‎GENERALE KEIJSERLIJCKE INDISCHE COMPAGNIE - Jean De Pret - Pietro Proli - Marquis de Prié - (Antwerpen 1723) :‎
‎Generaele Keijserlijcke Indische Compagnie. Original share certificate of the famous ''Compagnie d'Ostende''.‎

‎"0. Antwerpen, 27th August 1723, in-plano, 32 x 20 cm, copper engraved coat of arms, printed text with manuscript additions and signatures. Original share certificate of 1.000 Fl of the India trading company of the Southern Low Countries, then under Austrian Habsburg rule. The company was created by leading Antwerp businessmen on the instigation of emperor Charles VI of Vienna, who wanted to get his share of the very lucrative trade with the East and West Indies which had been until then in the hands of England and the Northern Low Countries. It became in fact so successful that the European competitors obtained its liquidation when the succession of the emperor had to be negotiated (Treaty of Vienna in 1731, which brought the empress Maria-Theresia on the throne). The share is autographed by the directors Jean de Pret, Pietro Proli, Louis-François de Cooninck, De Kimpe. As the shares had to be paid in four parts of 250 Fl each they also bear four times the receipt signature of the head-cashier of the company, Jean-Baptiste Cogels Le Jeune. Provenance; The share is issued to the Marquis de Prié (Piémont 1658 - Vienna 1726), who was at that time ''Ministre Plénipotentier"". He opposed the creation of the company because he rather preferred to do this India trade business in his own secretive and fraudulent way. He nevertheless subscribed for 150 shares '' to give his subjects the impression that he favored the initiave''. When ''the vilain'', as his surname was, was finally deposed (December 23, 1724) he stayed in Brussels and had to sell his furniture and his shares in order to avoid bankrupcy. This shows in our document as the acknowledgement for the receipt of the last payment of 250 Fl bears the signature of the new owner Johan Baptiste de Foullon. See; Donnet, Histoire financière d'Anvers., and also B.N. XVIII pp 231-243. A truly remarkable document in a perfect state of preservation. (scripophily)."‎

Reference : 10314

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