Financial Document Scripophily Appraisal

International Mercantile Marine Company Stock Certificate (10 Shares Preferred Stock)

This item is an antique stock certificate for the International Mercantile Marine Company, representing 10 shares of preferred stock. The certificate is printed on aged paper with a predominantly gray and white color scheme, featuring intricate border designs and engraved illustrations. The top left corner indicates '7 1927' (likely July 1927 as the issue date), while the top right corner and bottom right corner prominently display the number '10' within decorative seals, signifying the quantity of shares. The company's name, 'INTERNATIONAL MERCANTILE MARINE COMPANY', is boldly printed vertically in a dark rectangular banner running almost the full height of the certificate. The certificate includes a large vignette of a ship, likely a steamship or ocean liner, which is a fitting motif for a marine company. A circular vignette in the lower-left portion depicts a classical or allegorical figure. The document is filled with cursive handwritten text, including signatures and dates, indicating the transfer of shares and official endorsements. Several perforations are visible, particularly in a circular pattern around the ship illustration, suggesting that a seal was once affixed or that the document was cancelled or perforated for record-keeping purposes. A brass or metallic grommet/fastener is present near the top center, which has created a small impression and some discoloration. The paper shows signs of age, including yellowing, minor creases, and possibly some light staining or foxing consistent with a document nearly a century old. The overall craftsmanship suggests a high-quality financial instrument of its era, with detailed engraving and security features common to early 20th-century stock certificates. The presence of 'X14031' typed on the document is likely a certificate or serial number. The document is a piece of financial history, indicative of the company's standing and the prevailing design aesthetic for such instruments in the 1920s.