1929 Chicago South Shore and South Bend Railroad stock certificate - Signed by Samuel Insull Jr.
DESCRIPTION
This is an original early twentieth-century stock certificate issued by the Chicago South Shore and South Bend Railroad, dated January 28, 1929.
The certificate represents one hundred shares of capital stock and was issued only months before the stock market crash, with later transfer and cancellation markings documenting its administrative history.The document bears the inked signature of Samuel Insull Jr., a senior executive within the Insull corporate network and son of utility magnate Samuel Insull Sr., whose empire dominated electric power generation and electrified rail transportation across the Midwest.
Printed on green-tinted security paper, the certificate features an engraved border and a central vignette of electric interurban railcars operating under overhead wires, reflecting the railroad’s dependence on electrified infrastructure. The face includes engraved company identification, serial numbering, official stamps, signatures, and punch cancellations, while the verso contains printed stock provisions with handwritten transfer entries and cancellation punches.
Historical Context
Issued at the height of the interurban railway era, this certificate reflects a period when electric railroads were essential to regional transportation and closely integrated with private utility systems. Samuel Insull Jr.’s involvement illustrates the practice of placing trusted family members in governance roles across Insull-controlled companies, reinforcing the strategic linkage between electric power production and interurban rail operations.
CONDITION
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