Scripophily is the collecting of antique bonds and stock
certificates. Enthusiasts vary widely in how they take care
of their documents. Some actually just stack them together
in a folder or drawer (cringe). Others treat them like the
irreplaceable historical artifacts and works of art they
really are.
If you spend time and money acquiring collectible
certificates, you should know how to care for them to
retain their appeal and value. Here's how:
o Sleeves - Clear semi-rigid holders are the best. The
documents can be handled and stored without them being
bent, rolled up or "dinged," yet they are easy to inspect
and admire. Since most certificates were folded at one
time, semi-rigid sleeves have the added benefit of tending
to flatten and smooth out any fold remnants. Sleeves
should also be non-reactive chemically.
o Gloves - If you want to handle certificates outside of a
sleeve (as when inspecting with a magnifier), put on a pair
of non-powdered, non-latex exam gloves. Powdered versions
leave a powder residue and latex causes an allergic
reaction in some people. Exam gloves are very inexpensive
and will keep skin oil, finger prints and other chemicals
off of the paper and printing.
o Intermingling - Certificates vary in the chemical makeup
of the paper and inks used, as well as the elements that
have been deposited on them over time. To prevent these
various materials from interacting with each other,
certificates should always be kept one certificate to one
sleeve. Besides, you normally want to be able to see both
sides. Many certificates have writing, signatures,
transfer records or stamps on the reverse.
o Elements - Always keep paper documents away from
excessive heat, light and moisture. The key word is
excessive. Normal room temperatures, lighting and humidity
are fine.
o Display - Collectors that have certificates special to
them in some way, and people who give, or have been given,
a certificate, often like to display them for others to
see. A common way to do this is to mount and frame them
for wall display. As with any artwork, you should avoid
using tape or glue to mount them and use non-reactive
matting. Also don't place them over a furnace vent, by a
window that allows direct sunlight or near a humidifier.
o Repair - Pros: Some people feel taping together fold
splits or erasing pencil marks helps to preserve and
restore something that otherwise might end up in the trash.
Cons: Others believe antique items should remain precisely
as history created them and "repairing" opens up a
Pandora's Box with the potential for misrepresentation.
What you do with your possessions is certainly your
prerogative. Regardless of which camp you fall into,
though, if the certificate is conveyed to another person,
you should always make clear its condition and what you
have done to it.
Collectible bonds and stock certificates are not so
delicate that you can't enjoy touching or showing them.
After all, many of them have survived a century or more
already. Just take common sense care of them and maybe
they'll last another hundred years.
----------------------------------------------------
Larry Crain is a collector, author and dealer in
Scripophily (the collecting of antique stock certificates).
Visit http://www.RealStockCertificates.com/ for images,
values, more articles and research tools for old stock
certificates. Visit
http://www.RealStockHistories.blogspot.com/ to research old
company and industry historical information.
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