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Old Stock Certificates can Fetch Major League Prices

Sitting at the bottom of many file cabinets and dusty chests of drawers may lay a little treasure for the unsuspecting. While your portfolio may have dwindled during the latest bear market, your old stock certificates may be worth more than the original stock they once represented.

Old stock certificates have become quite valuable. Electronic record keeping has made the issuance of stock certificates by most companies quite rare. And as investors trade in their paper certificates for electronic shares they are most often destroyed by the transfer agent making their numbers even fewer.

Older stock certificates can be works of art, often done with colorful illustrations, making them unusual and interesting objects of art in any business or home. Like many antiquities, many vintage stock certificates also tell a unique story that cannot be captured in the electronic shares issued today. As such, they have become sought after by hobbyists, Wall Street collectors, and people looking for unique gifts.

Sports Team Certificates Some of the Most Sought After
Some of the most sought-after, and difficult-to-find, stock certificates on the market today are those of professional sports teams. Very few U.S. professional sports teams have ever "gone public" or issued stock certificates. Most sports organizations in the United States are operated as franchises with strict ownership rules.

The major professional sports leagues including the National Basketball Association, Major League Baseball, the National Hockey League, and the National Football League, have each adopted stringent rules and regulations that determine whether a team can go public. Needless to say, this is a tight club and they guard admittance vigilantly.

The Green Bay Packers are the only publicly owned NFL team that has issued stock. The Packers' ownership group was grandfathered into the current policy that all-but restricts public ownership. The Green Bay Packers issued stock in 1923, 1935, 1950, and 1997. There are about 112,000 shareholders, who have no voting rights and cannot redeem shares for cash. Basically, each of these shareholders purchased a historic piece of memorabilia. Even though these shares held no intrinsic value, they have become quite valuable as a collectible. A 1997 issue can sell for up to $1000 in today's market. Older issues are very difficult to find and rarely offered for sale.

Other major league sports teams that have issued stock over the years are:

Florida Panthers (NHL): went public (NASDAQ) in 1996 and subsequently sold to private investors in 2001. (One certificate sells for about $300 - $500)

Boston Celtics (NBA): became the first major sports franchise to go public (NYSE) in 1986 only to go private in 2003. (One certificate sells for about $150-$175)

Cleveland Indians (MLB): became the first Major League Baseball Team to go public in 1998. They were quickly purchased and turned private in 2000. (One certificates Sells for about $200-$250)

Many Sports-Related Stock Certificates also Valuable
While "pure play" sport stock certificates are rare, other issues that may interest collectors in this category include the World Wrestling Federation, Madison Square Garden, Broadway Joe's (former restaurant owned by Joe Namath), and the short-lived XFL. Also, be sure to look for minor league franchises and foreign sport stock certificates. Other countries, such as Canada, have many major-league-publicly-owned sport companies.

Sure, many major league franchises are owned by large corporations, but they are but a mere speck on their balance sheet. Which stock certificate would you rather have the Dodgers or Rupert Murdoch's News Corp? So check your file cabinets and storage units. Those old stock certificates could be worth more than you think.

Be sure to check out www.BullMarketGifts.com if you are interested in Vintage Wall Street Gifts or click on http://www.bullmarketgifts.com/Sports_Entertainment_Framed_Stock_Certificates_s/40.htm to see our collection of sports and entertainment stock certificates.

© BullMarketGifts 2009
This article may be reproduced as long as you respect the copyrights of the authors by publishing the entire article as it is with no changes, agree to include the FULL Resource box or SIG line at the end of the article, agree not to change the title or content of the article in any way, agree to make all links so that they are Active/Linkable with no syntax changes. Agree to never reprint any article from this site via any unsolicited email, spamming, or pop up ads, agree to never sell any article and agree to never charge others to view any article you reprint from BullMarketGifts.

Wall Street Scandals Provide Unique Collecting Opportunity

While the latest failures on Wall Street have decimated portfolios, cost thousands of workers their jobs, and even landed many executives in jail, these monumental failures have created a unique opportunity for collectors. Many of the failures during the past few years will not be forgotten by history. Like Charles Ponzi, who became famous as one of the largest swindlers in American history, the crooks and failures seen today will be tomorrow's "Ponzi Scheme", forever famous.

The Failure of American Icons

The 21st century has been plagued with the death of some of America's more prominent and influential companies. Lehman Brothers, one of the largest and oldest companies on Wall Street, in 2008 became the largest bankruptcy in history. Bear Stearns, one of the largest investment banks in the world, was the recipient of an unprecedented emergency bailout from the Federal Reserve in 2007 only to be sold to JP Morgan Chase for a mere pittance compared to its once $100 share price. Enron, once one of the largest energy firms in the world, filed for bankruptcy in 2001 as result of systemic fraud. Global Crossing, Merrill Lynch, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, AIG, WorldCom, Ken Lay, and Bernie Madoff, the list goes on. This dark chapter on Wall Street will be studied for decades to come.

