1865 Randolph Oil and Mining Company Stock Certificate

Description

1865 Randolph Oil and Mining Company Stock Certificate
Offered for your consideration is an attractive mining stock certificate from West Virginia, issued soon after the conclusion of the American Civil War. The central vignette depicts several period oil wells with associated storage containers, nestled amid the rolling hills of West Virginia. Numerous men are present, each engaged in some form of labor necessary for the construction and use of the wells. Several of these men appear to be employed in construction, while others prepare barrels for filling and transport (there are even three carts with horse teams moving or loading to move). Above and below this scene is printed “
RANDOLPH
/
Oil and Mining Co.
/
WOOD COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA
”, as well as the information that the company was “
Incorporated under the general Mining Laws of West-Virginia
” (the amount of capital and the price per share are also noted). This is followed by a short financial obligation which reads (in part) that “
THIS IS TO CERTIFY that
Josiah Phillips is
entitled to
One hundred
Shares in the Capital Stock of THE RANDOLPH OIL & MINING COMPANY …
”, with instructions to “… Witness the Seal of the said Company and the Signatures of the President and Treasurer at Oxford, Penna., this
twenty eighth
day of
July
A. D. 186
5
”. The signatures of “
J H
Cunningham
” and “
C K McDonald
”, as “
Treasurer
” and “
President
”, respectively, appear at the conclusion of the text, neatly separated by a small vignette depicting an oil well and storage tank. The left end of the document is dominated by an intricate geometric design, topped by a bowl overflowing with flowers. This design bears the written certificate number and the amount of shares, as well as an adhesive “
TWENTY FIVE CTS.
/
UNITED STATES
/
INTER. REVENUE
” stamp. All of the aforementioned material, excepting the manuscript additions and the stamp, are accomplished in a dark purple ink, including the decorative border which encloses it all. The certificate was printed by “
Stein & Jones, lith. Phila.
”, as evidenced by their imprint at the lower left. The back, accomplished in black ink, features a partly-printed transfer form to be used when the certificate changed ownership. This attractive certificate would make a great addition to any collection of oil or mining stock certificates, especially with the view of the men at the wells. This would frame nicely with a period illustration of early oil drilling, particularly if one could be found from this area.
Cursory research indicates that the
Randolph Oil and Mining Company
was incorporated at Wheeling, West Virginia, on May 2, 1865. It was located on the head waters of Walker’s Creek and Isaac’s Fork of Bull Creek, stretching across the northwestern turnpike at the sixteenth mile post east from Parkersburg. In total it contained approximately two hundred and twenty-four acres of land. Josiah Phillips, the recipient of this certificate, apparently owned 26,000 shares of stock at incorporation, with the currently offered piece being an addition to that significant holding.
The presently offered document exhibits signs of significant period use, followed by reasonably good long-term storage. Light toning is noted across the entire surface, imparting to the paper an off-white to beige hue. This toning is slightly darker at the edges and along the folds, of which there are two. Several foxing spots are scattered throughout the design, mostly in the decorative border and the blank area on the back. The edges are irregular and cut tight, just touching the decorative border at the upper right (minor paper loss is also noted along the upper edge to the right of center). Glue has discolored the paper behind the adhesive tax stamp, only visible when the piece is viewed from the back. The contrast would seem average for this type of document, with some minor fading to the signatures. Measuring approximately 7⅜ x 10½ inches, this piece would look great in a display of early oil drilling.
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Buy or Bid with Confidence – American Coins & Collectibles President Richie Self has worked 6 years as a paper money grader/authenticator. He has contributed to numerous reference books within the industry, as well as being a co-author of “The Comprehensive Catalog and History of Confederate Bonds, 2
nd
Edition” with Douglas B. Ball, Ph.D., Henry F. Simmons, M.D., Ph.D. and James R. Desabaye. Mr. Self is a life member of the American Numismatic Association, the Society of Paper Money Collectors, as well as numerous regional numismatic associations. He is an authorized submitter to NGC, PCGS, and PMG, a diamond founding member of Coin Dealers Helping Coin Dealers and a supporter of the Industry Council for Tangible Assets. American Coins and Collectibles can be found at many of the state and local coin shows.
American Coins and Collectibles
Shreveport, LA