Le Nouveau Monde

Date

1851

Location

California

Amount

$150 Francs

Signatures

  • Cayanelli deGuivuce
  • John Gayhart

Description

This stock certificate represents five shares (No. 66211-66215) valued at 25 French francs each for the California gold-mining company Le Nouveau Monde (meaning “The New World”). These working gold mines were leased out by famed western explorer and politician John Charles Fremont. The certificate is partly written in French.

Notable Bond Imagery

The company name is printed on the left side in an orange ink overlain by an intricate pattern. In the top right corner, a woman resembling the Roman Goddess Libertas (the inspiration for the Statue of Liberty) holds a sword in one hand and a scale in another.

Certificate with black and orange ink shows intricate lettering, a company seal, and signatures written in French
Backside shows various company agreements and legal language
Transcription 
						The stock certificate from Le Nouveau Monde reads:
Le Nouveau Monde
Nos 66211 à 66215
Siège Social à Paris, Place de la Bourse, No. 11
Action au Porteur

Compagnie en Commandite,
Pour L’exploitation des Mines d’or de la Californie
Constituée par Actes passés devant M. Foucher, Notaire à Paris, en date du 25 Mai, 1850, et du 21 Aout, 1851, déposés à Paris, enregistrés et publiés.
Capital Social, Fr. 5,000,000.
Company en Commandite,
For Working Gold Mines in California.
Constituted according to the Law of France, by Acts dated 25th May, 1850, and 21st August, 1851, deposited at Paris, and duly registered and published.
Capital 5,000,000 Francs.


Cinq Actions de Vingt-Cinq Francs
Five Shares of Twenty-Five Francs each.

On par le Membre du Comité de Surveillance delegué
(illegible)
Le Director, Gérant.
(llegible)
On Par l’Agent de la Compagnie à Londres
John Gayhart

The back of this document states:
1. This Company is established in Paris, according to the French law of commandite, by which the liability of each Shareholder is limited to the amount of his Share
2. According to this law (commandite) the affairs fo the Company are conducted by the Gerant under the advice of the Comité de Surveillance in Paris; the Commission of Supervision in London will, however, have the supervision of the affairs of the Company in England and California, and an Agent charged with the full powers of the Gérant, will represent the Company in London.
3. The Shares are to Bearer, and transferable by delivery, and no deed has to be signed

1e. Cette Compagnie est établie à Paris selon la loi Française sur la commandite, d'après lesquels la solidarité de chaque Actionnaire est limitée au montant de ses actions.
2e. Conformément à cette même loi, les affaires de la Compagnie sont conduites par le Gérant, assisté à Paris d’un Comité de Surveillance. Il y aura aussi à Londres une Commission de Surveillance dont les fonctions consisteront à Surveiller les opérations de la Compagnie en Angleterre et en Californie et un agent investi des pleins pouvoirs du Gérant représentera la Compagnie en Angleterre.
3e. Les actions sont au porteur, et n’exigent aucun transfert.

There are also 2 (illegible) signatures on the top and bottom left corners.

Accession No:

2017.002.015