1897 Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad Company - $100 Stock Certificate
DESCRIPTION
is an original nineteenth-century stock certificate issued by the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad Company, a major Midwestern rail carrier. The certificate represents one hundred dollars in capital stock and was issued in Illinois, with later transfer and cancellation markings dated March 1897, reflecting its active use over time.
The certificate is printed on white security paper and enclosed within an elaborate engraved border featuring repeating geometric and ornamental motifs. At the center is a finely detailed vignette of a steam locomotive in operation, emitting smoke as it advances along the rails. Ornate engraved lettering spells out the company name and stock value, complemented by decorative flourishes and formal typography typical of high-quality nineteenth-century financial printing. Star-shaped punch cancellations, ink stamps, serial numbering, and manuscript entries document issuance, transfer, and eventual surrender of the shares.
The verso contains handwritten transfer text executed in period ink, along with dates, signatures, witness notations, and an official stamped declaration reading “Surrendered and Cancelled,” dated March 17, 1897.
Historical Context
During the late nineteenth century, the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad was a vital force in linking Chicago with the agricultural and industrial regions of the Midwest and Great Plains. Stock certificates such as this one illustrate the rapid expansion of railroad finance and the broad public participation in corporate growth during America’s industrial age.
CONDITION
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