1821 Centre Turnpike Road Stock Certificate

Description

1821 Centre Turnpike Road Stock Certificate
Offered for your consideration is a small share certificate issued by an early turnpike company in Pennsylvania. Though signed, this piece is un-numbered, indicating that it may never have been issued (however, due to the wording of the text, it may be that a large number of these were sold or given to Pennsylvania, without the need for them to be numbered). Headlined “
Fifty Dollars each Share
”, the body of this document states that “
This is to certify, THAT the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is entitled to one Share in the Capital or joint Stock of the PRESIDENT, MANAGERS and COMPANY of the CENTRE TURNPIKE ROAD, leading from Reading to Sunbury.
”. It further states that this share was “
Transferable only by proper authority, duly constituted in the presence of the President or Treasurer.
”, with the guarantee to “
WITNESS the seal of the Corporation, the 12
th
June, 1821.
”. This is followed by the signatures of “
E. G. Bradford
” and “
Jn. Boyd
” in their capacities as “
PRES’T
” and “
TREASURER
”, respectively. The seal referenced in the final line appears to the left of the signatures. The foregoing information is enclosed on three sides, with the one at the left being particularly decorative. Within that decorative border is printed “
CENTRE TURNPIKE
” in bold letters. The back of the document is blank. An interesting and historic piece. Would look great framed with a period illustration of a turnpike.
The Centre Turnpike, also known as the Reading-Sunbury Road, was located in Pennsylvania and followed the path of the King’s Highway as surveyed in 1770. It was begun in 1808, completed in 1814, and cost a total of 8,000 to build. The completed road covered 75 miles. The average income from the tolls collected was about 00 per year during its first eleven years of operation. The final toll was collected in 1855 (by that time, railroads were beginning to become the primary form of transportation and shipping).
As stated earlier, the currently offered document is either un-issued or issued in bulk to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Light toning is present across the entire surface, somewhat darker at the bottom and along the right (these areas have a light brown appearance). Three of the edges are slightly ragged, with only the bottom being straight. The bottom corners are missing, though because of the placement of the printing, this in no way affects the text or frame-lines. The contrast is sharp, though the impressed seal is light and difficult to distinguish. Minor ink show through is noted at the signatures, though no paper has been lost at this time. Measuring approximately 4 x 6¼ inches, this piece would be a wonderful representative example of this rarely encountered certificate type.
A .95 charge will be added to the winning bid for postage and insurance.
A .00 charge will be added to any item picked up in person at our physical location.
If you have any questions regarding this item, please ask before purchasing.
Buy or Bid with Confidence – American Coins & Collectibles President Richie Self has worked 6 years as a paper money grader/authenticator. He has contributed to numerous reference books within the industry, as well as being a co-author of “The Comprehensive Catalog and History of Confederate Bonds, 2
nd
Edition” with Douglas B. Ball, Ph.D., Henry F. Simmons, M.D., Ph.D. and James R. Desabaye. Mr. Self is a life member of the American Numismatic Association, the Society of Paper Money Collectors, as well as numerous regional numismatic associations. He is an authorized submitter to NGC, PCGS, and PMG, a diamond founding member of Coin Dealers Helping Coin Dealers and a supporter of the Industry Council for Tangible Assets. American Coins and Collectibles can be found at many of the state and local coin shows.
American Coins and Collectibles
Shreveport, LA