1936 Chicago Rapid Transit Company stock certificate
DESCRIPTION
This is an original early twentieth-century stock certificate issued by the Chicago Rapid Transit Company, dated May 21, 1930. The certificate represents one hundred shares of prior preferred cumulative stock and reflects ownership in Chicago’s elevated rail system during a period when urban mass transit was essential to daily life and commerce.
The certificate is printed on green-tinted security paper and enclosed within an elaborate engraved border of repeating foliate and geometric motifs. A prominent vignette features an eagle with outstretched wings, symbolizing strength and vigilance, while additional cartouches display the share value and certificate number. The company name appears in bold engraved lettering, accompanied by refined ornamental flourishes typical of high-quality corporate securities of the era. Inked signatures, serial numbering, official stamps, and punch cancellations appear on the face.
The verso is densely printed with legal provisions governing preferred and common stock, and includes handwritten transfer entries, dates, signatures, embossed seals, and later cancellation markings documenting reassignment through 1989.
Historical Context
By 1930, the Chicago Rapid Transit Company operated one of the nation’s most important urban rail networks, forming the backbone of commuter transportation across Chicago. Issued just months after the stock market crash of 1929, this certificate reflects a moment of transition and uncertainty in American finance and public transportation. Despite economic turmoil, urban transit systems remained indispensable, carrying workers and sustaining city life during the early years of the Great Depression.
CONDITION
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