Classic stock certificates offer break from bear market
![Sample stock certificates are displayed for a photograph in New York Friday, December 23, 2005. A change to Delaware law in August that allows companies to refuse requests from shareholders for paper certificates, along with a proposed amendment to exchange listing standards, may mean an end to the archaic financial instrument. Photographer: Daniel Acker/Bloomberg News.](https://s32566.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/stock_certificates_900x.jpg.optimal.jpg)
The bear market has stocks down across the board. On the wall, however, they’re still in a bull market.
Scripophily (scrip-ah-fil-ly) is the hobby of collecting old stock and bond certificates. Certificate values range from a few dollars to more than $1 million for the most unique and rare items. Tens of thousands of scripophily buyers worldwide include casual collectors, corporate archives, business executives, museums and serious collectors.
While demand for stocks, as reflected by open market prices, may be declining, the interest in rare stock certificates continues to rise.
“Due to the computer age, more and more stock and bonds are issued electronically, which means fewer paper certificates are being issued,” said Bob Kerstein, founder of Scripophily.com. “As a result, demand for paper certificates is increasing while supply is decreasing.”
From AOL Time Warner to Standard Oil to the Trump Taj Mahal, here are some of the most famous — and infamous — stock certificates Kerstein has available for sale.