
engrossing and downright fun to analyze, categorize and
pursue them. You can always find a personal connection to
some of them.
3.Historical Significance
Many certificates are legitimate antiques that were made,
used and passed down by our ancestors. They were
personalized and prized possessions of hard working
ranchers, brave miners, steel tycoons, manufacturing
innovators, brilliant inventors, oil drilling dreamers, and
millions of others.
4.Aesthetics
Certificates generally have vignettes (intricate artwork,
usually from etchings), ornate borders, elaborate
calligraphy, company seals and a size (about the size of a
sheet of paper) that makes them ideal for framing for
display or as a gift.
5.Rarity
Though there are lots of bonds and stock certificates
available to collectors, there are far fewer of them than
there are of other financial collectibles such as coins,
paper money or stamps. As a group, certificates are
becoming rarer as fewer companies issue paper in this
electronic age.
6.Affordability
Because this section of the "money" collectibles is not
well known to the masses, most certificates, including very
nice ones can be had for less than $100.
7.Collector Value
Though no one can predict the future, as with any
collectible, it is possible that some stock certificates
may increase in value over time.
8.Ease of Handling
Since certificates are essentially thick pieces of
specialized printed paper, they are easy to store, ship,
look at, and handle while keeping them protected in clear,
flat sleeves.
9.Uniqueness
Every certificate is a unique document, sometimes similar
to, but never exactly the same as, any other. Just like
people!
10.Giftability
Certificates can be the perfect unexpected, yet
personalized, gift for that hard-to-buy-for person.
Someone whose first car was a Packard, for example, might
get a kick out of receiving a stock certificate from the
Packard Motor Car Company (and it is nearly impossible
someone would give a duplicate of that gift).
The specific reasons for appreciating collectible antique
stock certificates are as broad as the thousands of
collectors. For you, browse and learn - you may secretly
turn out to be one of them.
----------------------------------------------------
Larry Crain is a collector, blogger and auther on
Scripophily (the collecting of antique stock certificates).
Images, values, articles and research tools for old stock
certificates can be found at
http://www.realstockcertificates.com . Old company and
industry histories can be researched at
http://www.realstockhistories.blogspot.com .
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