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Auction: 324 - The Numismatic Collector's Series Sale
Lot: 1363

Transcontinental Aerial Navigation Company (Illinois) 1888. Chicago. 20 shares. Issued, not cancelled. No.695. Airship floats over city, "IN ORBI: URBI" above. Issued to and signed by Dr. A de Bausset, president of the company. Dr. de Bausset claimed to be able to create a vacuum within a large, extremely light tank composed of thin metal, and thus eliminate all of the dangers of using hydrogen to provide lift. The vacuum would eliminate the expense of using helium. One of the truly great early aviation certificates, and this certificate represents shares held by the inventor and promoter of this revolutionary approach to lighter than air aviation. Information obtained from a lavishly illustrated and widely distributed contemporary brochures make it clear that Transcontinental Aerial Navigation fully expected to offer two to three day air service between New York and London. This encouraged investors to get on board with this revolutionary approach to air travel. Shares of the company traded on the New York Stock Exchange. Transcontinental Aerial Navigation Company maintained offices in New York, Chicago and Philadelphia, but the airship itself never got off the ground. Rare and desirable. EF. Professionally and attractively framed using archival materials.

Estimate
$600 to $900