1887 – ‘Stock Certificate’ for the Henry Reed Steamboat Company that operated the Henry Reed missionary steamboat for the American Baptist Missionary Union with a map of the vessel’s route on the reverse
{Boston, Massachusetts]: 1887. Unbound.
This ‘stock certificate’ is printed on card stock that measures approximately 5¾“ x 3½“. It is in nice shape with a little discoloration in the lower left corner.
The front of the card notes that
“This Certifies that / Mrs Jennie M. Butler / by the Payment of Ten Cents is a Stockholder in / The Henry Reed Steamboat Company / for the Year 1887”.
It displays an illustration of the Henry Reed under steam as two loinclothed Africans wave from the shore.
The reverse contains a map of the Congo Free State and the Congo River. The route of the Henry Reed is shown by a dotted line in the upper half of the Congo River.
The Baptist Missionary Magazine of April, 1890 reported that
“The company which was started for support of the mission steamer “Henry Reed” in its work on the Upper Congo River has interested large numbers of old and young, and its members are scattered in all parts of the world. It has now been decided to send out a small steamer for the Lower Congo: and . . . the name of “The Henry Reed Steamboat Company” will be changed to “The Congo Steamboat Company,” and the funds received, used for the work of both vessels. . .. The price of memberships in the company, which remains the same as before, one dollar for life, and ten cents for annual. . .. The company has been the means of interesting may of the young [and] Sunday school superintendents and teachers will find it a good means of leading their scholars into active interest and effort for the kingdom of Christ among the heathen.”
. Very good. Item #010048(For more information, see April 1890 issue of the Baptist Missionary Magazine and “Rare Missionary Donation Card for Congo River Steamboat” at the Rare Charts website.)
Rather scarce. At the time of listing there is one similar, but corner-clipped, 1887 certificate for sale by a prominent map dealer, and one later badly stained certificate for the Congo Steamboat Company listed at Abebooks. The Rare Book Club lists no similar certificates having ever come up for auction. OCLC shows no similar certificates held by institutions.
.Price: $300.00