Some IWC memorabilia, 141 years ago

Dear community,

Here is a piece of IWC history, a 1000chf share of the company, from 1874.
The sheet is in very good state, and is folded 3x.

[](s1078.photobucket.com/user/123chrono/media/aktie_zpsoklumbh3.jpg.html)

some translation:

International Watch Company
in
Schaffhausen

1 Million chf of capital
First emission of nine hundred thousand chf in 900 shares.

Share of one thousand franc
n.678

The owner of this share, whose nominal amount is fully paid, has proportionate share in the joint ownership, profit and loss of International Watch Co., and is legally bound by the society statues.

Schaffhausen, 31. of January 1874

One member from the board of directors The Director The President of the board of directors

[](s1078.photobucket.com/user/123chrono/media/aktie%201_zpsrxwmlvtq.jpg.html)

[](s1078.photobucket.com/user/123chrono/media/aktie%202_zpsaa20zlao.png.html)

Coupon for the share n.678
The INTERNATIONAL WATCH COMPANY will hand over to the holder of this document after a successful publication a new coupon sheet

1. n.678
   The INTERNATIONAL WATCH COMPANY will pay in exchange of this coupon
   on the 15th of October 1894
   The dividend for the year 1893/94
   For the direction
   H. Blattmann-Stokar.

[](s1078.photobucket.com/user/123chrono/media/aktie%203_zpsis0ddwg8.jpg.html)

Hope you enjoyed it!
Sorry for not translating the last image, I'll have maybe more time next week to take care of it, just let me know.

Cheers,
William

Really interesting document!

Where did you find it?

Regards

Th. Koenig

Wow! I love this stuff. What a find!
You might be able to stop by IWC with one of those coupons and pick up your dividend :-)

Thanks for sharing this.

Terry

Dear M. Koenig,

This sheet was purchased some time ago on an auction website.
I guess I'm a millionaire now!

Bests,
William

Very cool find! Thanks for showing such an interesting artifact.

Nelson

I love scripophily. A great find with the coupons.

William, Super Cool!

Thanks for sharing this with us.

Thanks for your comments gents.

The most interesting part to me are the signatures!!!
[](s1078.photobucket.com/user/123chrono/media/aktie%205_zpsuwnacv5u.jpg.html)

From left to right:
Hermann Freuler-Ziegler
F.A. Jones
H. Blattmann-Stokar

If you want to know more about the 1874-76 period and why IWC decided to create shares, I can only recommend Dr. Seyffer's thesis (vol.1).
Have a look at pp.130-149 (2.2.7 Die IWC Aktiengesellschaft)

I wish I could reproduce these few pages here.
Can anyone (Michael F. or Tony B.?) confirm this is possible?

A very interesting time capsule of IWC history. Thanks for sharing.

Thanks Tonny!

what a great find. thanks for sharing this very unique article.

regards,
thang

Great news Tonny.
Thank you Dr. Seyffer for allowing us to publish an extract from your thesis.

So as promised here below what concerns the 1000.- share.

For those who may want to have it in a better quality, please leave your email address and I will be glad to send it to you.
And if german is not your native language ...well...good luck!
[](s1078.photobucket.com/user/123chrono/media/130_zpsfgfflkey.jpeg.html)

[](s1078.photobucket.com/user/123chrono/media/131_zpshkv8ghln.jpeg.html)

[](s1078.photobucket.com/user/123chrono/media/132_zpsir4hadlh.jpeg.html)

[](s1078.photobucket.com/user/123chrono/media/133_zpsq313p0be.jpeg.html)

[](s1078.photobucket.com/user/123chrono/media/134_zpsr3w2pvvp.jpeg.html)

[](s1078.photobucket.com/user/123chrono/media/135_zps8skumzl9.jpeg.html)

[](s1078.photobucket.com/user/123chrono/media/136_zps0nm3syn1.jpeg.html)

[](s1078.photobucket.com/user/123chrono/media/137_zpsgciefzdd.jpeg.html)

[](s1078.photobucket.com/user/123chrono/media/138_zps3kwmlnim.jpeg.html)

[](s1078.photobucket.com/user/123chrono/media/139_zpsakvjul2y.jpeg.html)

[](s1078.photobucket.com/user/123chrono/media/140_zpshmmypuaw.jpeg.html)

[](s1078.photobucket.com/user/123chrono/media/141_zpsgovjxmmw.jpeg.html)

[](s1078.photobucket.com/user/123chrono/media/142_zpsud34s7pr.jpeg.html)

[](s1078.photobucket.com/user/123chrono/media/143_zpsoelqbppv.jpeg.html)

[](s1078.photobucket.com/user/123chrono/media/144_zpsaxngdvkg.jpeg.html)

[](s1078.photobucket.com/user/123chrono/media/145_zpsf237qw2e.jpeg.html)

[](s1078.photobucket.com/user/123chrono/media/146_zpsqucsxuj8.jpeg.html)

[](s1078.photobucket.com/user/123chrono/media/147_zps8zsxdotp.jpeg.html)

[](s1078.photobucket.com/user/123chrono/media/148_zpsizvmiplc.jpeg.html)

[](s1078.photobucket.com/user/123chrono/media/149_zpsxurwu6a7.jpeg.html)

SEYFFER David, Die Unternehmensgeschichte von IWC Schaffhausen, Ein Schweizer Uhrenhersteller zwischen Innovation und Tradition, Vol. 1, Athena Verlag, Germany, 2014, pp.131-149

...and sorry for the long post!