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Auction: 319 - Bonds and Share Certificates of the Americas
Lot: 3157

Collins Wireless Telephone Co. (DC), $1 shares, 19[09], #3294, very attractive piece with vignettes of telephone/telegraph apparatus at left and paddle steamer at right, green and black, gold seal, GVF.

Archie Frederick Collins founded the company in 1903 and shortly after received a patent for his system of wireless telephony using an electric arc. In an attempt to take his company public, he entered into partnerships and toured the U.S. selling stock in the company. In 1909 the company became part of the Continental Wireless Telephone. & Telegraph Company and Collins remained as technical director. In 1913 he and four officials from Continental Wireless were convicted of fraudulent activity including the sale of 'worthless' stock, leading to the companies closure.

Estimate
$150 to $200