203

Lot 203: 1888 Panama Canal Bond Certificate

Currency:USD Category:Everything Else / Other Start Price:NA Estimated At:275.00 - 375.00 USD
Lot  203: 1888 Panama Canal Bond Certificate
<b>Autographs</b><hr><b>(PANAMA CANAL), Original 1888 Panama Canal Bond Certificate.</b>
Interest Bearing, 'Titre Provisional' (Provisional or Temporary) Bond Certificate with a face value of 300 French Francs, from the 'Compagnie Universelle du Canal Interoceanique de Panama', 1888, 11' x 12.5', irregularly shaped being indented at left, Choice About Extremely Fine. Similar to that pictured, printed in Red ink on white paper. This was the first attempt to build a canal across the Isthmus of Panama, which, if successful, would have eliminated the need to travel completely around South America in order to get from the Atlantic to the Pacific Oceans and vice versa. After much struggle and misery, the Panama Canal was finally opened in 1915. Official Panama Canal stamp and cancellation appear in the disbursement area. All in all, this is a very attractive and interesting certificate, and one which would make a nice display and conversation piece. Scarce and frameable.