Scripophily Growth - Top 10

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.  They have different names, designs, vignettes, denominations, geographies, signatures, sizes, colors, conditions, ages, bankers, transfer agents, cancellations  and lots more.  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 thousands of other people that dreamed and made better lives and built this country.

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 plenty 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 even rarer as fewer companies issue paper certificates 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.  There are some that are worth much more, but the majority are accessible to all of us.

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.  As for display, they should be treated just like any other work of art.

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!