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This is a very rare reproduction of the world's first stock certificate, the Dutch East India Company (VOC), by the Amsterdam Stock Exchange. There are only 7 known stock certificates of the Dutch East India Company with the latest just discovered in 2015 in the Amsterdam City Archives. This certificate, issued to Dirck Pietersz Straetmaker on December 8, 1606, was long considered the oldest stock certificate in the world and is actually quite famous. Besides it own historical significance, this certificate was target of George Clooney and Brad Pitt in the movie Ocean's Twelve. In 2007, the NYSE actually made a historically accurate (mostly) reproduction of this stock certificate as well to commemorate their merger with Euronext. We believe they borrowed the share from the Amsterdam Stock Exchange to make that reproduction. This stock certificate is now part of the Collection of the Capital Amsterdam Foundation in Amsterdam.
We purchased this reproduction in Belgium. While we have seen countless photographs of this stock certificate and have had a few of the NYSE reproductions over the years, we have never seen a photo of the back. The back actually is a record of the dividend payments made to Dirck from 1611 to 1620. They were made in pounds of peppers, guilders and cash. This copy is from the original certificate printed on thick black paper or card stock. We are unsure of the actually printing method. It features the front and back of the certificate which actually had a fold down the middle giving the certificate the effect of 4 pages. We can find no other examples of this Amsterdam Stock Exchange reproduction making this copy quite rare as well.
Reproduction of the Dutch East India Company Stock Certificate
- Produced by the Amsterdam Stock Exchange
- Dimensions: 16.5" Long x 11 13/16" (unfolded)
- Age: Unknown
Note: This is the only modern reproduction stock certificate you will find on our site. All others are authentic. Obviously this one is special and an original would cost millions.
About the Dutch East India Company:
The Dutch East India Company (Verenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie or VOC) was the world's first multinational company (1602) and issued shares to help finance their shipbuilding and trading expeditions. They were granted a trade monopoly by the Netherlands and had quasi-government powers including the ability to wage war, strike coins, negotiate treaties and even establish colonies. By 1606 the value of their shares had already grown by 200% and in 1610, they paid their first dividend. The VOC backed explorer Henry Hudson who claimed Manhattan for the Netherlands in 1609, called New Amsterdam. It was later renamed New York. Trading of VOC shares lead to the worlds first stock exchange and the company existed for almost 200 years.
All stocks and bonds on our site are guaranteed to be the genuine artifact and not reproductions. We guarantee the authenticity of each stock and bond we sell with a lifetime, money-back guarantee.
All stocks and bonds on this site are being sold as historical collectibles and do not represent any rights of ownership of the company indicated on the certificate. No transfer of ownership will be received and the certificate represents no intrinsic value other than as a collectible.
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