1865 Baltimore and Ohio Rail Road Company - $100 Stock Certificate
DESCRIPTION
This is an original 19th-century stock certificate issued by the Baltimore and Ohio Rail Road Company, dated January 12, 1865, with an associated transfer endorsement dated January 26, 1897. Printed in Baltimore, the certificate represents ownership of one hundred dollars in shares and reflects both the original issuance and later reassignment of the stock through handwritten notation and signatures.
The certificate is printed on cream-colored paper and features finely engraved decorative borders framing the text. At the center is a detailed vignette of a steam locomotive pulling freight cars across an open landscape, symbolizing industrial progress and modern transportation. Allegorical female figures appear at the left and right margins, rendered in classical style and representing commerce and industry. The typography combines ornate engraved lettering with flowing manuscript entries, including names, dates, share amounts, and signatures. Punch cancellations and seal impressions indicate official validation and later transfer, while the verso contains handwritten assignment text documenting the stock’s change in ownership.
Historical Context
Issued at the close of the Civil War, this certificate reflects the crucial role railroads played in the economic rebuilding and expansion of the United States. The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad was among the nation’s earliest and most influential rail lines, linking eastern cities with the growing interior and setting standards for railroad finance and operations. Stock certificates such as this were tangible symbols of confidence in industrial growth and westward expansion.
CONDITION
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