Failure Creates Opportunity

As these companies closed their doors or were sold to rival firms, employees began selling off years of memorabilia from these companies. Because the failure of these companies has become historically relevant, memorabilia from them have become collectibles, rare and valuable.

Over the years, these companies gave out a variety of gifts to clients, awards to employees, and memorabilia to commemorate special events. Look for commemorative Lucite's from investment banks celebrating IPOs and large deals, some even custom-made by Tiffany. Depending on the importance and notoriety of the deal and the number in circulation, these can sell for hundreds of dollars. Wonderful cedar humidors and wine sets bearing the name Bernie Madoff or Lehman Brothers also make for timeless collectibles. For those with a sense of humor, the ironic Enron Code of Ethics Book looks great framed in an office.

Other great collectible ideas from these scandalous companies are vintage stock certificates. Enron stock certificates regularly sell for over $100. While the stock certificate has no intrinsic value, framed, they make for a great historically relevant piece of art in any office. Enron even went so far as to issue a commemorative stock certificate to their employees celebrating Enron's share price reaching $50. Old stock certificates have become a hobby of their own, known as Scripophily. Stock certificates from these companies have become highly desirable and prices are foreseen to appreciate in the future.

The collapse of many iconic titans on Wall Street has left a lasting imprint on the American psyche. These failures will be taught and studied in business schools for years to come. Because these events have become historically relevant, a niche for the memorabilia from these companies was born from collectors looking to grab on to a piece of history. As these companies become engrained in our history books, the collectability and future value of scandalous Wall Street memorabilia is one of the few bright spots found in a dim situation.

Be sure to check out www.BullMarketGifts.com if you are interested in Vintage Wall Street Gifts or Scandelous memorabilia.

© BullMarketGifts 2009
This article may be reproduced as long as you respect the copyrights of the authors by publishing the entire article as it is with no changes, agree to include the FULL Resource box or SIG line at the end of the article, agree not to change the title or content of the article in any way, agree to make all links so that they are Active/Linkable with no syntax changes. Agree to never reprint any article from this site via any unsolicited email, spamming, or pop up ads, agree to never sell any article and agree to never charge others to view any article you reprint from BullMarketGifts.

BullMarketGifts - Vintage Gifts From the Street

BullMarketGifts.com specializes in vintage Wall Street Gifts and stock market memorabilia. Whether it's from our collection of old stock certificates, bronze bull and bear bookends, executive gifts, bull bear cufflinks
or one of our vintage stock market gifts, all tell a story from the unique view point of Wall Street. Let us be your first source for that unique stock market gift for the Wall Street lover or scripophily collector in your life.
Wall Street Gifts
BullMarketGifts.com specializes in vintage Wall Street Gifts and stock market memorabilia. Whether it's from our collection of old stock certificates, bronze bull and bear bookends, executive gifts, bull bear cufflinks
or one of our vintage stock market gifts, all tell a story from the unique view point of Wall Street. Let us be your first source for that unique stock market gift for the Wall Street lover or scripophily collector in your life.
Old Stock Certificates & Scripophily
Old stock certificates can be works of art, often ordained with colorful illustrations and engravings, making them unusual and interesting objects of art in any business or home. Like many antiquities, many old stock certificates also tell a unique story that cannot be captured in the electronic shares issued today. As such, they have become sought after by hobbyists, Wall Street collectors, and people looking for unique gifts. Old stock certificates have become quite valuable and have launched a new hobby called scripophily. Scripophily is the study and collection of old stocks and bonds.
Old Documents from Wall Street
Great selection of old documents such as vintage annual reports and IPO prospectuses from BullMarketGifts. Vintage Wall Street documents and reports make for great gift ideas for Wall Street enthusiasts and stock brokers. Tons of old documents.
Wall Street Bull and Bear Gifts
Our bull and bear gifts category offers unique gifts such as bronze bull bear bookends, bull bear cufflinks, bull figurines, bull and bear statues and other bull and bear gifts. New and vintage bull and bear cufflinks and bull and bear bookends.
Stock Market Gifts for the Office
Large selection of Wall Street gifts for your office including stock market memorabilia perfect for your office desk, wall or bookshelf. Stop here to find the perfect stock market gift for the office.
Wall Street Books
This category is full of rare and historic Wall Street books and stock market books. These collectible financial books include authors such as John Stewart Mills, Benjamin Franklin, Benjamin Graham and George S. Clason.
Wall Street Scandal Gifts and Memeorabilia
Large selection of memorabilia from the latest Wall Street scandals. Collectibles from the latest Wall Street scandal or Wall Street fraud. Memorabilia from Enron, Bear Stearns, Eliot Spitzer, Bernie Madoff, Lehman Brothers, and others.
Wall Street Art
The largest selection of Wall Street art on the web. This collection of Wall Street art includes sculpture, original paintings, and limited edition prints. Also included in our Wall Street art category is a nice selection of bull and bear art.
Executive Gifts and Corporate Gifts
Engraved executive gifts and corporate gifts from BullMarketGifts. Find a great gift for Wall Street executives and CEOs from our large selection of executive gifts. Great source for corporate gift ideas and customized executive gifts.

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