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THBVery Rare Important 1921 Black Star Line Stock Certificate Signed Not Cancelled
Lot 192
Live Auction in Progress ... Currently on Lot Estimate:
$3,000 - $4,000
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About Auction
Live
By Early American History Auctions
May 22, 2021
Set Reminder
2021-05-22 12:00:00
2021-05-22 12:00:00
America/New_York
Bidsquare
Bidsquare : Autographs-Colonial-Political-Americana
https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/early-american-history-auctions/autographs-colonial-political-americana-6913
302 Lots of Rare, Historic Autographs, Americana, Civil War Era, George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Slavery & Black History, Revolutionary War Era, Colonial America, Federal Period, War of 1812, Colonial Currency, Indian Peace Medals & more... Early American History Auctions auctions@earlyamerican.com
302 Lots of Rare, Historic Autographs, Americana, Civil War Era, George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Slavery & Black History, Revolutionary War Era, Colonial America, Federal Period, War of 1812, Colonial Currency, Indian Peace Medals & more... Early American History Auctions auctions@earlyamerican.com
View Full Catalog (302)
- Lot Description
Black History
Very Rare Important 1921 Black Star Line Stock Certificate
April 25, 1921-Dated, Partly-Printed Document Signed, "M. Thompson" as President, Black Star Line Stock Certificate promoting Black Settlement in Africa, Embossed Official Seal, Not cancelled, Fine.
The Black Star Line was the premier Shipping Line that the Black Nationalist leader Marcus Garvey initiated and sold shares to African Americans. This is a rare unredeemed, not cancelled Stock Certificate that measures 9.25" x 11" and records the purchase by Ellen Lyons of one Share in the company, bearing its embossed official seal at lower center. There is some waterstain tone at top center and the edges have some folds and short archivally sealed edge splits, and reverse prior clear mounting glue on the reverse corners as shown, yet much of this would be matted out when the certificate is framed for display. A very rare and important example of this famous company's share certificate. Counter-Signed by "Geo. Tobias" at lower left as Secretary-Treasurer. This certificate has an attractive engraved decorative printed green border design. At top is a custom vignette for the Company lithographed by J. Meyers, 302 Broadway, N.Y. including; a World Globe, resting on clouds with Africa primarily highlighted, bearing the historic Motto: "AFRICA THE LAND OF OPPORTUNITY". This being flanked at left by a barefoot Black Man holding a hat in one hand and gesturing towards the Globe, at right a Steamship heads East to Africa. This unique company vignette is poignant in its style, portraying the bright hopes of Black Americans to find new life back in a land of origin where U.S. racism may be avoided. The majority of these shares were sold in northern Manhattan and were recently featured on the PBS History show titled "History Detectives". The last example we offered was in our EAHA Auction of April 23, 2006, Lot 46, VF with splits signed by Garvey, which sold for $2,850. This current example is far more popular and sought after as a collectible, displayable Black History item.
Marcus Garvey (1887-1940) embodied the vivid ideals, hopes and despair of 1920s Black America, when the KKK marched openly down the streets of Washington, D.C., and turbulence in the White House and the entire economy (1929) would overshadow his "Back to Africa" movement.
When he arrived in the U.S. in 1916, Garvey was basically ignored by the federal government until he began speaking of repatriating African Americans to Liberia and West Africa--where Firestone had several rubber plantations. The F.B.I. and government authorities placed him under scrutiny and brought charges against him for allegedly "defrauding" investors in the Black Star Line!
He was convicted of fraud--even though other members of the enterprise were probably culpable--and served two years in federal prison before he was deported to Jamaica, the country of his birth. Garvey is still revered in Jamaica (he is featured on Jamaican coins), where he is credited with predicting the rise of Ethiopia's Haile Selassie (born Ras Tafari), and the evolution of Rastafarianism.
Our Auction Contents:
Black History & Slavery: (Lots 1 - 63)
Abraham Lincoln Related: (Lots 64 - 74)
Historic Autographs: (Lots 75 - 235)
Colonial America: (Lots 236 - 261)
Revolutionary War: (Lots 262 - 304)
George Washington Related: (Lots 305 - 306)
Early American Guns & Weapons: (Lots 307 - 318) - Shipping Info
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