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Auction: 319 - Bonds and Share Certificates of the Americas
Lot: 3096

Exceedingly Rare, 1920, "Back to Africa" Share Certificate for The African Steamship & Saw Mill Company, comprising an impressive quartet of documents, as there are two vignetted letterheads and mailing cover that accompany this historic and rare share certificate. The certificate itself is fully signed, and was issued to an investor in Virginia. Printed on bond paper with green frame and ornately vignetted, measuring 9.0" by 12.0". Signed by L.G.Jordan as president, The top center shows a Seated "America" flanked by Indian Camp at left, and more Modern City at the right. Imprint of "Goes" at lower right. This great rarity parallels the "Back to Africa" period around 1920, and the Marcus Garvey "Black Star Line" and "Black Cross Navigation" firms. Both of these business concerns were failures, with multiple small investors left holding useless shares. An important quartet for Black History and related, business historians and collectors which is certainly missing in most every collection. some damage and paper loss from adhesion on reverse otherise very fine. (4)

Commencing from about World War I or so, there were several commercial efforts being launched by Africans and African-Americans to develop economic and trade ties for their mutual advancement. The African Steamship and Sawmill Company was established in 1915 by Rev. Lewis Garnett Jordan (1853-1939), president, and Bishop W. H. Heard, treasurer, of the Baptist Foreign Mission Society of Philadelphia. They were financed by members of the Baptist and AME churches. In March 1919, the company was reorganized by S.O. Logemoh, who attempted to obtain a vessel from the U.S. Shipping Board. S. O. Logemoh, was a Liberian entrepreneur (nicknamed "the Professor). He had been involved in plans for the company to operate ships between Monrovia and Philadelphia. He became director of the African Industries Company in 1922.

Estimate
$400 to $500